Basel take on the visitors Copenhagen in the first leg of UEFA Champions League Qualification final round. The match will be played on Wednesday, August 20th at St. Jakob-Park (Basel).
Basel are yet to impress. Rotblau were unquestionably the dominant club in Switzerland for around fifteen years, winning league titles almost without exception during that era. But after securing their landmark 20th championship in 2017, the decline began. For a while it seemed impossible for them to return to the top — and last season they shocked many by completing a “golden double.” However, the coach who achieved that, Celestini, was lured away by CSKA Moscow. His replacement, Magnin, a former player with coaching experience, has struggled to deliver at his new club. The reigning cup winners have started the Super League inconsistently, with two wins and two defeats so far. At least in the domestic cup against modest opposition, Biel-Bienne, they finally found some rhythm with a convincing win. Basel still lack consistency, and their new era under Magnin has yet to properly take off.
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Copenhagen are a relatively young project, but since their creation in the early 1990s, they quickly claimed their first championship and have since averaged a title every other year. Two seasons ago they fell short in the league, but that was compensated by a historic run in the Champions League, where they reached the knockout stages for only the second time. Last season, Midtjylland overtook them right at the finish line, but Jacob Neestrup’s men have started strongly this year in both the league and Europe. In Champions League qualifying, they have been dominant and solid at the back, not conceding a single goal so far. They calmly handled Drita with 1-0 and 2-0 victories, and after a goalless draw away at Malmö, they thrashed the Swedes 5-0 at home. On the domestic front, they carried that momentum into a weekend win over Nordsjælland, showing no signs of slowing down. Copenhagen’s balance of defensive discipline and attacking power makes them a serious threat in this tie.
Although both clubs have been well-regarded in Europe for decades, this will be their first ever competitive meeting. The Swiss side may be seen as favorites at home, but their summer performances have been underwhelming. Copenhagen, by contrast, are in excellent form and look well-prepared. The smart bet is on the Danes to avoid defeat on Wednesday night (X2).
Prediction for the match: Copenhagen not to lose (X2).
