Prediction: Basel vs PSV

Verdict: Over three goals

Best Odds: 6/4

Bookmaker: Bet365

Two sides with plenty of European pedigree and looking to secure a Champions League group stage return for this year, Basel will welcome Dutch outfit PSV to St. Jakob-Park on Tuesday night.

Basel

Starting with Tuesday’s hosts, still showing signs of a hangover after throwing away their 2-1 lead in Eindhoven last week, fans around St. Jakob-Park are becoming increasingly worried by Basel’s start to the new season. Once again putting in a worrying display in their surprise 2-1 defeat at home to St. Gallen last weekend, Marcel Koller’s men have now lost three of their last four matches across all competitions and their continued defensive issues need resolving immediately if they’re to pull off a turnaround in midweek. Along with now losing back-to-back matches on home soil for the first time since June 2018, Basel have shipped nine goals in their last four appearances and remarkably have recorded just one clean sheet since the 4th of May. While Koller’s men might still be dealing with some very public defensive issues, 22-year-old forward Albian Ajeti has two goals in his last two appearances and has continued to build off an eye-catching campaign last season. Attracting interest from across Europe, the Swiss international bagged 17 league goals last year, the best return of any player at St. Jakob-Park.

Team News

Having been on the bench at the weekend, both Ricky van Wolfswinkel and Albian Ajeti are expected to start for Basel on Tuesday night.

PSV

As for the visitors, while Head Coach Mark van Bommel unsurprisingly elected to leave out both Erick Gutierrez and Hirving Lozano for their trip to Ajax over the weekend, PSV flattered to deceive for large spells of the game and saw their Dutch counterparts lift the Super Cup with a routine 2-0 victory in Amsterdam. Despite showing some real steel to pinch two 90th minute goals against Basel last week, Boeren have won just two of their last six matchups across all competitions. Along with managing to record just a single domestic away victory in their last five matches outside of Eindhoven, Van Bommel will also be more than aware of PSV’s woeful record while away on Champions League duty. Aside from a hard-fought 3-2 win away at BATE back in August, the Dutch giants have not recorded a European victory on the road since August 2013.

Team News

PSV are expected to recall Erick Gutierrez and Hirving Lozano, who were on the bench for the Dutch Super Cup.

Key Factors to Consider

• Both of the previous meetings between the two sides have finished by a score of 3-2.
• Basel have lost three of their last four matches and have suffered back-to-back defeats at St. Jakob-Park for the first time since June 2018.
• The Swiss side have also recorded just one clean sheet in their last 15 matches across all competitions.
• PSV have won just one of their last 13 Champions League matches on the road.
• Each of Basel’s last 17 consecutive games have seen over 2.5 goals at full-time.

Conclusion

On paper, this has all the makings of a matchup that should produce an abundance of chances at both ends of the pitch. With Basel and PSV playing out a dramatic five-goal thriller when the two sides met last week, we’re backing another high-scoring encounter between two sides who have some very worrying defensive issues.

Verdict: Over three goals

Best Odds: 6/4

Bookmaker: Bet365