Euphoria on and off the pitch in Basel: Fabio Celestini's team celebrates its third championship win in a row at home against Yverdon with a 2-0 victory and welcomes back Xherdan Shaqiri.
The more than 30,000 spectators at St. Jakob-Park, which had not been so full for FCB for over a year, were also there for him: Returning player Xherdan Shaqiri. He made his first appearance for his parent club in over twelve years in the 66th minute. He immediately made his mark with a free kick, which Yverdon goalkeeper Paul Bernardoni had trouble keeping out.
The prospects with Shaqiri and Kevin Carlos, who is also a new signing but has not yet featured, are one positive thing for FCB. The other: Things are already going well without the two high-caliber players. The last four games - three in the Super League and one in the Cup - have resulted in four wins and a goal difference of 19:0. The last time FCB won three games in the championship was two and a half years ago.
Controversial scene before Basel's second goal
FC Basel, long in crisis, has awoken. The enthusiasm that had been missing for months has returned. The joy of playing can be seen. Against Yverdon, Basel stormed forward enthusiastically for the first quarter of an hour and were rewarded with Albian Ajeti's third goal of the season. This was preceded by a fantastic cross from outside the box by Dominik Schmid.
There were highs and lows in Basel's play after that, with Yverdon creating two good chances to score. But the three points were no longer in danger after Bradley Fink made it 2-0 in the 55th minute - after preparatory work by Schmid. The goal was not without controversy, as Léo Leroy's earlier ball recovery could have been whistled off.
The future now looks bright for Basel. Next Saturday, they travel to Sion before hosting FC Zurich after the international break - probably again in front of more than 30,000 spectators.
Comments on the game
Man of the Match: Albian Ajeti
The striker continues to score prolifically and puts his team on the road to victory early on. Already the 6th goal for the in-form attacker.
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Basel - Yverdon 2:0 (1:0)
30'013 spectators. - SR Fähndrich. - Goals: 8. Ajeti (Schmid) 1:0. 55. Fink (Schmid) 2:0.
Basel: Hitz; Barisic, Adjetey, van Breemen; Kololli (66. Gauto), Avdullahu (86. Xhaka), Leroy (76. Frei), Schmid; Fink (66. Shaqiri), Ajeti, Traoré (76. Soticek).
Yverdon: Bernardoni; Sauthier, Christian Marques, Gnakpa, Kamenovic; Kacuri (46. Loucif; 61. Hautier), Cespedes, Sylla (61. Alves); Gonzalez (66. Tijani), Komano (86. Avdic), Aké.
Remarks: Cautions: 40 for Komano, 49 for Sylla.
Everything about Shaqiri's return in the video ticker
FC Basel
Yverdon Sport FC
- Albian Ajeti - 1:0 (8.)
- Bradley Fink - 2:0 (55.)
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Liveticker
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Liveticker closed
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67.
Shaqiri almost scores with his first touch of the ball
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66.
St. Jakob-Park goes wild: Shaqiri is substituted
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55.
Fink scores a remarkable goal for FCB
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52.
Substitution gets closer: Shaqiri warms up on the touchline
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28.
Traore pulls away and causes problems for Bernardoni
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18.
Gonzalez starts a solo run and almost scores the equalizer
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8.
Ajeti scores, Shaqiri claps - FCB go ahead
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7.
Bernardoni saves Yverdon from going behind early
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Shaqiri and Co. enter the pitch
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Celestini on the line-up: "The best solution is if Shaqiri comes in later"
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Shaqiri on the bench at the start
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Shaqiri returns to St. Jakob-Park
FC Basel have arrived at St. Jakob-Park for their Super League home game against Yverdon. Xherdan Shaqiri will also be there. However, the returnee will not be on the pitch immediately, Shaq will sit on the bench against the French-speaking Swiss for the time being.
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Shaq-mania in the FCB fan shop
Xherdan Shaqiri is already breaking all records in terms of jersey sales at FCB ahead of his first return appearance. By Sunday morning, the FCB shirt with the number 10 had already been sold over 4,500 times - in a single week.
