Champions League Preview: Barcelona Seeks Revenge After Consecutive Wins Ended, Young Boys Face Stiff Defensive Test Amid Struggles

At 3:00 AM on October 2, in the second round of the 2024/25 Champions League season, Barcelona will host Swiss powerhouse Young Boys at their home ground.

In the first round of the Champions League, Barcelona, who had a five-game winning streak in the league, suffered a defeat, losing 1:2 to Monaco, marking Flick’s first loss as coach of the Blaugrana. Young Boys were schooled by Champions League newcomers Aston Villa, suffering a 0:3 defeat, replicating their season’s woes from the league onto the Champions League stage.

In the previous round, Barcelona lost 2:4 to Osasuna, ending Flick’s seven-match winning streak in the league. For this game, Barcelona made significant squad rotations to prepare for the upcoming Champions League fixture, but the substitutes lacked cohesion, particularly with defensive players showing a lack of focus. Considering it was a makeshift defense, with Domingos, a Barcelona reserve team player, playing center-back, the emergence of gaps was not unexpected. However, the impact of the loss on team morale cannot be overlooked.

Young Boys lost 0:1 to Grasshoppers in their last league match. After eight rounds, Young Boys only found dignity against Winterthur, with one win, three draws, and four losses, leaving them mired in the relegation zone. In such a state, they also have to compete in the Champions League. Perhaps for Young Boys, survival is already an unavoidable challenge this season. In the Champions League, perhaps minimizing losses or conceding fewer goals would prevent further damage to team morale and confidence.

For Barcelona, the defeat to Monaco was both unexpected and a lesson. For a team aiming to reach the top 8 of the Champions League, this loss may not have a profound impact, but its immediate effect on team morale is real. Facing Young Boys, Barcelona is eager to secure their first win of the new Champions League season. Their intention to rest key players during the weekend league match is clear, and Young Boys’ defense will face a severe test.

The two teams have no prior encounters. While the strength disparity seems obvious, mutual unfamiliarity adds a touch of suspense. Despite struggling in the league, Young Boys eliminated Turkish powerhouse Galatasaray in the Champions League qualifiers, advancing to the group stage. Additionally, they achieved two consecutive wins in the Swiss Cup. It seems that whenever it’s not the league, Young Boys perform surprisingly well. In the last match against Villa, Young Boys did have chances, but Villa’s offensive efficiency turned their efforts into naught.

Before the game, Barcelona coach Flick said: “Young Boys have talented players, players who excel in speed, and the team is quite complete. The team must recover from the loss to Osasuna, we need better control of the game, clearer positioning, fewer mistakes, and defense is a critical part of this.” Moreover, after continuous personnel losses, the team finally received good news, with De Jong returning from injury, likely to play 5-10 minutes in this game. Not only that, Catalan media revealed that Ferran, Olmo, Gavi, and other core players are accelerating their return.

One of the main reasons for Young Boys’ poor performance this season is an unstable defense, conceding 16 goals in just eight rounds. High-scoring defeats are frequent. This trend continues unabated. Facing Barcelona, who attack like tigers, one can imagine the pressure on Young Boys’ defense. Additionally, Young Boys confirmed that team captain and starting defender Benito will miss this match due to a muscle injury.

With their winning streak just ended and full of anger, Barcelona will certainly take it out on Young Boys, possibly leading to a one-sided half-field defensive drill. Young Boys have severely declined in strength, suffering consecutive defeats in the league. How much fighting spirit do they still have in the Champions League?

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