Young Boys won't make the grade

Jose Mourinho can, momentarily, forget the troubles his side have faced domestically as his Man United embark on their 22nd Champions League campaign on Wednesday night. Tournament debutants Young Boys provide the opposition for their opener in Group H.

Young Boys

In the Champions League proper for the first time in their history, it’s likely the Swiss Champions will be savouring every moment of their fixtures against three-time European Cup winners Man United, in addition to Juventus and Valencia, the other two sides making up Group H.

There’s always the danger of sides such as Young Boys becoming star struck at the prospect of rubbing shoulders against teams of such pedigree but there's a strong sense they won’t be rolling over against United and have more about them than their name implies.

Young Boys have been a frequent name in the UEFA Cup/Europa League having qualified for the group stage five times, most recently seen last season, while they have already tasted victory over English opposition - a 3-2 win over Spurs in the home leg of their play-off qualifier back in 2011 almost led to a first Champions League appearance then.

When you also consider they won their domestic league at a canter last season ahead of Basel, 20 times Swiss Champions and serial Champions League group stage qualifiers, we could be looking at a side that do more than just make up the numbers in this competition.

Regardless of how the debutants fare overall they’re sure to give their Group H participants a run for their money with their attacking style as 84 goals in 36 games on their way to the Super League title last season strongly suggests.

Man United

The Champions League serves as welcome respite from the rigours of the Premier League for Jose Mourinho and United, though two league wins on the spin points to the Portuguese slowly turning things around at Old Trafford.

Recent away victories at Burnley and Watford are of course the minimum ask of this team and it’s not until United face one of the top 6 again that we’re likely to find out the direction they’re heading in this season following a slow start domestically.

While The Red Devils can get away with being slow out of the blocks across a 38 game campaign, this is something they can ill afford in the Champions League where a couple of unfavourable results can see you scrambling to make the first knock out round, an unthinkable scenario for United, not least Mourinho.

There was no instance of this last season – United managed to breeze through as group winners ahead of Basel, CSKA Moscow and Benfica, notching 5 wins from 6 games. But it’s thought a group containing the likes of Juventus and Valencia this time around will see United struggle to accumulate as many points, though in truth they may not need as many.

The need then for United to claim maximum points in both games vs. Young Boys couldn’t be higher. Just like their Spanish and Italian rivals, United will be eyeing all six points against the Swiss newbies as a potential halfway stick toward qualification given the other games in the group will be closely fought.

Match Tip

Despite the fixture representing Young Boys’ first appearance at this level, I’m not expecting them to be rolled over by a Man United side who are far from free-flowing at the moment.

Yet I feel, Mourinho, for whom this competition evokes great memories, will ensure his players get the job done as they have in recent games, to run out reasonably comfortable victors in the end.

That’s why I’m going for an away win with over 1.5 goals in the match – Ladbrokes seem to have the best odds for this outcome at 21/20 (2.05).

Bet Man United and Over 1.5 goals on Ladbrokes