After last season, where Basel dominated on the domestic front, winning both the Swiss Super League and Swiss Cup, and reaching the last 32 of the UEFA Cup. This season they will have the opportunity to qualify for the Champions League. To prepare for the 2008–09 season, FCB added defenders Behrang Safari from Malmö FF and David Abraham from Gimnàstic de Tarragona and midfielders Jurgen Gjasula and Marcos Gelabert from FC St. Gallen. Fans' favourite Daniel Majstorović left the club for AEK Athens, while Kōji Nakata returned to Japan with Kashima Antlers; Vratislav Lokvenc and David Degen's respective loan deals were not re-newed. Prior to the start of the domestic season, Ivan Ergić resigned as club captain; Franco Costanzo was unveiled as the new captain one day before the season began. Basel played their opening game of the season in Bern on 18 July 2008 against Young Boys, which they won 2–1 through goals by substitutes Marko Perović and Benjamin Huggel after Eudis had put the home side ahead. Basel entered the Champions League in the Second Qualifying Round and were drawn against IFK Göteborg of Sweden. The first leg was on 30 July 2008 at Ullevi and finished 1–1. Benjamin Huggel put Basel ahead before Thomas Olsson equalised for the home team. The second leg took place on 6 August at St. Jakob-Park, with Basel coming from behind twice to win 4–2. Pontus Wernbloom put Göteborg ahead on 19 minutes before Benjamin Huggel equalised soon after. Early in the second half, Robin Söder restored Göteborg's lead but Basel fought back, with Scott Chipperfield equalising. Then Basel earned a penalty due to an alleged handball in the penalty area; replays showed, however, that the referee had made the wrong decision. The penalty was scored, and eventually led to the victory. Basel then faced Vitória de Guimarães of Portugal in the Third Qualifying Round. The first leg at Estádio D. Afonso Henriques, on 13 August, ended in a 0–0 draw. The second leg, on 27 August at St. Jakob-Park, saw Valentin Stocker give Basel an early lead on 11 minutes before João Alves was fouled in the penalty area by François Marque, and João Fajardo dispatched the spot-kick just four minutes later to draw Vitória level. In the second half, the away side started well but Eren Derdiyok gave FCB a 2–1 lead which they preserved to secure qualification to the tournament's group stages. FCB were drawn into Group C alongside Barcelona, Shakhtar Donetsk and Sporting CP. Basel lost their opening game 2–1 at St. Jakob-Park on 16 September against Shakhtar. Fernandinho put the Ukrainians ahead on 25 minutes before Jádson doubled their lead just before half-time. David Abraham scored a late consolation goal for the home team. Sporting CP were the opponents on Matchday 2, and despite defending well and causing a few scares at the other end of the park, Basel were defeated 2–0 at the Estádio José Alvalade. On Matchday 3, Barcelona visited Basel and came away with a 5–0 win, but a fortnight later it was a different story as FCB came away with a respectable 1–1 draw at the Camp Nou, with Eren Derdiyok scoring a late equaliser after Lionel Messi put Barça ahead. On 26 November, Basel travelled to Ukraine to play Shakhtar, where they were thrashed 5–0. Basel then faced Sporting at home on the final Matchday, where they were defeated 1–0.
Scott Chipperfield
Benjamin Huggel
Marko Perovic
Carlitos
Marcos Gelabert
Jurgen Gjasula
Eduardo Rubio
Behrang Safari