15 minutes after he was brought on, Austrian FCB striker Marc Janko profited from an opponent’s capital mistake. Janko took on the ball on his own in front of Keeper Buric and executed in the style of a top scorer. Lech, which played without former Basel player Darko Jevtic, had to undergo the bitter experience that carelessness will be brutally punished by an opponent of bigger caliber on this level. Callà took advantage of a counter in the additional time. Trainer Urs Fischer’s Cup of Europe debut on behalf of the FCB was completely successful. The only unpleasant thing from Basel’s point of view might have been the fact that Taulant Xhaka was sent off the field shortly before the final whistle. The referee had no mercy after his slightly too motivated midfield entry – immediate red card!
With this 3:1 result, the Basel players can tackle the rematch at St.-Jakob-Park next Wednesday calmly. Lech turned out to be a tough opponent for a long time, left the favorite with restricted spaces.
The FCB, whose captain Matias Delgado spent the evening on the bench, passed up an even better opportunity when they shot wide on a foul penalty. In the 67. minute, Shkelzen Gashi’s weak attempt from the penalty spot failed because of Keeper Jasmin Buric. From this moment on, Basel was able to work with one additional man for about 25 minutes. English referee Taylor assessed defender Tomasz Kedziora’s shove into Birkir Bjarnason’s back, which had led to the penalty, as a professional foul and showed the red card. The beginning phase had been relatively balanced. During the first half an hour, the Basel players might have had an opportunity more, but the most dangerous maneuver was made by German Lech striker Denis Thomalla, who, after a quick counterstrike, missed the goal by only a few centimeters (17.). Both teams then needed a corner to reach their first successes. After Luca Zuffi’s corner and Breel Embolo’s disruptions, Michael Lang was standing in a perfect positon behind the post to reach 1:0 in the 34. minute. Cheered on by fans frenetically, Lech Poznan only needed two minutes to react to the deficit. Following Scot Barry Douglas’ corner, it was Szymon Pawlowski who lay in wait and transported the ball narrowly behind the line via the crossbar. Thomalla did away with any doubts by scoring with his head.
Lech Poznan – Basel 1:3 (1:1)
28’000 spectators. – referee Taylor (Eng.) – Goals: 34. Lang (Corner Zuffi) 0:1. 36. Pawlowski (Corner Douglas) 1:1. 77. Janko (Suchy) 1:2. 92. Callà (Xhaka) 1:3.
Lech Poznan: Buric; Kedziora, Kadar, Kaminski, Douglas; Tralka, Linetty; Formella (70. Ceesay), Hämäläinen (75. Lovrencsics), Pawlowski; Thomalla (55. Robak).
Basel: Vaclik; Lang, Hoegh, Suchy, Safari; Kuzmanovic (87. Elneny), Xhaka; Bjarnason, Zuffi, Gashi (75. Callà); Embolo (62. Janko).
Remarks: Basel without Samuel (blocked), Ivanov, Gonzalez and Kakitani (all injured). 66. Red card against Kedziora (professional foul against Bjarnason) 67. Buric saves Gashi’s foul penalty. 93. Red card against Xhaka (foul). – Reprimands: 49. Thomalla. 69. Linetty. 82. Kadar (all foulplay).