Jose Mourinho’s side will begin their 22nd Champions League campaign against a team who have never before reached the group stage of the competition.
Not a great deal is known in wider Europe about the team from Switzerland’s capital and few would give them much of a chance of claiming three points against any of United, Juventus or Valencia in Group H.
It would be unwise for Mourinho’s men to underestimate their opponents, though – especially given their record on Swiss soil. Here is what United can expect from their trip to Stade de Suisse.
Young Boys are reasonably well established in European competition. They went 14 years between appearances in the UEFA Cup/Europa League proper but, since 2008-09, they have reached at least the group stage on five occasions, most recently last season.
However, this will be their first foray into the Champions League. In fact, the last time they reached Europe’s top competition was back in 1986, which is also when they were last defending champions of Switzerland.
Against English teams, they have won only one of their last six encounters, which was a 3-2 home win over Tottenham in the first leg of a qualifier for the 2010-11 tournament.
Their last meeting with a Premier League team was in February 2015, when they lost 4-1 to Everton in the last 32 of the Europa League. Romelu Lukaku, the man likely to lead the line for United on Wednesday, scored a hat-trick for the visitors that day
Who are Young Boys’ star players?
Like most Swiss teams who begin to capture the attention of the continent, Young Boys have a habit of losing their best players to the Bundesliga. The most recent example is defender Kasim Adams, who was snapped up by Hoffenheim in the transfer window.
That said, their weapons remain formidable enough to give Mourinho plenty to ponder. Arguably their biggest goal threat is the man who broke the deadlock in that Everton game three years ago game: Guillaume Hoarau.
The 34-year-old former Paris Saint-Germain striker scored 15 times in 20 starts last season to help Young Boys to a first league title in 32 years. With four in six league matches and two in two Champions League qualifying appearances in 2018-19, it is safe to say his ruthlessness has not quite left him.
Beyond Hoarau, right-back Kevin Mbabu is one to watch. The former Newcastle United man is improving rapidly in Bern and made his Switzerland debut in the 6-0 Nations League thrashing of Iceland last week, deputising for Arsenal’s Stephan Lichtsteiner.
Ex-Ajax and Benfica midfielder Miralem Sulejmani will be a real danger down the left, too. With two goals and five assists in eight appearances this term, Young Boys will hope the Serbia international is fully fit for United’s visit.