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- YB faces Ajax Amsterdam in the second round of the Europa League.
- The Bernese will play for the first time in the Netherlands on March 11, before the second leg in Wankdorf a week later.
- Manchester United and AC Milan meet in the most famous round of 16.
As attractive as it is difficult: the Young Boys compete in the knockout stages of the Europa League against the glorious Ajax Amsterdam. This was the result of the draw in Nyon on Friday. Erik ten Hag’s team confidently leads the Dutch Eredivisie. The Young Boys, who eliminated Bayer Leverkusen in the first knockout round, will play the first leg in Amsterdam on Thursday 11 March. The second leg in Wankdorf takes place a week later.
The boys are very excited. In unison they speak of a “great opponent”, but one that one seems quite capable of defeating. Coach Gerardo Seoane stops: “I’m not ready yet to want to describe the next opponent.” Striker Christian Fassnacht says the trip to the Johan Cruijff Arena is especially special for Miralem Sulejmani. The filigree manager was with the Ajax squad from 2008 to 2013. “He must have inside information,” says Fassnacht with a smile.
Without Haller and Onana, but with big names
Ajax failed in this Champions League campaign in the group with Liverpool and Atalanta. In 2019 they were in the semi-finals of the premier category, in 2017 the prestigious Europa League club only had to admit defeat in the Manchester United final. Although Ajax have to dispense with the record transfer of Sébastien Haller and regular goalkeeper André Onana (doping penalty) due to a clerical error, there are some stars on the team roster. For example, captain Dusan Tadic, defender Daley Blind or winger David Neres.
The only time the Bernese had to contend with the record Dutch champions was in 1988. In what was then the Recopa, both the first and second leg of the quarter-finals were lost 0-1. Former YB player Hakan Yakin played the lucky fairy at UEFA headquarters in Nyon. No team was established for the round of 16 draw. The home right in the first leg was of order. Yakin also pulled off Manchester United’s box office success against AC Milan.
