Young Boys, the champions of the Swiss Super League, have had a mixed start in the Champions League, losing one match and drawing another in their first two encounters. Despite their success in Switzerland's top division after a 31-year hiatus, Young Boys have been dominant in domestic football, winning the title in five of the last six seasons.
After narrowly missing out on the title in the 2021-22 season, they clinched the championship in Raphael Wicky's first season as head coach, finishing 16 points ahead of second-placed Servette.
Wicky's team earned their spot in the Champions League group stage for the third time in their history by defeating Maccabi Haifa 3-0 on aggregate in a playoff. Their campaign began with a 3-1 loss at home to RB Leipzig, followed by a 2-2 draw against Red Star Belgrade. They recently missed an opportunity to move to the top of their domestic table when they were held to a draw at home by league leaders Zurich.
When Manchester City visits the Wankdorf Stadium on Wednesday, Young Boys would likely be content with another draw. In contrast, Man City is eager to secure their place in the Champions League knockout stages for the 11th consecutive season as quickly as possible, following their two opening victories.
Despite wins against Red Star and Leipzig with scores of 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium and Red Bull Arena, Manchester City hasn't been at their best, often needing late efforts to secure the three points. They returned to the top of the Premier League table, at least temporarily, with another narrow victory over Brighton & Hove Albion, with goals from Julian Alvarez and Erling Haaland securing a 2-1 win.
Ahead of their upcoming match against Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday, Pep Guardiola and his team may see this clash with Young Boys as a relief, given the disparity in competition levels. However, they remain cautious and won't take anything for granted in Bern.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Young Boys will continue to be without Kastriot Imeri, who is sidelined for the entire season due to an ACL injury. There's also some doubt about Darian Males' availability due to a knock.Cedric Itten might earn a spot in the starting lineup for the hosts, especially after coming off the bench in their recent 0-0 draw against Zurich. This could potentially mean Jean-Pierre Nsame might make way for him.
On the other hand, Manchester City may use their Wednesday trip to Switzerland as an opportunity to give some key players a rest, keeping an eye on an important league fixture during the weekend. This may mean John Stones and Bernardo Silva, who have recently returned from injury, could be among those rested.
Manuel Akanji is expected to start, as he will be suspended for the Manchester derby due to two bookable offenses that resulted in a red card against Brighton. Additionally, Jack Grealish, Mateo Kovacic, Ederson, and Nathan Ake were on the bench in the last match but should return to the starting lineup for this game.
Unfortunately, Manchester City will still be without their influential midfielder, Kevin De Bruyne, who has been recovering from a hamstring injury he suffered two months ago. However, there's optimism that he may return sooner than initially expected, according to his manager.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Young Boys possible starting lineup:Racioppi; Blum, Camara, Benito, Garcia; Monteiro, Lauper, Niasse; Ugrinic, Itten, Elia
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Walker, Akanji, Dias, Ake; Rodri, Kovacic; Foden, Nunes, Grealish; Haaland
EXPERT PREDICTION
Young Boys 1-3 Manchester City
Young Boys have had a strong presence in Swiss football in recent times, but it's evident that facing the reigning champions is a significant leap in terms of competition. They might find it challenging to compete with Manchester City, even with the advantage of playing at home.
