Young Boys manager Giorgio Contini was appointed last month and is set for his second competitive game in charge of the Swiss champions at Celtic Park tonight. Saturday saw him open his domestic league account with a 0-0 at home to Winterthur, who remain bottom of the table.
They sit alongside our earlier opponents Slovan Bratislava and RB Leipzig as the only clubs yet to collect a point in this season’s Champions League after six games. Domestically, Young Boys have 10 games to overtake at least three clubs above them and close a six point gap to make it into the top half of the table before the league splits. This feels like the end of the golden era, for a club that has won the Swiss title six of the previous seven seasons.
Three years ago we looked forward to a Europa Cup tie against Bodo/Glimt, who like Young Boys, were fresh from a winter break. The anticipated result did not materialise, as the Norwegians contained Celtic, wining home and away. This is a lesson for anyone thinking we only have to turn up and collect the points.
I watched Young Boys last Champions League game, away at Stuttgart. The 5-1 score flattered the home side. Young Boys were level and looked comfortable into the second half when a controversial VAR decision went against them. Every player we face tonight will be better than the majority of those we face in domestic competition. Hard work and patience will be required.
The prize is great. A win will see Celtic secure qualification for the Knockout Round playoff, with the chance to test ourselves further at this level. The win bonus, playoff round payment and an extra home game will bring in over £5m.
Brendan Rodgers is likely to start with the same 11 selected last time out against Kilmarnock. Options off the bench are more limited than in earlier games. We will see Adam Idah, Paulo Bernardo and probably Luke McCowan at some point, but with uncertainty over Alex Valle’s future the club, he is less likely to feature.
A packed Celtic Park on a European night has spooked many better teams that Young Boys. The script is written, it just needs us to pull together and get the job done.
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Gentlemen, start your engines….
Three small bits of trivia to take minds off .
in true Michael Caine accent, did you know, if you double a thou 30 times it is almost a billion miles
Did you know, your exact height is three times the circumference of your head
Did you know, it is impossible to fold a piece of paper in half ten times.
I’ll get ma jaiket
KINGLubO
And not a lot of people know that !
Agree with all the sentiments.
Tonight is massive.
Together we can be stronger.
Let’s do this. What a boost it will be.
I have watched a couple of Young Boys previous ties and they are not a bad side. If they get first goal then we are in for a difficult evening.
We have been not fluent with the time of year affecting our passing game
I also think the transfer window distracts players and we are dealing with a hostile media spinning made up stories.
?
That wasn`t a question. I was just testing pc problems ( only on CQN ).
I was VERY confident of a victory tonight but, having read about Young Boys quality on CQN , I am now less confident,
Mr Hotting Smoking,
Today is not a day for negativity.
Be positive Banish these negative vibes
Cheers and HH.
Name a famous Swiss footballer?
GREENPINATA on 22ND JANUARY 2025 3:25 PM
They`ve gone already. I was just having a gentle go at those who, IMO, were either over-rating Young Boys or under-rating Our Bhoys.
“BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 22ND JANUARY 2025 3:27 PM
Name a famous Swiss footballer?”
Did William Tell play football?
Xhaka, Chapuisat
Rodger Federer played footie as a young boy
Ramon Vega
BSR
Ramon Vega
TT
TEXASTIM on 22ND JANUARY 2025 12:43 AM
As for Musk – I seriously think it was a dweeb’s attempt at doing the “dab” (no I didn’t either – google it) or a Nixon two fingered salute. He’s a Fud but I doubt he was trying to do something that stupid.
*he left his native SA for Canada which his mum had left as a 2 year old, so no obvious ties there, to avoid the mandatory draft which would have had him combating apartheid hmmmm. Oh, and he only went to Canada as it gave him easier access to his spiritual home
He knew what he was doing, playing to tangerine heid’s maga crowd which he allegedly has now dumped.
Not sure if tonight’s result will have an impact on transfers…….
Albian Ajeti
Stephane Henchow
Saidy Janko…..who is injured for tonight
There have been too many disappointments against so-called weaker teams in recent years so i expect to see Celtic taking nothing for granted tonight.
Domination is grand but we have to be putting the ball in the back of the net.
The Swiss league is good and YBs have lost games in Europe but against very strong opposition it should be said. Celtic are in a great position through a lot of hard work in this new European competition so will we be chokers or winners, hopefully the latter.
Saint Stivs I know what you mean about sponsors,I have to vacate my expensive seat to sit on a more inexpensive seat with a chappy view to accommodate those F@@@ers,I mean chaps,no discount no anything.
Chappy ? Crappy, can something be more inexpensive?You get my drift.
The Yakin brothers, who we were always linked with. Very good players.
sommer the goalie
Tommy Toblerone
KT 6 month loan deal??
Swiss Tony Ralston
BOURNESOUPRECIPE on 22ND JANUARY 2025 3:27 PM
Name a famous Swiss footballer?
Owen Tobler .
Bournesouprecipe:
Mohamed Elyounoussi
Elyounoussi….
Oops. Came from a Swiss team (Basel) via Southampton. But he was actually born in Morocco and played for Norway from U15 to full international.
The Yakin brothers talked their way out of a deal…
Round about now somebody usually posts that the Swiss have a mountain to climb.
Who would win in a fight between Hakin and Yakin
TexasTim on 22nd January 2025 2:13 pm:
“I hope that those lucky enough to be at the game tonight will keep the faith and support, if we concede early. I’m not seeing this as an easy win.”
The key word there is support. And as alluded to by BR, the team is in greater need of calm encouragement and support when they are NOT in the ascendancy and things AREN’T going their way than when they are 3 or 4 goals up. So KTF, be patient, and help to make it an incredible atmosphere to intimidate Young Boys and drive Our Bhoys on to victory. Dour as it is, even 1-0 will do.
YB home crowds are rarely bigger than 28,000 (capacity 32,000) and their domestic away matches are regularly watched by around half that, or less. They will not be used to playing in front of almost 60,000 vociferous supporters creating such a cacophony of noise that it is lauded by some of the best players in the world. So let’s keep it positive and supportive and do our part tonight. 🇳🇬🙏👍
Remember what happened when our players froze in the headlights of over 81,000 at the Signal Iduna Park? Let’s make tonight Young Boys’ own “Dortmund nightmare”.
That awkward moment when your stadium is called the (ahem) Wankdorf?
Foursie
Aff oot CSC