Young Boys will be bidding to make it two wins from their opening two matches of the 2023-24 Swiss Super League campaign when they head to Yverdon Sport on Sunday afternoon.
The reigning champions recorded a 2-1 win over Laussane Sport last weekend, while Yverdon opened their season with a 2-0 loss to FC Zurich.
Match preview
Yverdon are currently competing in the top flight of Swiss football for just the fourth time in their history, having won the Swiss Challenge League last season, picking up 66 points from 36 matches during a strong campaign.
As a result, the team's main focus for the 2023-24 campaign is to avoid relegation, and they have been very active in the transfer market this summer, bringing in the likes of Dario Del Fabro and Boris Cespedes.
Yverdon started their season with a 2-0 defeat at Zurich last weekend; Jonathan Okita opened the scoring in the 27th minute of the contest before Nikola Katic doubled the home side's advantage in the 54th minute.
Home form is likely to be crucial for Marco Schallibaum's side this term, but whether they survive this season is not going to depend on their results against the likes of Young Boys.
The visitors are the reigning Swiss champions, comfortably winning the title last season with 74 points from their 36 matches, which left them 16 clear of Servette in second.
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Young Boys have therefore qualified for the Champions League playoff round, and they should once again be the team to beat in the Swiss Super League during the 2023-24 campaign.
Raphael Wicky's side made a winning start to their season last weekend, beating Lausanne Sport 2-1, but they needed a 97th-minute penalty from Cedric Itten to secure all three points.
Young Boys are 16-time winners of the Swiss Super League, dominating the competition in recent years, and they have managed to make some standout signings during the summer market.
Indeed, attacking midfielder Darian Males has arrived from Inter Milan, while Saidy Janko and Silvere Ganvoula have been brought in from Real Valladolid and Bochum respectably to boost the squad.
Team News
Yverdon remain without the services of midfielder Silva due to a long-term knee injury, but the home side are otherwise in strong shape ahead of their second game of the season.
Head coach Schallibaum will not hit the panic button after just one game, so it is expected to be largely the same side that took to the field for the first whistle against Zurich.
There might be a change at the back, though, with Del Fabro potentially being introduced, while Varol Tasar could be introduced for the hosts in a wide area.
As for Young Boys, Kevin Ruegg and David von Ballmoos remain on the treatment table for the champions.
Itten's goal off the bench last time out has put him in contention for a start here, but the forward might again be left frustrated when it comes to the first XI.
Janko was substituted on his debut against Lausanne Sport, but it was just a precautionary change, so the right-back will be available to start once again, while Joel Monteiro should retain his spot in an attacking area.
Yverdon Sport possible starting lineup:
Martin; Sauthier, Malula, Del Fabro, Le Pogam; Rodrigues, Cespedes, Lusuena, Tasar; Beyer, Carlos
Young Boys possible starting lineup:
Racioppi; Janko, Camara, Lustenberger, Benito; Ugrinic, Niasse, Monteiro, Rieder; Nsame, Elia
We say: Yverdon Sport 1-2 Young Boys
This might be a tighter match than many are expecting, with Yverdon boasting the talent to cause Young Boys problems. It is difficult to back against the champions in this contest considering their quality, though, and we are expecting them to put another three points on the board this weekend.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