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Ex-FCB star Zdravko Kuzmanovic: "Talking about the title wasn't very clever of Shaqiri"
He is one of many Shaqiri predecessors as an FCB returnee: Zdravko Kuzmanovic. The 36-year-old talks to blue Sport about exaggerated expectations and explains why Shaqiri wasn't very clever during his presentation. Click here for the article.
![Zdravko Kuzmanovic in July 2017 during a test between FCB and FC Wil.]()
Zdravko Kuzmanovic in July 2017 during a test between FCB and FC Wil. KEYSTONE -
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Shaqiri definitely part of the squad against Yverdon
FC Basel have already confirmed that Shaqiri will be part of the squad for the home game against Yverdon. But the big question that every FCB fan will be asking on Sunday is: Will the 32-year-old make an immediate appearance? More information will be available at around 15.30 - when Fabio Celestini is expected to announce his line-up.
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Kevin Carlos not yet involved against former club
New FCB signing Kevin Carlos will definitely not be playing on Sunday. Last year's Super League top scorer will not play against his former club Yverdon, as FCB have confirmed. However, the striker has already sent a greeting to his new fans on Twitter.
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This is how FCB fans reacted to the Shaqiri transfer
"Hienerhutt", "Pure joy" or "hottest guy in the world" - Xherdan Shaqiri's return to FC Basel is causing great joy among the fans. Some reactions from social media.
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What you need to know about Xherdan Shaqiri's FCB return
On Friday afternoon shortly after 2 p.m., FC Basel dropped the transfer bombshell and announced the return of Xherdan Shaqiri to the Super League. After 12 years abroad, where he played for Bayern, Inter, Stoke City, Liverpool, Lyon and Chicago Fire in succession, the magic dwarf is returning to FC Basel, where he once launched his career.
"It fills me with pride and I'm delighted that I can return to FCB in my home country today," says Shaqiri, who is clearly very keen to take this step. FCB sporting director Daniel Stucki underlines this: "The signing was only possible - also financially - because FCB, but above all Xherdan himself, absolutely wanted this return."
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The spectacular return of Xherdan Shaqiri to FCB
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90.+5.End of 2nd half
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86.Substitution in Yverdon Sport FC
Ahmedin Avdic
Midfielder
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86.Substitution out Yverdon Sport FC
Hugo Komano
Striker
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86.Substitution in FC Basel
Taulant Xhaka
Midfielder
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86.Substitution out FC Basel
Leon Avdullahu
Midfielder
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76.Substitution in FC Basel
Marin Soticek
Striker
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76.Substitution out FC Basel
Bénie Traoré
Striker
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76.Substitution in FC Basel
Fabian Frei
Midfielder
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76.Substitution out FC Basel
Leo Leroy
Midfielder
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66.Substitution in Yverdon Sport FC
Mohamed Tijani
Defender
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66.Substitution out Yverdon Sport FC
Franco González
Striker
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66.Substitution in FC Basel
Xherdan Shaqiri
Midfielder
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66.Substitution out FC Basel
Bradley Fink
Striker
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66.Substitution in FC Basel
Juan Carlos Gauto
Striker
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66.Substitution out FC Basel
Benjamin Kololli
Midfielder
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62.Substitution in Yverdon Sport FC
Ricardo Azevedo
Midfielder
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62.Substitution out Yverdon Sport FC
Fodé Sylla
Midfielder
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61.Substitution in Yverdon Sport FC
Jessé Hautier
Striker
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61.Substitution out Yverdon Sport FC
Haithem Loucif
Defender
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55.Goal for FC Basel, 2:0 through Bradley Fink (Dominik Schmid)
Bradley Fink
Striker
Assist: Dominik Schmid
Midfielder
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49.Yellow card Yverdon Sport FC
Fodé Sylla
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46.Substitution in Yverdon Sport FC
Haithem Loucif
Defender
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46.Substitution out Yverdon Sport FC
Dion Kacuri
Midfielder
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46.Kick-off 2nd half
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45.+2.End of 1st half
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40.Yellow card Yverdon Sport FC
Hugo Komano
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8.Goal for FC Basel, 1:0 through Albian Ajeti (Dominik Schmid)
Albian Ajeti
Striker
Assist: Dominik Schmid
Midfielder
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1.Start of the match
