FC Zurich vs Basel Predictions

Zurich and Basel both secured safe passage through to the next round of the Schweizer Pokal last weekend, but their focus now returns to the Super League as the pair go head to head on Sunday with just goal difference separating them in the table.

Zurich could only manage a draw at home to St. Gallen in their last Super League match, and although the game ended goalless, it had plenty of goal scoring opportunities. The hosts managed six shots on target and five off, while St. Gallen had eight shots on goal and three that went wide or over, and the possession was split 50/50 come the referee’s final whistle.

In the end a draw was the fairest result on the balance of play and both teams would have been relatively happy with a share of the spoils as it took them each to seven points from the opening four matches of the season. Zurich midfielder Winter is on two goals for the campaign already and could top his seasons best of ten in the current campaign, if his form in front of goal continues at a steady pace.

Zurich don’t have the best of records against Basel, but did beat the Swiss giants 4-1 back in May. Second half goals from Dwamena, Jagne, Frey, and Marchesano put Zurich 4-0 up at home, and even though Ajeti pulled a goal back in stoppage time it had no effect on the party-like atmosphere inside the home sides stadium as Zurich recorded a famous win.

Basel came out on the right end of a 3-2 scoreline against Sion in their latest Super League match, and this five-goal thriller will be remembered for some time to come. Albian Ajeti set the pace for this game with a goal inside the very first minute and teammate Frei added a second goal shortly before the half hour mark.

A fortieth minute goal from Uldriķis halved the hosts advantage just before the break, and the very same player scored in the fifty-sixth minute to bring Sion back onto level terms. The sides remained level pegging until an unfortunate own goal from Andre Luis in the seventy-first minute restored Basel’s lead and more importantly it turned out to be the games winning goal.

Ajeti and Frei are both on two league goals each for the season and we wouldn’t be surprised to see at least one of them add to their total this weekend. Both teams have been in good form defensively, keeping three clean sheets in their last six matches which suggests we could be in for a low scoring game on Sunday.

We’re confident that Basel will make up for their 4-1 defeat at the hands of Zurich in their last meeting with a win of their own on Sunday, and have backed the visitors to win by a single goal to nil. Basel have won each of their last five matches in all competitions, while Zurich have failed to win both of their last two Super League games. Basel have won four of the last six encounters with Zurich and only lost once, and we’re expecting another win for the visitors on Sunday.