Neuchatel Xamax vs Basel Predictions

Basel continue their push for a place in the Champions League next season when they head to face Neuchatel Xamax on Saturday. The visitors come into this one with a hold on second, but they’re being chased down by Thun in the fight for the last Swiss spot in Europe’s top competition. The away side need to secure three points here, as they look to stave off any threat of slipping out of the top two. After some mixed form of late, can Basel claim the win they need to keep Thun at bay?

The hosts have much bigger problems, with four points between them and safety. They’re in the relegation playoff spot, but Grasshopper could well catch them and leave them bottom of the pile. After all, the hosts are bottom of the home form table, which is a huge blow going into a meeting with the side second in the league. The hosts have claimed back to back wins to boost their chances of staying in the top flight, but after losing 10 of 21 matches, they’re rank outsiders for this clash on Saturday.

Basel are 19 points shy of catching leaders Young Boys, so second is their main priority. The visitors need to keep themselves in the Champions League spots, to ensure they get that welcome income boost. It’s going to be tough for the visitors to hold on to their two-point lead over Thun, but they can get out in front here, with Basel playing in the weekend’s opening match in Switzerland. Can the visitors claim a crucial victory in order to widen the gap they hold over the side in third?

The visitors come here as favourites, and they should add to an impressive record which has seen them score 40 times in 21 games. They’ve been great going forward, but they’ve really needed those goals. The visitors have been a little lax at the back, as they’ve kept just one away clean sheet – meaning that 90% of their trips this season have seen both teams score.

Xamax have seen BTTS land in 100% of their home games, with 80% of them seeing over 2.5. The hosts’ recent scoring form should see them push on for goals in this home clash, but it’s hard to see their defence preventing Basel from adding to an impressive scoring tally.  The last seven meetings between these two here have seen both teams score, while over 2.5 goals has landed in eight of their last nine Super League outings. That has us backing BTTS and over 2.5 here, along with an away win.