On July 26, 2025, Young Boys Bern kicked off their 2025/2026 Swiss Super League campaign with a commanding 3-1 victory over Servette FC at the Wankdorf Stadion in Bern. The match, played in front of 28,000 enthusiastic fans, saw Young Boys dominate after an early red card to Servette’s Bradley Mazikou shifted the game in their favor. This exciting clash showcased Young Boys’ intensity and attacking flair, setting a strong tone for their season. Below is a detailed account of every key moment, player performances, and a look at both teams’ last five matches, written in simple English to engage readers and bring the game to life.
The match began at 6:30 PM UTC with Young Boys, in their yellow and black kits, lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation under coach Giorgio Contini. Their lineup featured Marvin Keller in goal, defenders Zachary Athekame, Mohamed Aly Camara, Loris Benito, and Jaouen Hadjam, midfielders Filip Ugrinic and Sandro Lauper, attacking midfielders Christian Fassnacht, Lukasz Lakomy, and Alan Virginius, and striker Cedric Itten.
Servette, in white and red, also used a 4-2-3-1, led by coach Thomas Häberli, with Joel Mall in goal, defenders Keigo Tsunemoto, Kasim Adams, Steve Rouiller, and Bradley Mazikou, midfielders Gael Ondoua and Anthony Baron, attacking midfielders Miroslav Stevanovic, Timothe Cognat, and Dereck Kutesa, and forward Alioune Ndoye. Young Boys aimed to control possession, while Servette looked to counterattack quickly.
The game took a dramatic turn in the 10th minute when Servette’s Mazikou was shown a red card for a handball in the penalty area, reducing Servette to 10 players. Christian Fassnacht stepped up and calmly converted the penalty, sending Mall the wrong way to give Young Boys a 1-0 lead.
The goal, Fassnacht’s 87th for Young Boys, sparked wild celebrations among the home fans. Just four minutes later, in the 14th minute, Young Boys doubled their lead. Darian Males, playing with flair, received a sharp pass from Edimilson Fernandes and fired a clinical shot from 15 yards into the bottom corner, making it 2-0. Servette were rattled, struggling to regroup against Young Boys’ intense pressing.
In the 25th minute, Servette thought they had a penalty when a Young Boys defender handled the ball in the box, but referee M. Piccolo signaled offside, and VAR confirmed the decision, keeping the score at 2-0. Young Boys continued to dominate, with Fernandes’ vertical passes cutting through Servette’s defense. In the 30th minute, Virginius crossed from the left, but Itten’s header went just wide. Servette had a rare chance in the 38th minute when Kutesa’s long-range shot forced Keller to dive and save, but Young Boys held firm. At halftime, Young Boys led 2-0, controlling possession and creating more chances, with five shots on target compared to Servette’s one.
The second half saw Young Boys maintain their pressure. In the 50th minute, Lakomy’s free-kick found Camara, whose header was tipped over by Mall. Young Boys sealed the game in the 62nd minute when Fassnacht scored his second goal. Ugrinic’s through ball split Servette’s defense, and Fassnacht slotted past Mall from 12 yards, making it 3-0. Servette showed fight despite being a man down, pulling one back in the 75th minute. Stevanovic’s corner was met by Rouiller, who headed past Keller to make it 3-1. The goal gave Servette some hope, but Young Boys’ defense, led by Benito and Camara, stood strong.
In the 80th minute, Servette’s Ndoye broke through, but Keller’s quick save kept the scoreline intact. Young Boys made substitutions in the 85th minute, bringing on Joel Monteiro and Ebrima Colley for Fassnacht and Virginius to freshen up the attack. Servette pushed for another goal, but in the 90th minute, Cognat’s shot was blocked by Hadjam. The final whistle blew in the 90+4th minute, confirming Young Boys’ 3-1 victory. The Bern crowd roared as their team started the season with a statement win, while Servette left disappointed but showed resilience despite the early setback.
Player Performances: Young Boys Shine, Servette Battle On
Marvin Keller (Goalkeeper, Young Boys, 7.5/10): Keller was solid, making two key saves, including a diving stop on Kutesa’s shot in the 38th minute and a quick reaction to deny Ndoye late. He was confident with crosses and distributed well.
Zachary Athekame (Right-Back, Young Boys, 7/10): Athekame was steady, winning three tackles and keeping Kutesa quiet. He supported attacks with two accurate crosses but was caught out once on Servette’s counter.
Mohamed Aly Camara (Center-Back, Young Boys, 7.5/10): Camara was a rock, winning 4/5 aerial duels and making three clearances. His header in the 50th minute nearly added to the score. He kept Ndoye under control.
Loris Benito (Center-Back, Young Boys, 7.5/10): Benito’s leadership anchored the defense. He made four clearances and won most ground duels, ensuring Servette’s attacks were limited after their goal.
Jaouen Hadjam (Left-Back, Young Boys, 7/10): Hadjam’s block on Cognat’s shot in the 90th minute was crucial. He delivered three crosses and worked well with Virginius, though he struggled with Stevanovic’s runs early.
Filip Ugrinic (Midfield, Young Boys, 8/10): Ugrinic’s through ball for Fassnacht’s second goal was pinpoint. He controlled the midfield, created three chances, and won 3/4 tackles, driving Young Boys’ dominance.
Sandro Lauper (Midfield, Young Boys, 7/10): Lauper was tireless, covering the pitch and making four tackles. His passing was accurate, helping Young Boys keep possession against Servette’s press.
Christian Fassnacht (Attacking Midfield, Young Boys, 9/10): The star of the match, Fassnacht scored twice—first from a penalty in the 10th minute and then a cool finish in the 62nd minute. He created two chances and was a constant threat.
