The new Swiss Super League season got underway last week and this Sunday features further action with in-form Basel taking on FC Sion at the St. Jakob-Park ground with the hosts looking to post a fourth win on the trot in all competitions.
Although the Swiss domestic top flight season only started last week, Basel have already tasted competitive action on the European stage as they came up against Albanian outfit, Partizani Tirana, in the inaugural Europa Conference League beforehand.
A 1st leg 3-0 win over their Albanian counterparts in the 2nd qualifying round tie at their St. Jakob-Park ground set the hosts up nicely for the return leg in midweek which Basel took full advantage of by recording a 2-0 win in the away leg at the Elbasan Arena, winning the tie 5-0 on aggregate and setting up a 3rd qualifying round tie against Hungarian side, Ujpest.
In-between times, Basel registered an opening day 2-0 win away from home at newly-promoted Grasshopper, so Sunday afternoon’s hosts will be in supremely confident mood that they can continue their winning streak here.
FC Sion had to see off Challenge League side, Thun, in an end of season relegation/promotion play-off over two legs to determine their status for this season, with Sion eventually winning an entertaining tie 6-4 on aggregate to preserve their Swiss top flight status for this upcoming season.
Sion will certainly be keen to improve upon last season’s Super League finish of second from bottom this time around but their new campaign didn’t get off to the best of starts last weekend as they were dealt a 2-1 loss at home to Servette.
Victories in the Swiss Super League last term were sporadic at best for the visitors as Sion managed to pick up just three wins from their final 12 matches of the season, but ironically, they registered a resounding 4-0 home win over their upcoming hosts, Basel, on the final day of last season.
This time around though, Sion are expected to be up against a refreshed and confident Basel outfit who’ll be keen to maintain their winning start to this season.
Basel are unbeaten in each of their previous 13 meetings at home against FC Sion and the hosts look set to continue their dominance this Sunday with another victory.