It's Never Just a Friendly

The city of Basel and the city of Zürich two historic cities located in the breath taking lands of Switzerland. On paper it will never be the closest derby in terms of geographical location, a usual 1 hour 15 minute drive, with a distance of 76 kilometers (48 miles) separating the two. However there has and will always be a long-standing rivalry between the footballing clubs that represents these great cities. Therefore this evenings friendly between FC Basel and Grasshopper-Club is not just a friendly, bragging rights come with it.

So just who is FCB's most traditional and fiercest rivals ? Both Grasshopper Club Zürich and FC Zürich are the considered two. The past few seasons, the rivalry between FC Zürich and Basel has been driven by Zürich's narrow league championship wins over Basel, when both competed in the Swiss Super league. Supporters from both sides have caused trouble in the past years, with the worst incident happening in May 2006.

There is controversy about which rivalry is bigger, the one with Grasshopper or FC Zürich, but it usually depends on the success of these teams. Now with the disbandment of the Swiss Super League for the newly created NWO could we see the re-birth or maybe new birth of a great rivalry ?

Managers Ben Clifford and Rob Harris do have their history managing rival teams, although lately both have found them self's more at ease with each other due to the difference in teams they have been in charge of. Tonight's meeting (The first of two meetings in the NWO, the other being in the NWO Shield first round) promises to be fiery not only because of the rival status of the two teams but tonight being the last of a number of friendly's with the real action starting tomorrow.

2 wins, 4 draws and 2 losses from FCB's friendlys

Basel have had a mixed bag it can be said in terms of results, however after tonight the real work starts. Clifford needs the fans onside quickly if his early days at Basel are to be enjoyable ones, as much tougher task's lay ahead, tonight is about pride and those bragging rights. Tomorrow is about glory and the new dawn not only for FC Basel under Clifford but for world football, the weak will struggle and the strong will thrive. What side of the equation FC Basel sit on still remains to be seen !