Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
BSC Young Boys thrashed Étoile Carouge 5-0 in their final pre-season friendly at the Stadion Wankdorf, with Essende scoring twice and Fernandes, Córdova and Imeri adding goals.
Match Videos
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow it unfolded
Young Boys dictated terms from the opening whistle. Edimilson Fernandes broke the deadlock in the first period, slotting home after a sustained spell of YB pressure. Samuel Essende doubled the lead before the end of the opening 45 minutes, capitalising on a defensive lapse from the visitors.
The second period followed a similar pattern. Essende added his second of the afternoon to make it 3-0, demonstrating sharp movement inside the box. Sergio Córdova then got in on the act, powering in a header from a set-piece delivery to stretch the lead to four.
Kastriot Imeri rounded off the scoring in the third period with a composed finish, capping a performance that mixed slick combination play with clinical finishing.
The turning point
Fernandes' opener inside the first quarter of the game set the tone. Carouge, solid defensively in early exchanges, had no answer once YB found the breakthrough. The Challenge League side's game plan unravelled quickly, and the floodgates opened.
Key performers
Samuel Essende — The striker's double underlined his value as a focal point. Two well-taken finishes, one with each foot, suggest he is hitting form at the right time.
Edimilson Fernandes — Scored the crucial opener and pulled the strings from midfield, setting the tempo for YB's dominance.
Sergio Córdova — A powerful aerial presence; his headed goal from a corner showcased YB's set-piece threat.
Kastriot Imeri — The winger was a constant outlet on the flank and deserved his goal late on.
By the numbers — interpreted
The 5-0 scoreline reflects YB's clear superiority, though the unusual 3x45-minute format makes conventional stat comparisons unreliable. The Bern side dominated territorially and created chances regularly across all three periods. Carouge managed few clear sights of goal, a testament to YB's defensive organisation in what was otherwise a relaxed pre-season outing.
What it means
Young Boys have now completed their pre-season programme with a win percentage that will please manager Patrick Rahmen. The team's final friendly before competitive action yielded exactly what was required: a sharp attacking display against a lower-league opponent, minutes for fringe players, and no fresh injury concerns.
YB open their Super League campaign on Sunday, 26 July 2026, at home against FC Sion (14:00 kick-off). Étoile Carouge return to Challenge League action on the same weekend, with their fixture to be confirmed.
Verdict
A straightforward pre-season workout that told us little we did not already know: YB possess considerably more firepower than a mid-table Challenge League side. The five-goal margin was the minimum expected. The real test follows next Sunday against Sion.
Rivalry since 2019
BSC Young Boys vs Étoile Carouge Head to Head Results· 1
BSC Young Boys and Étoile Carouge have met 1 times — BSC Young Boys won 1, Étoile Carouge won 0, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2019. BSC Young Boys leads the head-to-head with 1 victory from 1 meeting. A combined 1 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 1.00 per match (1 for the home side, 0 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 0 matches (0%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 0 games (0%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 0–1 in 2019.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 19 Jul 2026