Basel have so far started the 2016/17 campaign in their typically dominant way. The Swiss Super League began back towards the end of July, with the hosts starting with a 3-0 win over Sion as they look to retain the Super League trophy again.
The pressure of being the team to beat in the league certainly hasn’t got to them, and after their impressive 3-1 win over Grasshopper on Saturday, they have now won their first eight matches of the competitive campaign. Seven of these have been in the league, and they include that comfortable victory against Grasshopper and an even more impressive 3-0 win against Young Boys.
Many thought the dominance of Basel might subside after the loss of star striker Breel Embolo in the summer, but they’ve put the £20 million they got for the teenager to good use with reinforcements all over the pitch, including the highly rated River Plate centre-back Eder Balanta and Paraguayan teenager Blas Riveros.
However, this is a tough group to try and qualify from. This home match against Ludogorets is their easiest clash of the group stages, with the other two teams in the group being Arsenal and PSG. That makes this an absolute must win game for them, and they’ll have to hope they can cause an upset later in the competition.
Ludogorets aren’t a bad side by any means either. They only participated in European football for the first time in 2012/13 season, but the season after they finished top of their Europa League group and made it to the last 16 of the competition. Their first Champions League group stage saw them finish bottom of their group, but they have improved since then.
The visitors start to the season has been less dominant than their hosts’ though. They made it through to the group stages with aggregate victories against Mladost, Red Star Belgrade and Viktoria Plzen, but they required extra time against Red Star Belgrade and weren’t very impressive in the away leg against Viktoria Plzen either.
Their Bulgarian A-Group title defence has started in sketchy fashion as well, with just three of their opening five ending in a win and a 1-0 defeat at Levski Sofia handing them an early defeat.
Ludogorets aren’t the best away from home in the Champions League either. They have lost five of their last eight trips away and have just two wins to their name in 14 games. They have also lost 4-0 to Basel in this competition back in the 2014/15 campaign.
Basel have won 12 of their last 16 home games in all competitions as well, and this season all four of their victories have been by more than a single goal margin. Considering the 4-0 defeat they were handed last time they visited Basel, I think odds of 2.100 for a Basel -1.0 Asian Handicap Win are good value for money. I’m going for a 3-0 correct score prediction at 10/1 as well.
Head To Head
Basel have won three and lost one of their four previous meetings with Ludogorets.
Stats
63% of Basel's last 16 home games in all competitions have seen them win by more than a single goal margin.
Team News
Centre back Manuel Akanji, defensive midfielder Luca Zuffi, playmaker Kevin Dua, and striker Andraz Sporar are all out injured for Basel.
Ludogorets are hoping to have a clean bill of health on Tuesday.
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