Two sides looking to recover from defeats in the previous round of their respective Europa League league phase campaigns face off on Thursday as Basel welcome FCSB to St. Jakob-Park.
The Swiss outfit were beaten by Lyon on matchday three, marking their second loss in the opening three fixtures and leaving them 24th in the 36-team standings. The visitors have endured a similar start, losing to Freiburg in their most recent continental outing and currently sit 28th in the league phase table.
Basel arrive following a goalless draw against a ten-man Young Boys in the Swiss top flight, while FCSB secured a 2-0 victory against Universitatea Cluj in their most recent domestic outing.
Read our Basel vs FCSB predictions and preview to find out more, and remember to check our other UEFA Europa League predictions.
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Basel vs FCSB prediction: Both sides aim for bounceback win
Key stats:
- Basel have won their last three home games across all competitions.
- Leo Leroy has averaged four tackles per game in his three league phase appearances this season.
- FCSB have scored and conceded in nine of their last eleven away outings across all competitions.
Correct score prediction: Basel 2-1 FCSB
This fixture is difficult to call, as both teams have performed well in recent home and away outings. Basel’s three victories at St. Jakob-Park rival FCSB’s three wins in four on the road. With home advantage, the Swiss side appear slightly more likely to prevail, while their defensive solidity at home could be tested by the visitors’ attacking threat.
Pre-match analysis: Host favoured by the bookies
- HOME: 4/7 (1.57) – 46.7%
- DRAW:10/3 (4.33) – 21.5%
- AWAY: 17/4 (5.25) – 31.8%</p>
*Odds courtesy of Ladbrokes; subject to change*
A 46.7% win probability for Basel suggests the home side are favourites, though FCSB remain a threat with a 31.8% likelihood of success.
Our hot tip of both teams to score and under 4.5 goals is priced at 2.4, offering great value given how the previous meetings between the sides went.
Most recent H2H: Evenly balanced record
The sides last met in a friendly in 2020, which Basel won 1-0. Across three exhibition games, the Romanians won once, Basel once, and one match ended in a draw. Competitively, the two teams have met twice in the Champions League in 2013, both games finishing in stalemates.
Basel preview: Ludovic Magnin to retain defensive quartet?
Right-back Keigo Tsunemoto appears to be Basel’s only expected absentee. The defensive quartet of Dominik Schmid, Flavius Daniliuc, Adrian Leon Barisic, and Nicolas Vouilloz, which kept a clean sheet in Bern, is likely to be retained.
Predicted XI: Hitz (GK), Vouilloz, Barisic, Daniliuc, Schmid, Metinho, Leroy, Soticek, Shaqiri, Otele & Ajeti
Basel’s last five results:
- 02/11/25: Young Boys 0-0 Basel (D)
- 29/10/25: Basel 2-0 Zurich (W)
- 26/10/25: Lausanne 5-1 Basel (L)
- 23/10/25: Lyon 2-0 Basel (L)
- 18/10/25: Basel 3-0 Winterthur (W)
FCSB preview: Key absentees in defence
FCSB will be without centre-back Mihai Popescu, who continues to recover from a knee injury. Defensive options are further limited with Ionut Cercel ineligible, while full-back Valentin Cretu remains sidelined with a metatarsal issue.
Predicted XI: Tarnovanu (GK), Pantea, Ngezana, Lixandru, Radunovic, Alhassan, Sut, Cisotti, Tanase, Olaru & Birligea
FCSB’s last five results:
- 01/11/25: U. Cluj 0-2 FCSB (W)
- 29/10/25: Gloria Bistrita 1-3 FCSB (W)
- 26/10/25: FCSB 4-0 UTA Arad (W)
- 23/10/25: FCSB 1-2 Bologna (L)
- 18/10/25: Metaloglobus Bucharest 2-1 FCSB (L)
Player to watch: Xherdan Shaqiri
Basel captain Xherdan Shaqiri has contributed directly to 16 goals this season, including one in the Europa League this season. The attacker averages 2.4 shots per game in the competition and is expected to play an important role in breaking down FCSB’s defence.