FC Basel 1893 1 - 1 FT FC Copenhagen

St. Jakob-Park

Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching

Futmetrix Verdict
62
FT
Wed, Aug 20
FC Basel 1893
1-1
FC Copenhagen
⚡ Intensity 61
⚖️ Balance 44
🏆 Stakes 33
🎲 Upset 0
Basel's penalty prowess undone by late drama

Shaqiri's Spot-Kick Silenced by Pereira's Equaliser as St. Jakob-Park Erupts in Controversy

Worth Watching Futmetrix Score: 62/100. This Champions League opener delivered the chaos and intensity demanded of European football's elite stage, with two clinical finishes and a VAR intervention that robbed Copenhagen of what looked like a winner.

Early Precision: Shaqiri Converts from the Spot

Intensity spiked from the opening exchanges at St. Jakob-Park. Xherdan Shaqiri showed the composure of a seasoned campaigner in the 14th minute, stepping up to the penalty spot and sending his effort past Dominik Kotarski with clinical precision. Basel had drawn first blood in what promised to be a tight contest, and the home crowd sensed momentum. Yet Copenhagen's resilience—built on 54% possession and a methodical passing game (87% accuracy across 521 passes)—suggested they would not fold quietly.

The Turning Point: Pereira's Leveller Before Half-Time

Copenhagen struck back with devastating timing. In the 45th minute, Gabriel Pereira rose to meet M. Lopez's assist and levelled the contest with a composed finish. The defender's intervention shifted the balance entirely. Basel's defensive vulnerabilities—exposed by Copenhagen's 11 shots, six from inside the box—suggested the visitors had found a blueprint to exploit. Kotarski's five saves kept Copenhagen in the hunt, a masterclass in shot-stopping that would prove vital before the final whistle.

Numerical Disadvantage and VAR's Final Verdict

The match descended into controversy in its closing stages. Jonas Adjei Adjetey received a straight red card in the 82nd minute for a foul, leaving Basel to defend with ten men. Copenhagen sensed their opportunity and nearly stole all three points when Andreas Cornelius thought he had won it in the 88th minute—only for VAR to intervene and cancel the goal. The decision left Copenhagen's title stakes hanging in the balance, their form (two wins in six games) demanding points in Europe's premier competition. Basel held firm for the draw, though the red card and missed opportunities suggest both sides will rue what might have been.

Key Questions

How did the red card for Jonas Adjei Adjetey impact the match?

Adjetey's 82nd-minute dismissal left Basel defending with ten men, tilting possession and attacking pressure decisively toward Copenhagen in the final stages.

How did VAR change this match?

VAR disallowed Cornelius's 88th-minute goal, denying Copenhagen what appeared to be a winner and preserving Basel's draw despite numerical disadvantage.

What is the Futmetrix Score?

The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.

Match Statistics

Possession
46%
54%
FC Basel 1893 46%
FC Copenhagen 54%
Shots
11
11
FC Basel 1893 11
FC Copenhagen 11
Shots on Target
6
4
FC Basel 1893 6
FC Copenhagen 4
Expected Goals (xG)
0.00
0.00
FC Basel 1893 0.00
FC Copenhagen 0.00
Passes
430
521
FC Basel 1893 430
FC Copenhagen 521
Pass Accuracy
85%
87%
FC Basel 1893 85%
FC Copenhagen 87%
Corners
2
3
FC Basel 1893 2
FC Copenhagen 3
Fouls
11
12
FC Basel 1893 11
FC Copenhagen 12
Yellow Cards
5
3
FC Basel 1893 5
FC Copenhagen 3
Red Cards
1
0
FC Basel 1893 1
FC Copenhagen 0

Match Events

Rodrigo Huescas 🟨 12'
14' X. Shaqiri
28' 🟨 Keigo Tsunemoto
Gabriel Pereira (M. Lopez) 45'
45'+2 🟨 Leo Leroy
HT
Lukas Lerager 🟨 53'
Jordan Larsson 🟨 62'
Robert Y. Moukoko 🔄 64'
68' 🔄 A. Ajeti M. Broschinski
J. Larsson M. Mattsson 🔄 70'
77' 🔄 M. Soticek K. Koindredi
W. Clem V. Claesson 🔄 83'
84' 🔄 L. Leroy N. Vouilloz
FT

Player Cards

Our take on every player in this match

FC Basel 1893

Goalkeepers
M. Hitz
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
K. Tsunemoto
ARCHITECT
ARCHITECT
2
Key Passes
2
Key Passes
0
Assists
32%
Pass Acc
A. Barisic
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Adjetey
FRIENDLY FIRE
FRIENDLY FIRE
Red Card
Mistake
Red Card
Mistake
4
Fouls
6
Rating
D. Schmid
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Midfielders
Metinho
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
L. Leroy
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
6
Late Mins
6
Late Mins
84
Total Mins
84
Entry
M. Soticek
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
13
Late Mins
13
Late Mins
77
Total Mins
77
Entry
X. Shaqiri
SNIPER
SNIPER
50%
Conversion
50%
Conversion
1
Goals
2
Shots
P. Otele
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Forwards
A. Ajeti
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
68
Total Mins
68
Entry
BENCH
M. Salvi
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
T. Pfeiffer
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
N. Vouilloz
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
11
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Cisse
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Akahomen
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
K. Koindredi
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
14
Total Mins
Started
Entry
A. Bacanin
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
D. Kacuri
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Junior Ze
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Broschinski
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
23
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Kaio Eduardo
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry

FC Copenhagen

Goalkeepers
D. Kotarski
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Defenders
R. Huescas
FRIENDLY FIRE
FRIENDLY FIRE
Pen Given
Mistake
Pen Given
Mistake
2
Fouls
5.9
Rating
Gabriel Pereira
SNIPER
SNIPER
100%
Conversion
100%
Conversion
1
Goals
1
Shots
P. Hatzidiakos
MAGNET
MAGNET
95
Activity
95
Activity
91
Passes
4
Duels
M. Lopez
PROVIDER
PROVIDER
1
Assists
1
Assists
1
Key Passes
6.7
Rating
Midfielders
L. Lerager
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
W. Clem
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
7
Late Mins
7
Late Mins
83
Total Mins
83
Entry
J. Larsson
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
70
Total Mins
70
Entry
M. Elyounoussi
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
90
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Robert
PROVOCATEUR
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
6
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
Forwards
A. Cornelius
PROVOCATEUR
PROVOCATEUR
3
Fouls Won
3
Fouls Won
9
Duels Won
0
Pens Won
BENCH
R. A. Runarsson
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
O. Buur
SPECTATOR
SPECTATOR
0
Saves
0
Saves
0
Conceded
0
Minutes
M. Garananga
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
J. Suzuki
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Y. Zague
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
B. Meling
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
V. Claesson
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
8
Total Mins
Started
Entry
M. Mattsson
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
21
Total Mins
Started
Entry
D. Sarapata
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
0
Total Mins
Started
Entry
Y. Moukoko
LATE SHIFT
LATE SHIFT
15
Late Mins
15
Late Mins
27
Total Mins
Started
Entry

Head to Head

Date Home Score Away Competition Venue
20/08/2025 FC Basel 1893 1 - 1 FC Copenhagen UEFA Champions League St. Jakob-Park
20/08/2025
UEFA Champions League St. Jakob-Park
FC Basel 1893 Win
FC Copenhagen Win
Draw