Luxembourg national division resumes

The Luxembourgish National Division is (almost) back in its full glory. A parting of ways between the league’s association and their current broadcaster, means spectators could see limited action since the resumption of the season, but there were at least as many exciting trends and moments on the pitch as there were off it.

Racing start slow

One of the least anticipated success stories of the second half of 2024 was that of Racing FC Luxembourg, a team seemingly in financial decline, punching well above their weight with a string of shrewd signings and a strong emphasis on youth development.
 
The two most important appointments were arguably at boardroom level, though. Ex-Union Titus Pétange manager Yannick Kakoko and sporting director Romain Ruffier ensured the sort of stability when it comes to team selection and recruitment that has been lacking from the club in recent years.
 
The results were clear: with a slightly above-average squad in terms of individual quality, the Sky Blues were constantly challenging for the European places, eventually finishing the autumn season in second place.
 
Ruffier had stated before the winter transfer window began that the club would make as few moves as possible, and would not go for any panic deals even if a player or two end up leaving the team. They largely stuck to that during January, with the exceptions of Somalian defender Ahmed Isse from Gibraltar, and familiar face Davy N’Goma, who left Racing for the professional world but now returns having not had a club since July 2024.
 
With no departures, the team was set for another productive half-season and can still rightly hold European ambitions. However, two successive 1-0 losses have definitely thrown a spanner in the works.
 
First, it was Wiltz 71 who beat Racing in a lacklustre encounter, they could even afford to miss a spot kick to make it 2-0 in the first half. One week later, a similar story unfolded as a 10-man RFCUL side limped to another narrow defeat against US Hostert away from home, following two yellow cards in quick succession from the usually calm and disciplined former Costa Rica international midfielder Néstor Monge.
 
The club’s next fixtures see them take on both Strassen and F91, two of their competitors for the podium, although both matches will be played in the capital, at the Stade Achille Hammerel. A trip to Esch-sur-Alzette will be sandwiched between them, but beating Fola still seems like the easiest ask in an otherwise challenging succession of matches.
 
How Racing do in their remaining matches until the year’s first international break will be crucial to their season. A couple of good showings, and they are firmly in the race for second place; two or more losses, and their place in the top 5 might be in jeopardy.

Rodange are alive and well – again

Many have predicted Rodange to be the strongest-performing team among the three newly-promoted sides in the 2024/25 season, given Bettembourg’s modest budget and history, while Hostert’s rollercoaster season that saw them clinch promotion by a hair’s breadth last year.
 
Rodange lived up to expectations in the opening matchweeks, but the resignation of head coach Frédéric Herinckx over disagreements with the sporting directors brought drastic changes to the club’s fortunes. His successor, Mehdi El Alaoui, took over his first ever managerial position in the Grand Duchy, having previously been Carlos Fangueiro’s understudy at F91 Dudelange and Swift Hesper in recent years.
 
Despite the club languishing just above the relegation zone, the board decided to avoid another in-house conflict and trust the manager, whose off-season preparations seem to have fuelled an uptick in his players’ performances (albeit two matches is a rather small sample size).
 
Holding UNA Strassen to a 2-2 draw was a very respectable result by the newcomers boosted by some impressive winter signings. Maurizio Macorig in defence and Bruno Correia Mendes in attack have both been instrumental to their new team’s successes so far. Against Strassen, it was Sylvain Atieda who rose to his best game by delivering a brace, including a last-minute penalty.
 
One week later, El Alaoui’s team showed an even more staggering impact up front, scoring five against a hopeless Fola Esch team inching ever closer to a first relegation in two decades. Atieda was on the scoresheet again, alongside Yann Weishaupt, Semsudin Džanić and a double from Mathéo Messuwe.
 
Few anticipated two dramatic turnarounds in the same season from the Red-and-Blacks, but if they maintain this trajectory, safety will be inevitable. Their next three home games against Dudelange, Niederkorn, and Hesperange present key opportunities, but if they can replicate their away form from the Fola match, the points will continue to roll in.

Ralph Schon – the end of an era?

One of the longest-serving players in the Luxembourgish national team, Ralph Schon announced his retirement from international commitments in the future. At the age of 34 and with minimal prospects of any game time, it sounded like a logical step. It also allowed him to focus on his club, Wiltz 71.
 
However, his former home is changing rapidly. He already had one of the best and most talented second-choice goalkeepers behind him in Youn Czekanowicz, but Wiltz announced the arrival of Milan academy graduate and former professional Lillo Guarneri in January.
 
Schon’s place in the pecking order was not in question for the immediate future, but both of his competitors are clearly eyeing his position in the longer term. Schon happened to present them with the perfect opportunity in Matchday 17, by getting a direct red card early on against Strassen. Czekanowicz took his place and conceded three goals, but Wiltz were never expected to win, and with a numerical disadvantage, their chances were reduced even further.
 
Wiltz are next in action against Fola Esch in a game they are widely expected to win without much struggle. Thus, it is the perfect opportunity for manager Mikhail Zaritsky to experiment. Will he trust Czekanowicz after his less than impressive performance last week, or will the new boy Guarneri get the nod?
 
Whoever gets the chance to prove himself will be in a prime position to overtake Schon consistently in the future. Schon is still a largely reliable goalkeeper, but Wiltz are not afraid to let go of their legends, selling fellow club legend Kévin Malget to amateurs Useldange in the winter. Another mistake or two, and Schon can expect to be dropped for more than just one game.