(Translated by Thomas Snaith)
The game against Maccabi Tel-Aviv is easy to describe: Basel had a great start, scoring early into the game. Luca Zuffi scored a remarkable free kick from a distance of 25 meters, clipping the inside of the post.
Surprisingly Maccabi scored the equalizer in the 24th minute. It was Nikola Mitrovic who gave the assist to Erhan Zahavi, who passed FCB´s defense as well as keeper Tomas Vaclic from close distance. After the equalizer Basel failed to beat the Israeli´s rock solid defense.
„Not switched on after the break“
Especially in the 2nd half FCB didn’t seem to create to much ganger for its opponent. Urs Fischer tried to find answers: “We wern´t that switched on in the 2nd half and played through the middle too often. As we didn´t use the wings we wern´t able to create that much danger with passes towards the center, where there was no space.”
In both fixtures Maccabi wasn’t the better team but the played a solid game in the Bloomfield Stadium, never risking defeat, defending effectively. Basel failed to win their home game, where they were clearly the better side but unable to make use of their many chances.
6 fixtures against Maccabi, never beaten
It´s hard to handle; FCB have played 6 fixtures against Maccabi Tel-Aviv and 11 fixtures this season without losing a single game. Despite the impressive statistics FC Basel 1893 have failed to reach their goal of Champions League football. Defeat is as much of a part of football as victory is.
The show must go on; Instead of Champions League football, FCB will continue with the group stage of the Europa League. The last time Basel played Europa League football, they reached the semi final of the competition. Time will tell how well FCB will do this time.
Match summary:
Maccabi Tel-Aviv FC – FC Basel 1893 1:1 (1:1)
Bloomfield Stadium. – 14‘000 Supporters (sold out stadium). – SR 6Skomina (Slovenia).
Goals: 11. Zuffi 0:1. 24. Zahavi 1:1 (Mitrovic).
MTA: Juan Pablo; Shpungin, Ben Haim Tal I, Tibi, Ben Harush; Mitrovic (91. Itzhaki), Igiebor (70. Peretz), Alberman, Rikan, Ben Haim Tal II (83. Miha); Zahavi.
FCB: Vaclik; Lang, Suchy, Samuel, Safari; Xhaka, Elneny (76. Gashi); Callà (83. Ajeti), Zuffi, Bjarnason (68. Boëtius); Embolo.
Notes: FCB without Delgado, Janko and Kuzmanovic (all injured). Substitutes FCB: Ajeti, Boëtius, Degen, Gashi, Hoegh, Traoré und Vailati. Remaining players not listed for this fixture. – Yellow Cards: 49. Safari. 62. Rikan. 74. Zuffi. 84. Xhaka. 85. Suchy.
