FC Basel achieved a resounding 5:0 victory over last-placed Winterthur in the 13th Super League round, with impressive performances from Traoré (who scored twice), Carlos, Kade, and Shaqiri leading the charge. In another match, FCZ and YB played to a goalless draw. Basel’s dominance was clear, having sealed the match by the 39th minute with a commanding 3-0 lead, and they now sit just three points behind leaders Zurich. Winterthur will face Lausanne-Sport next, while Basel heads to Yverdon.
- FC Basel dominates the last-placed Winterthur with a convincing 5-0 win in the 13th Super League round.
- The home team shines offensively with standout performances from double scorer Traoré, Carlos, Kade, and Shaqiri.
- In another early Saturday match, FC Zurich and Young Boys ended in a 0-0 draw. FC St. Gallen is set to face Sion (live on SRF two).
Even though Basel took their foot off the gas after about an hour, FC Winterthur still managed to put together some decent plays and created several opportunities to score. However, it was symptomatic of the evening at St. Jakob-Park when Basel pulled off a counterattack that ended with a “billiard goal.”
25 Minutes was All Basel Needed
By the 39th minute, the match was decisively in favor of Basel after Kevin Carlos scored to make it 3-0. The energetic Celestini squad outperformed their guests in every aspect, forcing Winterthur into defensive mistakes, which they ruthlessly exploited:
- 14th Minute: Bénie Traoré passes the ball into the penalty area to the unmarked Anton Kade, who slides it precisely into the bottom right corner of the net.
- 28th Minute: Winterthur defender Lukas Mühl, already struggling since the first goal, heads a chip from Xherdan Shaqiri into danger instead of clearing it, allowing Traoré to poke the ball past Stefanos Kapino for 2-0.
- 39th Minute: Kevin Carlos heads in a free-kick taken by Shaqiri, despite tight marking from Remo Arnold, to extend the lead to 3-0.
Traoré crowned his performance with a second goal in the 55th minute, pushing a rebound from Kapino that he couldn’t handle over the line (4-0). Shaqiri’s corner kick led to this opportunity, allowing the former national team player to notch yet another two-and-a-half assists.
Traoré’s Fourth Contribution
Finally, substitute Albian Ajeti tapped in the ball that ricocheted off the post and then Kapino’s back for a 5-0 finish. The tenacious Traoré had intercepted the ball and started the counterattack.
This marked the second notable victory for FC Basel against Winterthur within eight days—following a 6-1 win last week, they extended the goal difference to five. Basel now trails the current leader Zurich by only three points.
Frei’s Unfortunate Return
Fabian Frei’s return to St. Jakob-Park was less than ideal. The former Basel captain wasn’t solely responsible for Winterthur’s defeat but couldn’t prevent it either. As he was substituted in the 66th minute, he received respectful applause from both sets of fans.
Looking Ahead
In the upcoming match, Winterthur will host Lausanne-Sport next Saturday. Meanwhile, FC Basel will travel to face another Vaud club, Yverdon.