Our prediction for this Champions League match:
PSV
Match Time & Date:
23/07/2019
02:00 PM
Prediction: 2-1
Basel
All eyes will be on Phillips Stadion when PSV and Basel face each other in the Champions League second qualifying round, first leg. The Dutch vice-champions failed to impress in the 2018/2019 Champions League group stages, but, no doubt, they are eager to take part in the elite competition for the second consecutive season. It is well known that PSV are a real force to be reckoned with at home and seeing that they recorded 15 wins in previous 16 home games in the Eredivisie, it is no wonder they are seen as hot favourites to win Tuesday’s football game against Basel.
The RotBlau, on the other hand, have been scoring goals for fun in pre-season, but they face an uphill task in the Phillips Stadion clash as PSV chiefs managed to keep hold of key players in the summer transfer window.
Highlighted Player (Gaston Pereiro):
Uruguay midfielder Gaston Pereiro has been with PSV since 2015 when he was transferred from his boyhood club Nacional. An attacking midfielder is a member of the Uruguayan U-20 national team and is yet to receive a senior call-up he hopes will come with fine performances at the club he is contracted to until 2020.
Pereiro is a flamboyant midfielder who adds creativity and flair to PSV’s play. The Uruguay international has already achieved the cult status with the supporters, despite being at the club a little over a year. Pereiro scored a brace against PSV’s most feared and detested rivals Ajax, writing his name into the club’s history books as his presence proved to be pivotal in earning three points that proved to be the difference between the two rivals at the end of the season.
Gaston Pereiro made 30 Eredivisie appearances in his maiden season with PSV scoring 12 goals in the process and fans hope that the Uruguay midfielder will add up to the tally in the new season as well.
Highlighted Team (Basel):
One of the most successful football clubs in Switzerland, FC Basel were founded in 1893. The RotBlau as they are referred to by the Swiss play their games at the St. Jacob Park in Basel in front of 37,500 people which is the maximum capacity of the venue.
The 19-time Swiss champions have endured difficult times in 1980s which ultimately led to relegation from the top flight in 1987. FC Basel returned to the top tier of Swiss football in 2000s to win their first league title in 22 years and go on to win it nine more times over 13 seasons since 2002. The golden times for FC Basel brought European inclusion in every season since 1999-2000 with a pinnacle being the semi-finals of the Europa League in 2012-13.
The RotBlau have so far played over 95 UEFA Champions League games, winning almost half of their European outings. The Swiss club has produced plenty of talented players who went on to become prominent footballers all across Europe with Xherdan Shaqiri and Granit Xhaka being the most outstanding members of the latest generation.
Sheffield United
Crystal Palace
Frankfurt
Hoffenheim
Chelsea
Leicester
Espanyol
Sevilla
Rennes
PSG
Atletico Madrid
Getafe
