Here are the updated Youth Cup tables after round 8’s games last night, and a few comments from me on each of the groups – where we all stand and what could happen in the final two rounds of matches, bearing in mind that the top four in each group qualify for the next stages.
Group 1
Saturday 21 October
Basel played an overage team, so Hamburg are awarded a 3-0 victory, and Basel get another -1 points to their total.
Madrid’s victory over Flamengo means they have all but won the group as expected, barring the biggest of all upsets in their final two games.
Hamburg and Flamengo are also assured of qualifying, while Celtic appear to be favourites to snatch the final qualifying place from Berlin, assuming they overcome Basel next week.
Upcoming fixtures:
Saturday 28 October
Saturday 4 November
Group 2
Saturday 21 October
Both Athletic and West Brom played overage teams, so they each are awarded -1 points and a 0-3 defeat. West Brom are already out, and Athletic appear to have little chance of qualifying, as Kiev still have the Baggies to play in the final round.
Benfica look to have sealed first place with a point at draw specialists Standard Liege, especially as they are practically guaranteed three points next week at home to WBA.
Upcoming fixtures:
Saturday 28 October
Saturday 4 November
Group 3
Saturday 21 October
Dortmund return to the top of Group 3 after their win at Palace, who look completely out of it, and thanks to Barcelona’s win at home to last week’s surprise leaders Swansea City.
This is one of the tightest and most competitive of all the Youth Cup groups so far, with even Sporting in fifth place still having an outside chance of qualifying. Dortmund’s home game against Barcelona next week will likely decide who wins the group.
Upcoming fixtures:
Saturday 28 October
Saturday 4 November
Group 4
Saturday 21 October
Augsburg pulled of the shock of the round, and possibly the tournament to date, with an extraordinary win at their giant local rivals Bayern. Boss Ivan Anic must have enjoyed a few glasses of wine with his opposite number Ruts, as the win seals their qualification.
Despite cannily switching their away game at Twente to the San Siro, Alex McLean’s Inter could only manage a draw, and while they still have a mathematical chance of qualifying, they’ll need an even bigger favour from Twente on Wednesday evening in their rearranged fixture with Villarreal.
Upcoming fixtures:
Wednesday 25 October
Saturday 28 October
Saturday 4 November
Group 5
Saturday 21 October
Besiktas and Roma both played overage players and so lose the fixtures 0-3 and lose a point each, and with it any last remote hopes of qualification.
Juventus could effectively seal first place in this group next Saturday if avoid defeat at second place Napoli.
Upcoming fixtures:
Saturday 28 October
Saturday 4 November
Group 6
Saturday 21 October
Sevilla all but ensured their safe passage into the the next stages of the competition with a win over Loko.
Levante will need to recover quickly from their thrashing at unstoppable Valencia, in order to beat Sevilla next week and retain any hope of qualifying.
Even defeat in Moscow next weekend may not stop Cruzeiro from qualifying, still.
Upcoming fixtures:
Saturday 28 October
Saturday 4 November
Group 7
Saturday 21 October
Bordeaux played an overage team, and so forfeited the game 0-3 to Hoffenheim, and lose a point, too. They will have to legitimately beat Newcastle next week to have nay chance of qualifying, now.
Upcoming fixtures:
Saturday 28 October
Saturday 4 November
Group 8
Saturday 21 October
Aston Villa played an overage team at Everton, so are awarded a 0-3 loss, and -1 point.
Under-performing Chelsea could win their last two games against the top two, but it’s still unlikely to be quite enough to finish in first place and get a bye in the first round of the knock-out stages.
Villa and Lyon look to have blown their chances with too many administrative and team selection errors, and both will have to beat Atletico to have a chance of qualifying now.
Upcoming fixtures:
Saturday 28 October
Saturday 4 November
Group 9
Saturday 21 October
Gino Kinnear’s Torino did Italian rivals Stephen Beddows’ Milan a huge favour by holding group leaders Anderlecht on Saturday night. The draw sets up next week’s game between second and first all the more significant.
Torino’s point pretty much sees them through to the next stages, too, along with Monchegladbach.
Upcoming fixtures:
Saturday 28 October
Saturday 4 November
Group 10
Saturday 21 October
Feyenoord’s win at Fenerbahce could prove crucial in the final reckoning for the last qualifying place in Group 10. A win at bottom team Atalanta next week would almost certainly put them through.
Upcoming fixtures:
Saturday 28 October
Saturday 4 November
Top 100 
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