It’s a case of half the job done for Swiss hosts, Young Boys, ahead of their 2nd leg tie in the 2nd qualifying round of the Champions League against Slovan Bratislava, as they avoided defeat in last week’s 1st leg in Slovakia, drawing 0-0.
Earlier, Young Boys had finished their Swiss Super League campaign in style by winning their last four matches on the trot with victories gained over Basel, Vaduz, Luzern and Lausanne Sport, scoring a total of 13 goals in the process and conceding just 4 in reply.
Overall results have seen Young Boys lose just one of their last 10 matches in all competitions, which was a 1-0 loss to Rheindorf Altach in a pre-season friendly but the hosts have since bounced back with two wins and two draws, including victories over Feyenoord (friendly).
4-3 win away at Luzern on the opening day of the new Swiss Super League season.
Slovan Bratislava have also produced a solid sequence of results lately as the Slovakian outfit have lost just one of their last 11 matches in all competitions.
Тhis could be an early warning sign for the visitors as that loss came in the shape of a 2-1 defeat away at Irish club, Shamrock Rovers, in the previous qualifying round.
Slovan Bratislava had previously registered a 2-0 home win over the Irish club in the 1st leg to give them an overall 3-2 win on aggregate but although the scores are still level at 0-0 at the halfway stage in this tie against Young Boys, the visitors look to have their work cut out in Bern on Wednesday night.
On the Champions League stage, this gap in quality is quite evident as Slovan Bratislava have managed just one win from their previous nine ties overall, while Young Boys are a more accomplished outfit at this level and they’ve lost just one of their last six ties overall.
Young Boys with home advantage are now expected to shift through the gears as they’re the favourites to win this 2nd leg.
Progress to the next qualifying round but they face a determined Slovan Bratislava outfit who may well make life difficult again for their Swiss hosts in this 2nd leg.