2016–17 UEFA Youth League explained

Tourney Name:	UEFA Youth League
Year:	2016–17
Size:	275
Num Teams:	64
Associations:	40
Champion Other:	Red Bull Salzburg
Count:	1
Second Other:	Benfica
Matches:	167
Goals:	550
Top Scorer:	Jordi Mboula Kaj Sierhuis
Prevseason:	2015–16
Nextseason:	2017–18

The 2016–17 UEFA Youth League was the fourth season of the UEFA Youth League, a European youth club football competition organised by UEFA.

Chelsea were the title holders after winning the previous two editions. However, since the UEFA Youth League title holders were not given an automatic qualifying place, and both the Chelsea senior team failed to qualify for the 2016–17 UEFA Champions League and the Chelsea academy team failed to win the 2015–16 Professional U18 Development League 1, they did not qualify for this tournament to defend their title.^[1]

Red Bull Salzburg won their first title after defeating Benfica 2–1 in the final. This was the first occasion that the winner (or a finalist) had come through the Domestic Champions Path of the competition and as of 2022 the only season not to won by a side whom previously have won a European trophy.

Teams

A total of 64 teams from 40 of the 55 UEFA member associations entered the tournament, with Macedonia, Republic of Ireland and Montenegro entering for the first time.^[2] They were split into two sections:^[3]

• The youth teams of the 32 clubs which qualified for the 2016–17 UEFA Champions League group stage entered the UEFA Champions League Path.
• The youth domestic champions of the top 32 associations according to their 2015 UEFA country coefficients entered the Domestic Champions Path. Associations without a youth domestic champion as well as domestic champions already included in the UEFA Champions League path were replaced by the next association in the UEFA ranking.^{[4] [5]}

Rank	Association	Teams
		UEFA Champions League Path	Domestic Champions Path
1	Spain	Barcelona Real Madrid Atlético Madrid Sevilla	Málaga ^[6]
2	England	Leicester City Arsenal Tottenham Hotspur Manchester City ^[7]
3	Germany	Bayern Munich Borussia Dortmund ^[8] Bayer Leverkusen Borussia Mönchengladbach
4	Italy	Juventus Napoli	Roma ^[9]
5	Portugal	Benfica Sporting CP Porto ^[10]
6	France	Paris Saint-Germain ^[11] Lyon Monaco
7	Russia	CSKA Moscow Rostov	Dynamo Moscow ^[12]
8	Ukraine	Dynamo Kyiv ^[13]
9	Netherlands	PSV Eindhoven	Ajax ^[14]
10	Belgium	Club Brugge	Anderlecht ^[15]
11	Switzerland	Basel	Zürich ^[16]
12	Turkey	Beşiktaş	Altınordu ^[17]
13	Greece		PAOK ^[18]
14	Czech Republic		Sparta Prague ^[19]
15	Romania		Viitorul Constanța ^[20]
16	Austria		Red Bull Salzburg ^[21]
17	Croatia	Dinamo Zagreb ^[22]
18	Cyprus		APOEL ^[23]
19	Poland	Legia Warsaw ^[24]
20	Israel		Maccabi Haifa ^[25]
21	Belarus		Shakhtyor Soligorsk ^[26]
22	Denmark	Copenhagen	Midtjylland ^[27]
23	Scotland	Celtic ^[28]
24	Sweden		AIK ^[29]
25	Bulgaria	Ludogorets Razgrad
26	Norway		Rosenborg ^[30]
27	Serbia		Čukarički ^[31]
28	Slovenia		Domžale ^[32]
29	Azerbaijan		Gabala ^[33]
30	Slovakia		Nitra ^[34]
31	Hungary		Puskás Akadémia ^[35]
32	Kazakhstan		Kairat ^[36]
33	Moldova		Sheriff Tiraspol ^[37]
34	Georgia		Dinamo Tbilisi ^[38]
35	Finland		HJK ^[39]
36	Iceland		Breiðablik ^[40]
37	Bosnia and Herzegovina		Zrinjski Mostar ^[41]
39	Macedonia		Vardar ^[42]
40	Republic of Ireland		Cork City ^[43] ^[44] ^[45]
41	Montenegro		Mladost Podgorica ^[46]
Associations which did not enter a team (no teams qualified for UEFA Champions League group stage, and association either not ranked high enough or no youth domestic competition)
38	Liechtenstein		No youth domestic competition
42	Albania
43	Luxembourg
44	Northern Ireland
45	Lithuania
46	Latvia
47	Malta
48	Estonia
49	Faroe Islands
50	Wales
51	Armenia
52	Andorra
53	San Marino
54	Gibraltar
55	Kosovo

