St. Jakob-Park, Basel
Wednesday 22 October 2008 – 20.45CET
Group C – Matchday 3
Depending on which history books you read, FC Barcelona could be tracing their very roots when they look to seal their third consecutive win in UEFA Champions League Group C at FC Basel 1893 on Wednesday.
Basel links
Legend has it that the Catalan club’s founder, Joan Gamper, drew inspiration from Basel’s colours and logo when forging Barcelona’s identity in 1899, the Swiss immigrant having previously served the club as a player. The evidence may be circumstantial, but the visitors have undoubtedly used Basel as a springboard in more recent times. Barça lifted their first official European trophy at St. Jakob-Park when they beat Fortuna Düsseldorf in the 1978/79 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup final, and that success is said to have raised the club to a whole new level. “We’re happy to be here again,” said coach Josep Guardiola. “For the people of Barcelona, this is a city and a stadium with a lot of good memories.”
Squad rotation
The 37-year-old is passionate about Barcelona’s past, but he is far more interested in their future. Critics have highlighted his constant squad rotations since taking over this summer, yet Guardiola is unlikely to start changing a policy that has yielded seven straight wins in all competitions – including UEFA Champions League victories against Sporting Clube de Portugal and FC Shakhtar Donetsk. “You won’t see fixed starting elevens anymore,” he said. “They’re history.” Consider that almost a pledge, then, that Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernández and Carles Puyol will be restored to the first team following Sunday’s 1-0 Spanish Liga win at Athletic Club Bilbao. Meanwhile, centre-back Rafael Márquez appears fit despite collecting a knock in that game, while Sergi Busquets looks likely to replace the injured Seydou Keita, with fellow midfielder Yaya Touré out of favour.
‘Magic night’
Back up to fourth in Spain, the Blaugrana will draw confidence from the form of Sunday scorer Samuel Eto’o, who has contributed nine goals this term, yet Guardiola warned against complacency. “It’s typical of this club to underestimate teams, but in Europe one mistake can cost you the game,” he said. “Still, a second away win would be a major step towards the next round.” It would also spell disaster for Basel, who are yet to register a single point and must go to Camp Nou in a fortnight. “It’s clear that Barcelona are favourites, but we won’t concentrate on defence,” promised Basel coach Christian Gross. “We want it to be a magic night and I’ll need a lot of matadors out there.”
Attacking approach
Having lost to both Sporting and Shakhtar, Gross is even being tipped to abandon his favoured 4-1-4-1 formation for a more attacking 4-4-2, with fit-again Eren Derdiyok partnering Marco Streller up front. The pair both started in Friday’s 4-1 Swiss Cup triumph at FC Bulle – only Basel’s first win in four outings – while centre-back François Marque returned from a thigh injury and Benjamin Huggel was rested. Influential duo Carlitos and Scott Chipperfield remain doubts, however, leaving Gross hoping the special St. Jakob-Park atmosphere will carry his side through. “The fans will give us tremendous support and what more do you want as a player than to play against Barcelona?”
Costanzo unmoved by Barça glamour boys
The opposition lineup is likely to be studded with some of the most illustrious names in world football, but FC Basel 1893 goalkeeper Franco Costanzo will be looking for points, not autographs, when UEFA Champions League Group C leaders FC Barcelona visit St. Jakob-Park.
Basel defiance
Basel are without a point after two matches while Barcelona have beaten the two teams that got the better of the Swiss champions, Sporting Clube de Portugal and FC Shakhtar Donetsk. Back-to-back games against Josep Guardiola’s side over the next fortnight mean, therefore, that this is no time to get starstruck. “It’s going to be a real party for the supporters but we, as footballers, don’t play just to exchange shirts at the end – we’ll be going out there to win,” Argentinian custodian Costanzo said.
Excitement
Another defeat would leave the Swiss Super League titleholders well adrift at the bottom of the group, but the man charged with keeping the opposition armada at bay believes he and his colleagues will be at the top of their game. “I’m looking forward to the match and we’ll be united against a very strong team,” the 28-year-old said. “It doesn’t matter whether you’re Argentinian, Swiss or German, it’s special for any player to play against Barcelona.”
Messi admiration
Costanzo is also relishing the chance to raise his profile back home, where the keeper capped once at international level has seen his visibility wane since leaving CA River Plate in 2005. “One good thing is that the match will be broadcast on Argentinian television,” said Costanzo; and there could be no better way to impress his compatriots than to frustrate Lionel Messi, in particular. Despite refusing to cite which Barça players he fears most – “every one of them can score”– Costanzo admitted he is backing either Messi or fellow No1 Iker Casillas of Real Madrid CF to collect this year’s Ballon d’Or.
‘Good mix’
A season spent with Deportivo Alavés in 2005/06 before moving to Switzerland clearly left Costanzo with a lasting admiration for the Spanish Liga but his dedication to Basel’s cause since has been total, earning him the captain’s armband this summer. His enhanced status notwithstanding, however, he does not feel the need to take his younger colleagues aside before such an exacting test. “If the guys ask me something, I’ll talk to them about my experiences in Spain,” he said. “But that’s all. They can also go to [Ivan] Ergi?, [Marco] Streller and [Scott] Chipperfield. We have a good mix of experience and youth here.”