Young Boys vs Galatasaray: Preview, predictions, team news

Young Boys take on Galatasaray in the first leg of their Champions League playoff tie, and the home team is hoping to find their first victory at Wankdorf Stadium in the last two months.

The reigning Swiss Super League champions have had a slow start to their domestic title defense. Young Boys have yet to register a win in their first five league matches, and now, they must host Galatasaray, the reigning Turkish champions, for a spot in the Champions League group stage.

Galatasaray, meanwhile, bounced back from their loss in the Turkish Super Cup final and collected all six available points in their opening league matches ahead of their test against Young Boys. Both sides qualified for the Champions League last year, but now, only one will get to participate in the biggest tournament in Europe.

Here's 90min's guide to Young Boys vs Galatasaray on Wednesday, Aug. 21.

What time does Young Boys vs Galatasaray kick off?

Location: Bern, Switzerland
Stadium: Wankdorf Stadium
Date: Wednesday, Aug. 21
Kick-off time: 3 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. BST

Youngs Boys vs Galatasaray H2H record

Young Boys: 0 wins
Galatasaray: 1 win
Draws: 1
Last meeting: Young Boys 1-1 Galatasaray (July 19, 2016) - Club friendly

Current form (all competitions)

Young Boys	Galatasaray
Printse-Nendaz 0-10 Young Boys - Aug. 17, 2024	Konyaspor 1-2 Galatasaray - Aug. 16, 2024
Yverdon 2-2 Young Boys - Aug. 10, 2024	Galatasaray 2-1 Hatayspor - Aug. 9, 2024
Young Boys 2-2 FC Zurich - Aug. 4, 2024	Galatasaray 0-5 Besiktas - Aug. 3, 2024
St. Gallen 4-0 Young Boys - July 28, 2024	Galatasarary 0-2 Parma - July 27, 2024
Servette 3-1 Young Boys - July 24, 2024	Galatasaray 2-1 Lecce - July 24, 2024

How to watch Young Boys vs Galatasaray on TV and live stream

Country	TV channel/live stream
United States	Paramount+, TUDN, FuboTV
United Kingdom	TNT Sports 1

Young Boys team news

Young Boys are dealing with injury concerns. / FABRICE COFFRINI/GettyImages

Young Boys will be without Facinet Conte, Kastriot Imeri, and Saidy Janko in their upcoming fixture against Galatasaray. All three players are dealing with injuries that will keep them off the pitch in both legs of the Champions League playoff.

Unlike Conte and Janko, though, Imeri should be fit by September should his side make it to the Champions League group stage. The 24-year-old suffered a ligament injury to his left ankle against FC Zurich.

Young Boys predicted lineup vs Galatasaray

Young Boys predicted lineup vs Galatasaray ( 4-2-3-1 ): Von Ballmoos; Blum, Camara, Husic, Hadjam; Niasse, Lauper; Elia, Ugrinic, Colley; Ganvoula

Galatasaray team news

Davinson Sanchez is sidelined with an injury. / Ahmad Mora/GettyImages

Galatasaray's backline will be without both Davinson Sanchez and Kaan Ayhan against Young Boys. Sanchez is sidelined due to injury and Ayhan is serving a suspension. Derrick Kohn, meanwhile, is suffering from a chest infection, and could miss the first leg of the Champions League playoff as well.

Okan Buruk will also have to compensate for the loss of Gabriel Sara in the midfield, who flew back to England as he awaits the arrival of his child.

Galatasaray predicted lineup vs Young Boys

Galatasaray predicted lineup vs Young Boys ( 4-2-3-1 ): Muslera; Jelert, Nelsson, Bardakci, Dubois; Torreira, Demirbay; Yilmaz, Mertens, Akturkoglu; Icardi

Young Boys vs Galatasaray score prediction

Prior to Young Boys' recent victory in the first round of the Swiss Cup, they had failed to record a single win in their last six matches. It is hard to imagine Patrick Rahmen's squad finding great success against a solid Galatasaray team who is coming into the match on the back of two victories.

The Turkish giants, though, have conceded at least one goal in their last 12 matches, so expect Young Boys to find success against Galatasaray's makeshift backline.

Prediction: Young Boys 1-2 Galatasaray

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