A night to forget last Saturday, as EIGHT managers forfeited the three points and had a 0-3 defeat recorded against their team for fielding ineligible players, or failing to arrange their fixtures.
Just a gentle reminder that all fixtures can be found on FixtureList.com (search for Top 100) and here on the blog :
- Groups A. B and C: https://smtop100.blogspot.co.uk/p/youth-cup_13.html
- Groups D, E and F: https://smtop100.blogspot.co.uk/p/youth-cup-groups-d-e-f.html
- Groups G, H and I: https://smtop100.blogspot.co.uk/p/youyh-cup-groups.html
The competition rules and player eligibility criteria are here, too: https://smtop100.blogspot.co.uk/p/youth-cup-shield-spoon-season-7.html
Lastly, the Group Tables are updated in FixtureList.com (as above) every Sunday, and here on the blog a bit later: https://smtop100.blogspot.co.uk/p/youth-cup-group-tables_28.html
Group A
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Benfica recorded their first win in this season’s competition with a convincing victory in Genoa. Those precious three points, and Barcelona’s stunning defeat at the hands of Juventus, lifts the Portuguese side off the bottom, plonking the Spanish giants there in their place.
The Turin club’s victory lifts them into second place, as Manchester United failed to stop Bayern’s 100% start to the defence of their title.
Group B
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Dortmund followed Bayern’s suit by thrashing Arsenal at the Emirates. Four goals form Kasper Dolberg, and four assists from Nikola Vlasic ensured the German club retain their 100% record in Group B.
With just three points between second and sixth place, the fight for the two remaining Youth Cup knockout stage qualifying places sees Atletico leapfrog Verona, while Youth Cup Founder and Honorary Life President Sir Stephen Beddows is busy planning for his retirement by not selecting his team, gifting Chelsea their first three points this season.
Group C
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Independiente were extremely unfortunate not to record their first victory in this season’s competition after it emerged post-match that one of their loan players was, in fact, 41 and not 21.
Hoffenheim were similarly unlucky playing the same overage player two weeks running. “he looks about 12!” said Hoff boss Salgado. Their defeat handed a fifth successive victory to Leverkusen.
All three off Marseille’s victories have come about as the result of their opponents playing overage players, and thanks to those 3-0 wins they stay in second place ahead of Flamengo on goal difference.
Group D
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Milan kept up the pressure on Villa at the top of Group D with victory over third-placed Everton.
Napoli cemented their place in the Shield qualifying places with a win over bottom team Roma, while Stoke’s Potters were smashed by the Villains.
Group E
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In the Group of Death, leaders Sporting failed to win but hold on to top spot thanks to Espanyol’s victory over Sevilla. Newcastle’s win against Manchester City means that just two points separate first from fourth and the Cup, Shield and Spoon qualifying places.
Group F
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Group F was a bit of a washout with both top clubs Basel and Anderlecht failing to select eligible players. Basel boss Chopper Harris got the chop immediately afterwards to be replaced by uno Sr. C. Caniggia.
Swansea meanwhile celebrated their first point in front of their fans at the Liberty Stadium.
Group G
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Fiorentina beat Augsburg to put themselves back in with a chance of qualifying for the Shield knockout stage. Berlin knocked Shakhtar of the top with an impressive win in Donetsk, while Inter disposed of sorry Spurs to move into first place.
Tottenham are now the only team in this season’s competition yet to win a point.
Group H
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Like Group F, mangers, fans and viewrs at home shrugged their shoulders and collectively sighed, ‘Huh!’ as Besiktas failed to turn up at all for their game against Brugge, while Udinese fielded their senior team in Bordeaux.
Unsurprisingly, both teams occupy the bottom two places in the group, and face outright disqualification from the competition. Lazio’s victory at leaders Villarreal means there is just one point separating the top four and the Cup, Shield and Spoon qualification places.
Group I
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Finally, In Group I, the Spoon Army celebrated an amazing victory in Cologne after twice being behind in the game. That sees their team move into second place in the group, ahead on goals scored over third placed Leicester, who won at Crystal Palace.
Bottom club Lokomotiv gifted three points to leaders Celta Vigo by playing their senior team.
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