Sporting will receive the Dutch team from Ajax and FC Porto will visit Liverpool, in the round of 16 of the Youth Football League, a UEFA youth competition that replicates the Champions League in the group stage.
Sporting reached this stage of the competition directly, after winning their group, while FC Porto was second, behind Atlético de Madrid, and therefore forced into a play-off to access the round of 16, in the who beat Panathinaikos at home (1-0).
In the round of 16, in a one-game tie, to be played between February 28 and March 1, the draw determined that Sporting will play at home against Ajax, semifinalist in 2019/20, while FC Porto , who was champion in 2018/19, will travel to England to face Liverpool.
Today’s draw, which also ‘aligned’ the quarterfinal and semifinal programs, determined that a final between FC Porto and Sporting would be impossible, if they won the respective matches, since the two teams could then face each other in the rooms ‘.
In case of victory in the round of 16, ‘lions’ and ‘dragons’ will meet in the next round, on March 14 or 15, and with Sporting at home.
In the 2022/23 UEFA Youth League, reigning champions Benfica were eliminated in the group stage, finishing third, behind Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus, who, however, were also eliminated in the play-offs. offs.
In the competition, FC Porto was champion in 2018/19 and Benfica in 2021/22, with the ‘eagles’ still losing three finals, in 2013/14, in the debut of the competition, with FC Barcelona (3-0), in 2016/17 with Salzburg (2-1) and in 2019/20 with Real Madrid (3-2).
Round of 16 program (one stage, February 28/March 1):
Game 1: AC Milan, Ita — FC Ruh Lviv, Ukraine.
Match 2: FC Barcelona, Esp — AZ Almaar, Hol.
Game 3: Liverpool, England — FC Porto, Por.
Game 4: Atlético de Madrid, Esp — Genk, Bel.
Game 5: Borussia Dortmund, Germany — Paris Saint-Germain, Fra.
Game 6: Hajduk Split, Cro – Manchester City, England.
Game 7: Sporting, Por — Ajax, Hol.
Match 8: Real Madrid, Esp — Salzburg, Aut.
Quarterfinal schedule (one-legged, March 14/15):
QF1: FC Barcelona, Esp/AZ Almaar, Hol – Real Madrid, Esp/Salzburg, Aut.
QF2: AC Milan, Ita/FC Ruh Lviv, Ucr – Atlético de Madrid, Esp/Genk, Bel.
QF3: Sporting, Por/Ajax, Hol – Liverpool, Ing/FC Porto, Por.
QF4: Borussia Dortmund, Ale/Paris Saint-Germain, Fra – Hajduk Split, Cro/Manchester City, Ing.
Semifinal program (April 21, one legged, neutral, Colovray, Nyon):
MF1: Winner QF3 — Winner QF1.
MF2: Winner QF4 — Winner QF2.
Final, April 24 (In Colovray, Nyon).
Winner MF1 — Winner MF2.
Source: TSF
