Today at 2:45 p.m. ET, FC Basel and Steaua Bucuresti go head-to-head in UEFA Champions League Group E action live from St. Jakob-Park in Switzerland. The game can be live streamed here.
Steaua is looking to save their Champions League hopes and striker Federico Piovaccari described the game as a "win at any cost" match as Steaua is facing the prospect of a possible early European exit and must beat Basel to keep their qualification hopes alive.
Steaua has just one point in its first three contests in Group E and have problems as their goal differential sits at minus-seven.
"Right now we are at a disadvantage because of the number of points we have taken so we have to force a victory," said Piovaccari, per ESPN, who has eight goals in 16 contests. "We need to win at any cost against Basel if we are to have a chance of playing in the spring in the knockout phase."
Piovaccari knows how important today's game is.
"We know on Wednesday we face the most important game of the moment, one that can decide our fate this season," he told ESPN. "Of course I want to score, but frankly it matters little who scores as long as we win. So no matter what system or tactics we use, it is important we give everything."
Steaua scored its only goal of its Group E stretch against Basel in a 1-1 draw.
"I knew before that game that Basel are a very good team, who look good on the field, particularly up front," added Piovaccari per ESPN. "In Bucharest we created some problems, but Basel also showed they can play well defensively."
Basel is currently on top of the Swiss Super League and a victory here could go a long way as it faces upcoming tough matches against Schalke and Chelsea to conclude the group stages.
Basel head coach Murat Yakin has been rumored to take over the job as coach of Switzerland after this summer's World Cup, but he downplayed the speculation.
"It would be a great honor and it would give me great pride, but I'm happy at Basel, he told ESPN. "Right now it's too early to talk about it, and anyway I've not been contacted."
Steaua midfielder Mihai Pintilii remains doubtful for the match with a muscle strain while Adrian Cristea, Ionut Neagu and Gabriel Iancu are also absent.
Basel, meanwhile, should be missing midfielder Valentin Stocker due to a groin strain.
Steaua looks to save its Champions League hopes while Basel hopes to have a strong game heading into a couple of tough matches when these two teams take the pitch today.
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