Young Boys Injury Worries Ahead of Aston Villa European Clash

Young Boys (YB) progressed to the next round of the Swiss Cup with a 4-2 victory over Vevey-Sports, but it was far from an easy ride for the reigning champions.

Playing against a team from the Promotion League, YB struggled to maintain control in a match that was expected to be a walkover. To add to their concerns, YB midfielder Cheikh Niasse was forced to leave the field with an injury, casting a shadow over the team’s preparations for their upcoming Champions League clash against Aston Villa.

Before the match, the best news for YB came with the return of captain Loris Benito. The defender made his comeback to the starting lineup after recovering from a cruciate ligament tear. Benito’s presence alongside Ali Camara was seen as a major boost for the Bernese side, but what followed on the pitch was anything but smooth.

After a cautious opening, YB struck twice in quick succession around the half-hour mark. Alan Virginius opened the scoring with a well-placed shot to make it 1-0, and just two minutes later, striker Cedric Itten doubled the lead, putting the champions in a comfortable position. They carried that 2-0 advantage into halftime, seemingly in control of the game.

The second half, however, saw a shift in intensity, with Vevey adopting a more aggressive approach. Early on, Vevey’s Mobulu was involved in a rough challenge on YB’s Ugrinic but escaped with only a yellow card. Soon after, Itten thought he had scored his second goal of the match, but it was ruled out for offside in a tight decision that could have sealed the game for YB.

Vevey, emboldened by their physical play, clawed their way back into the match. Mobulu halved the deficit with a well-taken goal, reducing YB’s lead to 2-1 and giving the underdogs hope. Moments later, Baddy Dega escaped with just a yellow card for a dangerous tackle on Niasse, which ultimately forced the YB midfielder off the pitch with an injury. Niasse’s departure was a critical moment for the Bernese side, as the midfielder was instrumental in their cup and European campaigns.

The momentum swung further in Vevey’s favour as they pressed forward, and their efforts were rewarded in the 71st minute when Chaibi scored the equalizer. At 2-2, the game seemed to be slipping away from YB, and the prospect of an embarrassing cup exit loomed large.

However, YB managed to regain composure quickly. In the 82nd minute, Darian Males delivered a much-needed goal for the visitors, finishing off an intricate move involving Monteiro and Meschack Elia to restore YB’s lead. Vevey continued to push for another equalizer, but YB sealed the victory deep into injury time when Elia himself found the back of the net, making it 4-2 and putting the game out of reach.

Despite the win, the result was far from convincing, and YB now faces a bigger problem. Midfielder Cheikh Niasse, a key figure in the team’s recent Champions League qualifiers, is in doubt for their upcoming clash against Aston Villa. The Senegalese midfielder tried to continue after the initial foul, but after receiving treatment, he was forced to sit down, visibly frustrated and in pain. His availability for Tuesday’s match remains uncertain, which is a major concern for YB coach Raphael Wicky, who relied on Niasse in both legs of the qualification against Galatasaray.

Site Opinion – Injury Worries

Young Boys may have scraped through to the next round of the Swiss Cup, but the injury to Cheikh Niasse is a significant blow ahead of their Champions League opener. Niasse has been a key part of YB’s midfield, forming a solid partnership with Sandro Lauper. His injury, sustained after a reckless tackle by Vevey’s Baddy Dega, leaves YB with a nervous wait to see if he can recover in time for the clash with Aston Villa. The absence of Niasse in such an important match could leave YB vulnerable in midfield as they face a tough challenge against the Premier League side.

While the cup victory will give YB some momentum, the manner of the win raises questions about their current form. Vevey, a team from the third tier, managed to put the champions under significant pressure, and YB will need to improve quickly if they hope to compete at the highest level in Europe. The injury to Niasse only adds to the uncertainty surrounding the team’s readiness for what lies ahead.