Basel ProvideThe First Real Test For Werder

First Team
Saturday, 14.07.2007 / 10:46

It is almost two years ago now that Werder Bremen and FC Basel last met , and that in a Champions League qualifier. The time has come again for the two to meet and the third placed side in Germany last season are to provide a genuine challenge for the Swiss side...

It is almost two years ago now that Werder Bremen and FC Basel last met , and that in a Champions League qualifier. The time has come again for the two to meet and the third placed side in Germany last season are to provide a genuine challenge for the Swiss side who are due to kick-off their season next weekend. On Saturday, 14.07.2007 at 7pm, the teams will clash in ‘Sportpark Eschen-Mauren, in nearby Lichtenstein and the game will be broadcast live on Eurosport.

 

Basel were on the same level, Werder were cleverer

 

On August 24th,2005, FC Basel were in Bremen for a second leg game. The Swiss side had won the first leg in St. Jacob-Park 2:1 and Werder had gotten off lightly on the night with a Miroslav Klose goal keeping their chances of qualifying alive for the second leg. The Green-Whites eventually came through the challenge after a poor first half, which included a missed penalty by Johan Micoud. An Ivan Klasnic brace and the odd goal by Tim Borowski saw Werder finish out 3:0 winners on that night and the club progressed to the group stage of the competition: “We are very disappointed”, commented Basel trainer Christian Gross on the night: “Over the complete 180 minutes we were mre than just equal to them.”

 

The Red-Blues, who play at the Joggeli, as the stadium is known, will want to prove themselves on Saturday The Swiss club have the advantage this time as they have almost completed their pre-season preparations now whilst Werder are still in the thick of it. Following three friendly against lower league opposition (TuS Pewsum 7:2, East Frisian XI 9:0 and VfL Oldenburg 6:0), the match against FC Basel is the first real test for the German club. Christian Gross’ sides preparations have not exactly gone according to plan with only two wins in six friendly games. A 2:0 win against FC Wil and 3:1 against Red Bull Salzburg were inspiring but losing to Concordia Basel (1:3), Celtic Glasgow (0:1), FC Luzern (1:1) and most recently RC Lens (1:2) hasn’t done a lot for their confidence.

 

Last season’s top scorer now in the Bundesliga

 

‘Footballclub Basel’ was founded in 1893 and is the third most successful club in Switzerland behind Grasshopper Zurich and Servette Genf, with eleven title to their name – seven of which coming between 1967 and 1980. There was then a long wait for a title until 2002 and then they took the honours again in 2004 and 2005. On the down side for Gross, Mladen Petric (19 goals) and Ivan Rakitic (11 goals) have both left the club now to head towards greater things in the Bundesliga (Dortmund and Schalke respectively). To fill the gap, Marco Streller has arrived from VfB Stuttgart and Benjamin Huggel has come from Eintracht Frankfurt. Both had previously played for the club.

 

Just like Werder, Basel have also been troubled by injury during their pre-season preparations. Whilst the Green-Whites have had to deal with the loss of Patrick Owomoyela, Basel have lost their first choice goalkeeper. Franco Costanzo pulled a muscle in the friendly against Lens and will have to take things easy for a while.

 

Weitere News

Your web browser ist outdated.
The web browser you are using is no longer supported.
Please download one of these free and up to date browsers.
Chrome Mozilla Firefox Microsoft Edge
Chrome Firefox Edge
Google Chrome
Mozilla Firefox
MS Edge
Why should I use an up to date web browser?
Security
Newer web browsers provide better protection against malware, data theft and other threats to your privacy and security. Up to date browsers continuously close security holes that allow attackers to enter your computer.
New Technologies
The technologies used on modern websites are better supported by newer web browsers. This both increases functionality and improves the website layout. By benefiting from new functions and extensions you will be able to surf the web faster and easier.