Champions League
Conference League
Premier League
Published on Sep, 30 2024
Barcelona and Young Boys meet in Catalonia on Tuesday for their second UEFA Champions League games having both lost their respective openers. Barca were stunned 2-1 on the road by AS Monaco while the Swiss outfit suffered a heavy 3-0 home defeat to Aston Villa. Hansi Flick's La Liga giants are expected to get back to winning ways here against Patrick Rahmen's side who few are giving much of a chance to at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.
The Blaugrana's superb start to the new season came to an end over the weekend with a 4-2 loss to Osasuna to add to the Monegasque loss as well as a growing injury crisis. Barca are expected to bounce back this midweek, and anything other than all three points could raise further questions of this squad's ability to compete over the course of a full campaign. Quarterfinalists last year, they went out in the group stage back in 2022-23 as well as 2021-22, so three points from a possible six in the UCL as well as a tricky La Liga clash with Alaves makes this a critical moment for Flick and his players' early term momentum.
Young Boys lost 1-0 to Grasshoppers over the weekend which places them 11th with six points from eight games. It has been a rough start and it does not look like getting any easier and last year's tricky form which saw them finish third in their UCL group is a far cry from now. The Swiss have never advanced past the group stage and with Inter up next, it is hard to see them doing much this time. Barca's injury issues could provide an opportunity but Young Boys seem ill-equipped to take it for now.
How to watch and odds
Barca need a win to bounce back from their first La Liga loss of the season to Osasuna on top of their defeat at Monaco last time out. Young Boys were thumped by Aston Villa and lucky that it was not a heavier loss but there ae easier places to seek a recovery win. The Catalans will not have expected to be pointless after their opener so arguably need these points more. However, the Swiss outfit's domestic form is not much better than their continental showings so any encouragement will be welcomed.
Barca: Eric Garcia is suspended while Fermin Lopez, Dani Olmo, Marc Bernal, Andreas Christensen, Ronald Araujo, Gavi and Marc-Andre ter Stegen are all out injured. Frenkie de Jong is yet to make a an appearance this season, but the Netherlands international is closing on his return to action. Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, Alejandro Balde, Marc Casado and Inigo Martinez should all return to the XI after Flick rotated players in Pamplona.
Possible Barca XI: Pena; Kounde, Cubarsi, I Martinez, Balde; Casado, Torre, Pedri; Lamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha.
Young Boys: Saidy Janko, Patric Pfeiffer and Facinet Conte are out but the Swiss side have no other major worries. Joel Monteiro has five goals and seven assists from 13 appearances so all is not doom and gloom -- he should start. Silvere Ganvoula has four goals so should continue up top with Cedric Itten likely to remain on the bench despite five goals so far.
Possible Young Boys XI: Van Ballmoos; Athekame, Camara, Zoukrou, Hadjam; Niasse, Lauper; Monteiro, Ugrinic, Colley; Ganvoula.
Expect Barca to get back to business here although Young Boys should keep it more respectable than they did against Villa. A two-goal winning margin for the Catalans sounds about right but do not be surprised if it is bigger depending on when Barca get going up front. Pick: Barcelona 3, Young Boys 1.
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