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Recommended bets
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Match preview
All domestic football in Türkiye has been suspended, following the horrendous earthquake in Kahramanmaraş, but reigning champions Trabzonspor will return to action in this tie.
Last season, the Black Sea Storm claimed their first Süper Lig title since 1984, so entered the Champions League in the play-off round.
However, once there, Abdullah Avcı’s team were narrowly ousted by København, beaten 2-1 in the Danish capital.
Then, in the Europa League group stages, Trabzonspor won all three home matches, but lost all three on the road.
This ultimately saw them finish third, below Ferencváros and Monaco, but above Crvena zvezda.
Given that Trabzonspor’s last European away win, excluding qualifiers, came against Metalist Kharkiv in 2014, this first leg feels must win.
RotBlau are currently sixth in the Swiss Super League, 20 points adrift leaders BSC Young Boys, which led to club legend Alexander Frei being sacked as Head Coach nine days ago.
Under Frei, Basel did make impressive progress in this competition, coming through three qualifiers, before finishing above Pyunik and Žalgiris in their group.
Their only defeat during the group phase came at home to eventual table-toppers Å K Slovan Bratislava.
Here, can Trabzonspor build up an unassailable advantage at Şenol Güneş Spor Kompleksi Akyazı Stadyumu?
Trabzonspor team news
Midfielders Dorukhan Toköz, Edin Višća and Marek HamÅ¡Ãk are all injured, while centre-back Taha AltıkardeÅŸ and winger Montasser Lahtimi were not included in the UEFA squad.
Familiar faces who could feature include former Barcelona defender Marc Bartra, Everton loanee Jean-Philippe Gbamin and Egyptian international Trézéguet.
Yusuf Yazıcı scored seven Europa League goals in eight appearances for Lille in 2020/21, including a hat-trick at San Siro, so certainly has quality.
Basel team news
Interim manager Heiko Vogel cannot call upon Darian Males, Liam Millar or Jean-Kévin Augustin due to injury.
Winger Dan Ndoye is suspended, having been sent off in matchday six’s win over Pyunik in Yerevan.
Andi Zeqiri, on loan from Brighton & Hove Albion, has scored nine times this season, so can he add to that tally?
Trabzonspor vs Basel: Head to head statistics
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