Frei brace softens up Sofia

Basle are in a strong position to qualify from Group E after the leaders claimed a 3-1 home win over CSKA Sofia.

Basle boost hopes of clinching place in last 32

Basle are in a strong position to qualify from Europa League Group E after the leaders claimed a 3-1 home win over CSKA Sofia. Alexander Frei grabbed a goal in each half to move the Swiss outfit on to nine points in the group - two ahead of second-placed Roma. It was against the run of play when Basle took the lead - via a 25-yard right-foot shot from Marcos Gelabert 10 minutes before the break. Before CSKA had time to recover their composure, it was 2-0. Aleksandar Branekov conceded a penalty with a foul on Frei, who got to his feet to convert the chance powerfully into the bottom left-hand corner from the spot. Basle found their lead cut just before the hour when Todor Yanchev got on the end of a Marquinhos corner with a right-foot finish which was too hot for Massimo Colomba. But the fightback did not last long, Frei restoring Basle's two-goal cushion and completing the scoring in the 67th minute when he latched onto a good pass from Benjamin Huggel and beat Zdravko Chavdarov with his left foot from outside the area.