AZ Under 18 will play in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Youth League against Real Madrid on Wednesday afternoon. The Alkmaarders eliminated their peers from Barcelona in the previous round, thanks in part to a world goal by Kees Smit from his own half. The match between AZ and Real Madrid starts at 2 p.m. There will be no fewer than two thousand spectators at the sold-out training complex. In addition, it can be followed live via Ziggo Sports. But what exactly does the Youth League entail? Football zone will go through the most important things with you!
Format
The UEFA Youth League is the Champions League for Under 19 teams and has existed since the 2013/14 season. The youth tournament has the same composition and playing dates as the regular Champions League. This means that all 32 clubs that are active in the group stage of the billion-dollar ball will also play in the Youth League. The numbers one and two of the group stage qualify for the knockout stage. There, the teams play each other once against each other, so no diptych as in the Champions League.
???????? ???????? ???????????????????? ?? The 17-year-old Kees Smit makes an attempt from the center line… And with success! ??#ZiggoSport #BARAZ #UYL pic.twitter.com/71ejGALjAe
— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) March 1, 2023
How does it work?
The first team of AZ does not play in the Champions League, but is still allowed to participate in the Youth League. This is because the highest youth team (AZ Under 18) became champion and had to go through the so-called ‘Domestic Champions Path’ in the autumn. Jan Sierksma’s team defeated Shamrock Rovers Under 19 (6-1) and Red Star Belgrade Under 19 (4-3 after penalties). These duels were over two games. In addition, there is also the ‘UEFA Champions League Path’, in which all Under 19 teams from clubs participating in the group stage of the Champions League play. The Under 19 teams that finish first in the group go through immediately. The numbers two play play-offs with the winners of the ‘Domestic Champions Path’. The youth champions of the 32 largest football countries compete in this route. From the eighth finals, all teams that are still in the tournament at that time will meet.
Obligations
Players born on or after January 1 may participate in the Youth League. In addition, each team has the option to add three dispensation players to the roster. These players must be born on or after January 1, 2003 and may therefore be a maximum of one year older than the rest of the selection. These players must also have been active in the club’s youth academy for at least two full seasons.
Dutch clubs
The Under 19s of Ajax (9x), PSV (3x), AZ (2x) and Feyenoord (1x) have all participated in the Youth League. In 2020, Ajax, under former coach John Heitinga, lost 3-0 to Benfica in the semi-finals. In the quarterfinals of 2016 and 2017, the team from Amsterdam was successively eliminated by Chelsea and Real Madrid. The rest never got further than an eighth final. AZ Under 18, however, hopes to advance to the semi-finals on Wednesday afternoon.
Winners
Since the formation of the Youth League, Chelsea and Barcelona are record holders with two titles, with the Londoners missing out on two more occasions. Benfica, Red Bull Salzburg, Real Madrid and FC Porto have all won the Youth League once.