Basel's championship dreams are coming true. The Super League leaders win the top match against Lugano 2:0 and extend their lead to four points. Xherdan Shaqiri initiates the emphatic victory.
06.04.2025, 18:50
06.04.2025, 19:29
SDA
Little happened in the penalty areas for a long time, but then Xherdan Shaqiri once again provided Basel with ecstasy. After a first half with few chances but all the more fierce fighting, the decisive first goal was scored shortly after the final half-hour. Shaqiri scored to make it 1:0 after initiating a quick counter-attack with his heel and sprinting into the opposition penalty area. It was the celebrated 33-year-old returnee's eleventh league goal and 25th goal.
Substitute Martin Soticek made it 2-0 in the 82nd minute from a pass by Anton Kade - which was perfectly logical, even though Lugano came very close to equalizing with a quarter of an hour to go and Dominik Schmid had to save on the line. "These are the games you have to win as a top team. ", said Shaqiri in the Blue interview.
Fabio Celestini, who was suddenly confronted with headlines in the Basel media and in "Blick" about a possible change of coach (sporting director Daniel Stucki denied this), proved to have a good hand with his changes. Both Kade, who also played a decisive role in the 1:0, and Soticek came off the bench.
The fact that Albian Ajeti narrowly escaped a red card in the first half played into Basel's hands. The striker, who was preferred to Kevin Carlos in the first half, hit Anto Grgic with an outstretched leg after a tackle. By clearing the ball beforehand, the VAR did not intervene.
Because Servette lost at St. Gallen (0:1), Basel lead the table by four points after 31 of the 38 rounds.
Telegram:
Basel - Lugano 2:0 (0:0)
28'662 spectators. - SR Von Mandach. - Goals: 63rd Shaqiri 1:0. 82nd Soticek (Kade) 2:0.
Basel: Hitz; Mendes, Adjetey, Vouilloz, Schmid; Avdullahu, Metinho (56. Leroy); Traoré (76. Soticek), Shaqiri (88. Sigua), Otele (56. Kade); Ajeti (56. Kevin Carlos).
Lugano: Saipi; Papadopoulos, Mai (69. Cimignani), Hajdari; Zanotti, Bislimi, Grgic (82. Bottani), Valenzuela (32. Martim Marques); Steffen, Macek (69. Vladi); Koutsias (82. Przybylko).
Remarks: Cautions: 12 Shaqiri, 33 Ajeti, 39 Metinho, 45 Mai, 87 Bislimi.
