FC Astana vs Young Boys Match Preview
FC Astana and Young Boys will be facing each other in the second round of their Europa League group B on Thursday afternoon, as both teams will look to extend their unbeaten streaks in all competitions. Here is an SBAT betting preview which includes team news, betting predictions and our analysts' thoughts.
FC Astana are having another solid Premier League campaign as they currently sit on top of the table with 65 points to their name after 27 rounds. Astana were beaten 2-1 on the road at APOEL in their Europa League group stage opening match, even though they had the lead at halftime. Although, Astana bounced back with two consecutive victories over Aktobe and Ordabasy in the Premier League along with a 1-2 triumph against I.Pavlodar in the Kazakhstan Cup. On home soil, Astana were on a 17-game unbeaten streak in all competitions prior to their 1-4 defeat at the hands of K. Almaty in their most recent home fixture. The most impressive fact is that Astana are unbeaten in their last nine European home fixtures since a 3-0 defeat to Villarreal in the Europa League play-offs back in August 2014. This year, Astana managed to beat Zalgiris and BATE Borisov at home and held Celtic to a 1-1 draw. Astana have improved considerably over the past years, as they participated in the Champions League group stage last term and made their debut in the Europa League group stage this season. Astana and Young Boys are the only two sides to have taken no points to their name from the opening round of their Europa League group B.
On the flip side, Young Boys have enjoyed a mixed run of form over the past month, winning four, losing four and drawing two of their last ten games in all competitions. The Swiss sides reached the Europa League group stage after they were thrashed 9-2 by Borussia Monchengladbach in the Champions League play-offs. They kicked off the Europa League group stage campaign in a similar manner as they were beaten 0-1 at home by Olympiakos Piraeus a fortnight ago. However, the Swiss club have improved lately, winning 1-7 on the road at FC Bazenheid in the Swiss Cup and followed this with two goalless draws against Vaduz and Sion in the Super League. Despite the recent struggle, Young Boys still sit in second position in the Super League table tied on 14 points with Lausanne and Lugano. Their recent away form has been a complete mixed bag with five defeats, three wins and two draws from their last ten away fixtures in all competitions. The most worrying fact is that Young Boys are on a five-game losing streak on their European travels, conceding 18 times in the process. The good news is that Young Boys have successfully progressed through two of their previous three Europa League group stage campaigns.
Team News
FC Astana
There are no fresh injury concerns for Astana ahead of this game.
Team News
Young Boys
Tauljant Sulejmanov, Seferi, Sekou Junior Sanogo, Guillaume Hoarau, Gregory Wuthrich and Alexander Gerndt are all missing through injury, while Sven Joss and Loris Benito are both doubts.
Betting Preview
Young Boys have conceded 18 goals in their last five European away travels, while Astana have only lost once in their last 18 home fixtures in all competitions. I’m backing Astana to pick up a victory in this match, but I’m also expecting a low-scoring affair.
