FC Basel vs Lugano
FreeWe’re always looking for new recruits to help us so please click here if you want to find out more about the ways you can help us (e.g. local input, watching games)!
There are 5 bankers & 8 value tips in the Members Section today so feel free to sign up here to see them + team news!
Today’s free pick is in the Swiss Super League encounter between FC Basel and Lugano.
For the record, this is something of a dead rubber. Sure, FC Basel might want to finish second instead of third but it doesn’t make any real difference, and if it did, I’d like to think they’d have shown some intent of winning any of their recent matches, which they simply haven’t. Therefore, I’m inclined to believe that FC Basel could care less about finishing second or third, and if that continues to be the case, then Lugano have a good shot at picking up a positive result in the north.
Firstly, let’s address the Saipi situation: yes, he’s suspended. I think they knew that their appeal would fail but whilst it was pending, he was able to play in the Schweizer Pokal final against St. Gallen, which they ended up winning 4-1. He’s played in a game since then too but the Swiss FA have now confirmed that he must serve the second match of his suspension so Osigwe will be in net. I’m not too concerned about that; he’s done ok when called upon of late.
Since winning the Schweizer Pokal, Lugano have looked really impressive, it must be said. Not perfect, no, but they’ve been creating chances far more readily, and playing with a lot more hunger. Keep in mind how many defensive absentees they’ve had (and still have) too. This team has suddenly come to life after a period earlier in 2022 where they looked like they’d lost their way altogether. Suddenly they’re back with a bang, and despite having nothing to play for, they look up for it.
The best part of Lugano being where they are right now is that they’re not letting Bottani carry them, which has happened too often this season, to be honest. He was actually fairly anonymous in the win against newly-crowned champions FC Zurich midweek, although to be fair to him he did pull up lame at one point. Everybody is fighting fit at the moment, which is nice. Don’t forget that each player is keen to prove their worth at the club because they’ve come into money, and are expecting to fill the FC Basel-shaped void in representing Swiss football moving forward. It’s not a coincidence that they’ve already poached Doumbia from FC Zurich, you know? He was part of the key triangle in midfield that won them the Super League title, just to paint the picture a little better. So, yeah – motivation remains for Lugano; these players want to be part of what’s perceived to be a team that could, in theory, challenge for the title next season.
FC Basel look flat again. They have for weeks and weeks now. The new manager ‘bounce’ has well and truly ended. As far as I know, they’ve not officially given the job to interim boss Abascal and yet they’ve announced in the past few days that they’ve signed veteran goalkeeper Hitz to replace Lindner. This is a curious move on several fronts, the first of which being that it’s unclear who made that call unless they’ve secretly appointed a long-term manager and just not told anybody. Lindner has had a good campaign, and is considerably younger than Hitz so how pragmatic the move is, I couldn’t really say. I’ve criticised Lindner a lot over the years because he’s been erratic but he’s made more saves than any other Super League goalkeeper this season so the signing is an interesting one, and quite what message it sends out, I don’t know.
Anyway – FC Basel are flat. Really flat. They miss Tavares at full-back; he was superb before picking up an injury. Canadian winger Millar was too; same again. They’ve simply lacked width, and without it they’re far too predictable. Both Szalai and Chalov – their goals have dried up because the service has. They’ve even tried using Esposito as a false nine to change things up – no joy. This team simply doesn’t create chances anymore.
The only thing that concerns me about opposing the hosts here is that it’s Stocker’s last game before retirement. As his decidedly public falling out with then-boss Rahman proved earlier in the season, Stocker is a very popular figure in these parts so the team may be motivated; the fans certainly will be. He has been injured lately so whether he’ll start or not, I don’t know – I suspect a cameo from the bench will be on the agenda. But yeah, if they turn up for him, then the risk increases.
Other than that though, there’s no reason to believe Lugano will lose this game.
Verdict: Lugano to win with a +0.5 Asian Handicap at 19/20.
Sunday’s Thoughts
As ever, if there are any explanations required then please feel free to post a comment! For the remainder of my thoughts on today’s games, see below, although I feel compelled to write that the below are not necessarily my tips but merely my thoughts. For confidence ratings, you’ll need to go to the members section here.
Australian A-League:
Melbourne City vs Adelaide United
Belgian Eerste Klasse:
Club Brugge vs RSC Anderlecht
Union Saint-Gilloise vs Antwerp
Brazilian Serie A:
Corinthians vs Sao Paulo
Fortaleza vs Fluminense
Athletico Paranaense vs Avai
Bulgarian A PFG:
Botev Plovdiv vs Slavia Sofia
Cherno More Varna vs CSKA Sofia
Levski Sofia vs Ludogorets Razgrad
Czechia Liga 1 Promotion/Relegation Play-Off:
Bohemians 1905 vs Opava
Vlasim vs Teplice
Danish Superligaen:
FC Copenhagen vs Aalborg BK
FC Midtjylland vs Randers
Brondby vs Silkeborg
English Premier League:
Arsenal vs Everton
Brentford vs Leeds United
Brighton & Hove Albion vs West Ham United
Burnley vs Newcastle United
Chelsea vs Watford
Crystal Palace vs Manchester United
Leicester City vs Southampton
Liverpool vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Manchester City vs Aston Villa
Norwich City vs Tottenham Hotspur
Faroese Betrideildin:
Vikingur Gota vs KI
HB Torshavn vs 07 Vestur Sorvagur
B68 Toftir vs EB/Streymur
B36 Torshavn vs AB
Finnish Veikkausliiga:
FC Lahti vs AC Oulu
HJK vs Haka Valkeakoski
Icelandic Pepsi Deildin:
Keflavik vs FH
Valur Reykjavik vs Vikingur Reykjavik
Breidablik Kopavogur vs Fram Reykjavik
Italian Serie A:
Spezia vs SSC Napoli
Internazionale vs Sampdoria
Sassuolo vs AC Milan
Salernitana vs Udinese
Venezia vs Cagliari
Italian Serie B:
Monza vs Brescia
Lithuanian A Lyga:
FA Siauliai vs Banga Gargzdai
Zalgiris Vilnius vs Kauno Zalgiris
Dutch Eredivisie Conference Play-Offs:
AZ vs SC Heerenveen
Vitesse Arnhem vs FC Utrecht
Norwegian Eliteserien:
Haugesund vs Bodo/Glimt
Jerv vs Odd
Stromsgodset vs Valerenga Oslo
Sarpsborg 08 vs Aalesund FK
Tromso vs Viking Stavanger
Hamarkameratene vs Rosenborg BK
Portuguese Taca de Portugal:
FC Porto vs Tondela
Romanian Liga 1:
FCSB vs CFR Cluj
Spanish Primera Liga:
Deportivo Alaves vs Cadiz
Barcelona vs Villarreal
Granada vs RCD Espanyol
CA Osasuna vs Real Mallorca
Real Sociedad vs Atletico Madrid
Sevilla vs Athletic Club
Elche vs Getafe
Swedish Allsvenskan:
Hammarby vs IFK Norrkoping
Elfsborg Boras vs IFK Goteborg
Varberg vs Degerfors
Kalmar FF vs Djurgarden
Malmo FF vs BK Hacken Goteborg
Swiss Super League:
FC Basel vs Lugano
FC Sion vs Servette
St. Gallen vs Lausanne Sport
Young Boys Bern vs Grasshopper Zurich
FC Zurich vs Luzern
Turkish Super Lig:
Adana Demirspor vs Goztepe
Istanbul Basaksehir vs Trabzonspor
Hatayspor vs Giresunspor
Fatih Karagumruk vs Alanyaspor
Enjoy your free betting tips!