Basle vs Steaua preview - Piovaccari targets crucial win

Posted Wednesday, November 06, 2013 by PA

Steaua striker Federico Piovaccari believes his side must win "at any cost" if they are to save their Champions League campaign.

Although top of Romania's Liga 1 with an unbeaten record of nine wins and two draws from 11 games as they seek to retain the title they won last season, Steaua face the prospect of an early European exit.

With just one point from their opening three Group E games and a goal difference of minus seven, Steaua have to beat Basle at St Jakob Park on Wednesday to keep their qualification hopes alive.

"Right now we are at a disadvantage because of the number of points we have taken so we have to force a victory," said Piovaccari, with eight goals in his last 16 appearances for Steaua this season whilst on loan from Sampdoria.

"We need to win at any cost against Basle if we are to have a chance of playing in the spring in the knockout phase.

"We know on Wednesday we face the most important game of the moment, one that can decide our fate this season.

"Of course I want to score, but frankly it matters little who scores as long as we win.

"So no matter what system or tactics we use, it is important we give everything."

Steaua were held to a 1-1 draw at home to Basle a fortnight ago, with Piovaccari setting up Leandro Tatu for an 88th-minute equaliser, and what has so far been their only goal of the group stages to date.

"I knew before that game that Basle are a very good team, who look good on the field, particularly up front," added Piovaccari.

"In Bucharest we created some problems, but Basle also showed they can play well defensively."

A victory for Basle, currently top of the Swiss Super League, is key to their own hopes ahead of two tough encounters against Schalke and Chelsea to conclude the group stages.

Coach Murat Yakin goes into the game, however, distracted by talk of him replacing Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld after next summer's World Cup.

Speculation has suggested Yakin, who scored four goals in 49 matches for his country and whose contract with Basle expires at the end of the season, is favoured by certain members of the Swiss Football Association.

Dismissing the rumours, Yakin said: "It would be a great honour and it would give me great pride, but I'm happy at Basle.

"Right now it's too early to talk about it, and anyway I've not been contacted."

One of Steaua's key midfielders in Mihai Pintilii has travelled to Basle, although remains a doubt after suffering a recurrence of a muscle strain sustained in the first game in Bucharest.

Pintilii's presence appears crucial as Steaua are without three other midfielders in Adrian Cristea, Ionut Neagu and Gabriel Iancu.

As for Basle, one of their own midfielders in Valentin Stocker is a doubt after missing Saturday's 1-1 league draw with Aarau with a groin strain.