Young Boys' false start to the 2024/25 season is perfect. The champions lost the early 5th round match at cup winners Servette 1:3 and are on zero points after two games.
Three days after the 2-1 defeat at home to promoted Sion, Young Boys failed to get back on track in their second competitive game under coach Patrick Rahmen. Keigo Tsunemoto put Servette ahead in Geneva after half an hour thanks to a duel won against Joël Monteiro, and eight minutes later Miroslav Stevanovic, who had been forgotten in the middle, increased the lead to 2-0 for the home team after an assist from Bradley Mazikou.
YB were unable to do more than score the equalizer through Cedric Itten in the 71st minute. Eight minutes after going 2-1 down, Enzo Crivelli restored Servette's two-goal lead from the penalty spot. Anel Husic, who had already looked out of sorts against Sion, was at fault for the foul penalty with his first action shortly after coming on as a substitute.
This was only the second time in Super League history (after 2008/09) that YB had started the championship with two defeats. Servette, for their part, won their first two games for the second time under new coach and former YB striker Thomas Häberli and are at least temporarily top of the Super League table for the first time in 21 years.
Servette in the flow, YB with shortcomings
While Servette, under YB legend Häberli, seem to have lost none of their previous season's verve, Patrick Rahmen's list of shortcomings at Young Boys did not get any shorter. Once again, the improvised defense was not up to the task, and once again the offense produced little. "Just like last week, we lacked the necessary intensity when pressing. Without the ball, we were often too far away from the action," said full-back Lewin Blum. "Mass instead of class", the "Berner Zeitung" had already written about YB's recent transfer policy after the opening defeat against Sion.
Patrick Rahmen did not remain inactive after the false start against Sion. In central defense, 21-year-old French newcomer Tanguy Zoukrou made his Super League debut in place of Husic alongside Sandro Lauper, while up front Kastriot Imeri had to give up his regular place to Cedric Itten. However, in the absence of injured regular defenders Mohamed Camara, Loris Benito and Saidy Janko, as well as the suspended Jaouen Hadjam, the personnel changes did not solve the problems. The Young Boys are already under pressure in St. Gallen on Sunday.
Telegram and standings:
Servette - Young Boys 3:1 (2:0)
8727 spectators. - SR San. - Goals: 32nd Tsunemoto 1:0. 40th Stevanovic (Mazikou) 2:0. 71st Itten (Blum) 2:1. 79th Crivelli (penalty) 3:1.
Servette: Mall; Tsunemoto (90. Severin), Rouiller, Baron, Mazikou; Cognat, Ondoua; Stevanovic (89. Douline), Antunes (68. Crivelli), Kutesa (68. Magnin); Guillemenot (62. Ouattara).
Young Boys: Von Ballmoos; Blum, Zoukrou, Lauper (77. Husic), Persson; Elia (73. Colley), Ugrinic, Chaiwa (57. Lakomy), Monteiro (56. Males); Itten, Ganvoula (56. Imeri).
Remarks: Cautions: 45 Chaiwa, 73 Mazikou, 75 Zoukrou, 89 Blum.
Ranking: 1. Servette 2/6 (5:2). 2. Zurich 1/3 (2-0). 3. Lausanne-Sport 1/3 (3:2). 4. Lugano 1/3 (2:1). 4. Sion 1/3 (2:1). 6. Winterthur 1/3 (1-0). 7. Basel 1/0 (2:3). 8. Grasshoppers 1/0 (1:2). 8. Lucerne 1/0 (1:2). 10. St. Gallen 1/0 (0:1). 11. Yverdon 1/0 (0:2). 12th Young Boys 2/0 (2:5).
