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#3 Basel
Swiss champions Basel have never really made a massive impact on the Champions League despite appearing there on numerous occasions, and this season wasn’t really expected to see that change.
Granted, they weren’t drawn in the toughest group, but against Manchester United, Portuguese champions Benfica – who made the last 16 of the UCL last season – and CSKA Moscow – not the best side, but still a dangerous team to have to play, particularly away.
Surprisingly though it’s Benfica who have struggled in the group while Basel have done extremely well in terms of their results. A loss to Man United at Old Trafford was largely expected for them to start off their campaign.
But they were then excellent in a shocking 5-0 defeat of Benfica – not only ending an 11-game winless streak but inflicting the heaviest defeat on Benfica for years. They then split results with CSKA – beating them away but suffering a defeat at home – and thus their chance of qualification was in flux.
Not so now. Last night saw them stun Manchester United with a 1-0 victory, as they defended doggedly throughout and scored the winner through Michael Lang in the 89th minute. It was Lang’s only shot of the game but it made the mark his side needed, and now – with only Benfica, who have yet to gain a point, to play, with CSKA facing United, it looks like the Swiss side could qualify for the knockout stages for the first time since 2014/15.
