Will YB secure their ticket to the EL league phase?

Young Boys are just 90 minutes away from qualifying for the UEFA Europa League group stage. After last week’s 1-0 away win at Slovan Bratislava, coach Giorgio Contini’s team only needs a draw at home to secure their ticket.

One factor in favor of the yellow and blacks is the fact that they are traditionally stronger at home than away. This is primarily due to the artificial turf at the Stade Wankdorf, which is unfamiliar to many visiting teams and gives the hosts a clear advantage. At the same time, this circumstance serves as a pro argument for the Young Boys vs. Slovan Bratislava tip in favor of the Swiss.

At the national level, however, the former serial champions, who finished last season in third place behind FC Basel and Servette Geneva, have not gotten off to a good start. They have only managed one win in the first four match days. With five points (1-2-1) and already six goals conceded, they are currently in fifth place, which does not even come close to meeting YB’s high standards. This makes it all the more important to secure a place in the main draw of the Europa League.

The chances of this happening are actually very good, as the Slovakian champions are still waiting for their first away win in 2025/26 across all competitions. They failed to win away from home in their first two league games (two draws) or in the Champions League qualifiers. The White’s protégés fell short of their own expectations at Zrinjski Mostar (2-2) and Kairat Almaty (0-1). Accordingly, my Young Boys vs. Slovan Bratislava prediction also favors the home side.

On the three-way market, Betano currently offers the best odds of 1.62 on a YB win after 90 minutes. If, as in the first leg, you believe the favorites will win without conceding a goal, you will find odds of 2.90 in the Betano app, which in turn can be played with the €20 Betano free bet. Alternatively, you could try the Asian handicap at Bet365. For a bet on -1 (AHC), odds of up to 2.02 are being offered ahead of the match between Young Boys and Slovan Bratislava. If Contini’s team ultimately wins by only one goal, you would at least get your stake back.

Young Boys – Slovan Bratislava Head-to-head comparison / H2H record

Slovan Bratislava has proven to be Bern’s favorite opponent over the past ten years. There have been five encounters in the European Cup since 2014. With four wins and one draw, YB clearly leads the head-to-head comparison. They also won both home games. In the first leg, the Yellow and Blacks narrowly prevailed 1-0. Chris Bedia scored the only goal in the 15th minute of a balanced encounter that was not necessarily spectacular. With the high Young Boys vs. Slovan Bratislava betting odds on an offensive festival, one should also be cautious on Thursday evening.

Young Boys – Slovan Bratislava Tip

Thanks to their 1-0 victory in Bratislava, Young Boys have put themselves in an excellent position for the second leg. Playing at home on their own artificial turf, they should have no trouble securing the win on Thursday. I also see Contini’s team as clear favorites, based on their home strength and the fact that the visitors from Slovakia have not won any of their four away games this season. The home team may also benefit from being able to counterattack in front of their home crowd and exploit the space that opens up as the game progresses.

Ultimately, I’m not averse to betting on a relatively comfortable home win. The Asian handicap (-1), which guarantees cashback in the event of a narrow home win, is a good compromise in my opinion, with attractive odds of 2.02 on the Bet365 app.