The top match of the first round in the
Swiss Super League will be played in St.Jakob-Park on Tuesday evening when the champion
FC Basel plays against
FC Zurich, the third of last season.
After their strong last seasons run the holder of Cup and championship, FC Basel, starts with tons of confidence into the new season. They aim to defend their title and to qualify for Champions League. Basels squad has wide quality, while from the seven new players only Gilley Yapi (former Young Boys Bern) should get into the starting eleven. Five players played at the Worldcup and missed parts of the preparation phase. Rumours of a possible selling of top striker Alexander Frei and super talent Xherdan Shaqiri may have negative impact on the team. Last season Basel won at home 14 of 18 matches and had the best attack of Super League with 90 goals.
Last years Champions League participant FC Zurich finished the disappointing season only on seventh position. This season they want to play at the top again and even the word ‘title' was used. Actually Zurich had won the Swiss championship three times in the last five seasons and has improved their squad with decent players in all parts of the team. Zurich lost 10 of 18 away matches last season.
FC Basel - FC ZurichSwiss Super League - 1st round
Date: 20 July, 2010 - 20:15 CET
Stadium: St. Jakob-Park, Basel
FC Basel:Keeper: Sommer
Defenders: Inkoom - Abraham - Cagdas - Safari
Midfielders: Shaqiri - Yapi - Huggel - Stocker
Forwards: Frei - Chipperfield
Coach: Fink
Injured: Streller
Booked: Costanzo
FC Zurich:
Keeper: Guatelli
Defenders: Stahel - Teixeira - Zouaghi - Rodriguez
Midfielders: Margairaz - Kukuruzovic - Nikci - Schönbächler
Forwards: Chermiti - Alphonse
Coach: Fischer
Injured: -
Booked: -
For the circumstances in Switzerland Basel has a high number of supporters, which will cheer their team also in this first match. The weather forecast for Tuesday is still hot and sunny, but in the evening temperatures will be cooled down.
Last meeting: 11 April 2010, FC Zurich - FC Basel 1:2
Wins Basel: 29
Wins Zurich: 22
Draws: 10
Basel is full of confidence and has the best squad of the Super League, they must be clear favourite at home. Even when FC Zurich is a decent opponent, the team from Basel should leave the pitch as the winner.
The best odds on Basel to win you can find at
