Oh, it could always be Europa League! FC Basel may have thought that last week. The club, so shaken in the Swiss Super League, is already in the Europa League with more than one leg in the round of 16 in the Europa League. The Bebbi won the intermediate round first leg away with the Cypriot champions Apoel Nicosia 3: 0. Now the FCB wants to make it clear at home in the round of 16.
FC Basel vs APOEL Free Betting Tips
Before the duel FC Basel vs APOEL how the bookmakers assess the starting position for the second leg on Thursday evening APOEL Nicosia betting odds comparison.
FC Basel – Statistics & current form
According to the Baseler Zeitung, Marcel Koller shouldn’t be FCB coach anymore. A day after Bebbi’s bitter 1-0 home defeat in the league on February 15 against the bottom of the table, FC Thun, the daily said that a separation from Marcel Koller was inevitable. The club needed a spirit of optimism and the position of coach was a key.
Basel should move closer to the champions Young Boys Bern this season. For a while, it looked like this plan could work. After the 17th matchday, the Red-Blues were still in second place in the Super League, just one point behind leaders YB. But the record of the last six league games is shocking with just one win, one draw and four defeats.
After this negative series, the Bebbi only play the third violin in the Swiss league table. The Super League is led by Bern and St. Gallen, both of which have 45 points on their accounts. The FCB is already five points behind. The Bebbi last had such a bad score more than 22 years ago. But the coach is still in office.
The Bebbi show a different face in the European Cup
Balsam for the soul was the good game of the Koller eleven in the sixteenth-final first leg. There was little to be seen on the international scene of the Basel national crisis. The Red-Blue had already performed well in the group stage and prevailed in season C against Getafe, Krasnodar and Trabzonspor.
Of course, after the clear 3-0 win in Cyprus, the club hoped for two things: first, that coach Koller is now more firmly in the saddle, and second, that the momentum from the European Cup can be taken into the league. But this hope turned out to be a fallacy. Only three days after winning Nicosia, Basel suffered the next disappointment in the league.
The hosts in St. Jakob-Park at home led 2-0 against Servette Geneva until the 70th minute. The Bebbi actually had everything under control, only missed the final decision due to the lack of consistency on the offensive. A good 15 minutes before the end, the connecting goal for the guests fell from nowhere. The Genevans now sensed the opportunity and were rewarded for their brave game forward with the equalization two minutes before the end.
Center-back Omar Alderete is missing a yellow card against Nicosia. In addition, the injured Zhegrova, Bua, Zuffi, Van Wolfswinkel, Van der Werff and Kuzmanovic are not ready for action.
Probable lineup of FC Basel:
➦ Omlin – Widmer, Cömert, Ademi, Riveros – Xhaka, Frei – Stocker, Campo, Petretta – Cabral
Last matches from FC Basel:
⚽️ 02/23/2020 – FC Basel vs. Servette Geneva 2: 2 (Super League)
⚽️ 02/20/2020 – APOEL Nicosia vs. FC Basel 0: 3 (Europa League)
⚽️ 02/15/2020 – FC Basel vs. Thun 0: 1 (Super League)
⚽️ 02/08/2020 – FC Zurich vs. FC Basel 0: 4 (Super League)
⚽️ 02.02.2020 – FC Basel vs. St. Gallen 1: 2 (Super League)
APOEL Nicosia – Statistics & current form
With 28 championships, Apoel Nicosia is the record champions in Cyprus. In the last seven seasons alone, Τhrylos has always won the title in the First Division. This year Apoel is having a hard time in the league. After 21 game days, the champion is only in third place. Anorthosis Famagusta are five points behind.
As the best six clubs play out the title in the championship round, no preliminary decision has yet been made. With eight home wins and two draws, Nicosia is unbeaten at home this season. In ten games in their own stadium, the yellow-blue conceded only four goals. On the other hand, the opponent’s place is not doing as well. In eleven guest appearances there were only three wins and five bankruptcies.
