FC Bayern U19s play the biggest European game in their history on Tuesday as Olympiacos come to the FC Bayern Campus for the quarter-finals of the UEFA Youth League. Kick-off is at 4pm CET, entry is free at the Campus. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game.
State of play
Bayern’s 3-2 win over Feyenoord in the round of 16 was the U19s’ sixth from eight games in this season’s competition and saw the FCB youngsters reach the quarter-finals of the Youth League for the first time ever.
The team have also hit their groove again in the U19 Bundesliga South/Southwest, coming from behind to win 4-1 at home to Nürnberg thanks to braces apiece from Jonah Kusi-Asare and Robert Ramsak.
What the coach says
Rene Maric: “We’re facing our toughest task so far, against an opponent that’s proven they have extreme mentality and physicality from their previous games, and stands out with dangerous set pieces and counter-attacks. Their back five is hard to break down, but we want to play our way for the whole 90 minutes. We’re working on that. If we manage it, then we’ve got a good chance.”
We spoke ahead of the game with Halil Altintop, who oversees the FC Bayern Campus:
Team news
Maric remains without the injured pair of Max Mergner and Michael Scott (both knee). Emirhan Demircan is also out with a thigh injury. Adam Aznou is available again following suspension.
Opponent: Olympiacos
The champions of Greece qualified for the Youth League knockout stages via the Domestic Champions path. The Piraeus club claimed comprehensive two-legged wins over Lecce (3-1 and 3-1) and Qabala (3-0 and 4-0). Once into the knockout phase, they’ve been pushed all the way to penalties, first by Inter Milan in the play-offs (0-0, 6-5 on pens) and then Lens in the last 16 (2-2, 4-2 on pens). They’ve therefore proven they can hold their nerve.
Sotiris Sylaidopoulos’s team are still unbeaten in their domestic league after eight games and claimed a 4-1 win at home to Volos NPS last time out. They sit second in the Greek standings behind PAOK, only behind on goal difference and with a game in hand.
Top fact
The quarter-final will be the last game of this Youth League campaign at the FC Bayern Campus. The four winners of this round will all meet in Nyon, Switzerland for the semi-finals on 19 April, where the victorious team between Bayern and Olympiacos will come up against Nantes or previous group opponent Copenhagen, before the final on 22 April.
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