GENEVA (AP) — Inspired by Xherdan Shaqiri’s return home from Major League Soccer, Basel sealed its first Swiss league title since 2017 on Sunday without playing.
Second-placed Servette’s failure to win — drawing 0-0 at home to third-placed Young Boys — left Basel 11 points clear with three rounds left.
The 33-year-old Shaqiri has starred in the title run-in for his hometown club which he rejoined last August after three unremarkable seasons with Chicago Fire.
Shaqiri scored a hat trick in less than 10 minutes on Saturday, after Basel was reduced to 10 men, in a 5-2 win at Lugano.