Young Boys v Manchester City - Gut Feelings

Matchday three of the Champions League group stage sees Manchester City travel to Switzerland to face Young Boys in the Wankdorf Stadium (yes, that’s a real name). The holders have won both their opening fixtures, while the Swiss side have drawn and lost one.

It’s the first-ever meeting between the two sides in any competition and victory for City will put the blues on the brink of qualification.

As usual, our team are here to give their opinions, feelings and predictions ahead of the match.

Saul

Interesting match, could be a tough one. I expect some rotation and a win as the quality is just different. 2-0 City.

Young Boys 0-2 City

Craig

We are in what I believe is oft described as a “difficult moment”. It tends to happen to City every season, often around this time, and is usually followed by like 16 wins in a row or something. I thought we’d struggle against Brighton and, despite getting the win, it wasn’t convincing. However, at least it ended a run of three straight domestic defeats. It’s business as usual in Europe though with six points from six and I’d be shocked to see anything different in this one. Perhaps a third 3-1 win on the bounce could be in order. Two wins in a row could be just the tonic to get fully back on track.

Young Boys 1-3 City

Thomas

Okay. I have to admit, my familiarity with Young Boys is minimal. But even if I knew them like I know my own brother, I still suspect I’d favor City heavily here. With that said, this feels like a Halland hat trick match to me. Three goals for the Nordic Scoring Machine, and three points to the Manc Blues.

Young Boys 0-4 City

Dillon

Young Boys aren’t exactly flying at the moment. They’re not comfortably ahead in the league like they usually are and have struggled so far in the group stage. Obviously, their crowd is going to be a huge boost for them but this should be an easy result.

Maybe I’m misreading it but I think Pep won’t go for control like he usually does in away legs of the knockout rounds. I think he’ll want to grab a few early goals and then coast throughout the second half to give the starters some rest. He said it himself that after these games the sole focus is the prem.

Pete

I’m not expecting anything other than a City win in Switzerland. Young Boys are an experienced side in Europe, however, they’re up against the holders who are about to start getting their form back.

That said, it’s the derby at weekend so City may take it easy, get a couple of first-half goals, then rest a few players for the weekend. It may not be a goal-fest, but they’ll get the job done.

Young Boys 0-2 City

Last Time Out

The blues made hard work of Brighton at the weekend. 2-0 up, they should really have taken the Seagulls to the cleaners. Instead, they made it hard for themselves, but at least the Erl of Manchester scored.

None of our team got the score spot on, but we were all pretty close. Saul gets another couple of points for getting the right goal difference and is starting to breakaway at the top of the table. One point for everyone else, apart from Craig, who predicted a draw. Close, but no, it wasn’t to be.