Borussia's U19s will kick-off their UEFA Youth League campaign in the group stages against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday at 16:00 CET at Stade Georges Lefèvre, having made a perfect start to in Bundesliga, securing five wins with an aggregate scoreline of 18-1.

"It could hardly be more difficult for us. This group is a big challenge, but we do not need to shy away from it either. No one will like playing against us," said coach Mike Tullberg about BVB's ambitious opponents PSG, AC Milan and Newcastle United.

BVB are going back into the competition as outsiders. "Just like the last two years, when no one had expected us to make it through the winter in this competition," said Tullberg, recalling the exploits of his young charges in recent seasons. The BVB U19s have stormed into the quarter-finals of the première youth competition in Europe twice in a row and were extremely unfortunate to lose out in the quarter-finals against Atletico Madrid and Hajduk Split respectively. Last season, they had sensationally defeated hot favourites PSG in the round of 16 after a penalty shoot-out (5-4).

The clubs are likely to go into the rematch in the French metropolis in similar roles. "PSG are an exceptional team at under-19 level," said Mike Tullberg, who emphasised the "individual class" of the opposition, whose squad is packed with international talent, such as midfielder Ethan Mbappé, brother of superstar Kylian Mbappé, defender Serif Nhaga and striker Ilyes Housni, who often join the first team for training sessions. PSG currently lie second in the French Championnat National. At the weekend, they lost the big match against new leaders Le Havre 2-0, but they did rest some key players with a view to the midweek UEFA Youth League match.

A thin squad in November

"We are heading to Paris without much pressure, but we will not be going there having already accepted defeat. We also have quality and will show it on the pitch," said Tullberg.

Nevertheless, he realises his team are facing a Herculean task in the group stage: "We need to look from game to game and want to take as many points as possible. But in November, we will probably be missing six players who will have been called up to the U17 World Cup in Indonesia." In Paris, however, he still has the full squad at his disposal. 

Players such as Hendry Blank, Filippo Mane, Julian Rijkhoff, Paris Brunner, Rafael Lubach and Samuel Bamba, who were in the side for that round of 16 match against PSG last season, know first-hand how to cause this exceptional team problems. "We will come up with something again this time, play bravely and be an uncomfortable opponent," promised Mike Tullberg. 

BVB fans are unfortunately not allowed to attend the match at the stadium. The match will be shown live on DAZN. (wiwi)