Young Boys fell 1-0 to Inter Milan in the Champions League, with Marcus Thuram netting a late winner in stoppage time. Despite a commendable effort, including a penalty save by goalkeeper David von Ballmoos, YB could not secure points in their third group match, remaining goalless and without points. Coach Joël Magnin’s squad, despite a strong performance, faces continued challenges ahead, with their next league match against Lugano and a future clash against Shakhtar Donetsk.
- Young Boys succumb to a 1-0 defeat against Inter Milan in the Champions League despite displaying strong potential.
- Marcus Thuram netted the decisive goal for Inter during stoppage time.
- YB’s goalkeeper David von Ballmoos executed a remarkable penalty save shortly after halftime in front of 31,500 spectators in Bern.
- Click here for a summary of the other matches on Wednesday.
After facing two significant defeats at the onset of the Champions League campaign against Aston Villa and Barcelona, the Young Boys appeared to be on the verge of securing their first points at home against Inter Milan. However, they faltered in stoppage time when Lautaro Martinez and Federico Dimarco exploited a gap on the right flank—just after Lewin Blum was substituted. Dimarco’s cross found Marcus Thuram, who headed it past two defenders and goalkeeper David von Ballmoos, ultimately sealing the match.
Time ran out for the Bernese team to respond, leaving interim coach Joël Magnin’s squad without goals or points in their third Champions League encounter, despite the fact that a draw against Inter wouldn’t have been unwarranted.
Outstanding Performance from Von Ballmoos
While the “Nerazzurri” held the advantage in chances throughout the match, they struggled to convert their opportunities, largely due to von Ballmoos’s impressive performance:
- 31st minute: Von Ballmoos delivered a stunning save following a brilliant combination play between Mehdi Taremi and Yann Bisseck.
- 48th minute: The second half began with Jaouem Hadjam fouling Denzel Dumfries in the box. Von Ballmoos restricted Marko Arnautovic’s penalty kick and also thwarted Dumfries’s follow-up effort.
In addition, YB demonstrated their resilience. Despite making seven changes from their recent league victory over Lucerne, they matched Inter’s intensity, even outshooting them (20 to 19). The Italian side rested seven players in anticipation of their upcoming match against Juventus, resulting in a lackluster performance, particularly in the first half.
During the opening 45 minutes, YB’s left wing attacks, particularly through Hadjam, proved dangerous on several occasions. A couple of crosses led to attempts by Alan Virginius and Lukasz Lakomy. Joël Monteiro nearly scored, but his shot hit the post, leaving Inter’s goalkeeper Yann Sommer as a mere bystander.
Ultimately, the harsh reality for YB was their continued struggle for international success, even following the coaching transition from Patrick Rahmen to Magnin.
Looking Ahead
The next match for YB features another Italian competitor, as they head to Lugano in Southern Switzerland this Sunday. Their subsequent Champions League fixture will take place on November 6 in Gelsenkirchen against Shakhtar Donetsk, who are currently playing away from home due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.