Borussia's Junior Bundesliga teams kicked off the weekend with two convincing victories: the U19s kept up their perfect run of results in the A-Junior Bundesliga West and claimed a 2-0 triumph away to Arminia Bielefeld, while the U17s continued to build momentum in the B-Junior Bundesliga and laid on a footballing masterclass to run out 9-0 winners over Viktoria Köln.

The U19s struggled in their new tactical set-up with a back three – regular left-back Almugera Kabar was out injured – to begin with. "The team played with the handbrake on in the first half," analysed coach Mike Tullberg, who switched to a back four with Danylo Krevsun playing in what was for him an unfamiliar defensive wide role with around half an hour played. Nonetheless, the Black & Yellows took the lead in the 45th minute following a brilliant solo run from Kjell Wätjen.

The half-time team talk from the coaching staff made an impact. "It was about better body language, about counter-pressing, intensity and tackling," explained Tullberg. The consequence was a significantly improved performance in the second period. BVB spurned a series of clear chances and only made it 2-0 via substitute Raul König in stoppage time. "I was especially delighted for him because he has put in a lot of extra sessions in the last few weeks in order to improve and reach a higher level. He is on a really good path," commented Tullberg.

The coach is certainly satisfied with the results to date: "We've won the first five matches and top the table by three points ahead of Leverkusen. That's a positive development." And it bodes well ahead of the UEFA Youth League opening game in Paris against group favourites Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.

U19s: Lisewski – Korzynietz, Posadas (Rashidi, 86), Mane, Krevsun – Campbell, Lubach, Wätjen, Herrmann (Onofrietti, 75) – Rijkhoff (Ubani, 86), Brunner (König, 74)

Marco Lehmann's team climbs up to second place

Meanwhile, Borussia's U17s have climbed up to second place in the table until tomorrow at least. One point separates them from league leaders Schalke 04, who were held to a 1-1 draw in the top match against Paderborn, following the 9-0 win against Viktoria Köln. The visitors from Cologne, who had started the season with two victories and a draw, were forced to acknowledge the clear superiority of the opposition early on. BVB played a flawless game, did not let up despite taking a clear lead, created spectacular goals and made a clear statement once again.

Diego Ngambi Dzonga found the net three times to take his goal tally for the season to 10 already. There was also a hat-trick for Nick Cherny, while Joshua Burstedde contributed two goals and Oliwer Blaszczyk rounded off the scoring in the 80th minute. "That was really good against an opponent that can be very unpleasant," said Marco Lehmann in praise of his boys, before adding: "It was a convincing performance from the first minute to the last." He singled out the new-found defensive stability for special praise. "I'm especially delighted at the way that Nick Cherny and Fritz Fleck have developed. For them, no distance is too far and no fight is too much."

Marco Lehmann's team will travel away to Fortuna Düsseldorf next Saturday, before the crucial games away to VfL Bochum and at home to 1. FC Köln follow in the opening week of October.

U17s: Herdes – Cena (Wörsdörfer, 61), Meiser, Benkara, Driedger – Feddersen (Hoy, 71) – Degener. Feddersen (Hoy, 71), Fleck (Schwarz, 71), Burstedde (Ucar, 71) – Cherny, Ngmbia (Blaszczyk, 61)
(wiwi)