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While the Chelsea first team got Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League today (a reunion with David Luiz sounds fun!), the under-19 squad was finding out how they'd fare in their own version of Europe's premier footballing tournament. Having finished top of their group thanks to some thrilling performances, the young Blues are faced with the prospect of competing against the rest of the continent's best academies.
First up: Zenit St. Petersburg.
Our Under-19 side will play Zenit St Petersburg in the last 16 of the UEFA Youth League. The game is one leg and we will be at home. #CFCU19
— Chelsea FC (@chelseafc) December 15, 2014
Should we defeat Zenit we will play either Atletico Madrid or Arsenal in the #UYL quarter-final, that game also at home. #CFCU19
— Chelsea FC (@chelseafc) December 15, 2014
I can't admit to knowing much about the Zenit academy other than that they were good enough to get here, but they have to travel to London and we don't have to all the way to Moscow, so the 'home' part of this draw sounds favourable to me. And if we beat them? Another home draw, this time between a familiar face and a not-so-familiar one. Should we end up playing against Atletico Madrid, I'd keep an eye on their striker. You know how they tend to be ...