2024-10-02 09:05:03
Barça have beaten Swiss side Young Boys to claim their first three points in the Youth League after the disappointing start in Monaco.
But the game didn’t come without its ups and downs. The home side enjoyed a flurry of early chances, some of which were especially good, but couldn’t convert any of them, and paid the price when the visitors did make the most of what had been their first proper attack of the game. Ralcevic crossed and Jost controlled and shot well on 25 minutes.
But the Catalans only needed three minutes to cancel out that setback. Captain Hugo Alba pounced on the rebound after an Arnau Pradas strike and moments later the roles were reversed as Alba worked the build-up and Prades finished off the job. Instead of going in a goal down at the break, Barça had managed to put themselves into the lead.
The blaugrana attacks weren’t quite as constant after the restart, but substitute Oscar Gistau managed to create some valuable breathing space when a well-struck shot made it 3-1
Barça wanted more, but after wasting several opportunities, they found their dominance waning. Young Boys still felt they could get something out of this game, and when Mendes pulled a goal back, a comfortable situation was now more than a little worrying.
In fact, Barça couldn’t relax until the very end of regulation time when Pedro Fernández struck his team’s fourth and final goal of the night, and that was a valuable win secured.
MATCH STATS
FC BARCELONA 4
YOUNG BOYS, 2
Barça: Eder Aller; Xavi Espart, Landry (Kospo, min. 70), Leo Saca, Walton (Jofre Torrents, min. 46); Pedro Soma, Pedro Rodríguez (Quim Junyent, min. 63), Juan Hernández (Pedro Fernández, min. 76); Jan Virgili, Hugo Alba (Óscar Gistau, min. 62) i Arnau Pradas.
Young Boys: Cherif; Thermoncy, Jetzer, Raicevic, Smith (Ademi, min. 78); Etoski (Luthi, min. 57), Bomo (Tschanz, min. 78), Jost (Dalipi, min. 63), Mendes; Rufener (Van der Sluis, min. 57) i Tsimba.
Goals: 0-1, Jost (min. 32); 1-1, Hugo Alba (min. 35); 2-1, Arnau Prades (min. 40), 3-1, Gistau (min. 65); 3-2, Mendes (min. 80); 4-2, Pedro Fernández (min. 90).
Referees: Jakob Sundberg. Yellows for Jetzer, Bomo and Walton.
