Champions League round of 16 power rankings
By James Dudko
15. Basel
The fact Basel find themselves trailing Young Boys in the Swiss Super League hints this squad isn’t quite on a par with some of the club’s previous vintages.
A slight dip is not well-timed, since Basel’s reward for passage to the round of 16 is a meeting with City. The Citizens are injury hit and no longer firing on all cylinders in England’s top flight, but they still own a double-digit lead at the top of the table.
It’s difficult to see how Basel will trouble City, despite a solid campaign in Group A. The Swiss side won four matches, including taking three points off United at St. Jakob-Park.
There is enough quality in forward areas to believe manager Raphael Wicky’s squad can trouble City. Most notably, striker Dimitri Oberlin boasts the pace and power to stretch City’s back four to breaking point on the counter.
Meanwhile, creative and versatile Mohamed Elyounoussi will be his side’s true key player. The Norway international has the guile and vision to set Oberlin free, either from the wings or central areas.
Basel need a lot to go their way in order to spring what would be a major upset. But if Oberlin and Elyounoussi are in sync, City could be caught cold.