Will the next Bundesliga team bring Basel to its knees?
The match between FC Basel and VfB Stuttgart on Thursday evening in the second round of the Europa League is a great story for the Swiss team’s coaching staff. Ludovic Magnin, a former professional player who won the German championship with the “young wild ones” at VfB under Felix Magath in 2007, is now at the helm.
The former full-back is now head coach at the “Bebbi” and, in this role, is certainly not entirely satisfied with the season so far. After two consecutive defeats in competitive games, the tip for the match between FC Basel and VfB Stuttgart should also be directed towards the Bundesliga club.
This is not least due to the Swabians’ improving form. After a somewhat bumpy start to the new season with only one win in the first three league games and a lucky escape in the DFB Cup, Hoeneß’s team has made a stronger impression in recent weeks. The last three Bundesliga matches and the Europa League opener against Celta Vigo have all ended in victory.
In all three cases, two goals were enough to leave the pitch as winners. Admittedly, Demirovic and Co. regularly squandered chances. With a little more efficiency, more goals would definitely have been possible. Nevertheless, when looking at the FC Basel vs. VfB Stuttgart prediction, it must also be taken into account that the Swabians’ risky and demanding possession-based football repeatedly leads to individual errors or high ball losses in build-up/transition play.
In my opinion, at least three goals are in the air, especially since a corresponding bet would have paid off in all four VfB away games this season and in eight of ten competitive games for the reigning Swiss double winners.
On the first EL matchday last week, the over 2.5 would also have been true for both clubs. The “Bebbi” lost 2-1 in Freiburg, while Stuttgart won by the same score at home against Celta Vigo.
For the first time since 2010/11, the DFB Cup winners could now start a European campaign with two wins. Provided that Hoeneß’s team plays with the same hunger and meticulousness as last Thursday. Against the visitors from Galicia, VfB forced the most high ball wins of all 36 EL clubs and also created six chances from their own build-up play. This dominance will also ensure that the southern Germans will have many high-quality chances at St. Jakob Park, but at the same time they will have to be careful in defense to avoid counterattacks.
FC Basel – VfB Stuttgart Head-to-head record
You have to go back to the 1978/79 season to find the only two direct duels between FC Basel and VfB Stuttgart. In the first round of the UEFA Cup, the German representatives won comfortably with a 7-3 aggregate score. The Swabians won the first leg 3-2 away and the second leg 4-1 at home. In general, Stuttgart have a strong record against Swiss clubs in European competition, with six wins in seven games. On average, the Bundesliga club has scored over three goals per game.
FC Basel – VfB Stuttgart Tip
The German weeks continue for FC Basel on Thursday with a home game against VfB Stuttgart. After the 1-2 defeat in the “derby” in Freiburg, the Swiss champions are already under pressure in a way. Another defeat must be avoided at all costs. Otherwise, they risk losing touch with the top 16 early on. This is especially true in view of their next away game at Olympique Lyon. If FCB can score points in the Europa League, then it is most likely to be at home. Shaqiri and Co. are definitely stronger at S. Jakob Park than they are away from home.
Because the exact opposite is true for VfB Stuttgart, and the Swabians tend to struggle away from home, it takes a high degree of risk appetite to bet on an away win between FC Basel and VfB Stuttgart.