Notes

Squads

Players had to be born on or after 1 January 1998, with a maximum of three players per team born between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 1997 are allowed.

Round and draw dates

The schedule of the competition is as follows (all draws are held at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, unless stated otherwise).^[3]

Phase	Round	Draw date	First leg	Second leg
UEFA Champions League Path Group stage	Matchday 1	25 August 2016 (Monaco)	13–14 September 2016
	Matchday 2		27–28 September 2016
	Matchday 3		18–19 October 2016
	Matchday 4		1–2 November 2016
	Matchday 5		22–23 November 2016
	Matchday 6		6–7 December 2016
Domestic Champions Path	First round	30 August 2016	28 September 2016	19 October 2016
	Second round		2 November 2016	23 November 2016
Knockout phase	Play-offs	12 December 2016	7–8 February 2017
	Round of 16	10 February 2017	21–22 February 2017
	Quarter-finals		7–8 March 2017
	Semi-finals		21 April 2017 at Colovray Stadium, Nyon
	Final		24 April 2017 at Colovray Stadium, Nyon

Notes

• For the UEFA Champions League Path group stage, in principle the teams play their matches on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, the same day as the corresponding senior teams in the UEFA Champions League; however, matches may also be played on other dates, including Mondays and Thursdays.
• For the Domestic Champions Path first and second rounds, in principle matches are played on Wednesdays; however, matches may also be played on other dates, including Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.
• For the play-offs, round of 16 and quarter-finals, in principle matches are played on Tuesdays and Wednesdays; however, matches may also be played on other dates, provided they are completed before the following dates:
  • Play-offs: 10 February 2017
  • Round of 16: 24 February 2017
  • Quarter-finals: 17 March 2017

UEFA Champions League Path

See main article: 2016–17 UEFA Youth League group stage.

For the UEFA Champions League Path, the 32 teams were drawn into eight groups of four. There was no separate draw held, with the group compositions identical to the draw for the 2016–17 UEFA Champions League group stage, which was held on 25 August 2016, 18:00 CEST, at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco.^{[47] [48]}

In each group, teams play against each other home-and-away in a round-robin format. The eight group winners advance to the round of 16, while the eight runners-up advance to the play-offs, where they are joined by the eight second round winners from the Domestic Champions Path. The matchdays are 13–14 September, 27–28 September, 18–19 October, 1–2 November, 22–23 November, and 6–7 December 2016.

Group H

Domestic Champions Path

See main article: 2016–17 UEFA Youth League Domestic Champions Path.

For the Domestic Champions Path, the 32 teams were drawn into two rounds of two-legged home-and-away ties. The draw was held on 30 August 2016, 13:45 CEST, at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.^{[49] [50]} There were no seedings, but the 32 teams were split into four groups defined by sporting and geographical criteria prior to the draw.^[51]

The eight second round winners advance to the play-offs, where they are joined by the eight group runners-up from the UEFA Champions League Path. If the aggregate scores are level after full-time of the second leg, the away goals rule is used to decide the winner. If still tied, the match is decided by a penalty shoot-out (no extra time is played).^[3]

First round

The first legs were played on 21, 27, 28, 29 September and 5 October, and the second legs were played on 19 October 2016.

Second round

The first legs were played on 2, 9 and 16 November, and the second legs were played on 22, 23 and 30 November 2016.

