Returning to the top step of the Swiss league podium – something that hadn’t happened since the 2016-17 season – has allowed Basel to bypass the qualifying rounds for the next Champions League and enter the final playoffs, the last stage before the championship phase. Although they have not had to contend with midweek fixtures so far, Ludovic Magnin’s men have not started their title defense on the right foot: in four league games, they have recorded two wins but also two defeats (both away from home).
Shaqiri and his teammates lost 3-1 in Lugano in their last Swiss Super League match, but this setback did not leave any lasting effects, as they crushed Biel-Bienne 6-1 in the Schweizer Cup at the weekend.
In the play-off, Basel will face Copenhagen, who, unlike the Swiss side, have already played four preliminary matches: the Danes first beat Drita of Kosovo, then prevailed in the Scandinavian “derby” against Malmo of Sweden, annihilating them 5-0 after a 0-0 draw in the first leg in Sweden. The Danish league also started a few weeks ago: Copenhagen is currently top of the table alongside Brondby (12 points from five games), with their only defeat of the season coming at home against AGF in a thrilling 3-2 win. In the Champions League, however, Jacob Neestrup’s side has been perfect defensively, not conceding a single goal in four games.
Odds comparison
The “1X” result is priced at 1.35 on Lottomatica and 1.35 on Snai. The “Under 2.5” result is priced at 1.65 on Lottomatica and 1.75 on Snai.
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The prediction
Both teams have some experience in the preliminary rounds, often reaching the group stage (now the championship stage). It promises to be a very evenly matched game, with Copenhagen trying to keep their qualification hopes alive ahead of the return leg. Basel will have to take the game to them, but breaking down the Danish defense will not be easy. We expect a game with less than four goals in total.
Probable line-ups for Basel-Copenhagen
BASEL (4-5-1): Hitz; Schmid, Vujo, Adjetei, Tsunemoto; Leroy, Metinho, Otele, Shaqiri, Traoré; Ajeti.
COPENHAGEN (4-5-1): Kotarski; Lopez, Hatzidiakos, Pereira, Uescas; Robert, Elyounoussi, Lerager, Mattsson, Larsson; Cornelius.