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Huge match in determining the group E standings in Champions League. Steaua is without a point so far and needs a win to hope for a 3rd spot finish, while Basel has 3 points and is counting on another three today in their quest to reach the Champions League knockout stage.
Steaua was largely disappointing in their first two matches, losing 3-0 at Schalke and 4-0 at home to Chelsea. The romanians are cruising in the domestic league, basically winning match after match by a big margin, but they could not translate their form in the Champions League. Last year was great for Steaua under young coach Reghencampf, as aside from winning the Liga 1 comfortably they also reached the Europa League last 16, knocking out Ajax in the process and beating Chelsea at home. But the player sales in the summer (Chiriches, Rusescu), as well as key winger Chipciu being injured have made Steaua much weaker than last season. They were also plagued by other injuries in the first two group games, which did not help.
Basel has a very solid team this year under head coach Murat Yakin, a very able tactician. A good, reactive side which can trouble anyone. The swiss team made history by winning on Stamford Bridge 2-1 in the first round, but also lost 0-1 at home to Schalke in the next game, and they were not too impressive in that match. The Schalke game showed that Basel still has its limits. Like Steaua, Basel is cruising in the domestic league and are on the back of a 3-0 home win against Europa Leaguers St. Gallen.
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Team news & lineups
Steaua will be happy to welcome back key midfielder Pintilii as well as long-term absentee Chipciu, another important player. Chipciu will start on the bench. Steaua does not have important injuries or suspensions. Basel is also pretty much free of squad problems.
Steaua: Tatarusanu – Georgievski, Szukala, Gardos, Latovlevic – Bourceanu, Pintilii – Tanase, Stanciu, Popa – Piovaccari
Basel: Sommer – Voser, Schar, Ivanov, Safari – Diaz, Frei – Salah, Delgado, Stocker – Streller
Basel is a good team and is a little better than Steaua, but it seems to me they are a little overrated, while the romanians are underestimated after the results in the first two group games. I don`t see Basel as being too impressive in a rugged eastern european encounter and I`m looking for Steaua to translate their domestic form in the UCL today and get at least a draw. An important thing is that Basel`s strength comes mainly from their excellent ability on counters, but Steaua will be more careful in their approach today after conceding 7 goals in the first 2 games. Basel will not have too many opportunities on the break. I predicted Steaua to lose with handicap against both Schalke and Chelsea, but they have the required strength to hold off Basel today, especially with no more missing players. Home court advantage will also count a lot, Steaua being traditionally a strong team on their home turf where they got some decent results in Europe. The romanians are not as bad as results are showing, despite not winning in the last 19 (!!) Champions League games. They have a better team now than in the past and my pick for this one is Steaua – Basel 2-1.
Pick: Steaua Bucharest (+0,25 Asian Handicap)
Odds: 1.80 @ Pinnacle
Stake: 6
Possible profit: 4.80
Event date: 22 October
Editor Facts
- Rostick is 5 for 6 in picks involving Steaua this season
1. It’s not about ” translate their form in CL” … it’s the HUGE difference between the opponents they have in Liga 1 vs CL
2. Also the team is not better than last year, when they had Rusescu + Chipciu in attack, Chiriches in defence,,,, now they only have left Chipciu , back from a severe injury…
1. I agree, but it was more of a statement in relation to the confidence and with the opponent. I think They can translate that form vs. a team like Basel, not vs. a team like Chelsea
2. Maybe I expessed myself poorly. What I meant was that they are better than in the past in relation to those 19 winless matches from 6-7 years ago. I said clearly in the pick that they are weaker than last year, that`s undeniable.