Young Boys will be looking to reach the Champions League group stages when they host Maccabi Haifa in the second leg. Both teams will be trying for a quick start in this match in search of the first goal. It might prove to be significant. The first leg last week was a highly contested match that ended goalless with very few chances produced.
Preview (Young Boys vs. Maccabi Haifa)
After finishing third in 2021–22, Young Boys regained first place in the Swiss Super League last season. They did so by earning 74 points in their 36 league games and defeating Servette. YB finished the season with 21 victories, 11 draws, and only four losses. With 82 goals scored, YB had a significant advantage over the next-highest-scoring team in the league. Raphael Wicky’s team is unbeaten through seven games (W3 D3 L0) and has recorded clean sheets in their previous two.
They were, however, perhaps second-best in the first leg because they had just 40% of the ball for the entire 90 minutes. Up to this point in the campaign, Maccabi Haifa had defeated Hamrun Spartans 6-1 in the first round. They then beat Sheriff 4-2 in the second, and Slovan Bratislava 5-2 in the final. Last season, Messay Dego’s team qualified for the Champions League group stages. They came in last place in their group with just three points from their six games. This was despite recording a legendary 2-0 victory over Juventus on matchday four of the campaign.
Despite not yet beginning their league campaign, the visitors won their first trophy at the end of last month by defeating Beitar Jerusalem 3-1 in the Israel Super Cup final. They were the more dominant team in the first leg, but because they were unable to convert that strength into a lead in the match, most bookies now consider them to be outsiders to advance to the group stages.
Team News
Ulisses Garcia has been ruled out due to injury and out for at least a few more weeks. He is the only member of the home team who is unable to participate in this game. After scoring twice against Breitenrain in the Schweizer Pokal, Cameroonian international Jean-Pierre Nsame increased his season total to four goals. After coming off the bench last week, he might be promoted back to the starting lineup this week. Basam Zaarura, who is still serving his ban from Dego, won’t be playing. Sun Menahem, who has been out with a long-term injury, won’t be back in action for some time.
Dean David, who has three goals in these qualifications but was a substitute in the first leg, will be aiming to go back into the starting lineup to team up with Frantzdy Pierrot, the team’s top scorer this year. Since a spot in the Champions League group stages is now within reach, we anticipate both teams to take a few more risks in this encounter than they did in the first leg. Young Boys have a strong home record, thus we predict that they will just barely win this one by one goal.
Young Boys 2 – 1 Maccabi Haifa
For more football previews, click here
