A frantic match in Berne saw Zvezda come from behind and take the lead over Young Boys only to be denied by a second-half penalty kick. Degenek and García scored for the Serbian champions who will carry two precious away goals back to Belgrade.
Ground: Stade de Suisse
Attendance: 31,120
Referee: Danny Makkelie (Netherlands)
Goalscorers: Assalé 7’, Hoarau 76’ (pen) - Degenek 18’, García 46’
BSC Young Boys: Von Ballmoos, Lotomba, Lustenberger, Zesiger, Ulisses Garcia, Martins Pereira, Sierro, Assalé, Aebischer, Ngamaleu, Nsame.
Substitutes: Wölfli, Sørensen, Gaudino, Bürgy, Fassnacht, Janko, Hoarau.
Crvena zvezda: Borjan, Gobeljić, Pankov, Degenek, Rodić, Cañas, Ivanić, Mateo García, Marin, Vukanović, Boakye.
Substitutes: Popović, Vulić, Tomané, Jander, Petrović, Simić, Stojković
After the amazing scenes in Copenhagen the previous week, our team had to do it all over again. Another trip to face another very good team and another opportunity to reach Champions League group stage.
Vladan Milojević spoke highly about the champions of Switzerland before the game, highlighting their attacking football and talent. Everyone was ready for a dificult challenge.
Our latest addition Mateo Garcia was handed his full Zvezda debut just four days after joining the club, while Ben and Milan Pavkov missed through injury along with long-term absenee Branko Jovičić. Defender Nemanja Milunović and midfielder Dušan Jovančić were suspended for this match.
The start could hardly have been worse as the hosts took the lead through Assalé on seven minutes after a route-one move from the Swiss.
But Zvezda would not feel sorry for themselves as they searched for an opportunity to attack. And their efforts were awarded shortly when Miloš Degenek’s looping header flew into the net following a Marko Marin corner.
Second half had a fairy tale start to it as Mateo sweeped home after a swift Zvezda counter attack to make it a goal on his debut and 2-1 to the Belgrade side.
But the hosts pushed on and on and asked all the questions for the most of the game. Their pressure told midway through the second half when VAR helped award a penalty for the hosts as Boakye seemed to have committed a foul.
Guillaume Hoarau, who had just came on, placed the ball on the spot and dispatched the penalty with authority to make it 2-2 on the night.
A few more chances came on either side, but no team could land that decisive blow. We will now meet again on Tuesday.