| Odds via 22bet | |
| FC Barcelona vs Young Boys | October 1, 21:00 GMT+1 |
| FC Barcelona odds | 1.06 |
| Young Boys odds | 28 |
| Draw | 12.25 |
| Over\Under | Total 2,5: 1.18/3.8 |
Until the beginning of the weekend, FC Barcelona could boast about having a perfect record in La Liga.
Hans-Dieter Flick’s only setback was the defeat against AS Monaco in the Champions League. He decided to rest several key players in the fixture opposing Barcelona against Osasuna at El Sadar (Alejandro Balde, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Marc Casadó and Iñigo Martinez), which turned out to be costly as Osasuna finished the game with a 4-2 victory.
Barcelona’s unbeaten streak in La Liga is no more and the distance with Real Madrid is shrinking. Hansi Flick made it obvious that the priority was to rest the squad – a Champions League victory at home against Young Boys is now mandatory. The German coach owned the mistake, saying “No excuses […]it’s on me”.
The game is expected to be easier than at El Sadar, as it will be played at home – and the five rested players will likely all feature in the fixture at home against Young Boys on Tuesday.
Barcelona also won a 1-0 earlier this week against Getafe, in a game where the Blaugranas weren’t recognisable, as they struggled to break Jose Bordalas’ block.
One of the players that were criticized in the two fixtures of the week is right-back Gerard Martin, who replaced Balde but is too limited to the liking of the fanbase. His erratic decision-making, coupled with his lack of technique makes him an obvious pressing target for Barcelona’s opponents, as he quickly panics in such situations.
Iñaki Peña was another victim of criticism in the 4-2 defeat against Osasuna due to his lack of reaction to some of the goals, though he is a direct culprit.
| Recent Form | WLWWL |
| Key Player to Watch | Raphinha |
| Team Strengths | Individual talents on both wings, fast-paced transitions through vertical means, great chemistry between players |
| Team Weaknesses | Easily exploitable Highline, lack of an established defensive midfielder |
| Key injuries and suspensions. | Marc Bernal, Andreas Christensen, Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Marc-André Ter Stegen, Fermin López, Ronald Araújo |
Young Boys might be the defending champions of the Swiss League, but the 24/25 season has been a wake-up call for them so far. The Bern-based club is the second-worst performing club in Switzerland, as they occupy the 11th place (out of 12) in the league, having only collected six points since the beginning of the season.
Only Winterthur has collected less points (4). Coincidentally, the only victory of the Young Boys in the Swiss League comes against Winterthur (4-1). Despite some may have thought this victory would encourage the team, this weekend confirmed this wasn’t the case as Grasshoppers defeated the defending champions (0-1).
In the Champions League, the situation isn’t much better as Aston Villa defeated the Swiss team (3-0). The downgrade in the team’s performance can be explained through the movements in the club, having registered 20 exits for 19 arrivals. Sudden changes often lead to several weeks of instability, as is the case for Young Boys.
| Recent Form | DWLWL |
| Key Player to Watch | Silvère Ganvoula |
| Team Strengths | Strong individualities upfront |
| Team Weaknesses | Lack of a stable defensive line |
| Key injuries and suspensions. | Patric Pfeiffer, Anel Husić(not eligible), Sadin Crnovrsanin (not eligible), Saidy Janko, Facinet Conte |
The two teams never faced each other in official competitions.
Bet hereAs Hansi Flick rested Lamine Yamal and Raphinha against Osasuna, the two players will be expected to start against Young Boys in Barcelona. Raphinha should be one of the obvious choices besides Lamine Yamal. The Brazilian’s goal tally has improved since the arrival of Hans-Dieter Flick.
Considering that the Swiss have struggled with clean sheets since the beginning of the season, it’s unlikely the Champions League is their focus. Additionally, Raphinha excels in scenarios where the opponent isn’t careful about his off-the-ball runs.
The other major player couldn’t be more obvious: Lamine Yamal. Barcelona’s latest gem isn’t any 17-year-old. He isn’t just a wunderkind. He’s one of the best wingers in the planet, and has become Barcelona’s main anchor going forward. There aren’t many players of his age who can boast of scoring as many goals as he has. Against Osasuna, he scored once again.
There aren’t many games where the young man isn’t involved, whether it’s in assists or goals. Against a defence which lacks self-assurance, his 1v1 challenges will only be deadlier – if there is anyone who will be causing trouble, it will be Lamine Yamal.
Before the Hans-Dieter Flick era, Barcelona would suffocate weaker opponents through sustained pressure, waiting for the break, positioned in high positions. This isn’t the case anymore, as the German head coach has implemented a faster-paced tempo to the team’s dynamics. It’s hardly surprising coming from an ex-Bayern coach.
These changes mean that Barcelona can also choose to run through the game, as the team has the upper hand when it comes to the physical side.
Players like Raphinha and Alejandro Balde are more than happy to put in a shift when it comes to running. Balde himself will be the additional value in transitions, as few players can stop him from storming his wing.
Barcelona can methodically win, or force victory by dismantling the rest defence of Young Boys in a faster-paced tempo.
Barcelona needs to make up for the defeat against AS Monaco. There are no excuses, said Hansi Flick. The team was just outplayed by Osasuna (4-2) at El Sadar, but on the flipside rested a majority of its stars. The 5-1 and 7-0 victories against Villarreal and Real Valladolid showed that the team is more than ready to terminate its opponent if it wishes to.
As Raphinha and Lamine Yamal are now fresh and rested, they should be more inspired than ever to write their names in Champions League history. It’s unlikely that the Young Boys can find a winning formula, considering that Barcelona is motivated and will be playing at home.
Although Lamine Yamal is the undisputed star, my bet falls on Raphinha instead. He has proven he has the quality, and matches against weaker oppositions only help his cause. He puts in the defensive shift while finding the goals as he slides through the weak spots of the visitors, which is why Raphinha scoring is my pick of the match.
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