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| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
BASEL  Sommer Steinhofer, Abraham, Dragovic, J.Park Shaqiri, Huggel, G.Xhaka, F.Frei Streller, A.Frei | BAYERN MUNICH  Neuer Rafinha, Boateng, Badstuber, Lahm Luiz Gustavo, Alaba Muller, Kroos, Ribery Gomez |
Basel are at near full strength for the visit of Bayern Munich with only Philipp Degen and Scott Chipperfield missing with thigh injuries. Markus Steinhofer is set to continue at right-back.
Valentin Stocker and Giles Yapi have both returned to fitness yet the two midfielders are expected to start the game on the bench. Benjamin Huggel, Alexander Frei, Granit Xhaka and Marco Streller are all a booking away from suspension.
Jupp Heynckes is expected to stick with the same starting line-up that could only manage a 0-0 draw away at Freiburg in the Bundesliga at the weekend.
Thomas Muller will be given the nod ahead of Arjen Robben while David Alaba will deputise for Bastian Schweinsteiger in the centre of midfield. With Daniel van Buyten injured, Jerome Boateng will continue in the centre of defence. Breno and Diego Contento remain absentees for the Bavarians.
| DID YOU KNOW |
Basel have reached the last 16 of the competition on only one occasion preciously, in the 2002-03 campaign.
- The Swiss club's star player, Xherdan Shaqiri, will be up against his future employees on Wednesday evening, with the winger set to join the Bavarian outfit in the summer for a reported €10 million.
- Basel conceded 10 goals in the group stages of the Champions League - more than any other team who qualified for the round of 16.
- Bayern Munich will host this season's Champions League final at their Allianz Arena in May.
- The Bavarians defeated Basel at St Jakob-Park in September 2010 when the sides last met, with Bastian Schweinsteiger grabbing both of their goals in a 2-1 win.
- Mario Gomez has six goals so far in the Champions League this season, one behind top scorer Lionel Messi.
Basel have surprised many with their impressive performances in Europe this season but Bayern should have enough quality and experience to see off their dogged opponents. It will be a tight one, but expect a narrow away win for Jupp Heynckes' men.
Editor's Prediction
Basel 1-2 Bayern 
