User:Huligan0/2012–13 FC Basel season

The Campaign

Domestic League

Basel's priority aim for the season is to win the league championship for the fourth time in a row. Basel's 2012–13 Swiss Super League season began on 13 July 2012 with the away tie against Servette FC. The season started poorly, Basel won just three of their first nine games, drawing five with one defeat. They were in fourth position in the league table, eight points behind the leaders Grasshoppers, this even increased to eleven points just three weeks later. However, following the Management change in October, the team spirits improved and they played better. They ended the first half of the season in second position, had reduced the arrears to four points and had moved one point ahead of Sion and St. Gallen.

In the second half of the season FC Sion lost their momentum completely and St. Gallen also lost contact to the first two positions in the league table. The Grasshoppers and Basel distanced themselves continually, but remained within a few points of each other. Basel took over the lead in the championship table and, mid-way through the second half of the season, started to open a gap to their last remaining rivals. Despite Grasshoppers winning the direct league fixture against Basel three games before the end of the season, Basel had acquired enough points to finish three points ahead of them and to win their forth title in a row. Basel thus achieved their main aim that they had set for the season, in fact the league campaign can be described as being a successful one.

Domestic Cup

Basel's clear aim for the Swiss Cup is to retain the title. The Cup holders started in the 2012–13 Swiss Cup first round on 15 September with the away game against FC Amriswil, a team from the OFV (Ostschweizer Fussballverband) Regional 2. Liga and this tie was won 6–1. In the second round they were drawn away against FC Chiasso, this tie was won 4–1. For the third round tie Basel were drawn, again away from home, against Locarno and passed into the next round with a 3–2 victory, but needed a.e.t. for the winning goal.

The Quarterfinals were played on 27 February 2013 and Basel were drawn away from home against FC Thun in a tie that was won 2–1, yet again this victory need extra time. Drawn away in the semifinal against Sion on 17 April 2013 Basel advanced to the final thanks to the only goal of the game scored by Valentin Stocker. The final was played on Whit Monday in the Stade de Suisse, Wankdorf in Bern. The opponents were the Grasshoppers. Basel lost the Final 3-4 on penalties, the game had ended 1-1 after extra time. Basel missed their aimed cup win, but the cup campaign can be described as being a successful one.