FC Basel 1893 vs Eintracht Frankfurt Prediction & Betting Tips - Europa League

Prediction published on 02/07/2020, 13:45  by Daniel Ngulu | Modified on 02/08/2020 at 13:50 in Europa League Predictions

FC Basel are out to complete the job in their Europa League last 16 clash at home to German side Eintracht Frankfurt as the competition returns after lockdown. The Swiss side holds a 3-0 lead from the first leg going to the Thursday game but they have a final match in their domestic league before getting to face Frankfurt. Basel will not win their domestic title once again this season; they are guaranteed to finish third though, which will be enough for them to play in the Europa League next season. They head to this clash on the back of a good run; unbeaten in their last six matches but three of these have ended in draws. They have continued with their high scoring returns in recent matches – 18 goals in their last six matches but having conceded eight in the process, they will carry questions over their defence. Their strength at home is not in question, having managed a seven-game unbeaten run ahead of their last domestic game before facing the Germans and they have scored two or more in each of their last five home matches. Basel haven’t lost any of their last nine Europa League matches at home, winning seven and failing to score just once, in the draw with Sevilla back in 2016. The only loss they have suffered this season in the Europa League came away to Krasnodar, and they drew away with Trabzonspor; they have won all the rest. Having been in action competitively in the run up to this game could leave them fitter ahead of this game and that will be a major factor.

Frankfurt recently drew with AS Monaco in a friendly match in a bid to keep fit after ending their domestic season much earlier, in July. The Germans head to this match with odds heavily stacked against them after a 3-0 loss at home but having finished their domestic season with three wins in four matches, they will feel confident enough for this game. At the group stages Frankfurt managed wins away to Arsenal and Vitoria Guimaraes then drew with Salzburg in the last 32 and will want to carry that form to this clash. However, they didn’t manage as big a win as they’d need in this game and also have no clean sheet in any of their last three away games in this competition. Credit to Frankfurt though, they have scored in each of their last four away matches in Europa League. In their eight matches so far in the competition, Frankfurt have managed just one clean sheet – in the 1-0 away win over Guimaraes and in five of these, they have conceded two or more goals; it says a lot about their defensive abilities.