Borussia’s U19s have cemented their hold on top spot in the A-Junior Bundesliga West with a clear 6-1 win over Mönchengladbach. The team need one more point in Leverkusen next Saturday in order to book a place in the Final Round of the German Championship.

There were no slip-ups from BVB’s challengers either. 1. FC Cologne, who are still to face relegated Hilden, beat Leverkusen 2-1 in the derby and Schalke 04, who will visit Borussia Mönchengladbach on the final matchday, ran out 3-0 winners against RW Oberhausen. “We now have a normal week of preparation and want to take the final step in Leverkusen,” explained coach Mike Tullberg.

He reacted quickly to his team’s slightly ponderous start and changed the formation, which had worked so well against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Youth League, around the 20th minute. “We didn’t implement what we had set out to do and were too passive,” analysed Tullberg. The visitors, who were unbeaten in the league since the end of October, frustrated the Black & Yellows with their brave forays forward. At the other end, Paris Brunner spurned two well-worked chances. 

Following the system change to a 4-2-3-1, Brunner moved over to the left flank, Julian Rijkhoff returned to the role of lone frontman and Samuel Bamba attacked down the right flank. “We played some great football after that, everyone completely pitched in,” said a delighted Tullberg of the spectacular performance from his team, who were without their captain Nnamdi Collins following his call-up for the U23 squad. He was replaced by Abdoulaye Kamara, who was serving a suspension in the 3. Liga and provided stability in the central defensive midfield role. Jaden Korzynietz and Michel Ludwig were rotated into the starting XI along with goalie Marian Kirsch.

Julian Rijkhoff: Three goals, one assist

Julian Rijkhoff established himself as Man of the Match. The forward scored three times and set up the goal to make it 2-0 with a clever ball to Michel Ludwig (35th minute). Rijkhoff had opened the floodgates on the half-hour mark with a clinically converted penalty kick, after he had been brought down by Gladbach goalkeeper Tiago Pereira Cardoso. Tony Reitz scored from the spot for the visitors to make it 2-1 shortly before the break.

The Black & Yellows did not allow themselves to be knocked off their stride and hit back immediately after the restart with Rijkhoff’s goal for 3-1. The fourth goal came when Gladbach’s Dimitrie Daumi Nappi turned Rafael Lubach’s cross into his own net, with Rikjhoff then making it 5-1 and substitute Vincenzo Onofrietti rounding off the scoring. “The team deserve a big compliment. The fact that they produced a performance like this four days after the win against PSG deserves respect,” summarised Mike Tullberg. 

In this form, they should advance to the Final Round of the Championship. As western champions, they would face a semi-final meeting with Hertha BSC; as runners-up, they would meet the winner of the Bundesliga Süd/Südwest (Mainz 05, 1. FC Nuremberg or Karlsruher SC) .

BVB: Kirsch – Cisse, Mane, Blank, Korzynietz – Kamara (Onofrietti, 83), Walz – Bamba (Campbell, 65), Ludwig (Lubach, 54), Brunner (Simic, 83) – Rijkhoff.

(wiwi)