FC Basel to win UCL second leg tie against PAOK
FC Basel were let off the hook in their Champions League second qualifying round first leg match against PAOK Salonika. A late goal from Basel's Albian Ajeti gave the Swiss club a lifeline.
The clubs will meet on Wednesday night at Basel's St. Jakob Park in a winner take all match. The first leg was an exciting encounter between the two sides. Now back in Basel, the hosts will have their home support behind them. Can they overcome a goal deficit and progress to the third qualifying round?
Raphael Wicky's Basel team has been very poor this season. The club is winless in the Swiss Super League having lost and drawn their two opening matches. Basel have allowed three goals while scoring twice. Basel's poor form stretches back to the end of last season as they haven't won in their last five matches.
On paper, Basel's players should be far fitter than PAOK's squad as the Greek Super League will not kick off until the end of August. However, in the first leg, PAOK's players looked far better prepared. Much of the match was played in Basel's half as PAOK continued to bombard the Swiss defence. Basel goalkeeper Jonas Omlin played well in the first leg and Wicky can thank the shot stopper for keeping the tie close.
PAOK may have won the first leg and looked impressive doing so, but the Greeks come into the second leg as the underdogs. Razvan Lucescu's team last played in the Champions league qualifying rounds in 2016-17. The club is hungry to get to the group stage, a place it has never been before. PAOK's form, stretching back to last season, has been fantastic.
The Greeks have won their last five matches. Lucescu has been able to carry over the form the club showed at the end of last term into this Champions league campaign. If Basel want to progress, the Swiss must find a way to shut down their opponent's free-scoring attack.
Despite their poor form and inability to score goals, Basel will find a way to defeat PAOK in regular time on Wednesday night. The problem for Basel is a 2-1 win still isn't enough to win the tie. The scoreline would see the two sides play extra-time as PAOK won the first leg at home 2-1. The 3-3 aggregate would force an overtime. If Basel hope to progress in regular time, the side needs to beat PAOK by two clear goals.
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