Youth League sides to shine on big stage
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
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Seven of the eight play-off-ties will be held at first-team venues, including Celtic-Valencia at the 60,832-capacity Celtic Park – the biggest stadium to stage a UEFA Youth League game.
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When Celtic and Valencia contest their play-off tie on 10 February (18.00CET kick-off) they will create a significant piece of competition history – by playing in the biggest stadium to have hosted a UEFA Youth League fixture.
The sides will meet at the Glasgow club's 60,832-capacity Celtic Park aiming to reach the last 16. The choice of venue means it is possible that the record attendance for a UEFA Youth League game – 13,162 for Anderlecht against Porto at Constant Vanden Stock in the 2014/15 quarter-finals – could be broken.
Of the eight play-off encounters, seven will be held at the home club's first-team ground, giving the teenagers in both squads what could be their maiden experience of performing in a big arena. Speaking to the Celtic website about this, captain Fiacre Kelleher said: "This will be my first time – I can't wait. I hope there's a good crowd there because that could really add to it."
