In the other direction Marcos Gelabert transferred out to Neuchâtel Xamax, Stefan Wessels moved on to FK Ventspils, Serkan Sahin to Konyaspor, Carlitos to Malaga and Antonio da Silva’s loan came to an end and he returned to Karlsruher SC.
Head coach Thorsten Fink had mixed a number of their youngsters into the team, but nevertheless they dominated their opponents, although they were able to hold on for half an hour before the inevitable occurred.
Again, head coach Thorsten Fink played with a B-team, the goalie Franco Costanzo travelled with the team as substitute, but the players Alexander Frei, Behrang Safari, Valentin Stocker, Marco Streller, Daniel Unal, Granit Xhaka were all given a day off und Jacques Zoua was injured.
On 72 minutes the dead-lock was broken, Reto Zanni crossed from the right, Fwayo Tembo lengthened it and the ball dropped to Federico Almerares’ feet and he made no mistake.
Five minutes later a free kick on the left was played shot from Almerares to Xherdan Shaqiri, his cross was met by Tembo who scored from close distance.
Basel were without captain and goalie Franco Costanzo and defender Behrang Safari, both were given a day off, without midfielder Gilles Yapi, who was suspended (due to 5 yellow cards) and without Genséric Kusunga and Marco Streller, both injured.
Basel played with their B-team, head coach Thorsten Fink changed ten positions in the starting eleven, Gilles Yapi was the only remaining player compared to the previous championship game.
Pietro Di Nardo trapped the poorly kicked ball and played forwards to Etoundi, who gave the hosts a surprising 3–1 lead and victory.
In the 88th minute, Basel head coach Thorsten Fink replaced Stocker and substituted in Granit Xhaka who had been brought up from the youth team only two months earlier.
Adamo Coulibaly's goal 16 minutes from time, on rebound after Franco Costanzo had saved his penalty, was only a small consolation, because Basel had already decided the tie for themselves and knocking the Hungarian titleholders out of the competition 3–1 on the day and 5–1 on aggregate.
Sheriff were now on top, but first Basel captain and goalie Costanzo denied Wilfried Balima and then substitute Marko Đurović twice headed over from close range and later had a shot that hit the post.
Frei, with two late efforts, then sealed his team’s comfortable victory and the passage to the group stage, sending Sheriff into the UEFA Europa League.
Cluj started fast and furious into the game and Basel never quite recovered after Juan Culio set up goals for Ionuţ Rada and Lacina Traoré inside the opening 12 minutes.
The victory owed everything to the hosts opening few minutes and to Argentinian midfielder Culio, who proved his qualities in giving two fine left-footed assists during this time.
The beneficiaries were Rada, from the corner, in the ninth minute, and Traoré, following a cross in the 12th, both of whom hit strong headers beyond Basel captain and keeper Franco Costanzo.
Indeed, the visitors could have claimed a point, Xherdan Shaqiri volleyed over bar and on 77 minutes goalkeeper Nuno Claro did well to tip the ball over as Scott Chipperfield sent a powerful header towards the goal.
Marco Streller raced into the penalty area, he then out-tricked defender Van Buyten back heeling to Alexander Frei who curled his shot past the helpless Jörg Butt.
After the break Bayern improved and as Benjamin Huggel brought Thomas Müller to fall in the box, Bastian Schweinsteiger coolly sank the penalty kick to level things out.
Coach Louis van Gaal then attempted to strengthen the Bayern attack and brought on Mario Gómez and Ivica Olić, but neither managed to finish off a good cross from Philipp Lahm on 68 minutes.
Gilles Yapi played the ball diagonally wide to Xherdan Shaqiri, his cross from the right was controlled by Marco Streller and his cushioned header back into the centre was met by Alexander Frei who fired home from 14 metres.
In the 44th minute Samuel Inkoom had been far too quick for Simone Perrotta and he controlled Xherdan Shaqiri's clever angled pass to hit an unstoppable low effort past the helpless Bogdan Lobonț.
With one minute to go a Totti' free-kick was well saved by Costanzo and his clearance flew to Cabral, who sneaked though at the other end to score the final goal in Basel’s 3–1 win.
Samuel Inkoom did well to stop Mirko Vučinić before he could fire off his shot, but the entire defence was helpless as Ménez pushed home the loose ball.
[15] Visitors to the St. Jakob-Park, with an attendance of 34,239 spectators, on matchday five was CFR Cluj and referee on this damp and cold evening was Laurent Duhamel from the French Football Federation.
With 15 minutes gone Samuel Inkoom set Federico Almerares free with a fine low ball into the box to which the Argentinian striker applied a sliding finish.
In the finishing stages the Basel defence had little to worry about, CRF attacking moves were definitely not dangerous and after Piccolo was given a straight red two minutes from time, they were non-existent.
The requirements were clear, FCB needed to win and AS Roma had to lose in order for Basel to progress, on the other hand Bayern had already secured the top spot in the group.
On 61 minutes captain Alex battled forward to the edge of the box and took aim, but his shot was blocked and fell into the path of Dmitri Kombarov, who smashed the ball in via keeper Franco Costanzo’s left-hand post.
Their mobile attacking trio Dmitri Kombarov, Aiden McGeady and Artem Dzyuba caused early problems for the visitors’ defence with their speedy runs up front.
Spartak forward McGeady finally put the result beyond doubt with his added-time equaliser tapping the ball into the net after Dzyuba had rounded goalkeeper Franco Costanzo.