It is still far too early to determine exactly where the team stands. But the first serious test of the pre-season should help make things clearer: this weekend, the Black & Yellow U19s will make the trip to Schwäbisch Hall to take part in the traditional Bundesliga Cup, where they will face Werder Bremen (Friday), TSG Hoffenheim and 1. FC Nuremberg (Saturday) in the group phase. The other group is made up of VfB Stuttgart, Schalke 04, Hertha BSC Berlin and Sportfreunde Schwäbisch Hall.

The squad already travelled through to Baden-Württemberg on Wednesday. Coach Michael Skibbe is planning on making the most of the short training camp immediately before the tournament to help build a sense of team spirit within the squad. The list of absentees is made up of Immanuel Pherai and Giuseppe Reymna, who both joined the first team squad for their tour of the USA, as well as the injured Alaa Bakir, Mert Akbulut, Kamal Bafounta and Luca Unbehaun.  (wiwi)

Full German language report on the academy website