Swiss champions Basel and Israeli title holders Maccabi Tel Aviv face off in Basel in the first leg of the Champions League play-off round, for a place in the group stage, on Wednesday night.
Past history
The two most recently faced off in the round of 32 of the 2013-14 edition of the Europa League with Basel coming away victorious 3-0 on aggregate, following a 0-0 draw in Tel Aviv and a 3-0 win for Basel in Basel.
This was preceded by the teams' first ever meeting, in the third qualifying round of the Champions League that same year. Basel would knock out Maccabi 4-3 on aggregate following a 1-0 win for Basel in Basel as well as a 3-3 draw in Tel Aviv. Maccabi's manager that year, Paulo Sousa would go on to coach Basel the following year before being replaced by current coach Urs Fischer. If history is an indication, should Maccabi Tel Aviv hope to advance they'll likely need a result in Basel.
Route to this round
Maccabi began their qualifying adventure one round earlier than Basel, defeating Maltese side Hibernians 6-3 on aggregate in the second qualifying round before slipping past Czech side Viktoria Plzen 3-2 on aggregate. The Israeli side have only made it to the group stage once in the 2004-05 edition finishing in last place, level on points with Ajax despite a win versus Ajax and a draw with Juventus in a group that also featured Bayern Munich.
Basel enjoyed a slightly easier route to the play off round, having began in the third qualifying round, defeating Polish side Lech Poznan 4-1 on aggregate.
European experience
Unlike their Israeli counter parts, Basel paint a picture of experience in European competition having qualified for European competition every year since 1999. The Swiss side also reached the interto cup final, losing to Aston Villa in 2001-02 as well as the Europa League semi finals in 2012-13 where they went out to eventual champions Chelsea 5-2 on aggregate, as well as and the round of 16 of the Champions League the previous season, where they were narrowly defeated by German giants Bayern Munich 1-0 on aggregate.
Both teams have been dominant in their respective leagues with Tel Aviv having won the league the past three seasons despite having four different managers in that time thanks to the stewardship of Sporting Director Jordi Cruyff, the son of Dutch legend Johan Cruyff.
Basel meanwhile have won the league every year since 2009 despite being a feeder club for the larger European clubs in recent years and also having gone through 6 managers in that time.
Key players
Eran Zahavi- Maccabi Tel Aviv
The second highest scorer in champions league qualifying with 4 goals, the Israeli international has been in spectacular form since returning to Israel following a spell with Palermo with 60 goals in 76 games.
The new look Maccabi under Serbian coach Slavisa Jokanovic have opted for a more defense approach than Jokanovic's Iberian predecessors and despite Zahavi's excellent form, Maccabi are widely expected to sit back in the first leg having strengthened defensively with the arrivals of Tal Ben Haim and Eli Dasa, international teammates of Maccabi defenders Eitan Tibi and Omri Ben Harush, before returning to Bloomfield Stadium for the second leg.
As for Basel, the Swiss side love to attack having already scored 14 goals in just 5 matches in the league. Marco Delgado is likely to be the key man. The Argentinean midfielder and Basel captain is Basel's joint top scorer in all competitions with three goals and tenth all time in goals for Basel with 58.
Delgado's compatriot Walter Samuel may also have a role to play. With the exit of much sought after defender Fabian Schar from Basel to Hoffenheim, the veteran who arrived in Basel last season could help keep the red hot Zahavi off the score sheet should he get the nod ahead of to partner vice captain Marek Suchy in central defense.
Overall, victory for either would set a historic precident, with Maccabi looking for their second appearance in the group stage, which would make them just the second Israeli side to do so after Maccabi Haifa. As for Basel, a win would extend their 16th straight year of European football and offer them the opportunity to improve upon their previous best ever result, an appearance in the round of 16.