Lukasz Lakomy (Attacking Midfield, Young Boys, 7.5/10): Lakomy’s set-piece delivery in the 50th minute nearly led to a goal. He completed 3/4 dribbles and linked well with Males, adding flair to the attack.
Alan Virginius (Attacking Midfield, Young Boys, 7/10): Virginius’ pace troubled Servette’s defense. His header in the 30th minute went wide, but he delivered four crosses and stretched the play.
Cedric Itten (Forward, Young Boys, 6.5/10): Itten worked hard but missed a header in the 30th minute. He held up play well, winning 60% of his duels, but didn’t get a clear shot on goal.
Darian Males (Substitute, Young Boys, 8/10): Males scored a clinical goal in the 14th minute and added energy. His movement and passing with Fernandes opened up Servette’s defense.
Joel Monteiro and Ebrima Colley (Substitutes, Young Boys, 6.5/10): Both came on in the 85th minute, adding fresh legs. Monteiro made one clearance, and Colley completed a dribble.
Joel Mall (Goalkeeper, Servette, 6/10): Mall was beaten three times, including at his near post by Fassnacht. He made a good save on Camara’s header but struggled with Young Boys’ pressure.
Keigo Tsunemoto (Right-Back, Servette, 6/10): Tsunemoto made two tackles but was overwhelmed by Virginius and Hadjam’s runs. He completed most of his passes but couldn’t stop Young Boys’ attacks.
Kasim Adams (Center-Back, Servette, 5.5/10): Adams struggled after Mazikou’s red card, losing 3/5 duels. He made two clearances but was exposed by Ugrinic’s passes.
Steve Rouiller (Center-Back, Servette, 7/10): Rouiller scored Servette’s goal in the 75th minute with a strong header. He won 4/6 aerial duels but couldn’t stop Fassnacht’s second goal.
Bradley Mazikou (Left-Back, Servette, 4/10): Mazikou’s red card in the 10th minute for a handball changed the game. Before that, he was caught out by Fassnacht’s movement.
Gael Ondoua (Midfield, Servette, 6/10): Ondoua fought hard, making three tackles, but Young Boys’ midfield outnumbered him. His passing was accurate but lacked impact.
Anthony Baron (Midfield, Servette, 6/10): Baron tried to shield the defense but lost possession under Young Boys’ press. He made two interceptions but was overrun.
Miroslav Stevanovic (Attacking Midfield, Servette, 7/10): Stevanovic’s corner led to Rouiller’s goal. He created two chances but faded after Servette went down to 10 men.
Timothe Cognat (Attacking Midfield, Servette, 6.5/10): Cognat’s shot in the 90th minute was blocked. He worked hard but couldn’t break through Young Boys’ midfield.
Dereck Kutesa (Attacking Midfield, Servette, 6.5/10): Kutesa’s shot in the 38th minute was Servette’s best chance. He completed 2/3 dribbles but was contained by Athekame.
Alioune Ndoye (Forward, Servette, 6/10): Ndoye’s pace created a chance in the 80th minute, but Keller saved. He won 2/4 duels but lacked service after the red card.
Last Five Matches: Young Boys and Servette’s Form
Young Boys came into the match with mixed results from their pre-season friendlies, showing both attacking promise and defensive vulnerabilities. On June 27, 2025, they lost 2-1 to Thun at home. Thun scored first in the 20th minute, but Joel Monteiro equalized in the 55th minute with a header from a corner. Thun won with a late strike in the 85th minute, exploiting a defensive error. On July 3, Young Boys beat Kriens 4-1. Fassnacht scored twice in the 15th and 30th minutes, both from Ugrinic’s passes, while Itten and Virginius added goals in the 60th and 75th minutes, with Kriens scoring a consolation in the 80th minute. On July 10, they lost 3-1 to AC Sparta Prague. Sparta scored twice early, but Males pulled one back in the 50th minute before a late third goal sealed their defeat. On July 16, Young Boys drew 1-1 with Huddersfield Town, with Itten scoring in the 40th minute from a Virginius cross. Their final friendly on July 16 saw a 5-4 loss to VfL Bochum, with Monteiro, Fassnacht, Males, and Lakomy scoring, but defensive lapses cost them. These games showed Young Boys’ attacking strength but highlighted set-piece weaknesses.
Servette’s pre-season was more consistent, boosted by their 1-0 win over Viktoria Plzen in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers on July 22, 2025, at Doosan Arena. Enzo Crivelli scored in the 65th minute, heading in a Stevanovic cross, and Joel Mall kept a clean sheet. On July 18, Servette beat AS Saint-Etienne 3-2 in a friendly. Kutesa scored in the 20th minute, Stevanovic in the 50th minute, and Ndoye in the 70th minute, with Saint-Etienne scoring twice late. On May 11, 2025, Servette drew 0-0 with Young Boys in the Super League, a tight game with few chances. On April 1, 2025, Young Boys won 1-0 at home against Servette, with Fassnacht scoring in the 55th minute from a Monteiro assist. On March 29, 2025, Servette beat Lugano 2-0, with Crivelli and Kutesa scoring in the 30th and 60th minutes. Servette’s form showed defensive solidity and attacking threat, but their loss to Young Boys exposed vulnerabilities against strong opponents.
Conclusion
Young Boys’ 3-1 win over Servette was a strong start to their Swiss Super League season. Fassnacht’s brace and Males’ clinical strike, combined with Mazikou’s early red card, gave Young Boys control, despite Servette’s resilience with Rouiller’s goal. The Bern side’s intensity and attacking play overwhelmed their opponents, setting a positive tone for their title chase. Servette fought hard but couldn’t overcome the numerical disadvantage.