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Young Boys
Champions League | Group Stage
Oct 25, 2023 at 8pm UK
STADE DE SUISSE Wankdorf Bern
Manchester City logo

Young Boys
1 - 3
Man City

Elia (52')
Monteiro (4'), Camara (64')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Akanji (48'), Haaland (67' pen., 86')

Preview: Young Boys vs. Manchester City - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole previews Wednesday's Champions League clash between Young Boys and Manchester City, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Champions League holders Manchester City will expect to make it three wins from three in Group G when they visit Young Boys on Wednesday.

The Swiss Super League champions have lost one and drawn one of their opening two matches.


Match preview

Young Boys coach Raphael Wicky before the match on September 19, 2023© Reuters

Since ending their 31-year wait to win Switzerland's top division, Young Boys have gone on to dominate their domestic football, lifting the title in five of the last six seasons.

After losing out on the title to FC Zurich in the 2021-22 campaign, Young Boys cantered to the title in Raphael Wicky's first season in charge last time out, finishing 16 points clear of second-placed Servette in the end.

Wicky's side defeated Maccabi Haifa 3-0 on aggregate in a playoff to reach the Champions League group stage for the third time in their history, losing 3-1 at home to RB Leipzig in their opening match before claiming a 2-2 draw away to Red Star Belgrade.

They missed out on the chance to move top of their domestic table when being held at home to league leaders Zurich at the weekend, but Wicky and his players would almost certainly settle for another draw when they welcome the English Premier League champions to Wankdorf Stadium on Wednesday.

Man City's Erling Braut Haaland waves to fans on July 20, 2022© Reuters

However, Man City will want to wrap up their qualification to the Champions League knockout stages for the 11th successive season as quickly as possible after winning their opening two games.

The Citizens have been far from at their best despite defeating Red Star and Leipzig 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium and Red Bull Arena respectively, leaving it late on both occasions to secure all three points.

Pep Guardiola's side returned to winning ways to move back to the top of the Premier League table - at least until Tottenham Hotspur hosted Fulham on Monday evening - when claiming another tight victory against Brighton & Hove Albion, with goals from Julian Alvarez and Erling Haaland enough to defeat the Seagulls by two goals to one.

Ahead of visiting their city rivals Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday, Guardiola and his players may feel somewhat relieved to be facing a team competing at a much lower level than them, but they will still not be taking anything for granted in Bern.

Young Boys Champions League form:


Young Boys form (all competitions):


Manchester City Champions League form:


Manchester City form (all competitions):



Team News

Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne after being substituted due to injury on August 11, 2023© Reuters

Young Boys will remain without Kastriot Imeri, whose ACL injury will keep him out for the rest of the season. Darian Males could also miss out due to a knock.

Cedric Itten could come into the hosts' starting lineup after only being used from the bench during his side's 0-0 draw against Zurich on Saturday, with Jean-Pierre Nsame potentially making way for him.

Man City, meanwhile, could use Wednesday's trip to Switzerland as an opportunity to rest some key players ahead of an important league fixture at the weekend, including John Stones and Bernardo Silva, who have both only recently returned from injury.

Manuel Akanji will almost certainly start as he will be suspended for the Manchester derby after being sent off for two bookable offences against Brighton, while Jack Grealish, Mateo Kovacic, Ederson and Nathan Ake were all on the bench for that victory but should be recalled here.

The visitors will still be without their talismanic midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, who could return "sooner than expected" according to his manager after tearing his hamstring two months ago.


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


SM words green background

We say: Young Boys 0-2 Manchester City

Despite Guardiola being likely to make some changes to his starting XI ahead of the Manchester derby on Sunday, we expect the visitors to have too much quality for their opponents.

Young Boys have dominated Swiss football in recent years, but it is clearly a huge step up in class for them to be taking on the holders, and they may struggle to lay a glove on Man City even with home advantage on their side.



For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting over 2.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Over 2.5:data


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Game History

How you voted: Young Boys vs Man City

Young Boys
9.3%
Draw
8.7%
Manchester City
82.0%
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Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Germany Germany00000
2 Hungary Hungary00000
3 Scotland flag Scotland00000
4 Switzerland Switzerland00000

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Albania national flag Albania00000
2 Croatia Croatia00000
3 Italy Italy00000
4 Spain Spain00000

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Denmark Denmark00000
2 England flag England00000
3 Serbia Serbia00000
4 Slovenia Slovenia00000

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Austria Austria00000
2 France France00000
3 Netherlands Netherlands00000
4 Poland Poland00000

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Belgium Belgium00000
2 Romania Romania00000
3 Slovakia Slovakia00000
4 Ukraine Ukraine00000

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
1 Czech Republic Czech Republic00000
2 Georgia Georgia00000
3 Portugal Portugal00000
4 Turkey Turkey00000


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