FC Basel vs FC Sion
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Today’s free tip is in the Swiss Super League encounter between FC Basel and FC Sion.
I’ve not dipped my toe in Swiss waters so much this season, at least not the Super League, and the table itself shows why that is. Young Boys Bern and FC Basel have regressed so much now that FC Zurich, who still don’t have a good striker, are currently the division’s top goal-scorers. Lugano are unbeaten, and St. Gallen can’t score goals. Get the picture? Insanity has reigned supreme in the Super League so be careful, folks!
That said, I do think that two of the Super League games today are worth getting involved in, FC Basel vs FC Sion being the first. It’s hard to regard anything the Rot-Blau do as progressive nowadays, given how much they get wrong. However, in a weird sort of why, I like where they’re at now more than I have for a lot of years. I’m not sure that I agree with the sacking of Koller last season, and I sure as hell don’t think they made enough signings to compensate for the players that they lost pre-season. However, their starting eleven has a nice look to it now. There’s enough balance and quality to decide certain Super League games in their favour. By no means is this project perfect, and nor is it finished, but I do like where it’s at – until they do something else stupid to fuck it up.
I don’t like that Zuffi is still out of the squad through injury; some of their best football is played when he’s in midfield. However, I do like that Xhaka isn’t playing any longer; a progressive FC Basel side should have no place for a butcher like that. They’ve got Cabral back up front, who has been scoring goals fairly regularly. I’m a big fan of young striker von Moos, even if he’s yet to hit the ground running for his team. Stocker, Frei, and Kasami are brilliant creators at this level, and all have an abundance of experience – plenty for Bunjaku to learn from. Zhegrova is a good dribbler too, should they need more flair than anything else.
Furthermore, Klose’s arrival lends their defence experience. They’ve got good wing-backs too. I’m not blown away by the goalkeeper situation, especially with Nikolic out at the moment, and erratic Austrian Lindner between the sticks instead. I think Sforza has got a good handle on things though. Again, don’t regard FC Basel as the revered Swiss heavyweights they once were; you’ll only be disappointed. However, they’ve got enough about them to beat FC Sion tonight, and should be able to do so convincingly.
Part of my confidence in that stems from FC Sion’s apparent desire to get relegated. They’ve come dangerously near for two seasons in a row now, and for a club with their quality and financial backing, that’s just not good enough. Crazy owner Constantin keeps changing managers though. There’s no long-term plan here; it’s a case of winging it, and seeing how it goes. That tends to result in grave disappointment, and I expect more of the same from them tonight. They lost two of their best players pre-season, namely Kasami and Toma, leaving Grgic to carry the midfield. Bringing in Serey Die was an inspired choice; he’s a real warrior, and has played well for them this season. There’s still a real lack of creativity in the FC Sion midfield though, which has led to limited service for its forwards.
FC Sion made the Swiss headlines by acquiring Young Boys Bern legend Hoarau as striker this season. He’s had his injury problems over the past eighteen months but is a brilliant finisher, and probably the best penalty taker in the division to boot. However, he’s yet to bag for his new team (again – lack of creativity in the squad), and he won’t be doing so until 2021 now as he’s injured (shocker!). Subsequently, FC Sion’s attacks are all about their inconsistent Brazilian attackers trying to make something happen for big Frenchman Khasa in the middle, which hasn’t been going terribly well as they’re predictable and lacking in strength.
I will give FC Sion some credit; they do setup well defensively. Breaking them down – at least for the first time – is really annoying because they’re the most defensive team in the division. They’re comfortable adopting this lazy approach because they’re physically strong enough to deal with teams. As soon as they fall behind though, they tend to fall to pieces because breaking opponents down is not something they’re any good at, especially not without Hoarau. Therefore, I feel like there’s a touch of inevitability about their trip to St. Jakob-Park tonight.
I won’t often trust FC Basel this season; I can promise you that. However, backing them to beat soulless, ineffectual FC Sion at home by two goals or more (with insurance on the one-goal margin victory) simply makes sense at this stage.
Verdict: FC Basel to beat the -1 Asian Handicap at 93/100.
Wednesday’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.
UEFA Champions League:
AFC Ajax Amsterdam vs Atalanta Bergamo
FC Midtjylland vs Liverpool
Bayern Munich vs Lokomotiv Moscow
Salzburg vs Atletico Madrid
Real Madrid vs Borussia Moenchengladbach
Internazionale vs Shakhtar Donetsk
Manchester City vs Olympique de Marseille
Olympiakos Piraeus vs FC Porto
Copa Libertadores:
Gremio vs Santos
Boca Juniors vs Internacional
Copa Sudamericana:
Bahia vs Defensa y Justicia
Atletico Junior Barranquilla vs Coquimbo Unido
Brazilian Serie A:
Sao Paulo vs Botafogo
Bulgarian A PFG:
Beroe vs Levski Sofia
Israeli Ligat Ha’al:
Hapoel Haifa vs Hapoel Tel-Aviv
Norwegian Eliteserien:
Kristiansund vs Odd
Haugesund vs Bodo/Glimt
Sarpsborg 08 vs Sandefjord
Aalesund FK vs Stromsgodset
Start Kristiansand vs Brann Bergen
Portuguese Liga 2:
Leixoes Matosinhos vs UD Oliveirense
Swedish Allsvenskan Relegation/Promotion Play-Off:
Jonkopings Sodra vs Kalmar FF
Swiss Super League:
FC Basel vs FC Sion
Vaduz vs Servette
FC Zurich vs St. Gallen
Turkish Super Lig:
Goztepe vs Alanyaspor
Hatayspor vs BB Erzurumspor
Enjoy your free betting tips!