Europe (UEFA)
Indonesia
Nigeria

Preview: FC Pyunik vs. Basel - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 1 November 2022, 08:46
Group H of the Europa Conference League will come to a close on Thursday night when FC Pyunik host Basel in the final fixture for this stage of the competition.

Both teams are heading into this one with the possibility of progressing into the next round, but it is the hosts who must win to make that happen.

Match preview

FC Pyunik might be third in Group H of the competition right now, but there is a chance that they could wind up winning it after Thursday's match.

The team only sits two points behind Slovan Bratislava, who they played in the most recent Europa Conference League match.

Despite the fact a penalty from Eugeniu Cociuc gave Pyunik the lead, they were unable to hang on to the three points after conceding two goals in the final stages of the game.

Bratislava scored twice in the space of two minutes which has left Yegishe Melikyan's men in a position where they must win to qualify for the knockout stages.

Accomplishing that will require a strong performance than what they managed during the reverse of Thursday's fixture though, as Pyunik lost that match 3-1.

Basel were dominant in that match as a goal from Darian Males and a brace by Wouter Burger led to them taking all three points in game week one of the competition.

Scoring has been the key to Basel's success so far in Europe this season, as no team in Group H has managed more than the nine goals they have scored.

That was on display last week in the Europa Conference League when they scored twice against Zalgiris, who are currently bottom of the group.

However, Basel's two-goal lead was something that they were unable to hang onto as they were pegged back to end up sharing points.

That has left Alexander Frei's men in a difficult position of needing to get a result in the final match of the group, as a defeat would see Pyunik replace them in the top two.

FC Pyunik Europa Conference League form:

L

W

W

L

L

FC Pyunik form (all competitions):

L

L

W

W

L

L

Basel Europa Conference League form:

W

W

W

L

D

D

Basel form (all competitions):

D

D

D

W

D

L

Team News

David Davidyan missed out last week despite the fact he has been an attacking threat throughout the season for Pyunik, and he could end up being in contention for them this time around.

Cociuc is one name that will end up retaining his place in the starting lineup as the attacking midfielder managed to get on the scoresheet in their most recent European outing.

Andi Zeqiri led the line for Basel last week and he managed to get on the scoresheet in that game, and he will likely be given that same opportunity once again on Thursday.

Burger was used as a substitute in that match, but he proved to be a problem for Pyunik in the reverse fixture which the visitors might choose to rely upon once more.

FC Pyunik possible starting lineup:

Yurchenko; Baranov, Juninho, Braktov, Vakulenko, Gonzalez; Dashyan, Harutyunyan, Cociuc; Otubanjo, Juricic

Basel possible starting lineup:

Hitz; Lang, Comas, Kasim, Calafiori; Xhaka, Burger; Ndoye, Augustin, Millar; Zeqiri

We say: FC Pyunik 1-2 Basel

With so much on the line heading into this game, it is no doubt going to be an intense and competitive one from the first minute.

Pyunik might have the home advantage here, but the attacking qualities of Basel should be enough to see them just earn a place in the knockout stages of this competition.

Previews by email

Top News

29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that three of his injured troops are in with a "chance" of facing Manchester City in Sunday's crunch Premier League battle. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United Women will look to bounce back from derby disappointment when they face Everton Ladies in Sunday's Women's Super League meeting at Leigh Sports Village. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona head coach Xavi has insisted that he is still planning to stand down from his position at the end of the season despite the recent speculation surrounding his future. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach Gary O'Neil has insisted that there is "no truth" in any rumours linking him with Manchester United. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayer Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso has confirmed that he will remain with the Bundesliga giants for the 2024-25 campaign, ending Liverpool and Bayern Munich's hopes of securing his services this summer. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has confirmed a major injury boost ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash with Luton Town in North London. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has confirmed that he is expecting to have Luke Shaw available for selection before the end of the 2023-24 campaign. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Pep Guardiola has confirmed that defensive duo Kyle Walker and John Stones will miss Sunday's Premier League title showdown with Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Everton youngster Lewis Dobbin has picked up an ankle injury that will sideline him for the next few weeks. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United will be bidding to improve on a recent poor record in the English capital when they head to West London on Saturday evening to tackle Thomas Frank's Brentford outfit. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag is hopeful that Lisandro Martinez will be able to feature in Saturday's Premier League clash with Brentford. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Everton will look to avoid equalling an unwanted club-record Premier League winless run when they travel to Bournemouth on Saturday. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Jude Bellingham will be back in the Real Madrid XI for Sunday's La Liga clash against Athletic Bilbao. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The pick of the fixtures in game week 30 of the 2023-24 La Liga campaign will take place at Bernabeu on Sunday evening, with Real Madrid welcoming Athletic Bilbao for an intriguing affair. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Sociedad will be bidding to make it three straight victories in Spain's top flight when they resume their campaign away to Basque rivals Alaves on Sunday evening. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk One of several blockbuster battles taking place on the Easter weekend, Ligue 1 powerhouses Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain cross paths for the latest instalment of Le Classique on Sunday evening. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Feyenoord play host to FC Utrecht on Sunday afternoon knowing that they realistically need to win to remain in the Eredivisie title hunt. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ajax make the trip to PEC Zwolle on Sunday morning in desperate need of three points as they bid to remain in the hunt for a top-four spot in the Eredivisie standings. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Both Girona and Real Betis will be bidding to return to winning ways in Spain's top flight when the two teams lock horns at Estadi Municipal de Montilivi on Sunday afternoon. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The latest Pep Guardiola-Mikel Arteta Etihad reunion will be a particularly momentous one on Easter Sunday, as Premier League champions Manchester City host current table-toppers Arsenal with priceless points on the line. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams battling to stay out of the relegation zone in Spain's top flight will lock horns on Sunday afternoon, with Celta Vigo welcoming Rayo Vallecano to the Estadio Municipal de Balaidos. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United are allegedly preparing to rival Manchester City and Manchester United in the race to sign Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are allegedly likely to fail in any attempt to attract Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach Gary O'Neil to Old Trafford. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea defender Thiago Silva will leave the Premier League outfit this summer, according to Fluminense president Mario Bittencourt. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Top-four contenders Nice return from the international break on Sunday, when Ligue 1 strugglers Nantes visit Allianz Riviera under new management. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk All transfer business is done and dusted for this season, but that doesn't stop clubs from preparing ahead for next season. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Gil Vicente vs. Famalicao (Friday, 3.30pm) Gil Vicente and Famalicao get round 27 of the Portuguese Primeira Liga underway when they go head to head at the Estadio Cidade de Barcelos on Friday. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bristol City vs. Leicester (Friday, 12.30pm) Having been knocked off their Championship perch, an ailing Leicester City endeavour to reignite their title bid against Bristol City at Ashton Gate on Friday lunchtime. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Vitoria de Guimaraes will be looking to move level with Braga in the Conference League qualification spot when they go head to head with Moreirense on Saturday. 29 March 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides who could do well with all three points go head to head in round 27 of the Primeira Liga as Estoril Praia play host to Porto at the Estadio Antonio Coimbra da Mota on Saturday.