Preview:Basel vs Copenhagen - prediction, team news, lineups

With a place in the Champions League group-stage draws at stake, Basel will welcome Copenhagen to St Jakob-Park on Wednesday evening, aiming to take the initiative in the first leg of this playoff tie.

While this marks the Swiss side’s opening outing in this season’s qualifiers, the Danish visitors had to overcome Drita and Malmo to secure their passage to this round of the competition.

Match preview

Basel were once a dominant force in the Swiss Super League at the turn of the century but lost their grip after clinching their 20th title in 2016-17.

While last season’s triumph ended that eight-year drought, it also ensured a return to the UCL qualifying playoffs for Bebbi, who had seen their previous attempts via the non-champions route fall short, with a second-round exit in 2018-19 and a third-round elimination in 2019-20.

With a reputation for making it into the draws after reaching this stage – having managed the feat in four of their last five attempts – Basel will hope their familiar formula proves effective once again in this contest.

Wednesday’s encounter arrives on the back of a morale-boosting performance, as Ludovic Magnin’s men thrashed third-tier outfit Biel 6-1 in the Swiss Cup, with the result serving as a strong response to their poor display in the game before.

Basel had suffered defeat at Lugano, making it two losses in their opening four matches of the new top-flight campaign, yet victories in their two home fixtures at St Jakob-Park provide a platform to build confidence for this crucial midweek tie.

Copenhagen, on the other hand, approach the clash buoyed by a 3-1 victory away to Nordsjaelland at the weekend, making it three wins from four in the Danish Super Liga and underscoring that their title defence is progressing steadily.

Unlike their Swiss hosts, the Danish champions were required to navigate the early qualifying rounds, entering at the second stage due to the nation’s lower UEFA coefficient.

Jacob Neestrup’s men cruised past Drita with a 3-0 aggregate win before brushing aside Malmo with a commanding 5-0 triumph in the second leg at Parken Stadium, after being held in the opening fixture.

Strengthened by a watertight backline that is yet to concede in this qualification campaign, Copenhagen will be optimistic of taking something back to Denmark, especially given their consistent performances on the road.

The Danish champions are unbeaten in nine consecutive competitive away matches stretching back to last season, winning eight of those outings, so it would not be a surprise if Byens Hold set out to dictate proceedings as they aim for a place in the group-stage draws for the eighth time.

Basel form (all competitions):

Copenhagen Champions League form:

Copenhagen form (all competitions):

Team News

Basel head into Wednesday’s clash without defenders Finn van Breemen and Kevin Ruegg, who are sidelined with meniscus and muscle problems.

Veteran forward Xherdan Shaqiri will be brimming with confidence after scoring and providing an assist at the weekend and is expected to shoulder much of the responsibility in the attacking third.

Copenhagen will be without winger Elias Achour and midfielder Thomas Delaney, with both players ruled out until next month due to their respective injuries.

There is also uncertainty surrounding the availability of teenage prospects Oliver Hojer and Jonathan Moalem, who face late fitness tests ahead of the tie.

Basel possible starting lineup:

Hitz; Schmid, Vujo, Adjetei, Tsunemoto; Leroy, Metinho, Otele, Shaqiri, Traore; Ajeti

Copenhagen possible starting lineup:

Kotarski; Lopez, Hatzidiakos, Pereira, Uescas; Silva, Elyounoussi, Lerager, Mattsson, Larsson; Cornelius

We say: Basel 2-1 Copenhagen

Both teams have pedigree when it comes to reaching the group stages, and with so much on the line, this promises to be a fiercely competitive battle, but Basel may just edge it on the strength of home advantage.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.