Young Boys vs RB Leipzig Preview & Prediction | 2023-24 UEFA Champions League | Group Stage
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THE FACTS
When is Young Boys vs RB Leipzig on and what time does it start? Young Boys vs RB Leipzig will take place on Tuesday 19th September, 2023 – 17:45 (UK)
Where can I get tickets for Young Boys vs RB Leipzig? Visit each club’s official website for the latest ticket information
What channel is Young Boys vs RB Leipzig on in the UK? Young Boys vs RB Leipzig will be televised live on TNT Sports in the UK
Where can I stream Young Boys vs RB Leipzig in the UK? Young Boys vs RB Leipzig can be streamed live on the discovery+
THE LOWDOWN
YOUNG BOYS
Young Boys, the Swiss Super League champions and winners of the Swiss Cup had to go through a qualification play-off in order to reach the Champions League group stage, but held their nerve over two legs against Maccabi Haifa. After recording a 0-0 draw in Israel, Young Boys finished the job at home, putting an excellent all-round performance to win 3-0 at the Wankdorf Stadium.
They aren’t a side to be taken lightly in the group stage, European giants Man Utd can attest to that. The Red Devils were beaten 2-1 in Bern two years ago in the opening round of group games. Whilst Young Boys are a different team compared to back then, with David Wagner having long since departed as head coach but it serves as a reminder that they pose a threat in Group G.
RB LEIPZIG
RB Leipzig’s journey in last season’s Champions League ended in destructive fashion from their point of view. After recording a hugely credible 1-1 draw vs Man City in the first-leg of their Round of 16 clash in Germany, Pep Guardiola’s side utterly outclassed Leipzig in the second-leg, battering them by seven goals to nil. That game saw Erling Haaland prove the scourge of Leipzig once again, the former Borussia Dortmund striker netting five goals.
Marco Rose’s men began the new season extremely well, beating Bayern Munich 0-3 to lift the DFL-Supercup. They then suffered an early setback, losing their opening Bundesliga fixture away at Bayer Leverkusen but since that defeat, Leipzig have won each of their last three matches, racking up a whopping 11 goals in the process.
THE TEAM NEWS
YOUNG BOYS
Swiss midfielder Filip Ugrinic, who started and scored in Young Boys’ second-leg play-off victory over Maccabi Haifa hasn’t featured for Raphael Wicky’s side since then as a result of an adductor injury and won’t play a part here. As always, the forward partnership of Meschak Elia and Cedric Itten will be crucial to Young Boys’ hopes of success.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Racioppi; Janko, Camara, Benito, Persson; Lauper, Males, Lakomy, Monteiro; Elia, Itten
UNAVAILABLE: Ugrinic (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
RB LEIPZIG
RB Leipzig lost the services of both attacking midfielder Dani Olmo and centre-back Willi Orban as a result of injuries sustained during the international break with the latter set to miss the entire group stage. Another midfielder in Amadou Haidara also misses out, whilst Klostermann is hoping to have recovered from illness. Benjamin Sesko could get the nod alongside Lois Openda.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-2-2): Blaswich; Henrichs, Simakan, Lukeba, Raum; Schlager, Kampl; Simons, Forsberg; Openda, Sesko
UNAVAILABLE: Haidara (Fitness), Olmo (Injured), Orban (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Klostermann (Illness)
THE PREDICTION
Young Boys come into this encounter on the back of five straight clean sheet in all competitions, underlining the strength of their backline and why they won’t prove easy to break down here. But the reality is that they will not have faced a team yet that possess the quality of attacking players that RB Leipzig do. Even without Dani Olmo, the visitors are a formidable force offensively with the creativity, pace and power to hurt their opponents at any point. It’s hard to see Young Boys being able to keep up with them over 90 minutes, so back Marco Rose’s side to come away from Bern with the three points.
TIP: RB LEIPZIG TO WIN
