Shakhtar awaits on Wednesday – YB: With the last line-up to win the first point? – Sports

Zero goals, zero points: No, the Young Boys’ Champions League campaign this year is far from being a success story. Two weeks ago, the Bernese team came close to winning a point in the 0-1 defeat against Inter Milan, but in the end YB was left empty-handed again.

Interim coach Joël Magnin’s team will make their next attempt on Wednesday. On paper, Shakhtar Donetsk has an easier task for the Bernese compared to their previous opponents. Like YB, the Ukrainian champions have not yet scored a goal in the premier class. Thanks to the 0-0 draw against Bologna at the start, the team, which plays its home games in Gelsenkirchen, at least has one point on its account.

But Magnin doesn’t want to get involved in such shenanigans: “Shakhtar is a top opponent with many Ukrainian national players and Brazilians. They play very strong and well-groomed football. “So far they have simply not been efficient enough,” says the 53-year-old, praising his upcoming opponent.

U21 quartet on board

The focus should be on defense against Shakhtar. It is precisely in this area that the Bernese injury witch has recently struck at alarmingly regular intervals. Abdu Conté and Jaouen Hadjam recently joined the packed YB hospital. Eight defenders are missing with injuries, Magnin only has three (!) trained defenders available in Gelsenkirchen.

«We have to accept this challenge. We don’t have much choice at the back.” Out of necessity, Magnin took four players from the U21 with him, just in case. The quartet haven’t played a single minute in the Super League, but they know Magnin from his time in the youth ranks.

Lewin Blum is one of the remaining (professional) defensive players. The 23-year-old right-back scored the 2-0 win against Red Star Belgrade in the group stage a year ago, which was synonymous with a European winter.

Against Shakhtar, he is likely to work on the left side for once due to the personnel shortage. “My right foot is certainly better, but you can also use my left foot,” says Blum, looking ahead to the possible change of position. A “cohesive team effort” is required to achieve a sense of success. “It doesn’t matter which player plays in which position.”

At least in the storm, YB can count on the services of Joël Monteiro again. The striker, who was thrown off the pitch against FCZ on Saturday after throwing his shoe, was, according to Magnin, “given a small social task” by the club. His ban has no impact on the Champions League.