Champions League: Young Boys Face a Barca Backlash

Barcelona vs Young Boys

Barcelona hope to get their 2024/25 Champions League campaign up and running on Tuesday when Swiss side Young Boys visit Catalonia for their second match of the tournament.

Both clubs lost their opener, Barca away to AS Monaco and the Swiss lads at home to Aston Villa so Champions League: Barcelona vs Young Boys gives each a chance to get off the mark…but I think I know which way this is going!    

Hansi Flick’s side had made a flawless start to their La Liga title challenge until they went away to Osasuna on Saturday and suffered a shock 4-2 defeat, a result which has allowed the chasing pack to inch closer; and it was certainly an unexpected loss. Barcelona may well be ready to take out their frustration on their next opponents.   

Meanwhile, Patrick Rahmen’s Young Boys were at home to Grasshoppers at the weekend and fell to a disappointing 1-0 defeat, and they have only one victory from their opening eight league games. The Barcelona vs Young Boys betting odds say this is a sure fire home win and it’s very hard to disagree.

 

Talking Points

Flick’s honeymoon is officially over

After making such an impressive start to his tenure as Barcelona boss, winning the first seven La Liga games, Flick watched his side implode away to Osasuna on Saturday. Very little went right for the Blaugrana in Pamplona, despite having more possession than their hosts and a fair share of chances. The Barca head coach had made some changes, some enforced and some to juggle his squad with the European league underway as well. Substitute keeper Inaki Pena, who stepped in to replace the injured Marc-Andre Ter Stegen and he had a torrid time, while wingers Lamine Yamal and Raphinha were both rested.

Flick brought the pair on, with half an hour to go and Yamal scored a late consolation, but eyebrows were raised when the manager took Robert Lewandowski off when the Blaugrana were chasing the game. And he will be hoping to see more from defensive midfielder Pedri, who was largely anonymous against Osasuna and is a key part of this team.       

Until Saturday night things were going very well for the Blaugrana in La Liga but they didn’t have the buzzing night in Monaco they hoped for in their European opener, losing 2-1 after midfielder Eric Garcia had received his marching orders after just ten minutes.   

 

Young Boys need to tighten up

Champions of the Swiss Super League for the sixth time in seven years, Young Boys are the bosses of Switzerland but are minnows in Europe. They showed they have a serious bite, beating Turkish giants Galatasaray at home and away in the play-off round. But they have struggled to get any sort of momentum in their domestic league and Young Boys’ defensive frailties were exposed by Aston Villa in their European opener.

Rahmen’s team managed to break down the Turks in the qualifier and they offered an attacking threat against the Villains, taking 12 shots and five on target; but, at the other end of the pitch there was chaos as the Premier League side ran out 3-0 winners. Villa’s second goal came after some kamikaze defending when Mo Camara’s back-pass from a few yards failed to find keeper David von Ballmoos and Ollie Watkins stepped in to nick the ball. The Young Boys stopper brought the England man down and, while everyone stood around waiting for the referee’s whistle to blow, Jacob Ramsay rolled the ball into the empty net.

If the Swiss defend like that against the Catalans there will be carnage. But Barcelona will not underestimate their opponents who have sprung a surprise or two in the recent past. Young Boys picked up a memorable 1-1 draw away to Manchester United in the 2021/22 Champions League and that after they had beaten the Red Devils in Bern.

 

History

While Barcelona are European royalty as five times Champions League winners, the Young Boys of Bern are heroes on home soil and perennial underdogs when they travel. They have a proud history though, as European Cup semi-finalists way back in 1959, European Cup Winners Cup quarter-finalists in 1988, and they made the Round of 16 of the Europa League as recently as 2021.   

This is the first time these two teams have met but, in terms of recent form, the Blaugrana have won four and lost two of the last six games while Young Boys have won three, drawn one and lost two; though two of those victories came against Galatasaray.

Barcelona have a home winning streak of five matches while the Young Boys have won their last four games on the road so something is going to give.  

 

Betting Tip

At 1.08 to win this result is as nailed on as it can be for Barcelona, while the underdogs are at SBOTOP betting odds of 12.04 to spring a major surprise and win, and even 8.10 to grab a draw.

I’m afraid for the Swiss fans it’s just not going to happen, I expect the Barcelona vs Young Boys highlights to be hard to watch for the lads from Bern; and I’m backing the Blaugrana to make a fast start in a big win.

   

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