Basel need a Juve miracle

BASEL coach Christian Gross will name the same side that earned a creditable 1-1 draw at Manchester United last week for tonight’s meeting with Juventus, as the Swiss go in search of the near-miracle they need to reach the quarter-finals.

Gross’s side need to win 4-0 or better to have any chance of pipping Juventus.

S triker Christian Gimenez, defenders Thimothee Atoube and Marco Zwyssig, and midfielder Sebastien Barberis are back on the squad, after all four sat out Saturday’s 4-1 league win over FC Thun.

Midfielders Antonio Esposito and Ivan Ergic are the only absentees, suffering from calf and knee injuries respectively.

Juventus striker Alessandro Del Piero is fit again but will probably start on the bench for the Italians, who need only a point to progress.

Midfielder Igor Tudor, who scored the last-gasp winner in Juve’s 3-2 victory over Deportivo last week, should take the place of the suspended Edgar Davids.

In defence, Lilian Thuram returns to right-back after Midfielder Igor Tudor, who scored the last-gasp winner in Juve’s 3-2 victory over Deportivo last week, should take the place of the suspended Edgar Davids.

In defence, Lilian Thuram returns to right-back after sitting out Juve’s weekend win against Modena.

Probable teams:

BASEL: P Zuberbuehler; B Haas, M Yakin, M Zwyssig, T Atouba; M Cantaluppi, S Chipperfield, S Barberis, H Yakin, J Hernan Rossi, C Gimenez.

JUVENTUS: G Buffon; L Thuram, C Ferrara, P Montero, G Pessotto, M Camoranesi, A Tacchinardi, I Tudor, P Nedved, M Zalayeta, M Salas.

Referee: Wolfgang Stark (Germany).