This evening's UEFA Champions League play-off promises an exhilarating game at St. Jakob-Park, as FC Basel (Switzerland) welcomes FC Copenhagen (Denmark) to their stadium at 21:00 CET, August 20, 2025. Both teams are going to battle it out in the first leg, which promises to be full of drama as they try to earn themselves a ticket to the much-hyped group stages.
Basel enter this showdown as newly crowned Swiss Super League champions, back on the continent's biggest stage after decades of rebuilding. They showed top-of-the-range attacking ambition in their 6–1 Swiss Cup thumping of Biel-Bienne, boosting morale for this big tie (Sportskeeda).
At the same time, Denmark's champions, FC Copenhagen, have already fought through two Champions League qualifiers. Their recent victory, a 5–0 destruction of Malmö, showed their attacking prowess and defensive solidity (Football Whispers).
Basel vs Copenhagen Head-to-Head (H2H Stats)
Since the legendary rivalry between Basel and Copenhagen, all their matches have been closely contested. Their recent European encounter was in the 2019/20 Europa League, when Copenhagen won over Basel narrowly.
- Basel's form (last 5 games): 3 wins, 1 draw, 1 loss
- Copenhagen's form (last 5 games): 4 wins, 1 draw
- Basel home record: 9 straight home victories at St. Jakob-Park
- Copenhagen away record: 6 straight away matches without loss
For more detailed h2h stats and live odds, check FlashScore and SofaScore.
Team News & Probable Lineups
FC Basel (SUI)
- Key players: Xherdan Shaqiri, Jean-Kévin Augustin, Zeki Amdouni
- Injuries: Finn van Breemen, Kevin Rüegg
- Predicted lineup: Hitz; Lang, Comas, Vouilloz, Lopez; Frei, Burger; Shaqiri, Ndoye, Stocker; Augustin
FC Copenhagen (DEN)
- Key players: Jordan Larsson, Mohamed Elyounoussi, Andreas Cornelius
- Injuries: Thomas Delaney, Elias Achour
- Predicted lineup: Grabara; Ankersen, Vavro, Diks, Kristiansen; Lerager, Falk, Stage; Elyounoussi, Larsson, Cornelius
Basel vs Copenhagen Betting Tips & Predictions
Experts predict a high-scoring and close game:
- Both teams to score (BTTS): Extremely likely, with attacking star power on both sides.
- Over 2.5 goals: Basel matches have a habit of producing goals, and Copenhagen have just come off a 5–0 win (Sportsgambler).
- Correct Score Prediction: Basel 2–1 Copenhagen.
Find the latest odds at Bet365 or OddsPortal.
Why This Match Matters
This initial leg is pivotal. Basel will bank on their home-ground support, while Copenhagen will seek to nick an away goal to return to Denmark. A spot in the UEFA Champions League group stage is not merely a mark of prestige—it also means tens of millions of fiscal revenue and exposure on Europe's biggest platform (UEFA.com).
Final Thoughts
The Basel vs FC Copenhagen 21:00 CET kick-off promises an entertaining duel. Basel's rhythm in front of the opponent's goal and Copenhagen's highly organized football ensure an attention-grabbing battle full of goals and fireworks.
Prediction: Basel 2–1 Copenhagen
Catch the live scores and stats on Livescore and ESPN Football.
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