Play-offs

See main article: 2016–17 UEFA Youth League play-offs.

For the play-offs, the 16 teams were drawn into eight ties played over one match. The draw was held on 12 December 2016, 14:00 CET, at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.^{[52] [53]} The eight second round winners from the Domestic Champions Path were drawn against the eight group runners-up from the UEFA Champions League Path, with the teams from the Domestic Champions Path hosting the match. Teams from the same association could not be drawn against each other.

The eight play-off winners advance to the round of 16, where they are joined by the eight group winners from the UEFA Champions League Path. If the scores are level after full-time, the match is decided by a penalty shoot-out (no extra time is played).^[3] The play-offs were played on 7 and 8 February 2017.

Knockout phase

See main article: 2016–17 UEFA Youth League knockout phase.

For the knockout phase (round of 16 onwards), the 16 teams were drawn into a single-elimination tournament, with all ties played over one match. The draw was held on 10 February 2017, 13:00 CET, at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland.^{[54] [55]} The mechanism of the draws for each round is as follows:

• In the draw for the round of 16, the eight group winners from the UEFA Champions League Path were drawn against the eight play-off winners. Teams from the same UEFA Champions League Path group could not be drawn against each other, but teams from the same association could be drawn against each other. The draw also decided the home team for each round of 16 match.
• In the draws for the quarter-finals onwards, there were no seedings, and teams from the same UEFA Champions League Path group or the same association could be drawn against each other. The draws also decided the home team for each quarter-final, and the "home" team for administrative purposes for each semi-final and final (which were played at a neutral venue).

If the scores were level after full-time, the match was decided by a penalty shoot-out (no extra time was played).^[3]

Round of 16

The round of 16 matches were played on 21 and 22 February 2017.

Quarter-finals

The quarter-finals were played on 7 and 8 March 2017.

Semi-finals

The semi-finals were played on 21 April 2017 at Colovray Stadium, Nyon.^{[56] [57]}

Final

The final was played on 24 April 2017 at the Colovray Stadium in Nyon, Switzerland.^{[56] [57]}

Statistics

Top goalscorers

Rank	Player	Team	Goals	Minutes played
1	Jordi Mboula	Barcelona	8	503
	Kaj Sierhuis	Ajax		616
3	Rui Pedro	Porto	7	525
	Hannes Wolf	Red Bull Salzburg		590
	Mërgim Berisha	Red Bull Salzburg		630
6	Fatih Aktay	Altınordu	6	442
	Bogdan Lednev	Dynamo Kyiv		609
	Irvin Cardona	Monaco		618
	Timur Zhamaletdinov	CSKA Moscow		720
	João Félix	Benfica		807

Top assists

Rank	Player	Team	Assists	Minutes played
1	Xaver Schlager	Red Bull Salzburg	5	417
	Justin Kluivert	Ajax		540
	Nicklas Røjkjær	Copenhagen		603
	Sergio Díaz	Real Madrid		641
5	Ba-Muaka Simakala	Borussia Mönchengladbach	4	540
	Hannes Wolf	Red Bull Salzburg		590
	Mërgim Berisha	Red Bull Salzburg		630
	Moussa Sylla	Monaco		720

