PRIMAVERA, EVERYTHING ABOUT THE NEW YOUTH LEAGUE

The big news ahead of this season of the European Cup football doesn't just concern the three main competitions: Champions, Europa and Conference Leagues. The UEFA Youth League has also been adapted. It is a competition where the Rossoneri have done quite well in the last two seasons: AC Milan was the only squad to secure qualification to the Final Four in 2023 and 2024, and after the final in the last tournament, it's clear to see why the Rossoneri are one of the most respected teams in the competition. 

Starting this season, the UEFA Youth League is keeping the division between the National Champion route and the Champions League route, but the latter, which includes Guidi's Rossoneri, has several new changes. Just like the "adult" competition, the Youth League will have a league table-like initial phase: six matches (not eight) with the same opposition and dates. That means, our Primavera will face Liverpool, Brugge, and Crzvena Zvezda at the PUMA House of Football; Bayer Leverkusen, Real Madrid and Slovan Bratislava away. 

In December, after the six matches of the league phase, the standings of the 36 teams will be calculated. Only the top 22 will continue their European season, joining up with the 10 sides who qualified through the National Champions path - the list of contenders includes Italian champion Sassuolo and Youth League defending champion Olympiacos. 32 teams, therefore, in a knock-out stage bracket (single elimination matches) until the Final Four at the end of April. 

The draw for the last 16 will go ahead as planned, but the draw for the last 32 has partially been set. The six best teams from the league phase will face those who placed 17th to 22nd. Those finishing 7th to 16th, however, will be drawn against sides from the national champions route. Just like in the Champions League, every result and every goal could be crucial in determining the European journey of the teams participating. 

Here is the fixture list for Milan Primavera in the league phase of the UEFA Youth League:

• Matchday 1, Tuesday 17 September 14:30 CEST: AC Milan v Liverpool 
• Matchday 2, Tuesday 1 October 14:00 CEST: Bayer Leverkusen v AC Milan 
• Matchday 3, Tuesday 22 October 14:00 CEST: AC Milan v Club Brugge 
• Matchday 4, Tuesday 5 November 16:00 CEST: Real Madrid v AC Milan 
• Matchday 5, Tuesday 26 November 13:00 CEST: Slovan Bratislava v AC Milan 
• Matchday 6, Wednesday 11 December 14:30 CEST: AC Milan v Crvena Zvezda

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