Fifth game, fifth defeat: YB continue to go nowhere in the Champions League. In the home game against Atalanta Bergamo, the Bernese were defeated 1:6.
In the 11th minute, Young Boys did what no team had managed to do internationally against Atalanta for a long time: they scored a goal. After a corner kick, Silvère Ganvoula got his head to the ball, which sailed into the net in a high arc. In the previous four rounds, Stuttgart, Celtic Glasgow, Shakhtar Donetsk and Arsenal had failed to do so. Leverkusen had also failed to score in the Europa League final in May.
The problem with this pleasing situation from Bern's point of view was that Atalanta had already scored two minutes earlier. And even more bitterly, it was to remain the only highlight for the home team. Instead, YB felt the full force of Bergamo's attacking power and trailed 1:4 at the break.
De Ketelaere again and again
Mateo Retegui, whose twelve goals in Serie A made him a player to watch, scored twice. But his strike partner Charles De Ketelaere will also be a bad memory for the overstretched YB defense. The 23-year-old Belgian was involved in five goals, scored two himself and set up three others.
He twice took the center-back duo of Mohamed Ali Camara and Sandro Lauper by surprise with his high passes. His cross for the fourth goal was not particularly precise, but as Lauper was unable to press Retegui in the middle, the move still resulted in another goal for the visitors.
It was indicative of the whole evening, in which Atalanta, with Europa League hero Ademola Lookman only on the bench, clearly showed the Bernese their limits. They had expected more after the change of coach from Patrick Rahmen to Joël Magnin and their recent better performances. Especially as another top Italian team, Inter Milan, had had much more trouble in the Wankdorf a month earlier and only scored the 1-0 winner shortly before the final whistle.
Another home game
Atalanta Bergamo also had more to contend with on their first visit to Bern three years ago, also in the Champions League. In a spectacular match, the northern Italians drew 3-3 with a late goal and took home a point.
This time they dominated and never let the question arise as to whether YB would find their way back into the game. Instead, the game ended in a debacle for the Bernese. The 1:6 against Atalanta was the next bitter pill to swallow in the top flight after the 0:3 against Aston Villa and the 0:5 against Barcelona. YB conceded 17 goals in a total of five games, i.e. more than three per game.
In the league phase of the Champions League, YB only play once more in front of their own fans. At the end of the campaign, the Bernese will host Red Star Belgrade on January 29. In between, they play away in Stuttgart (December 11), where they will be reunited with Fabian Rieder, and in Glasgow (January 22) against Celtic.
Telegram:
Young Boys - Atalanta Bergamo 1:6 (1:4)
31'500 spectators. - SR Lukjancukas. - Goals: 9. Retegui 0:1. 11. Ganvoula 1:1. 28. De Ketelaere 1:2. 31. Kolasinac 1:3. 39. Retegui 1:4. 56. De Ketelaere 1:5. 90. Samardzic 1:6.
Young Boys: von Ballmoos; Blum, Camara, Lauper, Hadjam (78. Athekame); Ugrinic, Niasse, Lakomy (46. Males); Colley (46. Virginius), Ganvoula (60. Itten), Monteiro (67. Elia).
Atalanta Bergamo: Carnesecchi; Kossounou, Hien (80. Godfrey), Kolasinac (75. Tolói); Cuadrado, de Roon, Mario Pasalic, Ruggeri; De Ketelaere (75. Palestra), Brescianini (63. Samardzic); Retegui (63. Zaniolo).
Remarks: Cautions: 44 Colley, 45 Brescianini, 73 Elia.
SDA
