AZ Alkmaar, Bayern München, Braga, Leipzig, Mainz, Nantes, Olympiacos and Žilina will join the group winners in the round of 16 from the UEFA Youth League play-offs.
All eight teams that progressed from the domestic champions route were runners-up from the UEFA Champions League route group stage. The eight winners join the top teams in the UEFA Champions League group stage for the Round of 16.
With Germany's three wins, it is the first time a country has produced three play-off winners in the same season.
By the 16th round
Play off winners: AZ Alkmaar (retainers), Bayern Munich, Prague, Leipzig, Mainz, Nantes, Olympiakos, Zilina
Group winners: AC Milan, Copenhagen, Feyenoord, Lens, Manchester City, Porto, Real Madrid, Salzburg
Wednesday, February 7
Olympiakos 0-0 Inter (6-5 Pens)
Despite Antonios Papaganellos being sent off, Olympios were able to hold off Inter and force a penalty shoot-out (without extra time in youth league matches), with Matteo Cocchi going close as he hit the post after an early effort was saved by Antselo. Sina.
Both teams converted their first five kicks and Konstantinos Kostoulas won 6-5, but then Kochi missed, sending Olympiakos to the round of 16 for the first time since 2014/15, meaning Inter's third straight play-off exit.
Partizan 0-2 Prague
Braga, one of four teams to finish the group stage unbeaten, came through a meeting of two tournament debutants.
The visitors took the game to Partizan when Roger Fernandez broke the deadlock on 64 minutes after a defensive error. Substitute Afonso Duarte equalized for Braga in extra time following a quick counterattack that prompted Partizan to equalise.
Alkmaar 1-0 Atletico
Holders AZ continued their title defense with their sixth straight home UEFA Youth League win and a clean sheet, becoming only the second team in ten editions of the competition to eliminate Atletico before the round of 16 since Midtjylland in the 2015/16 play-offs. . AZ tore Atletico apart early on with both Anthony Smits and Dave Quagman hitting the woodwork in the first ten minutes.
Yoel van den Boan finished off a quick team move on 25 minutes to put AZ ahead and they continued to dominate without extending their lead. Feyenoord overtook Celtic with a last-gasp Match 6 win over Atletico as they missed out on progressing from the group stage directly to the round of 16 rather than going into these play-offs.
Zilina 2-1 Borussia Dortmund
Slovakia's Zilina made a sensational comeback to reach the round of 16 for the second time in three years. Dortmund lost key player Julian Rijkaop last week in the tie, who was sold to former club Ajax and finished his UEFA Youth League career on 13 goals, two short of the record, while defender Henry Blanc also left to join Salzburg. However, the visitors took a half-time lead in Slovakia through Paris Brunner, who headed home the second attempt after Samuel Bamba's cross.
Zilina equalized early in the second half when a blocked effort from Demodaj Hranica was converted by Wladimir Vago, his fifth goal in the competition this season. When it looked like a shoot-out was called for, he sparked celebrations among more than 10,000 fans as he replaced Michal Begelski and produced the 89th-minute winner. An attack on balance.
Basel 0-2 Bayern Munich
Bayern equaled their best competition run and reached the round of 16 for the third time. They piled on the pressure in the first half when Lovro Zvonarek struck on 31 minutes after a quick exchange with Javier Fernandez.
Basel threatened more in the second half, but Zvonarek sealed the win in extra time, Michael Scott breaking through and setting up the captain.
Nantes 3-3 Sevilla (3-2 Pens)
A goalless first half gave no clue as to what would happen next. Nantes took the lead on 51 minutes when the ball hit the woodwork and deflected off luckless Sevilla defender David Lopez. Exaucée Mafoumbi scored twice in quick succession to put Nantes on course within an hour.
Less than ten minutes later, however, Sevilla made it 3-0 to 3-3 as Ivan Salguero's cross-cum-shot flew, then Iker Villar's effort (later left the pitch injured on a stretcher) slotted home Tyga Dugard, and Alberto Collado converted the penalty. changed It made Sevilla the first team to overcome a three-goal deficit in the only knockout competition in the competition, but Collado was among the shoot-out losers as Nantes progressed to the round of 16 at their second attempt. With a crowd of 13,377, the seventh biggest attendance in the UEFA Youth League.
Tuesday, February 6
Midland 1-1 Leipzig (2-4 Pens)
Mikael Krüger-Johnsen turned in Sofus Johanssen's cross for Midtjylland on 13 minutes, but play-off debutants Leipzig lost midfielder Tim Koehler to a second yellow card just over the hour before Jonathan Norby headed home Laurin Schoessler's corner. Punishments.
Midtjylland were now in their fourth shoot-out in six play-offs, having won two of the previous three, but Leipzig keeper Timo Schlick saved the home side's first penalty before hitting a third, allowing winners Osaway to convert the visitors. 'The victory kick.
Mains 2-2 Barcelona (6-5 Pens)
Mainz enjoyed a sold-out home crowd when Daniel Kleiber gave them the lead, but the two-time champions soon equalized through Noah Darwich and a solo effort from Dani Rodriguez put Barcelona 2-1 up early in the second half. Philipp Schulz equalized 16 minutes from time when Kleiber hit the woodwork, but again penalties were required.
Luis Papadez saved Barcelona's fourth penalty, but Diego Kochsen was promptly fouled in sudden death. Babatz stepped up to meet Barcelona's seventh kick to decide the tie.
Group guide
- Holders AZ were also on the way to domestic champions last season.
- Barcelona were aiming to become the first three-time winners and in the first play-off, despite being in the round of 16 on seven previous occasions.
- Atlético have reached at least the play-offs in all ten editions. Their only play-off defeat came against Midland on penalties in 2015/16, as they aimed to reach the round of 16 for the seventh consecutive year and ninth time.
- Midtjylland have now progressed six times as domestic champions, and have won four of their previous five play-offs.
- Dortmund are in the play-offs for the fifth time since 2016/17 and were aiming to win at this stage for the third year running.
- Inter had failed at this stage in the previous two seasons, but won in 2017/18.
- Previous play-off winners include Zilina (2021/22) and Sevilla (2021/22). Basel (2016/17) previously lost in this round, but reached the round of 16 the following year. Bayern and Olympiakos made it into the last 16 despite never having participated in the play-offs before.
- Leipzig were making their first play-off appearance after qualifying from a group for the first time in five attempts.
- Mainz-like opponents Braga and Partizan are in their first campaign. Nantes made his debut last season but missed the play-offs.
Knockout dates
Knockout Draw (Round of 16): 9 February, Neon
Round 16: 27/28 February
Quarter Final: 12/13 March
Semi-Final: April 19 (Single Place)
Final: April 22 (Single Place)
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