Youth League: Bayer 04 Qualify for the Semifinals and Take a Step Towards the Trophy

Bayer 04 Leverkusen's youth team has taken a significant step towards lifting the UEFA Youth League trophy after securing a place in the semi-finals of this season's competition.

The young Werkself recorded an impressive 3-1 victory over SL Benfica at the BayArena on Wednesday to seal their progression to the last four.

In a match that was closely fought throughout, it was Bayer 04 who took the lead through a stunning free-kick from Iker Bravo in the 35th minute.

Benfica equalized just before half-time through Henrique Araújo, but Bayer 04 regained their lead in the second half thanks to a close-range finish from Emrehan Gedikli in the 52nd minute.

Gedikli then turned provider for Bayer 04's third goal, setting up Ayman Aourir for a tap-in to make it 3-1 in the 78th minute.

Bayer 04 held on to their lead in the closing stages to secure their place in the semi-finals, where they will face either Real Madrid or FC Salzburg.

The victory was a testament to the hard work and dedication of Bayer 04's youth players, who have consistently performed at a high level throughout this season's UEFA Youth League campaign.

The young Werkself have now won four of their five matches in the competition, scoring 10 goals and conceding just 4.

They will be hoping to continue their impressive run in the semi-finals and reach the final of the UEFA Youth League for the first time in their history.

The semi-finals of the UEFA Youth League will be played on April 25th and 26th, with the final taking place on April 29th.

Bayer 04 will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of their senior team, who won the UEFA Europa League in 2020.