Champions League Teams Basel - 2nd Qualifying Round (League Route) YB - Playoff Round (Champions Path) I hope this is the year both teams get to the group stages. Europa League FCSG - 2nd Qualifying Round (Main Path) Seeded 2nd, Unseeded 3rd Luzern - 3rd Qualifying Round (Main Path) Unseeded 3rd FCZ - Group Stages
FCSG will play either Icelandic club IBV Vestmannäyjar or Norwegian club Sarpsborg. The first match will be home on 26 July and the return match on 2 August.
FC Basel will face PAOK Salonique, the 2nd place team in the Greek Championship. This could be a tricky match. The first match will be in Greece either the 24 or 25 of July. The return match will be wither 31 July or 1 Aug at St Jakobs Park in Basel.
I think Basel are going out. It kills me to say that, but I don't think they're going to get past PAOK.
So much turnover in the past two seasons, that advancing far is unlikely. I do not have the numbers in front of me, but I would love to how much of the starting lineup is the same from two seasons ago. It will also take some time for the new signings to gel.
St. Gallen - Sarpsborg 08 at 14:25 EST today. Tickets are as cheep as 21 CHF and the most are only 41 CHF. Too bad I am thousands of miles away. Sector C will also be closed due to the expected low-turn out. As an aside, FCSG has cooperated with local mass transit to allow any person with a ticket to the match free public transit to the match. That is pretty cool.
Here is where Basel sits. If they do not win, they will loose access to the 40 million CHF from the CL group stages. If they manage to qualify for the EL group stages, it is about 10 CHF. If they win they will be in another CL qualifying round against Spartak Moscow. If they win that one, they would most likely play Ajax in the Play-off to advance to the group stages. If they lose tomorrow, they will be sent to the 3rd Q Round for the EL. If they win over PAOK, but loose to Spartak, they will be in the EL. First think first, just win.
That thud you hear is Basel losing at home 0-3. The CL dream is gone, they still have a chance for the EL, but it will be difficult. FCSG plays in Norway tomorrow. They are up 2-1 in the tie.
Basel will play the winner of the Viitorul Constanța - Vitesse tie which is 2-2 after the first leg. Advantage Vitesse as they have two away goals. If FCSG wins, they will play Rijeka of the Croatia. Luzern will play Olympiacos
This campaign is going to be UGLY. We could wind up with only one Swiss team in the group stages of either competition, and that would basically destroy the coefficient.
FCZ looks pretty strong this season. I thought if YB failed to qualify for the CL, they are automatically in the EL group stages. Among Basel, Luzern and FCSG I think that one more will get in. If all 5 did, that would be great, but not expected. I think if three get in, and Luzern and FCSG advance one round at least the coefficient will be ok. In terms of coefficient, I would almost prefer YB in the EL. In theory, the matches will be against less skilled competitions.
Luzern has lots of injury issues and are not in a good place now. The good thing is that they do not start playing for a little more time. I agree that this could be bad, but there is the possibility of a few decent runs.
Just when one thought that it could not get worse for Basel, it does. PAOK fans were beaten up by locals in Basel prior to the match.
FCSG goes down 1-0 and out on away goals. The last 30 min was a lot of frustration by FCSG. Now down to 4 teams.
Basel wins 0-1 on a 93 min goal by former Vitesse player van Wolfswinkel. Luzern contuines its perfect record in the Europe League, they have never won a match. They lost 0-4.