Sion v Basel Betting Tip Basel – 19 July 2019

Basel to get season off to winning start

International Football Tips

SwitzerlandSion v BaselSwitzerland
Friday 19th July 1900hrs
Football – Switzerland – Super League
Pick Basel
BookmakerBetway
Odds: 19/20 (odds taken 20.00 GMT, Thursday 18th July)

1 X 2
29/10 51/20 87/100

* (Betting Odds were taken from 22Bet on July 17th, 2019 at 21.00)

The Swiss Super League kicks off on Friday night as last year’s runners up Basel travel to face a Sion side who are now under the control of Stephane Henchoz, the former Swiss Internationalist.

Swiss Super League Betting at Betway

Sion Preview – Can Henchoz get his reign off to a perfect start?

Following a rather underwhelming 2018/19 season for Sion, the club have appointed a new manager. The enigmatic owner Christian Constantin made another big name appointment by giving Stephane Henchoz his first permanent head coach’s job. Henchoz had taken over at Neuchatel Xamax in the latter part of last season, where he was originally an assistant. It was a difficult time in charge with the club lurking around the relegation zone. He eventually led them to safety by virtue of winning the playoffs and securing their place in the top-flight. Constantin moved to bring the former Liverpool and Switzerland defender to Sion.

It will be intriguing to see how long Henchoz lasts as Constantin has a reputation for hiring and firing managers. There have been 25 different coaches in charge over the last decade. It’s not a recipe for finding success on the field as illustrated by Sion finishing third bottom last season. It’s one of the most cosmopolitan squad of players in the Super League with a number of Brazilians included within that. It’s a squad that also contains such illustrious names as Alex Song and Valon Behrami. Captain Pajtim Kasami is their most influential player, however, and the goal scoring midfielder notched eight times in the league last term.

Over 2.5 goals
19/25

Marathon Bet

Basel Preview – Will Basel send a warning to their title rivals with opening day success?

FC Basel dominated Swiss football for so long that it’s strange to see them playing a bit part more recently. Young Boys have won the last two Super League titles, consigning Basel to runners up on both occasions. It’s been the dominant manner of Young Boys title wins as much as anything that has been surprising. Margins of 15 and 20 points highlight just how far behind Basel have been. The club have stuck with the experienced Marcel Koller for a second season but he will be tasked with overseeing a much stronger challenge for the championship.

There remains a lot of quality in this squad and players who are used to winning. Ricky van Wolfswinkel has revived his career since moving to Switzerland and is scoring goals regularly. Swiss international Valentin Stocker returned to the club last year from the Bundesliga and is another prominent player. Koller will be looking for these two, particularly, to have big campaigns. That applies in the context of European football as well where they face PSV in a very difficult second round Champions League qualifier next midweek. That will be tough to progress from but a win against Sion would be the perfect warm-up.

 

Key-Facts – Sion v Basel

  • This will be Stephane Henchoz’ first game in charge of Sion having taken over in the summer
  • Basel have lost their stranglehold on the Swiss title in recent times and were 20 points behind champions Young Boys last season
  • Sion have not defeated Basel in the league since May 2011 and have lost six of their last seven against this opponent

Sion v Basel Betting Advice

This has been a fixture that Basel have dominated for a long time. You have to go all the way back to 2011 for the last time Sion were victorious against this opponent in the league. There have prevailed in two cup ties as well in that period but it’s been a really dire record in this competition. Basel will be looking to preserve that record and  have won on their last two visits to Sion. The most recent of those games came in April when strolling to a 3-0 success.

With this being Henchoz’ first game in charge and the opening match of the season, you would expect the hosts to be well up for it. Basel have that big match against PSV to come next week but they know the importance of getting off to a winning start. It could well be by the odd goal but the visitors should have enough to get three points and continue their excellent record over Sion.