The 1973–74 season was Fussball Club Basel 1893's 80th season in their existence. It was their 28th consecutive season in the top flight of Swiss football after their promotion the season 1945–46. They played their home games in the St. Jakob Stadium.
Overview
was first team manager. This was his eighth season as manager. Basel played a total of 54 games in their 1973–74 season. 26 in the domestic league, four in the Swiss Cup, one in the Swiss League Cup, six in the European Cup and 17 were friendly matches. The team scored a total of 143 goals and conceded 91. The Nationalliga A season 1973–74 was contested under 14 teams. Zürich won the championship 12 points ahead of Grasshopper Club, 13 ahead of the Servette and FC Winterthur. Basel finished in fifth position. They won 13 of their 26 league games, drew three and lost ten games. They scored a total of 57 goals conceding 39. Ottmar Hitzfeld was joint leagues top goal scorer with Ove Grahn of Lausanne-Sports both with 18 league goals. Basels second top scorer was Walter Balmer who managed 11 league goals. Basel's highest scoring game was in the 24th round on 8 May 1974 as they beat Lausanne-Sports 8–2 in the Stade olympique de la Pontaise. Karl Odermatt scored the first two goals in the 5th and the 11th minute, Ottmar Hitzfeld added the next two in the 15th and 17th minute before Walter Mundschin added the next two in the 20th and 25th Minute. A penalty goal by Müller pulled one back for Lausanne-Sport, but despite this Basel led 6–1 at half time. Hitzfeld scored his personal third goal in the 57th minute and in the 75th Markus Tanner netted the final goal of the game. Roger Piccand scored Lausannes second in the 71st minute. In the Swiss Cup Basel played the round of 32 on 22 September 1973 away against Biel-Bienne in the Gurzelen Stadion and in the round of 16 on 6 October 1973 again away against Mendrisiostar. The quarter-finals were two legged fixtures. The first leg played on 31 October 1973 in Stade Tourbillon was a 1–0 defeat against Sion. The second leg played on 4 November 1973 in the St. Jakob Stadium ended in a 2–2 draw, thus Sion won 3–2 on aggregate. In the 1973 Swiss League Cup Basel were drawn with an away game against Neuchâtel Xamax in the first round and were eliminated. As reigning Swiss Champions, Basel were qualified for the 1973–74 European Cup. In the first round, drawn against Iceland's champions Fram, Basel won with the aggregate score 11–2. In the second round they were drawn against Club Brugge. In the exiting second leg Basel won 6–4 and thus 7–6 on aggregate. In the quarter-final Basel won the first leg against Celtic 3–2 and in the second leg Celtic won by the same score. During extra time Scottish international Steve Murray scored the decisive goal in the 114th minute.
