Without Hexer it will be difficult against Sporting: YB needs Von Ballmoos in the Leverkusen version

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February 2021. The Corona crisis is reaching its peak. However, there are football matches. But without fans.

In a wild home game – YB gave up a 3-0 lead before Siebatcheu made it 4-3 in the 89th minute – the Bernese defeated Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen. In the return match it was a confident 2-0. YB is in the round of 16. The pill club is outside. One of the few Swiss successes against a German club. And the first time YB survives a round in the new year.

Just awesome!

Five players from that team are still there today: goalkeeper David von Ballmoos (29), Lauper, Camara, Elia and Lustenberger. The heroes of the victory in the Bay Arena are the goalscorers Fassnacht and Siebatcheu. And the goalkeeper. The Emmentaler confidently destroys Schick and Bailey’s great chances, stating at the time: “In the end it was just great!” Because ultimately YB moves forward with confidence. Total score: 6:3. And coach Gerry Seoane got the job at the factory club a short time later. Such was the impression the Bernese left behind.

Von Ballmoos “obviously has very good memories” of the game. For his 47th international match, he takes away the fact that everything is possible. And he is trying to make good use of this positive experience: “This week I have focused on telling the boys that it is certainly possible to progress. We didn’t get much credit then either. And yet we qualified.”

Everything is possible!

So the motto: Everything is possible! ‘We are not where we are undeservedly. We will get our chances. It’s always about the same thing: minimizing errors. Taking chances. Then anything can happen.” Even though Sporting is of course a big name coming to Bern. And there is also a big difference with 2021: Bayer was in a complete crisis then. Sporting is brimming with self-confidence and is currently brushing aside everything that stands in his way. Most recently, fourth-place Braga won 5-0. The last three games were won by a total of 16 goals difference! An avalanche comes towards the Bernese goalkeeper. “Absolutely. That’s why the respect is there. This is a big opponent. But we play at home.” And yet: they lost at home to Manchester City and RB Leipzig. Bravely played. But in the end it wasn’t enough. “That’s correct. But we have learned from these games,” says von Ballmoos. And somehow it sounds like a declaration of war.

The little freak in Lugano

The goalkeeper also made a lot of noise in the 3-3 draw in Lugano on Saturday, when YB conceded the equalizer in stoppage time in the first half. Not because it was the goalkeeper’s 222nd game for YB, a great number. But because of the disappointment of the people in front of him and because of a free kick for the Ticino team that was wrongly whistled from the goalkeeper’s point of view. He made this loudly clear to referee Gianforte. “I probably sprinted towards him a little too quickly. That’s why he was right when he showed me the yellow card. I accepted that immediately.” And yet: YB will need emotions – and a lot of them, to have a chance against this ripped-off Sporting in great form.

The subject of artificial grass is boring

And maybe YB also needs the advantage of artificial grass. The Portuguese are also trying to make this happen, just like any opponent from a synthetic-free competition that comes to Bern. And every time Coach Raphael Wicky says the same thing, namely that the current generation grew up on artificial grass. Also in Portugal. “Everyone plays on artificial grass as a junior. That’s why for 99 percent of the players, who are all technically very good, this is nothing new.” You don’t have this experience every weekend anymore. But they are made. “It is what it is. We play on artificial grass. And you have to deal with that.”

Wicky’s answer sounds pretty solid. This is how the team should act. Also from Ballmoos, to whom we wish only one thing: Do it again, Dävu!

Source : Blick