Football: FCSB Defeated 3-1 by FC Basel in Europa League Matchup
FCSB faced a significant setback in their Europa League campaign, losing 3-1 to Swiss side FC Basel. The match took place at St. Jakob-Park in Basel on October 26, 2023. This defeat marks FCSB’s third consecutive loss in the tournament, following earlier defeats to Go Ahead Eagles, Young Boys Berna, and Bologna.
Match Summary: FCSB vs. FC Basel
The home team took an early lead. Xherdan Shaqiri scored the first goal from a penalty in the 19th minute after a foul by FCSB’s goalkeeper, Ștefan Târnovanu, who was sent off earlier in the match for a handball.
Key Moments
- Early Challenges: FCSB started brightly with an opportunity from Florin Tănase, but his shot went wide.
- Red Card: Târnovanu’s exit in the 12th minute left FCSB at a disadvantage.
- Equalizer: Darius Olaru scored FCSB’s only goal in the 57th minute, leveling the match at 1-1.
- FC Basel Goals:
- Shaqiri scored again in the 73rd minute, followed by Ibrahim Salah sealing the victory in the 88th minute.
Basel’s psychology shifted with Shaqiri’s second goal. FC Basel outperformed FCSB, leveraging their numerical advantage. Despite FCSB’s attempts, including several shots from Olaru and David Miculescu, they could not find the net again.
Upcoming Matches for FCSB
Following this defeat, FCSB will face challenging fixtures ahead in the Europa League:
- Red Star Belgrade on November 27, 2023
- Feyenoord on December 11, 2023
- Dinamo Zagreb on January 22, 2024
- Fenerbahçe on January 29, 2024
This recent loss demonstrates the ongoing struggles FCSB faces in Europe. Their performance in future matches will be critical if they wish to advance in the competition and regain their footing.