External links

• 2016–17 UEFA Youth League

Notes and References

1. Web site: UEFA Youth League: Guide to the new season. UEFA.com . Union of European Football Associations. 23 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160824140622/http://www.uefa.com/uefayouthleague/news/newsid=2398057.html. 24 August 2016. dead.
2. Web site: UEFA Youth League entrants confirmed. UEFA.com . Union of European Football Associations. 25 August 2016.
3. Web site: Regulations of the UEFA Youth League 2016/17. UEFA.com . Union of European Football Associations. 4 March 2016.
4. Web site: Country coefficients 2014/15. UEFA.com . Union of European Football Associations.
5. Web site: UEFA Country Ranking 2015. Bert Kassies.
6. Web site: El Málaga CF conquista su segunda Copa de Campeones Juvenil. Málaga CF. 7 May 2016.
7. Web site: Everton 4 City 4. Manchester City. 4 May 2016.
8. Web site: 5:3 – BVB U19 gewinnt die Deutsche Meisterschaft!. Borussia Dortmund. 29 May 2016.
9. Web site: Gallery: Primavera crowned Italian champions. AS Roma. 5 June 2016.
10. Web site: Sub-19 vencem e são bicampeões nacionais. FC Porto. 4 June 2016.
11. Web site: Princes of France. Paris Saint-Germain. 5 June 2016.
12. Web site: Динамо - в Юношеской лиге УЕФА 2016/17. Dynamo Moscow Website. 24 November 2015.
13. Web site: "Динамо" Киев – чемпион Украины среди команд U-19!. FC Dynamo Kyiv. 22 May 2016.
14. Web site: Wel zege Ajax A1, (nog) geen titel. AFC Ajax. 7 May 2016.
15. Web site: OOK U17 KRONEN ZICH TOT KAMPIOEN. Anderlecht Youth Team Website. 30 April 2016. 1 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160506080811/http://youth.rsca.be/nl/pagearticle_nl.php?id=239. 6 May 2016. dead.
16. Web site: Die U18 ist Schweizer Meister!. FC Zürich. 19 June 2016.
17. Web site: 'Süper' Altınordu!... ntvspor.net. 3 June 2016.
18. Web site: πρωταθλήτρια ελλάδας η Κ17 του ΠΑΟΚ. PAOK FC. 14 May 2016.
19. Web site: Devět kol, dva měsíce…? Mistři už teď!. AC Sparta Praha. 13 April 2016. 16 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160519083002/http://www.sparta.cz/novinky/zpravodajstvi/mladez/devet-kol-dva-mesice-mistri-uz-ted-17260.html. 19 May 2016. dead. dmy-all.
20. Web site: FC Viitorul a câştigat prima ediţie a Ligii Elitelor U19, după ce a învins în finală pe FC Ardealul. Romanian Football Federation. 21 May 2016.
21. Web site: u18 verteidigt den titel in der ÖFB Jugendliga. Red Bull Salzburg. 4 June 2016. 2016-06-06. https://web.archive.org/web/20160828221832/http://www.redbullsalzburg.at/de/jungbullen/teams/aka18/news/saison_2015_16/u18-verteidigt-den-titel-in-der-oefb-jugendliga.html. 2016-08-28. dead.
22. Web site: JUNIORI DINAMA – PRVACI HRVATSKE!. GNK Dinamo Zagreb Academy. 29 May 2016. dead. https://archive.today/20160606175326/http://skola.gnkdinamo.hr/2016/05/29/juniori-dinama-prvaci-hrvatske/. 6 June 2016.
23. Web site: Πρωταθλητής ο ΑΠΟΕΛ U17!. SigmaLive. 5 March 2016.
24. Web site: Legia mistrzem Polski juniorów. 90minut.pl. 8 June 2016.
25. Web site: בפעם ה-13: מכבי חיפה אלופת המדינה לנוער. SPORT 5. 30 April 2016.
26. Web site: ЮНОШЕСКОЕ ПЕРВЕНСТВО. ФИНАЛ. ДИНАМО-МИНСК — ШАХТЕР — 0:0 (3:4 пен.). FC Shakhtyor Soligorsk. 10 July 2016. 10 July 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161005223742/http://www.fcshakhter.by/novosti/2409-yunosheskoe-pervenstvo-final-dinamo-minsk-shakhter-0-0-3-4-pen.html. 5 October 2016. dead. dmy-all.
27. Web site: U19 ER DANSKE MESTRE – IGEN!. FC Midtjylland. 28 May 2016.
28. Web site: Aitchison fires in a hat-trick as Celtic U17s seal league title. Celtic FC. 29 May 2016.
