Three ÖFB teams take part

Thanks to Salzburg! Rapid celebrates Youth League premiere

Austria is not only represented by two clubs in the Champions League for the first time this season. Salzburg's entry into the new league phase of the premier class also means that three ÖFB teams are playing in the UEFA Youth League for the first time. 

Because Salzburg, like Sturm Graz, is now allowed to compete in the league stage of the U19 European Cup, Rapid's youngsters have been given the Bulls' place in the Champions League. The Hütteldorfer are thus represented in the Youth League, which was introduced in 2013, for the first time.

"This is a great competition for us," said Rapids head coach Robert Klauß. In Austria, thanks to the second teams in the 2nd division (FC Liefering, Sturm II, Rapid II), many of the players eligible for the Youth League already have experience in adult soccer. "If we manage that well, we have an extremely large number of good players who can play in this team," said Klauß. However, it remains to be seen who will be in charge of Rapid's U19s in the European Cup.