An in-form Aston Villa will want to continue their winning streak when they take on Swiss side FC Basel, who are really strong on home soil.
FC Basel have a big task on their hands if they are to move upwards in the UEFA Europa League standings as Aston Villa come visiting. The Swiss outfit are currently languishing in 24th spot, the last of the playoff spots, and Ludovic Magnin will want his players to make use of their home form when they take on the in-form Villans.
Basel have endured an inconsistent start to their UEFA Europa League campaign, with two wins and three defeats in five games so far. As a measure of balance, all those losses came on the road, as they have won their last five home games in the Europa League group phases.
Away from their usual presence in the UEFA Champions League, Basel are playing in the Europa League for the first time in six years. They are also set to meet Aston Villa for the first time since 2001 in the final of the Intertoto Cup, which they lost.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa are in red-hot form at the moment ahead of the trip to Basel, as they secured a last-gasp victory in the Premier League against league leaders Arsenal at Villa Park. A late Emiliano Buendia strike ensured Unai Emery’s side closed the gap to the Gunners to just three points, which has brought them into the title race.
That result also ensured Aston Villa extended their winning run to seven games across all competitions, and Emery must switch his focus towards the Europa League. So far, the West Midlands outfit are stationed in third spot following their stellar results in the competition, having only lost once to Dutch side Go Ahead Eagles.
Aston Villa must shift their focus towards the Europa League and ensure they are in the clear with their ambitions to finish in the top eight. Their position in that regard is currently not in any imminent danger, but it is in Emery’s best interest to ensure they are clear of all doubts.
Team News & Tactics
FC Basel
Kaio Eduardo is the only absentee for Bael, as he is reportedly serving a cross-competition suspension as well as being injured with an unspecified problem. Hence, Ludovic Magnin will have a full squad to select from, as former Liverpool star Xherdan Shaqiri will be their main point in the attacking third.
The 34-year-old has 10 goals and 11 assists in 25 games across all competitions, and Magnin will rely on the veteran to provide a solution in the attacking third, featuring off the right wing. The Basel manager will set up in a 4-2-3-1 setup in this competition as opposed to his usual 4-3-3 in the Swiss Super League.
Moritz Broschinski will lead the line while Leo Leroy and Philip Otele will complete the setup in the final third for FC Basel against Aston Villa. Andrej Bacanin and Metinho will be the main preferences in the central midfield for the Swiss side.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Hitz; Tsunemoto, Adjetey, Daniliuc, Schmid; Metinho, Bacanin; Shaqiri, Leroy, Otele; Broschinski
Aston Villa
Unai Emery is expected to make some changes to the continental competition and bring in some of his fringe stars to the fore. It is only wise to rest some of their regular starters from the weekend, meaning Lamare Bogarde and Lucas Digne might start in the full-back roles, while Victor Lindelof might come in for Ezri Konsa to play at the heart of the defence alongside Pau Torres.
There could be a bench role for Boubacar Kamara, meaning Belgian pair Youri Tielemans and Amadou Onana should feature in central midfield. Tyrone Mings is the only one missing out with an injury at the moment for Villa.
There could be further changes in the attacking third, as Donyell Malen could lead the line for Aston Villa in place of Ollie Watkins. Similarly, Jadon Sancho and Evann Guessand should feature in the wide areas, meaning there could be a rest for John McGinn ahead of the weekend’s action in the Premier League.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Bizot; Bogarde, Lindelof, Torres, Digne; Onana, Tielemans; Guessand, Rogers, Sancho; Malen
Key Stats
- FC Basel are unbeaten in their last five home games in the Europa League group/league phase.
- FC Basel and Aston Villa last met 25 years ago in the 2001 Intertoto Cup Final.
- Aston Villa have won their last seven games across all competitions.
- Aston Villa have won one of their last six UEFA Cup/Europa League away fixtures.
- Aston Villa have played 93.5% of their passes short in the UEFA Europa League this season, the highest percentage of any side. The only English side to have a higher ratio of short passes in a Europa League season are Brighton in 2023/24 (93.9%).
Player to Watch
Donyell Malen
Unai Emery has a big weapon in his hands in Malen, and it is only situational that he uses him from the start against Basel. The Dutch forward has been in a sublime vein of form in the UEFA Europa League, scoring thrice in his last two games.
The fact that Ollie Watkins is also coming back to his best self, Emery has two good weapons to use in the forward line, and Malen would likely start against FC Basel to allow good rotations in the squad. Hence, this game is key for Malen to give Aston Villa a different option to Watkins in the No.9 role, as well as boost the team’s chances in the competition.
Prediction
FC Basel 1-3 Aston Villa
Basel are on a good run on home soil, but their overall form has been anything but consistent. The team has only performed well on home soil, but given the level of their next opponents, it is only wise to consider the Swiss side the underdogs in this upcoming clash with Aston Villa.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa are probably the most in-form team in all of Europe, owing to a seven-game winning run across all competitions. Their statement win over Arsenal was proof of their current vein of form, as they are expected to win this upcoming clash away at Basel with some level of comfort.
