Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Champions League match.
After their victory over Parma (3:1), Atalanta temporarily topped the Serie A table. They enter their away fixture against Young Boys in excellent spirits, while the Swiss side risks once again finishing empty-handed, plagued by issues in both attack and defence.
Young Boys
In their four group stage matches, Young Boys have managed just one goal, with only Bologna having a worse attacking record (0). Against Shakhtar Donetsk (1:2), the Swiss champions allowed an xGA of 1.96, and the shots on target disparity (1-6) highlighted their struggles even against a mid-level Champions League opponent. Additionally, Joël Magnin is missing six key first-team players from his squad.
Atalanta
Despite the significant injuries to Giorgio Scalvini and Gianluca Scamacca, Atalanta have discovered potential in new leaders. They made a smart transfer move with Mateo Retegui, who is the top scorer in Serie A (12+3), while their standout player Ademola Lookman has contributed 7 goals and 4 assists. In Parma, Atalanta produced an xG of 2.98, showcasing their ability to carry their league-winning form into the Champions League, where they defeated dangerous Stuttgart in the last round (2:0).
Young Boys vs Atalanta Prediction
It's worth noting that Young Boys have conceded 11 goals in 4 matches, the fourth-worst record from the bottom. Atalanta will capitalise on their opponent's dire situation and aim to break into the top-eight contention.
