UECL Semi-final 2022-23: FC Basel vs Fiorentina: Predicted lineup, injury news, head-to-head, telecast

Will Basel be able to secure their spot in the finals, or will Fiorentina stage a comeback and spoil the Swiss team's party?

After a thrilling encounter in the first leg, FC Basel emerged victorious with a 2-1 lead on aggregate. Former Basel striker, Arthur Cabral, now playing for Fiorentina, opened the scoring, but Basel responded with two goals of their own, including a late added time winner.

FC Basel's attacking display in the first leg was impressive, with the Swiss team showcasing their pace and counter-attacking abilities. With their home ground advantage, they will be looking to continue their attacking momentum and put pressure on Fiorentina's defense. Their coach, Heiko Vogel, will undoubtedly be urging his team to keep up the intensity and play with the same level of confidence as they did in the first leg.

Fiorentina, on the other hand, will be looking to overturn the deficit and secure their place in the UECL finals. Their Italian manager, Vincenzo Italiano, will be hoping to see his team's attacking players step up and take advantage of any weaknesses in Basel's defense. It will be interesting to see if Fiorentina can break through Basel's backline, which showed resilience in the first leg.

Kick-Off:

Thursday, 18 May 2023 at 19:00 UTC

Friday, 19 May 2023 at 12:30 AM IST

Location: St. Jakob-Park

Form

FC Basel (in all competitions): L-W-L-W-W

Fiorentina (in all competitions): W-L-L-D-W

Players to Watch

Andi Zeqiri (FC Basel)

Andi Zeqiri, a product of the Juventus U-19 youth system, has been a standout performer for FC Basel throughout the UEFA Europa Conference League campaign. Currently on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion, Zeqiri has shown his prowess in front of goal, bagging an impressive 5 goals in the tournament so far.

Not only has Zeqiri been instrumental in European competition, but he has also made his mark in the Swiss Super League. With 10 goals and 2 assists across 27 appearances, he has been a key contributor to Basel's success domestically.

Zeqiri's impressive goal-scoring form puts him in contention for the top scorer spot in the tournament, just 2 goals behind Arthur Cabral.

Arthur Cabral (Fiorentina)

The UECL top scorer with 7 goals is one player also to keep a close eye on in this second leg clash. Fiorentina's striker, Arthur Cabral previously plied his trade for FC Basel, and knows the ins and outs of his former side's defense, making him a potential threat. With his sharp instincts and clinical finishing, Cabral has the ability to come back to haunt Basel and leave a lasting impression on this crucial encounter. His familiarity with the St. Jakob-Park pitch could give him an extra edge, making him a key figure in Fiorentina's quest to overturn the aggregate deficit.

Match Facts

• A win for FC Basel will make them the first ever swiss team to go play a European final
• Fiorentina are yet to register a win against FC Basel 1893 in all competitions
• Fiorentina's striker Arthur Cabral is the leading top scorer in the ongoing UECL competition

Injury & Team News

The homeside, Basel will be without their number 4. The 23 year old Spanish defender Arnau Comas is still recovering from a thigh injury.

Fiorentina will continue to be without the veteran keeper Salvatore Sirigu. The Viola side acquired his services on a free transfer in January 2023 as the former PSG keeper departed from Napoli.

Head to Head

Total Matches – 3

FC Basel wins – 2

Fiorentina wins – 0

Draws – 1

Predicted Lineup

FC Basel predicted lineup (3-5-2):

Hitz(GK); Lang, Kasim, Frei; Ndoye, Diouf, Xhaka, Burger, Calafiori; Amdouni, Zeqiri

Fiorentina predicted lineup (4-2-3-1):

Terracciano(GK); Dodo, Martinez, Ranieri, Biraghi; Amrabat, Mandragora; Ikoné, Bonaventura, González; Cabral

Match Prediction for FC Basel vs Fiorentina

FC Basel took 3 yellow cards in the first leg, while Fiorentina came out all clear. Basel needs to be a little cautious without the ball as a red card could very much deter the balance and ambitions of the team. Although we are expecting the Italians to step up. The match should very much help the Swiss team secure a sweet UECL finals spot.

Prediction: FC Basel 2-1 Fiorentina

Telecast

India – Sony Sports Network. SonyLliv

UK – BT Sport, BT Sports App

US – CBS, Univision, TUDN

Nigeria – No telecast