The Champions League second qualifying round kicks off this week as teams battle to reach the competition’s lucrative group stage.
On Wednesday night, Slovan Bratislava will face off with Young Boys in the first leg of their second qualifying round tie.
Die Young Boys sind kurz vor Mittag sicher in Bratislava gelandet.#BSCYB #SBYB #ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/3XFQAtMyXZ— BSC YOUNG BOYS (@BSC_YB) July 20, 2021
Die Young Boys sind kurz vor Mittag sicher in Bratislava gelandet.#BSCYB #SBYB #ChampionsLeague pic.twitter.com/3XFQAtMyXZ
Young Boys go into the first leg with new manager David Wagner. The Swiss club won a fourth straight Swiss Super League title last term, but watched manager Gerardo Seoane leave for Bayer Leverkusen this summer.
Wagner has not had a lot of success in recent years. The club will hope that the former Huddersfield and Schalke coach can revitalise his career in Bern.
Slovan Bratislava won the Slovakian league last season. They played in the Champions League first qualifying round, defeating Shamrock Rovers 3-2 on aggregate.
After winning 2-0 at home against Shamrock Rovers, Slovan Bratislava went to Ireland and lost 2-1. Slovan Bratislava allowed two goals to Shamrock Rovers letting them level the aggregate scoreline. Vladimir Weiss Jr’s 73rd minute goal put Slovan Bratislava back into the lead.
While Slovan Bratislava have played twice in the Champions League qualifying rounds thus far, they have not started the domestic league. The Slovakians will kick off their league season at the weekend on July 24.
Likewise, Young Boys will begin their domestic season at the weekend. Unlike Slovan Bratislava, the Bern club did not play in the Champions League first qualifying round. Their Swiss Super League win allowed Young Boys to enter the qualifying rounds at the second phase.
Wagner’s team have been hot and cold in preseason friendlies. Young Boys have played four times with two wins, one draw, and one loss.
Their wins came against Neuchatel Xamax and Feyenoord, while the team’s defeat was at the hands of Rheindorf Altach. Their recent friendly with Strasbourg finished in a draw.
Slovan Bratislava’s manager Vladimir Weiss has some absent players for the first leg. Michal Sulla is ill and Adrian Chovan will play in goal. Lucas Lovat, Erik Daniel, and David Holman all have injuries, but could make the squad.
Wagner has brought in a few new faces at Young Boys. Teenage midfielder Alex Jankewitz arrived from Southampton and forward Jordan made his loan last season a permanent one this summer. Sibatcheu was the team’s second-leading scorer in 2020-21 with 12 goals in 32 matches.
Slovan Bratislava have played in the Champions League qualifying rounds already. Playing at home and having some form will help the Slovakians on Wednesday night.
Weiss’s team should claim a narrow win with both sides scoring goals and over 2.5 goals being tallied in the first leg.