Manchester City’s Under-19s clinched 11th place in the UEFA Youth League standings, earning a spot in the knockout stage of the prestigious competition.
DETAILS:
City’s Under-19s sealed their progression with a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Juventus in their final group-stage game. Lakyle Samuel’s first-half goal proved decisive as Ben Wilkinson’s side finished with 11 points in the League Phase.
The UEFA Youth League’s revamped format mirrored the senior UEFA Champions League structure. City’s young talents navigated six group games—three home and three away—competing against 35 other teams. The aim? Finish in the top 22 and secure a knockout berth.
After an opening 4-2 home defeat to Inter Milan, who went unbeaten in the group, City bounced back emphatically. A 4-0 thrashing of Slovan Bratislava and a 3-0 victory over Sparta Prague, featuring a hat-trick from Justin Oboavwoduo, pushed them into contention.
Despite a 2-0 setback to Sporting CP, who finished second in the standings, City’s 6-1 demolition of Feyenoord, fueled by Ryan McAidoo’s second-half hat-trick, set the stage for their crucial point against Juventus.
QUOTES:
Ben Wilkinson on the team’s performance:
“Our boys showed resilience and character throughout the group stage. The knockout round will be another exciting challenge.”
CITATIONS:
This report is obtained from verifiable reports from:
- UEFA Youth League official standings for the League Phase.
- Post-match analysis and highlights from ManCity.com.
- Comments from Ben Wilkinson shared during a press conference (source: City’s Official YouTube channel).
WHAT’S NEXT:
The Round of 32 draw takes place on December 20, with matches scheduled for February 11/12. Stay tuned to ManCity.com and the Official Man City App for updates on the draw and fixtures.
KEEP IN MIND:
City’s strong finish highlights their potential in the competition, but sterner tests await as they move into the knockout phase against Europe’s best young talents.
