U19s away to VfL Bochum in round of 16 – U17s in Magdeburg | OneFootball

"We're travelling to Bochum as the underdogs," explained Mike Tullberg. VfL have yet to lose a game at home – where they have thrashed FC Schalke 04 5-0 in the Westfalenpokal, claimed two victories over top team Bayer Leverkusen (4-1, 2-1) and run out 6-3 winners against reigning German champions TSG Hoffenheim – this season. "A homogeneous team whose defenders have scored more goals than our strikers and who win more second balls than any other U19 team in Germany,’ said Tullberg of the opposing team coached by David Siebers.

By losing 3-0 in Unterhaching, the Black & Yellows missed the opportunity to secure home advantage in the knockout round and finished Group D of the main round in third place, behind Karlsruher SC and Rasenballsport Leipzig. "We have by far the youngest squad in the DFB-Nachwuchsliga. The fact that we have reached the final round at all is a remarkable achievement by the team," emphasised Tullberg, under whose leadership the U19s have always reached the final to date. They won the championship title in 2022 thanks to a 2-1 victory over Hertha but then lost the 2023 final to Mainz 05 4-2 in extra-time and were then defeated 3-1 by TSG Hoffenheim in 2024.

"The personnel requirements have completely changed compared to previous years. But in the final round, it will be like in the cup: anything is possible in one game. And our task is to find an approach that enables us to win the game," emphasised Tullberg, who will bolster the squad for the match in Bochum with players from the U17s. There is hope that the injured trio of Ousmane Diallo, Pharell Kegni and Nico Adamczyk could make their comebacks.

U17s facing "final for second place"

Meanwhile, the U17s are preparing for a "final for second place" away to 1. FC Magdeburg, as coach Karsten Gorges explained. With 15 points, BVB go into the final round of matches in second place behind Borussia Mönchengladbach (19 points). It is their superior goal difference (+12) that puts them ahead of VfL Wolfsburg (+5), who are level on points and will be away to VfL Bochum. A win would secure the team the right to play at home in the last 16 of the final round of the German Championship. "We want to achieve that at all costs. The boys will have to push themselves to the limit," said Gorges. BVB won the reverse fixture against 1. FC Magdeburg, who have also already qualified for the final round, by a 6-0 scoreline.

Just one day later (Sunday at 16:30 CEST), the U17s will be in action again. BVB will then play host to SV Rödinghausen in the Westfalenpokal. "No problem, our squad is big enough to play two games in the space of 27 hours," assured Gorges. (wiwi)