Basel triumphs 2-0 over Stuttgart – Hitz shines as a penalty killer!

Basel triumphs 2-0 over Stuttgart – Hitz shines as a penalty killer!

A thrilling Europa League game took place today in St. Jakob-Park in Basel, in which FC Basel defeated VfB Stuttgart 2-0. The celebrated Basel team showed an aggressive style of play and prevailed in the main round of the Europa League for the first time after a furious 90 minutes. The team around goalkeeper Marwin Hitz and striker Albian Ajeti did well in this important game and laid the foundation for a promising group phase.

Ajeti caused a stir in the third minute when he made it 1-0 after a backpass error from Lorenz Assignon. The Stuttgart defense was under pressure early on. The second decisive moment of the game came in the 36th minute: Hitz made an impressive save when he intercepted a penalty from Ermedin Demirović. The Basel keeper, who had already appeared as a “penalty killer” in previous games, kept the lead for his team, which also remained steadfast when Stuttgart had other chances, such as a header from Demirović and a shot from Chema Andrés in the 58th minute.

Strong performance and fan interactions

Basel dominated the action and was the better team. Not only did they have several chances to score throughout the game - including a shot off the post by Jeremy Agbonifo - but they also scored another goal in the 84th minute. After a precise ball from Xherdan Shaqiri, Moritz Broschinski pushed the ball over the line and made it 2-0 for the hosts.

The game wasn't just exciting on the field, the spectators in the stadium were also challenged. Before kick-off there were arguments between fans of both teams. Fortunately, the situation calmed down quickly and the Basel fans' choreography could be presented as planned. A total of 33,650 spectators came to witness the spectacle live.

Outlook for upcoming games

With this victory, Basel not only opened the group phase in the Europa League on a positive note, but also whets the appetite for the next encounters. Basel's next game is on October 23rd against Olympique Lyon. Stuttgart, on the other hand, will compete with SC Heidenheim next weekend.

In the coming weeks, Basel will have to ensure that injured players such as Tsunemoto, van Breemen and Traoré get fit again quickly, while Stuttgart will have to make do without the injured Stergiou. These events help keep viewers glued to how the teams will develop throughout the season.

The all-time top scorers list in the UEFA Europa League will continue to be followed by many players. It will be exciting to see which player catapults himself further up the ranks in the coming weeks and consolidates his position in the long history of this competition.