U19s hoping for derby revenge - top match for the U17s

U19s against FC Köln again

The U19s play on Friday 23 October (kick-off: 14.00 CEST) in a derby away to FC Köln in the U19 Bundesliga West. The match has been rearranged for organisational reasons. Bayer 04 go into the game in third place with FC Köln in ninth position with three points fewer having played a game less.

The game is not only special because of the derby aspect but also because the two teams faced each other three weeks ago. In the first round of the DFB Youth Cup, Bayer 04 were on the wrong end of a 4-0 scoreline at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. “That bugged us,” said U19 coach Markus von Ahlen ahead of the renewed meeting. “The result did not fully reflect the course of the game.”

To achieve a derby revenge, it is now about, “having the right emotions but not overdoing it” – and, of course, doing some things better than in the cup game. “The crucial situations are near to the goal and we have to be more consistent and precise both in attack as in defence,” demanded Von Ahlen. “We have to mark people tighter in front of our own goal and we lacked calm in finishing our attacking moves in the cup.”

There will definitely be some reorganisation. “We have a lot of players coming back, as do Köln,” von Ahlen reported. Ali Barak and Seymour Fünger were back in the Bayer 04 squad after injury for the 3-1 win against Oberhausen and Yannick Schlösser is set to return against FC Köln after being sidelined for several weeks. In addition, von Ahlen and Patrick Weiser can call on Phil Kemper again after his suspension for the cup match. In contrast, the coaches will still be without regular first choice keeper Marcel Johnen, who is still serving suspension after being sent off, and he will again be replaced by Jakob Brambach.

First against second: “Little top match” for the U17s

The U17s have not played a competitive match for a long time. After the international break, the team coached by Jan Hoepner and Thomas Zdebel had a weekend off and the last league match (2-1 against Hennef) was three weeks ago. “We have worked a bit more on an individual basis but not really changed much in principle,” said Hoepner in describing the content of training during the time without games. Last Tuesday, the U17s played a friendly against the TSV Meerbusch U19s. In spite of the 3-2 defeat, the match was for Hoepner “a good test to get back into it the swing and rediscover a rhythm.”

That will be needed at the weekend. On Sunday 25 October (kick-off: 11.00 CET), the U17s have an away game in the U17 Bundesliga West at league leaders Borussia Mönchengladbach. Bayer 04 are the closest pursuers in the table three points behind having played one game less. It will be a clash of first against second with both teams as yet unbeaten. “It’s a little top match,” said Hoepner. “Mönchengladbach are a team we want to compare ourselves with.” The U17 coach is expecting “a game marked by high intensity. We want to compete and see what we can achieve.”

Gladbach and Köln: Top opponents for the younger teams

In addition to the U17s, several of the younger year groups are back in competitive action. Like the U17s, the U14s play Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday 24 October (kick-off: 13.00 CEST) - and, also like the U17s, it is first against second. Both teams have won all six previous matches in the Youth Cup and Bayer 04 are looking to maintain their perfect record.

The U13 and U12 teams also face top opposition. While the U13s, yet to drop a point, play FC Köln in their Youth Cup match on Sunday 25 October (kick-off: 11.00 CET), the U12s are away to Fortuna Düsseldorf the day before (kick-off: 12:30 CEST).

Other matches:
U15 v Fortuna Düsseldorf (F)
U11 v Fortuna Düsseldorf (F)
U10 v VfB Hilden U11 (F)
U9 v FC Hennef (F)
U8 v FC Pesch (F)

(L) = League | (F) = Friendly