Preview:Basel vs Young Boys - prediction, team news, lineups

Defending Swiss Super League champions FC Basel return to action this Wednesday night as they prepare to host Young Boys at St Jakob Park.

The hosts will be looking to bag their second successive league win, while their visitors will be hoping to maintain their unbeaten start to the new season.

Match preview

Kicking off the season with a 2-1 defeat to St Gallen was a real kick in the teeth for new manager Ludovic Magnin, who was hoping to make a positive first impression.

Fortunately for the 46-year-old, his men were able to hit the restart button against Grasshoppers and come away with a 2-1 victory in their first home game of the season.

Creating chances has not been an issue for the defending champions, with Basel having 40 shots across their opening two matches. However, turning their opportunities into goals is something Magnin and his side will be working on.

August is a big month for the club with a Champions League qualification play off fixture on the horizon, and Basel will be looking to bag a series of positive results as they build up towards their upcoming clash against either Malmo FF or FC Copenhagen.

Young Boys have also got one eye on continental football as they look forward to their qualification playoff in the Europa League at the end of the month.

The Bern-based club qualified for the Champions League last season but endured a forgettable campaign as they lost all eight games in the league phase and finished bottom of the standings.

Their start to the new Swiss Super League campaign has been a lot more encouraging, with Young Boys picking up four points from their opening two matches.

Giorgio Contini and his men earned an impressive 3-1 win over Servette in the opening round before being held to a 1-1 draw away against Winterthur.

Basel Swiss Super League form:

L W

Young Boys Super League form:

W D

Team News

Basel have got a couple of injury worries at the back, as Finn van Breemen remains injured with a meniscus problem, while Kevin Ruegg also remains on the sidelines with an injury.

Youngster Adriano Onyegbule, who was struggling with a knee concern throughout last season, is not expected to feature.

Young Boys also have injury worries, with Facinet Conte, Mats Seiler and Rhodri Smith all expected to miss out.

To make matters worse for the visitors, they also have a couple of doubts in the squad, with Alan Virginius and Gregory Wuthrich both facing late fitness tests.

Basel possible starting lineup: Hitz; Schmid, Vouilloz, Adjetey, Tsunemoto; Metinho, Leroy; Junior Ze, Shaqiri, Otele; Ajeti

Young Boys possible starting lineup: Keller; Hadjam, Benito, Zoukrou, Janko; Monteiro, Fernandes, Raveloson, Males; Bedia, Fassnacht

We say: Basel 1-1 Young Boys

Basel have a dreadful recent record against Young Boys, winning just two of their last 21 meetings.

Nevertheless, the hosts looked good against Grasshopper last week, and we expect them to get at least a point against a Young Boys team that did not look all that convincing in their 1-1 draw with Winterthur.

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