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.
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.
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.
