Borussia's U19s will start the A-Junior Bundesliga West's brief spring round with an away game against RW Oberhausen at Niederrheinstadion on Sunday (19/02, 11:00 CET). "We're up against a highly unpleasant opponent. It's not going to be an easy game," warned coach Mike Tullberg, who started his coaching career with Oberhausen's U19s in 2014.

Borussia consistently produced satisfactory to good performances in their friendly fixtures and most recently drew 2-2 with the senior team of Regionalliga outfit SV Wiedenbrück. Tullberg said: "The lads have fully pitched in and trained intensively throughout the entire preparation period. We have slightly altered and improved our game, but we need to be more consistent and purposeful with our finishing." The most recent away games in Bochum and Düsseldorf ended goalless. "That should not happen to us in Oberhausen," Tullberg said.

With four rounds of matches remaining this season, BVB and 1. FC Cologne share pole position with 27 points and the same goal difference (+17). FC Schalke 04 are hot on their heels with 25 points. The western champions and the runner-up in the final table will qualify for the Final Round of the German Championship. "That's our objective and that's why we need to win the match against Oberhausen if possible," said Mike Tullberg. Schalke will be in action in Bochum, while 1. FC Cologne are away to MSV Duisburg.

RW Oberhausen have picked up all 11 of their points on the road and are waiting for their first triumph at Stadion Niederrhein. Nonetheless, coach Markus Kaya is confident: "We've shown that we can compete against top teams." His charges went into the winter back on the back of a surprising 2-1 away win against 1. FC Cologne and a 1-1 draw with VfL Bochum. Mike Tullberg said: "They play with long balls and are very dangerous from set-pieces. We need to be alert."

Table-topping clash with Cologne on Friday

Due to the UEFA Youth League round of 16 tie against Paris Saint-Germain, which will take place at the training ground in Brackel on Tuesday 28 February (16:00 CET), the table-topping Bundesliga clash with 1. FC Cologne has been moved forward to Friday 24 February (16:00 CET). It marks the start of a "challenging week of home games" (Academy Director Lars Ricken) with matches against Cologne, PSG and Borussia Mönchengladbach (Saturday 4 March). BVB will round off the Bundesliga campaign away to Bayer Leverkusen on 11 March. 

(wiwi)