Barcelona will be looking to secure three points in their Champions League campaign when they take on Young Boys in what should be a relatively straightforward encounter. After suffering a 2-1 defeat to Monaco on matchday one, Hansi Flick’s side will be eager to bounce back. Despite a string of injuries plaguing Barcelona, the Catalans remain heavy favorites, especially given Young Boys’ recent struggles.
Young Boys, who were convincingly beaten 3-0 by Aston Villa at home in their opening match, are facing a steep challenge in this competition. The Swiss side is currently second from the bottom in the Swiss Super League, having managed only one win from their eight games this season. This poor domestic form raises serious doubts about their ability to compete with European giants like Barcelona.
Flick has started his tenure at the helm of Barcelona on a strong note, with the club sitting at the top of LaLiga after winning seven of their first eight matches. However, they must address their European form quickly to avoid falling behind early in the Champions League group stage. A win against Young Boys is not just a necessity but a statement of intent as they aim to compete with the likes of Real Madrid domestically and other European powerhouses on the continental stage.
The injury list at Barcelona is lengthy, with key players like Fermin Lopez, Dani Olmo, Andreas Christensen, Ronald Araujo, Gavi, and Marc-Andre ter Stegen all set to miss Tuesday’s clash. On a positive note, Frenkie de Jong is making strides in his recovery from an ankle injury and could feature in the squad, offering some much-needed midfield stability. Defensively, the team will be without Eric Garcia, who is suspended after receiving a red card against Monaco.
Young Boys also come into the match with some notable absentees. Saidy Janko, Patric Pfeiffer, and Facinet Conte are all expected to miss out due to injury. Given their underwhelming performances in both domestic and European competitions so far, it will be an uphill battle for the Swiss side to secure any points at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.
Historically, this will be the first competitive meeting between Barcelona and Young Boys, but based on current form and squad quality, the odds heavily favor the Spanish side. Young Boys may have managed to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League by defeating Galatasaray 4-2 on aggregate, but facing a team like Barcelona represents a significant step up in class.
Despite both teams suffering defeats over the weekend, the likelihood of Young Boys pulling off a surprise result appears slim. Barcelona’s strength in depth and attacking prowess should prove too much for the struggling Swiss outfit, who have yet to find their footing this season.
Barcelona will view this game as a crucial opportunity to get their European campaign back on track, and a convincing win is expected. Given Young Boys’ vulnerabilities, particularly in defense, it wouldn’t be surprising to see a scoreline similar to Aston Villa’s 3-0 victory. A recommended bet would be for Barcelona to win 4-0, as they look to assert their dominance and move up the group standings.