line-ups

FC Basilej

Hitz (46. Salvi) – Rüegg, Adjetey, Daniliuc, Schmid (64. M. Cissé) – Kacuri, Koindredi (57. L. Leroy) – Traoré (57. Agbonifo), Shaqiri (C), Otele (78. Saláh) – Ajeti.

FC Viktoria Plzeň

Wiegele – Doski, Dweh, Jemelka – Souaré (90+4. Novák), Valenta (79. Kabongo), Červ (C), Spáčil – Memić, Ladra – Panoš (63. Višinský).

statistics

Goals: 39. Panoš (Doski)

Yellow cards: 33. Adjetey (BAS), 43. Rüegg (BAS) – 90+3. Memić (PLZ)

Referees: Kruašvili – Varamišvili, Elikašvili (GEO)

Shots on goal: 3:3

Shots off target: 4:8

Corners: 6:7

Offside: 0:1

Fouls: 14:16

Attendance: 20454

Viktoria started the match actively, gradually took control of the game and went into the lead before the break thanks to Panoš’ precise strike from a corner kick. A disciplined defensive performance then saw Plzeň protect their advantage and take a valuable three points from Basel.

The kick-off belonged to Viktoria. Plzeň tried to impose an active style of play right from the start, but the first promising moments lacked a final touch. The opening ten minutes were played cautiously, with several inaccuracies on both sides. In the 15th minute, Basel threatened when a cross found the unmarked Dweh, who almost turned the ball into his own net fortunately for Viktoria, the ball went wide. This was followed by a corner kick, after which goalkeeper Wiegele dealt well with an opposition header after Shaqiri’s delivery. Viktoria gradually took control of the game and laid siege to the home side’s goal. Several promising situations and corner kicks, however, did not result in a change of score. In the 29th minute, Basel had a big chance when Shaqiri sent a teammate through on goal, but Jemelka made an excellent last-ditch intervention. Five minutes later, Panoš broke down the right wing, but this attack also failed to produce a goal. Two minutes after that, Panoš set up a shooting opportunity for Ladra, whose effort narrowly missed the target. The decisive moment of the first half came in the 39th minute, when Panoš unleashed a stunning strike following a rehearsed corner-kick routine to open the scoring. Nothing significant happened before the break, and Viktoria went into the dressing room with a 1–0 lead.

In the 51st minute, a Basel player broke through on goal, but his final touch was too heavy and the alert Wiegele reacted in time. Viktoria continued to defend responsibly and allowed the opposition very few clear chances. Ladra later attempted a shot from the edge of the penalty area, but his effort went wide. A fine combination move by Plzeň ended with a finish from Souaré, who beat the goalkeeper, but the goal was ruled out for offside. In the 74th minute, after a defensive misunderstanding, Shaqiri regained possession and delivered a cross into the box, but once again Wiegele was in the right place at the right time. A minute later, Viktoria had another big chance when Souaré fired just wide of the goal. Viktoria then held on to their lead until the final whistle and took a valuable three points from the hot ground in Basel.

Highlights

Photogallery