Preview:

Basel will look to defend one of the Europa League’s strongest home records when they welcome an in-form Aston Villa to St. Jakob-Park on Thursday. The Swiss side has been inconsistent in the League Phase so far, alternating between wins and defeats. Still, they remain a formidable force on home soil, having won each of their last seven UEL matches and gone unbeaten in the competition at home since 2015. Basel’s two European wins this season both came at St. Jakob-Park by comfortable margins, and with recent domestic victories boosting confidence, Ludovic Magnin’s men will believe they can trouble a heavyweight opponent. Their respectable record against English clubs, coupled with defensive solidity at home, adds intrigue as they seek to strengthen their grip on a playoff position.

Aston Villa arrive in Switzerland riding a wave of momentum, having won 13 of their last 15 matches in all competitions and extending their current winning streak to seven with a dramatic 2–1 victory over Premier League leaders Arsenal. Unai Emery’s side sit joint top of the Europa League League Phase with four wins from five, yet their away form in Europe remains a concern, with just one victory from their last six UEFA Cup/UEL trips. Even so, Villa have been prolific and resilient under Emery, and with their most successful European year in modern history already secured, they will view this clash as an opportunity to cement a top-eight finish and move closer to the last 16. Their narrow but consistent winning margins and Basel’s home strength set the stage for a tightly contested and high-quality encounter.

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