Zalgiris vs Basel prediction: EUROPE: Europa Conference League – Group Stage betting tips on match 2022-09-14 16:45.
Žalgiris will make history by becoming the first Lithuanian club to host a group stage fixture in a major UEFA club competition on home soil, as they continue their debut group stage appearance in continental football with the second matchday of the UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL). Their current seven-game unbeaten run across all competitions (W4, D3) included not only last week’s 0-0 draw at Slovan Bratislava but a 2-0 weekend league win that leaves them on track to defend their domestic double.
In addition to the second-best home win rate of Lithuania’s A Lyga (64%), Žalgiris also took a positive result from all of their Champions League (UCL) and Europa League (UEL) home qualifying matches earlier in the season (W2, D2), which should boost their confidence ahead of this historic occasion. The challenge of Switzerland’s Basel, their first Swiss opposition, should be a fascinating indication of just how strong their home ground advantage could be.
Switzerland’s Basel took full advantage of two home victories (3-1 and 5-1) in four days to get back into the winners’ circle ahead of another continental away trip, a hurdle which has often been too difficult for them to clear in recent years. The eight goals in those two matches is vindicating some bold and daring tactics from manager Alex Frei, who has been willing to regularly leave club captain Fabian Frei out of the starting XI to execute them.
Whilst they’re expected to win on their debut against Lithuanian opposition after taking out their first clash with an Armenian club on the opening matchday (3-1), away wins in continental football have been few and far between. In fact Basel have secured just one victory from their last eight away trips in any UEFA competition (W1, D3, L4), albeit with three of the four defeats coming as the underdogs.
Players to watch: Ĺ˝algiris striker Renan Oliveira is not only topping the goalscorer charts in Lithuania’s domestic league, but also netted a double in their last home start – a 2-1 cup victory with ten men! For the visitors, midfielder Wouter Burger’s goalscoring hunger appears to know no end, having scored in his last three competitive outings for Basel.
Hot stat: Basel’s last five wins in all competitions have been accompanied by a 2+ goal margin.