Chelsea v FC Basel Europa League Prediction 25th April 2013

Chelsea v FC Basel Betting Preview
The Blues are favourites with the bookmakers to take a victory in this first leg of their Europa League encounter. However, they have been struggling on the road in Europe, while the Swiss side have been producing some very solid home form, including knockout out Tottenham in the last round. Basel are aiming to become the first ever Swiss side in the final of a European competition, while Chelsea are aiming to make a clean sweep of all UEFA’s major titles. This is looking as if it is simply a match up between Basel’s home form and Chelsea’s shaky away form in Europe. Are the Blues in for a shock or will their experience tell?

Chelsea v FC Basel Betting Odds at online bookmaker Ladbrokes
Chelsea 13/10, Basel 19/10, Draw 12/5

Online bookmaker Promotion
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Chelsea v FC Basel Recommended Bet:
The reason why Chelsea aren’t priced a lot shorter in this match is because of all the troubles which they have been having on the road. Both of their last away matches in the competition have ended in defeat, losing at Steaua Bucharest and then against Russian side Rubin Kazan in the quarter finals. They have just about done enough to get through, but their away form has to be called into questions. They have lost four of their last five away games in European competition now, not something which will warrant backing them heavily on Thursday night perhaps. They have looked as if they have just had enough in the tank to get through some tight duels all the way through this season’s Europa League and they haven’t looked thoroughly convincing at times simply because of their away form. Overall, in their limited UEFA Cup matches, they have posted just a W2 D0 L5 away record.

Eleven times previously Chelsea have made it to the semi final of a major European competition and only on four of those times have they progressed. They have gone up against Swiss opposition just once before as well, losing out 2-1 on aggregate as St Gallen in the 2000/01 UEFA Cup first round. Chelsea were denied a win at Liverpool in the Premier League on the weekend, denting their chances of a top three finish a little bit. The Blues have played a lot of games this season. It has certainly been a long, tough one for them and this will be their 62nd match of the season across all competitions. This could be a trickier match than many will be expecting for the Blues, given their poor form on the road and how strong the Swiss side are at home. Chelsea haven’t lost three away matches in a row in Europe since May 2005. The key to all of this could be Chelsea landing an away goal on Thursday night, something which should set them up well for the return leg at Stamford Bridge.

As for FC Basel, this is the first time they have been in the semi final of a European competition. In beating Spurs in the last round, edging past the Premier League in a penalty shoot out, they recorded their first ever knockout win against an English side. Basel have only recorded two wins from 15 previous matches against English sides, famously one of them being against Manchester United at St Jakobs Park in the 2011/12 Champions League group stage, eliminating the Red Devils. Their home form is not to be messed with, currently they are on an eight match unbeaten streak at home in Europe, winning six and drawing the other two. They have scored a competition high of six goals from corners in this season’s competition. Basel have drawn four of their last six games in all competitions and that may not be a bad way to go. They look pretty good with their pace in wide attacking areas.

Chelsea may just need to put in a solid performance here and get a crucial away goal. They have the better European experience to call upon and it may be worth calling on a Draw/Draw Half Time/Full Time bet at online bookmaker Ladbrokes for a price of 4/1.

Form
FC Basel WDDDWD, Chelsea WWLLWD

Stat Attack
Chelsea have scored in their last 11 matches
FC Basel are unbeaten in their last eight European home matches
Chelsea have lost four of their last five away games in Europe
FC Basel have won just two of 15 matches against English opponents