Champions League opener in Wankdorf

It’s been a good three months since the Champions League found its current title holder in Manchester City. The long qualifying rounds for the new season are behind us. From Tuesday, it’s back to the grind with the new group stage of the 2023/24 season. We have returnees and newcomers in the mix, as well as familiar faces of late. We take a look at the first matchday in Group G in our Young Boys vs RB Leipzig betting tips.

After 2018 and 2021, the Swiss have made it to the group stage of the Champions League for the third time. After Gerardo Seoane and David Wagner, Raphael Wicky may now try his hand at leading Young Boys into the last 16, or at least keeping them in the Europa League via third place. The lesser of the two goals is probably more realistic.

Manchester City, the defending champions, are also in this pool. There is basically not the slightest doubt that the English will still be involved in the round of 16. RB Leipzig certainly has the quality to secure at least second place. Even before the first kick-off in the group stage, it looks like Young Boys Bern and Red Star Belgrade will be fighting it out for third place in this group. An opening win against the Bulls might even be a pointer for the Swiss towards the playoffs.

If the visitors from Saxony manage to bring their recent good form onto the pitch in the top flight, then we agree with this assessment and therefore lean towards a three-pointer for the Bullen in our Young Boys vs RB Leipzig prediction.

Young Boys – Statistics & current form

On Tuesday, Raphael Wicky will become only the second Swiss coach after Christian Gross to have managed two different clubs in the Champions League. With FC Basel, the former Nati player has already had the pleasure of playing in the concert of the greats and after leading Young Boys to the domestic double last season, there are now further appearances on the biggest international stage with the capitals.

Unbeaten for four months

The Swiss have made a very good start to the season again this year. There has been no defeat for almost four months. They are currently second in the Super League with eleven points from five games, but that is because leaders FC Zurich have played one game more and are therefore ahead with twelve points. With a win in the catch-up game, the champions would be right back in first place.

In total, the Swiss title holders are undefeated in eleven competitive matches and have not even conceded a goal in their last five encounters. On Tuesday, however, we will see how solid Young Boys’ defence is, as the Swiss champions have not yet played a match in the Champions League without conceding a goal. We would rather not assume that it makes sense to play Young Boys and RB Leipzig odds on a win to nil for YB.

Last weekend, the Bernese had a job to do in the Swiss Cup. They had a much harder time than expected against second-division team Xamax Neuchatel. For a long time, the underdog was the team with the better chances. Perhaps it was the routine of the reigning champions and cup winners that tipped the scales in the end, as a late goal from Silvere Ganvoula gave Young Boys a 1-0 win.

Predicted Young Boys line-up:

BSC Young Boys (Expected line-up) 4-3-1-2

RB Leipzig – Statistics & current form

You still have to consider RB Leipzig as a newcomer in the big football world. Nevertheless, the Saxons have now played significantly more games in the Champions League than the Young Boys from Bern. In general, Marco Rose’s team should have more international experience, which they also proved in the top flight last season. In the last four games in the group stage of the Champions League, the Bulls picked up four victories.

Impressive start to the season for the Bullen

Of course, they then went down to Manchester City in the last 16, but possible revenge is just around the corner. The Saxons have made an impressive start to the new season. The Supercup was the first title of the young season for the German Cup winners. They then suffered a 3-2 defeat at Leverkusen to start the season, but the class that the Werkself can show this season is clear from the Bundesliga table.

Recently, there have been three wins in a row with a total of eleven own goals. Marco Rose’s team have scored more than three goals in four of their five competitive matches this season. That certainly suggests that our Young Boys and RB Leipzig prediction should be permissible for a total of more than 2.5 goals, although we expect the visitors from the Bundesliga to score at least one more.

Last weekend, Leipzig showed an outstanding first half and already led 3-0 against FC Augsburg after 27 minutes, which was also the final score. Xavi Simons, Lois Openda and David Raum scored the goals for the Bullen. This puts RB Leipzig in third place after four matchdays with nine points and the best goal difference, just one point behind Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich.

Predicted line-up of RB Leipzig:

RB Leipzig (Expected line-up) 4-4-2

Young Boys – RB Leipzig Direct comparison / H2H balance

There would have been opportunities for Young Boys Bern and RB Leipzig to cross paths in the Champions League. Until today, however, the draw did not want it to come to such a duel. So on Tuesday there will be another novelty for both clubs. Nevertheless, the Swiss in particular have had their share of experience with teams from the Bundesliga.

All in all, YB have a few comparisons with German clubs to their name. After all, there were two victories in the last two duels against Bayer Leverkusen. That is more than in the ten games before, when the Swiss only managed one success against teams from the German top flight. The Bullen have yet to gain any experience against clubs from the Swiss Super League and are now travelling to the Alpine republic for the first time for a match.

Young Boys – RB Leipzig Tip

For some years now, Young Boys have been leading the Swiss Super League. However, that doesn’t mean they can keep up in the Champions League. Raphael Wicky’s team is considered a lightweight and will likely target third place in the cross-table competition with Red Star Belgrade. With a win over RB Leipzig, they might even dream of second place, though we lack faith in that.

The Swiss champions are undefeated in eleven games and have not conceded a goal in five in a row, but there is a difference between playing against Maccabi Haifa, Servette Geneva or Xamax Neuchatel and an ambitious Bundesliga team on the other side.

The Bullen have made a very strong start to the season, scoring at least three goals in four of their five games. Most of the time, the foundation was laid in the first period. We can therefore very well imagine bets on over-goals or HT/FT for the guests from Saxony. In the end, however, we decided to play Young Boys vs RB Leipzig betting odds on an easy away win.