- YB beats Galatasaray 3:2 at home in the Champions League playoff first leg.
- The Bernese start fiercely and lead 2:0 at halftime thanks to Joël Monteiro.
- Substitue Michy Batshuayi brings “Gala” back, then the Young Boys receive a controversial penalty.
For an hour, the Young Boys did almost everything right. They gave the Turkish side Galatasaray just enough space at Wankdorf during the Champions League playoff first leg, making them barely dangerous. Had Ebrima Colley (58.) not merely hit the post but scored the 3:0 after a counterattack, one might have been tempted to say later that it was a “Gala performance against Gala.”
However, the shot against the post finally awakened the Turks. At the latest, when the classy substitute Michy Batshuayi came onto the field in the 66th minute, the momentum completely shifted:
- 66th minute: The Belgian striker is substituted in during a corner kick interruption. The corner comes to the far post. There, Batshuayi, who had been substituted just seconds before, scores the 1:2 with plenty of space.
- 72nd minute: Kerem Aktürkoglu beautifully controls a long ball with his chest. Batshuayi finds plenty of room nearly 20 meters in front of the YB goal. The 30-year-old coldly scores to make it 2:2.
The combination of Batshuayi’s individual class and the long-known defensive shortcomings of the Bernese cost the home team their hard-earned reward in the sold-out arena. However, it was not the last twist in a crazy first leg: a strictly called hand penalty against the guests gave Filip Ugrinic the chance to secure a slight advantage in the race for the Champions League from the penalty spot. He succeeded (84.), and thanks to a stroke of luck, “Yellow-Black” earned a small cushion for the return leg. YB likely should have been awarded another penalty (93.). But this time the VAR remained silent – a balancing injustice?
Lightning Start and Double from Monteiro
YB surprised positively in the first half. Joël Monteiro scored a brace just before halftime, giving YB a deserved 2:0 lead. A goal kick from Marvin Keller was extended by Silvère Ganvoula with his head. Monteiro shielded the ball well and caught “Gala” keeper Fernando Muslera with a drop kick in the near corner. Monteiro had already scored the 1:0 after less than 3 minutes. After strong pressing, he was set up by Ugrinic. Although Monteiro didn’t hit the ball perfectly, it slipped past the vulnerable Muslera into the net.
The Swiss with Portuguese roots nearly completed a perfect hat trick just as the halftime whistle blew. A 3:0 lead at halftime would not have been undeserved, as YB played dominantly. Defensively, it hardly got dangerous during this phase. In the 44th minute, Keller had to fend off a header from Lucas Torreira. He had come on for David von Ballmoos after half an hour because the latter was injured in the shoulder after a clash.
Keller then had to witness Batshuayi’s class up close after the break. But he also saw how his teammates did not give up after the 2:2 and were even rewarded with the 3:2.
What’s Next
Next Tuesday, the Bernese will play the playoff return leg in Istanbul. Like the other three Swiss teams in European competitions, YB will enjoy a weekend off, meaning only three Super League matches are scheduled.