50,000 fans for UEFA Youth League game as Köln break attendance record

Köln set a new attendance record for UEFA Youth League despite a 3-1 defeat to Inter.

Köln smashed the attendance record for a UEFA Youth League game, with 50,000 fans at RheinEnergieStadion for the Round of 32 clash against Inter on Wednesday. The previous record was 40,368, which was set last season in Trabzonspor’s home win against Inter at the Papara Park.

The Italians progressed to the next stage this time around in a dramatic fashion. After a goalless first-half, Inter controlled proceedings after the break as they took the lead with an early goal.

Fynn Schenten’s sixth goal of the tournament put the hosts level ten minutes before time, but Inter broke the hearts of the mass crowd in the 96th minute. There was even time for one last attack for Köln, but Inter added a third goal after the goalkeeper left his box to join the attack for a corner-kick. However, the fans stayed on the pitch to congratulate the players for their efforts in a record-breaking encounter.

Eintracht Frankfurt will now be the only German team present in the Round of 16 of the UEFA Youth League. They knocked out Athletic Club with a penalty shootout win away from home when the Round of 32 started yesterday.

Bayer Leverkusen beat Villarreal 3-0 to reach the Champions League playoff stage last week, but it was the Spanish U19 team that sealed their place in the quarter-final of the Youth League when the two clubs met again earlier today.

Borussia Dortmund were also knocked out of the competition after a 4-0 defeat by the 2022-23 champions, AZ. Bayern Munich were surprisingly eliminated in the league phase stage. No German club has reached the final in the history of the competition for U19 teams.