Four days after their 2-1 win at Newcastle, the Borussia U19s face another tricky task: fourth-placed Fortuna Düsseldorf will be the visitors to the Brackel Youth Performance Centre in the A-Junior Bundesliga West on Sunday (11:00 CET).

“An unpleasant opponent who are especially strong in attack and against whom we will have to produce another good performance,” explained coach Mike Tullberg ahead of the match. His team are on track both in the Bundesliga and in the UEFA Youth League. At the halfway point of the group stage, AC Milan, BVB and Paris Saint-Germain occupy the top three spots with six points apiece. After their victory at Newcastle United, the Black & Yellows can build upon their good position in the return fixture against the English outfit on Tuesday 7 November (14:00 CET at the Youth Performance Centre). The race for top spot in the group and second place, which secure automatic qualification for the last 16 and a play-off place respectively, is likely to go down to the wire.

BVB will then play host to Paris Saint-Germain in mid-December. “We have shown that we have nothing to fear in this tough group and are happy to have played three good games,” emphasised Tullberg. He does not want to speak about the table constellation, but is not hiding his desire “to make it nine games again in this great competition like in the past two years”. The new-look U19s are on the right track to achieving this after passing another test of their maturity at Newcastle’s Gateshead International Stadium.

“The coaching team can come up with the best match plan. But if the players are not able to implement it, it doesn’t work. Our boys did that wonderfully again in Newcastle, produced a footballing highlight in the first half and later, once their energy was dwindling, defended with heart and passion,” said Tullberg, who did not hold back on the compliments. Every player will benefit from these intense matches on the international stage, according to Tullberg: “It’s first and foremost a case of training.” He cites Hendry Blank – who was part of the first-team squad for a competitive match for the first time in Newcastle following his 60-minute appearance for the U19s earlier in the day – as a shining example: “This is a great story for the Youth Performance Centre and for everyone at BVB. Hendry has earned this through his diligence, ambition and willingness to learn.”

After a day of regeneration, the short preparation period for the clash with Fortuna now begins. “We want to stay unbeaten in the Bundesliga,” said Tullberg – in the knowledge that the team will have to go to their limit again. Düsseldorf have put together a run after their bumpy start, winning against Borussia Mönchengladbach (2-1), Wuppertal (6-0), Viktoria Köln (3-2) and Alemannia Aachen (4-1). In terms of personnel, there will be few changes to the BVB squad that faced Bochum. Filippo Mane, who sustained an injury in Newcastle, is still doubtful.

U17 striker Ngambia set for lengthy absence

Borussia’s U17s, who have been so successful of late, will face a top team in Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday (11:00 CET). Coach Marco Lehmann will be without his goal-getter Diego Ngambia Dzonga (12 goals so far), who is suffering from a pubic bone inflammation, until further notice. Forward Jonas Markötter is also unavailable after a meniscus op. “Gladbach are a very strong footballing opponent and they have their best squad at their disposal for the first time this season. It will be a tough task,” explained Lehmann, who is still sweating over the involvement of Joshua Burstedde and Mussa Kaba. (wiwi)