Basel vs Fiorentina betting tips: Europa Conference League semi-final second leg preview, predictions, team news and odds
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Basel vs Fiorentina odds and betting statistics
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Basel vs Fiorentina match preview
Having secured a last-gasp shock victory in the first leg, can FC Basel complete the upset back at home?
Last Thursday night, Fiorentina were widely expected to claim a resounding victory at Stadio Artemio Franchi.
This then looking set to be the case when Arthur Cabral broke the deadlock from close-range, scoring against his former club.
However, mid-way through the second half, Andy Diouf got Basel back on terms, before the unthinkable happened.
In the 93rd minute, Fiorentina were unable to clear a corner, Darian Males played a ball across the box and Zeki Amdouni was on hand to fire home.
2-1 it finished in Florence, so can Basel make that narrow advantage count?
Thus, the 20-times champions of Switzerland are on the verge of a first-ever European final, having been beaten by Chelsea in their only previous semi-final a decade ago.
What’s more remarkable is the fact that Heiko Vogel’s team are sixth in the ten-team Swiss Super League, just 11 points clear of rock bottom Sion, while 26 points adrift champions BSC Young Boys.
Following Sunday’s 6-1 demolition at the hands of St. Gallen, Basel are on course for their lowest finish since 1998, having not won the title for six seasons.
RotBlau have never failed to qualify for UEFA competition in the 21st century but, if they’re to keep that streak going, will need to win this tournament.
Fiorentina meantime, before a ball was kicked in these semi-finals, were favourites to go on and lift the trophy in Prague on 7 June.
Now though, following that potentially damaging defeat at home, I Viola must produce a second leg comeback.
Vincenzo Italiano’s team will certainly believe this is possible, having won their last five European away games, scoring at least three times in each, smashing Hearts, RFS, Braga, Sivasspor and Lech Poznań.
I Gigliati did beat Udinese 2-0 at the weekend, but remain eighth in Serie A, nine points below Atalanta with only three games remaining.
Thus, if Fiorentina are to be back in Europe next season, they must win this competition, or beat Inter in next Wednesday’s Coppa Italia Final at Stadio Olimpico.
Will it be an historic night for Basel, or will Fiorentina produce a remontada at St. Jakob-Park?
Basel team news
Heiko Vogel made nine changes for Sunday’s heavy defeat at Kybunpark, so this XI could be identical to the one that took to the field in Florence.
Veteran defender Michael Lang and midfielder Andy Diouf, who equalised with a magnificent solo-goal at week ago, the only players to start both.
Taulant Xhaka, Wouter Burger and Kasim Adams all missed that trip to St. Gallen suspended, having all been sent off in defeat to Zürich a week earlier.
Andi Zeqiri was surprisingly only on the bench in Italy but, having scored at the weekend, could get the nod in place of Jean-Kévin Augustin.
With Arnau Comas and Sergio López injured, Basel have limited defensive options.
Predicted XI (3-5-2): Hitz; Pelmard, Lang, Adams; Xhaka, Burger, Diouf, Ndoye, Calafiori; Amdouni, Zeqiri.
Fiorentina team news
Similarly, Vincenzo Italiano also made nine changes at the weekend, with only captain Cristiano Biraghi and Jonathan Ikoné keeping their places.
Centre-back Nikola Milenković missed the first leg suspended, but will be back in here, alongside Lucas Martínez Quarta, with Luca Ranieri dropping out.
Arthur Cabral, who joined Fiorentina from Basel last summer, took his tally to 16 for the season a week ago, eight of which have come in the Europa Conference League.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Terracciano; Dodô, Martínez, Milenković, Biraghi; Amrabat, Mandragora, Bonaventura; Ikoné, González, Cabral.