29. Web site: AIK segrade i U17-derbyt. Swedish Football Association. 1 November 2015.
30. Web site: Første norgesmesterskapet for helga. RBKweb. 21 November 2015.
31. Web site: OMLADINCI PRVACI SRBIJE !!. FK Čukarički. 5 June 2016. 6 June 2016. 26 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180126185711/http://www.fkcukaricki.rs/reportaza/2016/06/omladinci-titula. dead.
32. Web site: Mladinci in kadeti državni prvaki Slovenije. NK Domžale. 22 May 2016.
33. Web site: "Qəbələ" U-19 Liqasının çempionu oldu. Gabala SC. 4 May 2016.
34. Web site: U19 zlatá už päť kôl pred skončením súťaže. FC Nitra. 2 May 2016. 5 May 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160815215906/http://www.fcnitra.eu/T%C3%8DMY/Juniori/tabid/361/ArticleID/5185/U19-zlat%C3%A1-u%C5%BE-p%C3%A4%C5%A5-k%C3%B4l-pred-skon%C4%8Den%C3%ADm-s%C3%BA%C5%A5a%C5%BEe.aspx. 15 August 2016. dead.
35. Web site: Bajnok lett az U19!. Puskás Akadémia FC. 11 June 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160825202658/http://www.puskasakademia.hu/hirek/2016/06/11/bajnok-lett-az-u19. 25 August 2016.
36. Web site: "Кайрат" - в Лиге Чемпионов!. FC Kairat. 23 October 2015. 19 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160427215323/http://fckairat.kz/academy/news/20974. 27 April 2016. dead.
37. Web site: "Шериф U-18" – чемпионы Молдовы. FC Sheriff Tiraspol. 24 May 2016.
38. Web site: ჭაბუკთა ლიგა: დინამო თბ - ტორპედო 4-1. Georgian Football Federation. 26 June 2016.
39. Web site: HJK B SUOMEN MESTARIKSI. HJK Youth Team Website. 12 September 2015.
40. Web site: Breiðablik Íslandsmeistari í 2. flokki karla. fotbolti.net. 9 September 2015.
41. Web site: Zrinjski ima naslov i u juniorskoj konkurenciji. bljesak.info. 4 June 2016.
42. Web site: Mладинците нови шампиони на Македонија. FK Vardar. 14 May 2016.
43. Web site: Cork City clinch SSE Airtricity U19 League title. Football Association of Ireland. 15 December 2015.
44. Web site: Cork City to become first Irish club to play in Uefa Youth League . www.the42.ie. 21 September 2016. 24 August 2016.
45. Web site: Cork City U-19s land place in UEFA Youth League. www.independent.ie. 21 September 2016. 26 August 2016.
46. Web site: Mladost šampion. dan.co.me. 28 May 2016.
47. Web site: UEFA Champions League path group stage draw. UEFA.com . Union of European Football Associations. 25 August 2016.
48. Web site: UEFA Youth League champions path groups. UEFA.com . Union of European Football Associations. 25 August 2016.
49. Web site: Domestic Champions path draw. UEFA.com . Union of European Football Associations. 30 August 2016.
50. Web site: Youth League: Domestic Champions path draw. UEFA.com . Union of European Football Associations. 30 August 2016.
51. Web site: UEFA Youth League knockout draw on Tuesday. UEFA.com . Union of European Football Associations. 29 August 2016.
52. Web site: UEFA Youth League play-off draw. UEFA.com . Union of European Football Associations. 12 December 2016.
53. Web site: UEFA Youth League play-off draw. UEFA.com . Union of European Football Associations. 12 December 2016.
54. Web site: UEFA Youth League knockout draw. UEFA.com . Union of European Football Associations. 10 February 2017.
55. Web site: Youth League draw: Dortmund to face Barcelona. UEFA.com . Union of European Football Associations. 10 February 2017.
56. Web site: Final tournament: Nyon 2017. UEFA.com . Union of European Football Associations.
57. Web site: 2017 UEFA Youth League final tournament programme. UEFA.com . Union of European Football Associations.