This record gives little hope that in the return leg FC Basel vs. APOEL Nicosia makes a prediction on which guests will succeed. In the European Cup, the champion from Cyprus was allowed to qualify first in the Champions League, but failed in the playoffs to Ajax Amsterdam. In the Europa League Group B, Τhrylos secured second place behind Seville with ten points.
Three layoffs at APOEL this season
Apoel was able to leave the opponents Qarabag Agdam and Dudelange behind. Constant performances were out of place here. For example, while you lost 3: 4 to Dudelange at home, you also defeated Sevilla 1: 0 in front of your own fans. The club cannot ensure consistency in the coach chair either. Coach Paolo Tramezzani was released in early August.
As the successor, the club signed the German coach Thomas Doll. But at the beginning of December, his tenure with the Cypriot record champions was over again. After Christmas, the Norwegian Kare Ingebrigtsen was given responsibility for the club. But Ingebrigtsen only held office for 45 days.
Comes with Ouzounidis stability and class?
The Greek Marinos Ouzounidis has been the fourth head coach at Apoel this season since February 12th. The new coach got off to a good start with a 4-1 home win against Apollon Limassol. But after the EL home defeat against Basel, the 0-2 defeat at Pafos on Sunday was the first defeat under Ouzounidis in the league. In terms of personnel, the coach can draw on FCB from the full. Vujadin Savic returns to the squad after his suspension.
Probable lineup of APOEL Nicosia:
➦ Belec – Wheeler, Merkis, Ioannou, Vouros – Jensen, Alef, de Vincenti – Jevtovic, Pavlovic, Al Taamari
Last games from APOEL Nicosia:
⚽️ 02/23/2020 – Pafos vs. APOEL Nicosia 2: 0 (1st division)
⚽️ 02/20/2020 – APOEL Nicosia vs. FC Basel 0: 3 (Europa League)
⚽️ 02/15/2020 – APOEL Nicosia vs. Apollon Limassol 4: 1 (1st division)
⚽️ 08.02.2020 – AEK Larnaka vs. APOEL Nicosia 1-0 (1st division)
⚽️ 02/05/2020 – APOEL Nicosia vs. Anorthosis Famagusta 0: 0 (1st division)
FC Basel vs APOEL Nicosia Direct comparison & statistics highlights
In the first leg last Thursday, Apoel Nicosia and FC Basel met for the first time in their club history. Guest coach Koller placed defender Raoul Petretta on the left wing. This move already paid off in the 16th minute with the tour through Petretta. With the 1-0 in the back, the guests radiated a lot of confidence and calm. FCB, who performed with passion and conviction, increased to 3: 0 in the second round.
FC Basel vs APOEL Nicosia Free Betting Tips
Although the duel with Apoel Nicosia seems more than decided, FCB coach Koller warned his players: “If we go into the game with little tension, we will be surprised.” The Bebbi certainly do not want and will not get any butter in this duel let off the bread. In the current league crisis, Basel will certainly do well in the next Europa League round.
In addition, UEFA will reward the next round with around EUR 1.1 million. In the round of 16, the club then hopes for a well-known opponent who could finally get full ranks and decent income in St. Jakob Park. Can FCB show their European face again in the second leg?
Key facts – FC Basel vs APOEL Nicosia Tips
? Basel scored only four points from the last six league games
? Apoel has had the fourth coach of this season since February 12th
? Both clubs met for the first time in the first leg
The duel between Basel and Nicosia has already been decided after the Swiss won 3-0 away. The Bebbi will not let anything burn, while the guests probably hardly believe in the miracle anymore. In the current crisis situation, the FCB can not afford a narrow defeat or a draw, but must also win the second leg for the good mood.
So in the second leg we bet FC Basel vs. APOEL Nicosia our tip on odds up to 1.75 on a win of the home side and choose a stake of 5 units.
Competition: Europa League
Date: Feb 27, 2020
Betting Tips: 1
Odds: 1.75
Stake: 5/10 units