For our FC Basel vs. Trabzonspor prediction, we're going for a 1-1 draw.
Swiss side FC Basel and Turkish outfit Trabzonspor will compete for a place in the Europa Conference League quarterfinals with the tie finely balanced following a 1-0 first leg win for the Turks.
FC Basel reached the Europa Conference League last 16 by finishing 2nd in Group H, a group containing SK Slovan Bratislava, FC Pyunik and FK Zalgiris.
The Swiss side, in all honesty, have struggled this season after failing to dominate a group containing no sides with European prestige in addition to a highly underwhelming league campaign that currently has them in 6th place in the Swiss Super League, a massive twenty points shy of Young Boys at the top and only five points clear Winterthur at the foot of the table.
They enter this game amidst a pretty underwhelming run of form, too, having won two, drawn one and lost two of their last five matches in all competitions, the most recent of which was a 2-2 draw against Servette in the league.
Basel's home record is not particularly encouraging, either, having won only two of their last eight competitive matches on home soil.
Basel were thoroughly outplayed by their Turkish counterparts in the first leg and should be thankful they were only beaten 1-0. They will likely improve here but their shoddy recent home record does little to instil any confidence in their chances.
Trabzonspor reached the last 16 of the Europa Conference League by finishing 3rd in Europa League Group H, a group containing Ferencvaros, AS Monaco and Crvena zvezda.
The Turkish side enter this game with a valuable 1-0 lead from the first leg, but there will be some frustration amongst the squad and the staff alike that the lead is only one goal having dominated the first leg in Turkey.
They're not having the best season domestically as they sit 6th in the Turkish Super Lig, and they enter this game amidst a mixed run of form having won two and lost two of their last four matches in all competitions.
Their away form is a real concern coming into this game having won only one of their last ten matches on the road. That win wasn't the most convincing one either, as it came in extra-time of a cup game against the side currently bottom of the Super Lig.
This tie is on a knife edge coming into the second leg and while Trabzonspor lead their progression is very much unassured. The Turkish side are underdogs, but this should be another close game.
Don’t forget to check out the rest of our previews, tips and offers for this weekend’s action.
