The fourth stage of the single group of the Europa League in football sends FCSB to Switzerland. In Țara Cantoanelor, the Romanian champion has today, from 7:45 p.m., a meeting with a caliber opponent, FC Basel.
Darius Olaru is the captain of the champion
After three rounds, the two teams are close to suffering: FC Basel is in 24th place and FCSB is in 28th position. The last direct duel dates from January 16, 2020. It was a friendly match that ended with the success of the Swiss, score 1-0. The goal in the 86th minute by Kosovar Edon Zhegrova, the current Juventus Torino player, decided. The other three meetings took place in 2013 (two draws with the same score, 1-1, in the Champions League group finished last by FCSB, with 3 points; Basel finished 3rd, with 8 points, the first two places being Chelsea – 12 and Schalke – 10). In 2012, a friendly played in June ended 4-2 for FCSB, scorers Rusescu, Rocha, Florin Costea and Nikolic.
Changed tactics in the middle
The management of the FCSB has already decided the starting team that it will use in the trip from Switzerland. The plan to use two defensive midfielders in Europe was abandoned, so Adrian Șut and Florin Tănase will have the role of blocking the opponent in front of the defense. The first 11 were dictated this time from the Palace.
“With Basel I will make the akathist of Saint George. That's what I'm going to do, because that's the only way you beat them, with prayer. You're away, you're at their house. The best team will be with Basel. We wanted to play with two closers, but we said that if we use two closers, we will be a kind of target, that is, the ball only to them. I said that we will play with Tănase and a defender, to keep the ball. There will be Tănase and Šut in the midfield. Olaru decar, Thiam on the left, Miculescu on the right and Bîrligea top. In defence, Pantea, Ngezana, Graovac and with Risto Radunovic. We rest Cisotti. He will enter the second half. Miculescu is not Maradona, but in strong matches, he is the best, stronger than Bîrligea, because he wins duels, scares the defenders, comes and helps the defenders. This is the modern footballer. My best footballer and the one who puts money in my pocket is David Miculescu. He put money in my pocket last year, he's putting money in my pocket this year”, the landowner Gigi Becali (67 years old) puffed up.
No Earring in the Land of Cantons
At the age of 19, Ionuț Cercel, the stopper brought from Farul Constanța, took advantage of the problems in the center of the FCSB defense and impressed with his developments. However, the young footballer will not be available for the match against Basel, in the Europa League, because the Romanian champion did not include him on the UEFA list. FCSB's options for the central defender position in Europe are Siyabonga Ngezana, Daniel Graovac, respectively Vlad Chiricheș and Joyskim Dawa (the last two being injured at the moment).
Confrontation with Daniliuc
FCSB have only three points after three matches played in the league phase of the Europa League. The Romanian champions won in Holland with Go Ahead Eagles, 1-0, and lost in Bucharest with Young Boys Bern, 0-2, and Bologna, 1-2. Basel also has three points, obtained in the second round, when they won, score 2-0, against Stuttgart. The Swiss lost to Freiburg, 1-2, and to Lyon, 0-2. FCSB presents itself at “St. Jacob-Park” after a victory in the Super League, 2-0 away with Cluj University, and Basel drew away with the champion Young Boys Bern, score 0-0, after playing from the 48th minute in numerical superiority. After 12 rounds, Basel is 2nd in the standings with 22 points (leader Thun has 28 points). In Basel, Flavius David Daniliuc (24 years old) is developing, he is an Austrian stopper with Romanian origins, brought up by Bayern Munich. For the Swiss, the basic man is the Nigerian Philip Otele (26 years old), who in Romania played for UTA Arad and CFR Cluj.
Stadium with 38,000 seats
FCSB plays its second away match in the main group of the Europa League, after the one in the Netherlands, with Go Ahead Eagles. The Basel arena was put into use in 2001 and was renovated between 2005 and 2006. The capacity of the stadium is 38,000 seats, and the playing surface is natural. Basel supporters are known for the fiery atmosphere they create at home games, but they will have their share of resistance. It is estimated that FCSB will be supported by around 1,000 fans in Switzerland. FC Basel has 21 Swiss championships under its belt, and in the past was used to the groups of the Champions League.
An Albanian at the center
The Albanian Juxhin Xhaja will referee the match between FCSB and FC Basel, according to the UEFA website. Assistant referees were appointed Arber Zalla and Rejdi Avdo, and the fourth official will be Olsion Yzeiraj, all from Albania. The Italian Michael Fabbri was delegated as the video referee, and the Albanian Kreshnik Barjamaj will be the assistant video referee. “Central Xhaja has refereed FCSB twice so far, the first time on August 3, 2023, when the “red-blues” beat ȚSKA 1948 Sofia 3-2, at the “Arcul de Triumf” stadium in the Capital, in the second leg of the second preliminary round of the Conference League. The Albanian's second match in charge came on 12 December 2024, as FCSB drew with German side Hoffenheim 0–0 in the sixth round of the Europa League. Juxhin Xhaja also led Craiova University, in the match won 2-1 on the field of the Istanbul Başakşehir team, on August 21 this year, in the first leg of the Conference League play-off.
The schedule of FCSB in the main phase of the Europa League
Stage 1: Go Ahead Eagles – FCSB 0-1
Stage 2: FCSB – Young Boys 0-2
Stage 3: FCSB – Bologna 1-2
Stage 4: FC Basel – FCSB, November 6, 19:45
Stage 5: Red Star – FCSB, November 27, 22:00
Stage 6: FCSB – Feyenoord, December 11, 22:00
Stage 7: Dinamo Zagreb – FCSB, January 22, 22:00
Stage 8: FCSB – Fenerbahce, January 29, 22:00
