Barcelona and Young Boys meet in Catalonia on Tuesday for their second UEFA Champions League games 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 against Aston Villa. Hansi Flick’s giants are expected to return to winning ways here against Patrick Rahmen’s side, who few give much of a chance at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys.
The Blaugrana’s excellent start to the new season came to an end during the weekend with a 4-2 loss against Osasuna add to the Monegasque loss as well as a growing injury crisis. Barca are expected to bounce back this midweek, and anything short of all three points could raise further questions about this squad’s ability to compete over a full campaign. Quarter-finalists 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 and also a tricky La Liga clash with Alaves makes this a critical moment for Flick. and the early momentum of his players.
Young Boys lost 1-0 to Grasshoppers at the weekend which places them 11th with six points from eight games. It’s been a rough start and it doesn’t look any easier and the difficult form of last year, which saw them finish third in their UCL group, is a long way from now. The Swiss have never made it past the group stage and with Inter next, it’s hard to see them doing much this time around. Barca’s injury problems could provide a chance but Young Boys seem ill-equipped to take it at the moment.
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How to watch and odds
- Date: Tuesday, October 1 | Time: 3 pm ET
- Location: Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium – Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
- Check out: Most important+
- Probability: Barcelona -1200; Draws +1100; Young Boys +2500
Link phase
Barca need a win to bounce back from their first La Liga loss of the season against Osasuna in addition to their defeat at Monaco last time out. Young Boys were beaten by Aston Villa and lucky it wasn’t a heavier loss but there are easier places to look for a bounce back win. The Catalans will not expect to be meaningless after their opening so probably need these points more. However, the Swiss outfit’s home form isn’t much better than their continental performances, so any encouragement will be welcomed.
Team news
barque: Eric Garcia is suspended while Fermin Lopez, Dani Olmo, Marc Bernal, Andreas Christensen, Ronald Araujo, Gavi and Marc-Andre ter Stegen are all injured. Frenkie de Jong has yet to feature this season, but the Netherlands international is closing in 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: Pain; Kounde, Cubarsi, I Martinez, Balde; Married, Tower, Pedri; Lamal, Lewandowski, Raphinha.
Young Boys: Saidy Janko, Patric Pfeiffer and Facinet Conte are out but the Swiss side have no other major concerns. Joel Monteiro has five goals and seven assists from 13 appearances so it’s not all 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; swing
Prediction
Expect Barca to go 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 don’t be surprised if it’s bigger depending on when Barca go ahead. Choose: Barcelona 3, Junior Boys 1.
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