Luxembourg football roundup

The last match-day before the international window brought yet another loss for the Eschers, who find themselves with a mountain to climb in the final nine outings. With relegation rivals picking up form, their fate might be sealed sooner rather than later.

This time, the defeat was bitter and painful, a tight 2-1 against fellow bottom-half team Hostert, who came from behind after an early goal from winter signing Marwane Benamra. Despite having the lead at half-time, the oldest club in the country still had to travel back home empty-handed, partly thanks to a red card for youth international Lionel Amou.

The last time they took a point was nine games ago, in November, when they ground out a 1-0 win against second-bottom Mondercange. Their only other win this season, against Wiltz, was achieved via the same scoreline, and their only draw was a dull 0-0 when they hosted Union Titus Pétange in late October.

Lots of things have changed since then. Stefano Bensi departed as a manager, the board pushed for a strengthening of the squad in January, to a moderate effect. Apart from Benamra, the new arrivals have so far failed to leave their mark on a team who find themselves drifting further from league safety after each game.

The last nine fixtures will still see Fola face Mondercange, Jeunesse Esch and Bettembourg in a stretch of games from late April to early May – among other, more challenging match-ups. All will depend on whether they can benefit against fellow strugglers and record a few clean sheets along the way.

A win against Bettembourg could be especially fundamental, given their proximity to Fola on the league table. Last season’s Éierepromotioun champions have just suffered a 5-1 beating by Jeunesse Esch, and look likely to go down if Fola have the ability to bridge the current nine-point gap currently standing between them.

Super-sub helps FCD extend their lead

FC Differdange are now enjoying a 15-point lead for the league title after another clean sheet and two impactful contributions from late substitutions.

In the derby against Swift Hesperange, it was Pierre-Daniel Nguinda’s red card that tipped the balance in FCD’s favour in the 77th minute, deciding an otherwise cagey affair with dogged defending from the hosts and a mostly blunt display from the best attack in the division.

Fede Varela, one of the most valuable players in the division, took defender Kévin d’Anzico’s place two minutes from the end in a late, desperate, search for a winner. It arrived shortly after, with the gifted Argentinian finding the net in the last minute of regulation time.

Andreas Buch’s late effort (his second goal in the last two games) was assisted by Ludovic Rauch, meaning two other substitutes supported the team’s success.

Second-placed F91 Dudelange also had a tough match on the day, facing UNA Strassen, and their 3-1 loss makes Differdange’s title defence all but a foregone conclusion.

International break untimely for Progrès

Of all the teams in the division, it is probably Progrès Niederkorn who can rue the timing of the first international window in 2025.

After a few bumps along the way since the January restart, costing Jeff Strasser his job, the Wasps seemed to have found a winning formula for once, coming out victorious in both of their last two games against Jeunesse Esch and Wiltz respectively, tallying a total of six goals combined.
Their late resurgence puts them within three points of European qualification, while they are also still in the Luxembourgish Cup, a competition they won last season.

The game against Wiltz on Sunday was no easy watch by any means. In a dreary game, the guests held their own and restricted Niederkorn in the firth half, before taking the lead themselves in the 69th minute through Benjamin Romeyns. A five-minute brace from Junior Burban turned the game on its head right after, and a stoppage-time third from Adrian Ahmetxhekaj (his first of the season) ensured a much-needed three points and prime motivational boost for the team.

The international break will last for almost two weeks, seeing Luxembourg face Sweden and Switzerland. Progrès’ defender, Lars Gerson, got selected as an emergency replacement in an opportunity to add to his 97 caps. The rest of the squad will likely play a friendly game to keep in shape before their crucial clash against Racing Union in the capital on 30 March.

Matheus delivers for UNA

Perhaps the most anticipated derby of the week was a European six-pointer between Dudelange and Strassen, and the game largely lived up to expectations.

Both sides were more cautious than usual in a first half producing few highlights. The most notable event was Matheus’ opener on the half-hour mark. The journeyman striker’s goal was cancelled out by Mehdi Kirch soon after the break, in a combination between the two wing-backs, assisted by Chris Stumpf. Matheus was once again the hero on the day though, as he needed only 16 minutes to restore UNA’s lead.

Luxembourg international Diogo Pimentel was once again at his play making best, delivering two assists – first to Matheus, then to Zachary Hadji, who netted his team’s last goal. The two sides are now separated by just one point, and recent form suggests Strassen continue to improve, positioning themselves as worthy challengers to Differdange in the years ahead.

The final match week of the year will see UNA host FCD at the Jean Wirtz Sports Complex. By then, the title will likely be decided, and it remains to be seen whether Strassen will still be chasing points for a podium finish. But if both teams perform at their peak, it could shape up to be one of the highest-quality matches the BGL Ligue has seen in years.

Around the pitches

Mondercange collected their fifth point in five games with a 1-1 draw against Victoria Rosport. A missed penalty from Ernesto Carratala-Jiménez cost Martin Forkel’s team the three points and boosted FCM’s hopes of survival despite a dreadful autumn run.

Okpo Mazié is quickly becoming RFCUL’s hottest asset and maybe the next professional player to leave Luxembourg. Already coveted by Augsburg, the Ivorian scored the decider in Mondorf-les-Bains to help his team overtake Hesperange and rise to fourth.

Union Titus Pétange recorded a surprisingly calm 3-0 win against newly-promoted Rodange. The first two goals arrived before half-time and the rest of the game unfolded one-sidedly, with an own goal from defender Maurizio Macorig the last nail in the coffin.

Jeunesse Esch ran riot against Bettembourg, racking up four goals in the opening 37 minutes. The floodgates were briefly stopped by new signing Abdelkarim Idha’s goal for the newcomers, but Tarek Nouidra put the cherry on top with a late fifth goal to keep the Old Lady in the top half.

What next?

Luxembourg host Sweden at Stade de Luxembourg on 22 March in an international friendly, providing a perfect opportunity for youngsters such as Brian Madjo, Enzo Duarte and Tiago Pereira Cardoso to test themselves out in a new environment.

Three days later, the Red Lions will travel to Kybunpark to face Switzerland, before club action continues at the end of the Month.