Basel bids to keep UCL hopes alive

Published Nov. 21, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

Basle take on Otelul Galati as they look to take their bid for qualification to the knockout stages of the Champions League into their final game against Manchester United next month.

The Swiss side are currently third in Group C, three points behind United and Benfica, who meet at Old Trafford in Tuesday's other game.

The scenario is complicated but a victory for Heiko Vogel's side will see them host the Premier League champions with qualification still alive.

Galati are bottom of the group having failed to take a point from any of their four matches but Vogel denies victory is a formality and insists the game is set to be their hardest away from home.

Vogel told reporters at a press conference: "No, on the contrary. I would say it is the most difficult, it requires intense concentration and attention.

"We want to play to win to give us every opportunity of keeping the last game against Manchester United alive."

Basle consolidated top spot in the Super League with a weekend victory over Young Boys and Vogel is hoping his team can mark his birthday today with three points.

"The team gave me on Saturday against YB a great pre-birthday gift - a victory against Galati would be a wonderful second part of the present ."

For Galati their Champions League experience has been a steep learning curve although they asked Manchester United some questions during their unfortunate 2-0 defeat last time out.

They eked out a narrow victory over Sportul Studentesc at the weekend and manager Dorinel Munteanu told Monitorul de Galati: "With Basle all that interests me is a win, not how we play."