Basel vs Ludogorets - Urs Fischer targeting a long run in the Champions League

Posted Tuesday, September 13, 2016 by PA

Basle coach Urs Fischer has targeted an extended run in this season's Champions League starting with victory in Tuesday's opening Group A clash with Ludogorets at St Jakob-Park.

Fischer has steered the Swiss champions, who reached the last 16 in the Champions League at the expense of Liverpool in 2015, to seven straight league wins this season and they will start as clear favourites against their Bulgarian opponents

"If we play our game over 90 minutes and keep our cool, then I believe that we are going to see a good performance," Fischer told a press conference.

"It would be important to get a good result in our first game as it helps preparing the next games too. We want still to be in Europe over the winter, so every point is important."

Basle, already nine points clear of nearest rivals Young boys in the Swiss top flight in pursuit of an eighth straight domestic crown, also have Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain for company in Group A.

"There's nothing better for the players than to be playing games like these, but I don't feel much different than I do before any other game," added Fischer, whose side have scored at least three games in all seven league games this season.

"It's the same procedure to prepare the team, so it's nothing different, but of course all of the things going on around the place are different. In terms of my work, though, it's business as usual."

Ludogorets, who won a fifth successive domestic title last season and currently third in the Bulgarian top flight, secured their only group stage win in the competition, becoming the first from their country to do so, with a 1-0 win over Basle in Rezgrad two years ago.

But Basle have lost only three of their 19 games in European competition at St Jakob-Park and have beaten Ludogorets in their three other Champions League meetings.