Tottenham v FC Basel Prediction 4th April 2013

Tottenham v FC Basel Betting Preview
Spurs will have to live up to the billing as heavy favourites for their quarter final match up against the Swiss Champions. They really could put this tie out of sight on Thursday night. They of course have split focus as they are trying to secure a top three finish in the Premier League, but they gone at Europe strong enough to suggest that they aren’t going to complacent here. They could be helped by the fact that Basel have never won a match in England.

Tottenham v FC Basel Betting Odds at online bookmaker Ladbrokes
Spurs 4/11, draw 15/4, Basel 15/2

Tottenham v FC Basel Recommended Bet:
It hasn’t been totally all one way traffic for Spurs at home against Swiss sides. Spurs have posted a W2 D0 L1 record at home against Swiss sides. Their overall record against teams from Switzerland stands at W3 D0 L2. In those five matches against Swiss opposition, there have been 22 goals scored. So there is the big prospect of goals on Thursday night. In the three wins that Spurs have posted, they have scored four or more goals, which could be a trend worth riding. Spurs are also on a four game winning streak at White Hart Lane in European matches.

In losing at Inter Milan in the second of their last sixteen tie with the Italians, that snapped a run of ten unbeaten matches in Europe for them. Incidentally, Spurs are the only team left in the last eight who have won the competition before. They are strong and pretty overwhelming favourites for this first leg, and the Premier League club have scored in eight of their last nine Europa League matches. At the other end though, they have conceded in seven of those nine. There doesn’t look to be too much of a threat of an upset if Spurs turn up with their best game.

In eight previous visits to England, FC Basel have failed to record a single win. Just one of those eight games were in London, and that ended in a loss at Fulham. They did knock Man United out of the competition last season, after taking a 3-3 draw at Old Trafford. Overall, Basel’s record against English clubs stands at W3 D5 L8. The last time they were at this stage, they were eliminated by Middlesbrough back in the 2005/06 season. They are struggling on the road in Europe though, going without a win in six European away matches (D3 L3).

In the Europa League itself, they haven’t won any of their last seven away matches in the competition. Defensively, they have shown that they can keep things tight at the back though, conceding just two goals in their last seven Europa League matches. They have only conceded one goal after half time in this season’s Europa League, and that is from ten matches. They have scored 6 goals after the 80th minute mark in this year’s competition.

Stats

• Basel have conceded just one second half goal in 10 Europa League matches this season
• There have been six red cards in Basel’s ten matches so far
• Spurs have scored in eight of the last nine Europa League matches
• Basel have never won in England
• Spurs have posted 4 wins and 1 draw in their home matches this season

Online bookmaker Promotion
On all live televised matches this week, online betting site Ladbrokes are running a great live in-running betting promotion. If there is a red card in the match, then the bookie will refund losing Correct Score and Next Goalscorer bets that have been placed in-play from kick off until the red card is shown. There have been six red cards in Basel’s last ten European games. Online bookmaker Ladbrokes offer up to £30 in free bets for new customers registering an account with them.