Prior to taking on Atletico Madrid at SIGNAL IDUNA PARK in the UEFA Youth League quarter-finals on Wednesday, Borussia's U19s must first navigate a big challenge: Mike Tullberg's ambitious team will take on SC Freiburg at Dreisamstadion in the semi-finals of the DFB-Pokal on Saturday (12/03 at 11:00 CET, live on DFB TV).

"We want to make history in this competition too and become the first BVB U19 team to win the title," said Mike Tullberg, as he laid out his ambition to achieve maximum success. A positive corona test does mean the head coach cannot be with his players on site, however. His role in the dugout will be assumed by long-term assistant Daniel Rios. "I have full confidence in my representatives and will also be in contact with them during the match," said Tullberg, who has tuned in to training and team meetings by video link over the past few days. 

SC Freiburg are the record DFB-Pokal winners and have knocked out Energie Cottbus, SV Wehen Wiesbaden and Rasenballsport Leipzig on their run to the semi-finals. BVB, meanwhile, have beaten Viktoria Berlin, FC Carl Zeiss Jena and Hannover 96. The DFB-Pokal final will be played at the Karl-Liebknecht-Stadion in Potsdam on Friday 20 May. "We've pushed Atletico to the back of our minds and are fully focused on the match in Freiburg," assured Mike Tullberg. There are still question marks hanging over the availability of several injured players.

Elsewhere, Borussia's U17s will face SG Unterrath in the Bundesliga on Sunday (11:00 CET). Borussia Mönchengladbach's recent slip-up has reignited Sebastian Geppert's charges' hopes of qualifying for the Final Round of the German Championship. Jaden Korzynietz (injured) and Kjell Wätjen (suspension) will miss out. (wiwi)

Detailed reports to follow on the youth websites