SK Slovan Bratislava vs BSC Young Boys Prediction & Picks - Europa League

Prediction published on 8/21/25, 11:05 AM  by Erik Gibbs in Europa League Picks

Slovan Bratislava host Young Boys in the playoff first leg of the Europa League on Thursday. Two teams with different stories of form and momentum make for a compelling tie. Slovan Bratislava, powerhouse of Slovak football, have started their domestic league campaign in robust manner. So far, they are unbeaten, coupling a 2–2 draw on the road against Prešov and consecutive wins versus Podbrezová and Skalica. Their offense has appeared effective, but significantly, the defense has played disciplined and tight.

In Europe, Slovan easily beat Zrinjski Mostar 6-2 on aggregate, with the main part of the win coming from a 4-0 home win. Their Champions League qualifying campaign ended in heartbreak when they lost on penalties after drawing 1-1 on aggregate against Kairat Almaty. However, the team's strong defense and determination impressed everyone throughout those matches. Slovan sees their current Europa League playoff round match against higher-ranked teams as a chance to make a statement because they have a well-balanced team and are feeling more optimistic.

Young Boys, by contrast, had had a less consistent start of their season in Switzerland. Across four league games, they'd registered one win, two draws, and a thumping defeat. Although their 3–1 victory at home against Servette had proved their forward ability, their 4–1 reversal against Basel had reminded of defensive vulnerability seen ever since preseason.

Young Boys continue to hit goals at a strong clip but gave up too many on their end for a team who aspire to see deep into Europe. As a result, their performances look of a team settling in and trying to achieve some rhythm, even if their forward ability remains dangerous.