Two teams who have featured regularly in European competition of late, meet on Thursday evening, as Basel host Krasnodar in their first game in Group C of the Europa League.
Both teams kicked off the season in the qualifying stages of the Champions League. However, they suffered defeats against LASK and Olympiakos respectively.
The Europa League group stage is familiar territory for both teams, as Basel are making their fourth appearance and Krasnodar their fifth appearance.
Last season Basel failed to qualify for the group stages of a European competition for the first time in 15 years. The Swiss side has a mixed record in the Europa League group stage too, winning five, drawing twice and losing twice. However, the home side has won just once in their last four group stage matches.
Basel have never faced Krasnodar in competitive action. However, the Swiss have faced Russian teams on 13 previous occasions, resulting in mixed results, as they have recorded six wins and suffered five defeats. They have suffered defeat in two of their last three home games against Russian teams.
Krasnodar only made their European debut in season 2014/15. Since their debut campaign, they have only failed to make the group stage once, making it to the knockout stages of the competition in the last three seasons.
Last season the Russian side made it to the last 16 of the competition, only for a last-gasp goal from Spanish team Valencia to deny them their first-ever appearance in a European quarter-final.
The visitors have a mixed away record in the Europa League group stages, as they have recorded just four wins in their 12 away games while suffering six defeats.
⚽️ Heute Training 🔜 @FCKrasnodar #FCBasel1893 #zämmestark #rotblaulive pic.twitter.com/g3eAW43bBW— FC Basel 1893 (@FCBasel1893) September 18, 2019
⚽️ Heute Training 🔜 @FCKrasnodar #FCBasel1893 #zämmestark #rotblaulive pic.twitter.com/g3eAW43bBW
This could be an intriguing clash between two very good teams. Forebet predicts that Basel will record a victory in a low-scoring encounter.