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To advance to the group stage of the Champions League, YB has to eliminate two opponents. In the third qualifying round, the Bernese now face Danish champion Midtjylland – away!
If the double winners clear the next hurdle in mid-September (15 or 16), they are in the Champions League playoffs; Unlike the previous rounds, these are decided in a return match. It remains to be seen who YB will face in the playoffs (the draw will take place tomorrow Tuesday). Possible opponents expected are Dinamo Zagreb, Olympiacos Piraeus, RB Salzburg or Slavia Prague. If Dinamo Zagreb don’t make the playoffs, YB could avoid these teams. So for example a clash with Red Star Belgrade would be possible, where YB narrowly missed last year on the way to the Champions League honey boats due to the away goal rule.
If the Bernese fails in the next round, the Europa League playoffs will continue in Europe. A single match on October 1 will decide whether YB will enter the group stage of the Europa League or if Europe will lose.
First of all, there is a lot of money involved. If YB made it to the group stage of the Champions League, it would throw around 25 million francs into the club’s coffers – a real boon for a Swiss club. The three million francs to enter the Europa League would also improve the budget. In fact, it is about much more than that. In transfer negotiations, YB would have a particularly valuable trump card on its hands in the event of a Champions League qualification. Players who were contemplating a transfer out of YB were easier to convince to add another season in Bern. And it was easier to attract potential newcomers. It is also easier for the coach to keep a large team happy when dancing with his team at various weddings.
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