Youth League: Leverkusen and Brest Seal Quarter-Final Berths

Leverkusen Outplay Braga to Advance

Bayer Leverkusen's Under-19 team put in a dominant performance to secure a 3-0 victory over Braga in the UEFA Youth League Round of 16. The young Germans controlled the game from start to finish, creating numerous scoring chances.

Leverkusen took the lead in the 20th minute when Florian Wirtz converted a penalty after Braga defender Tomas Moura handled the ball in the area. The hosts doubled their advantage just before half-time when Karim Diaby tapped in from close range following a cross from Jeremie Frimpong.

Leverkusen continued to press forward in the second half and got their reward when Iker Bravo added a third goal in the 75th minute. The Spanish striker latched onto a pass from Wirtz and fired past Braga goalkeeper Joao Matas.

Brest Stun Barcelona to Reach Quarters

In a major upset, Stade Brestois' Under-19 team knocked out Barcelona 2-1 in the Youth League Round of 16. The French side produced a spirited performance to overcome the Spanish giants, who had won the competition in 2018 and 2019.

Brest took the lead in the 12th minute when Mathis Giron fired home from just inside the penalty area. Barcelona leveled the scores in the 35th minute through a penalty from Ansu Fati, but Brest regained the lead just before half-time when Franck Honorat scored.

The second half was a tense affair, with both teams pushing for a winner. However, Brest held on to secure a famous victory and a place in the quarter-finals.

Quarter-Final Draw

The draw for the Youth League quarter-finals will take place on Friday, March 13. Leverkusen will be seeded for the draw, while Brest will be unseeded.

The quarter-finals will be played on April 14 and 15. The semi-finals will be played on April 21 and 22, and the final will be played on April 28.