Athletic Club U21

Premier League International Cup

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Premier League

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Crystal Palace U21

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Crystal Palace Under-21s will face Athletic Club, AS Monaco, Feyenoord and SL Benfica in the 2023/24 Premier League International Cup. Here's everything you need to know.

All you need to know about the Premier League International Cup

### The Premier League International Cup

The Premier League International Cup pits 12 Category 1 sides from England against 12 of the best European sides in three separate groups of eight.

In each group, four English sides have been drawn against four European sides. The English sides will play the European sides once, and English teams will not play one another. All ties will be contested in England.

The top two teams from each group, along with two of the best third-place sides, will progress to the quarter-finals.

Palace are entering the tournament for the second time in their history, having [finished runners-up last season](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/academy/crystal-palace-u21-season-review-2223/).

They have been drawn in Group C and will face Athletic Club, Benfica, Feyenoord and Monaco. All of the Eagles’ group-stage games will be [held at Sutton United’s VBS Community Stadium](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/announcement/crystal-palace-under-21s-games-sutton-united-stadium/).

### AS Monaco

Hailing from one of the biggest and most successful clubs in French football, Palace will face a stern test against one of the most reputable Academies in France tonight.

Tickets are still available for this clash from just £2, [click HERE for more information](https://www.eticketing.co.uk/cpfc/EDP/Event/Index/200?position=1). A number of first-team players will also be involved, including new summer signing Matheus França, so head down to Sutton tonight!

Monaco's academy has produced global football superstars such as Kylian Mbappé, Thierry Henry, Lillian Thuram, Emmanuel Petit, and David Trezeguet.

AS Monaco Groupe Elite, as they are known, previously competed in the Championnat National 2 - the fourth tier of the French football pyramid. They were relegated at the end of 2021/22 and mostly play friendlies against various French and European sides. 

Monaco have been regulars in the Premier League International Cup since 2019/20 and also recorded a quarter-final finish in 2020. 

**One to watch: Edan Diop.** The 19-year-old midfielder made his first-team debut for Monaco in Ligue 1 last season and scored in April in a 4-3 win against RC Strasbourg.

#### Fixture details

- Tuesday, 24th October

- VBS Community Stadium

- Kick-off: 19:00 BST

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### Athletic Club

The first opponents for Darren Powell’s side were Athletic Club. The Spanish giants are famed for their policy of only utilising players born, or trained in, the Basque Country -  an autonomous region in the north of Spain and southwestern France.

This policy extends to the youth sides and has seen the club produce the likes of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Aymeric Laporte and Iñaki Williams.

Athletic Club B are in the Segunda Federación Group II, the fourth tier of Spanish football. They were recently relegated from the Primera Federación - Group II last season and are coached by former player Carlos Gurpegui. He came through the ranks at Basconia, an affiliate club which feeds directly into Athletic Club B.

They have previously competed in every iteration of the Premier League International Cup, apart from last season, though they have never made it beyond the quarter-finals.

**One to watch: Unai Gómez.** The 20-year-old recently made his first-team debut in La Liga in August and recently scored his first goal against Real Betis.

#### Fixture details

- Wednesday, 27th September 2023

- VBS Community Stadium

- Kick-off: 19:00 BST

- Full-time result: 1-1 - [read the report and watch the highlights](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/match-reports/crystal-palace-athletic-club-bilbao-premier-league-international-cup-2324/)

### SL Benfica

The most decorated club in Portuguese football, also known as ‘The Eagles', Benfica are not only one of the big three clubs in Portugal, but also one of the top 10 clubs in UEFA’s official rankings, participating in 43 seasons of European football, second only to Real Madrid.

Benfica’s Academy have produced a number of exceptional players throughout the years including the likes of Rui Costa, Ruében Dias and Nené.

They currently compete in the Liga Portugal 2, the second tier of Portuguese football. Last time out they registered a 15th-place finish.

The Portuguese Eagles have competed in all but one iteration of the Premier League International Cup, reaching the quarter-final on two occasions.

**One to watch: Maestro.** Though he has yet to make his professional debut, 19-year-old Maestro is already a full Angolan international.

#### Fixture details

- Wednesday, 6th December

- VBS Community Stadium

- Kick-off: 19:00 GMT

### Feyenoord

Palace’s final opponents in the group will be Feyenoord. The Dutch side won the Eredivisie last season and have historically enjoyed a strong presence of Academy graduates in their squad.

Some of the graduates from Feyenoord’s Academy over the years include Nathan Aké, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, Robin van Persie and Georginio Wijnaldum.

They currently compete in the Divisie 1 U21, the top division of youth football in the Netherlands.

The Dutch outfit have competed in four out of the seven iterations of the Premier League International Cup, though they have never progressed beyond the group stage.

**One to watch: Antoni Milambo.** The 18-year-old made his professional debut for Feyenoord at just 16 years of age, becoming the youngest ever player in the club’s history.

#### Fixture details

- Wednesday, 17th January 2024

- VBS Community Stadium

- Kick-off: 19:00 GMT

Crystal Palace Under-21s will continue their Premier League International Cup campaign against AS Monaco U21s tonight; here’s everything you need to know about them, the tournament and the rest of Palace’s group.

All you need to know about the PL International Cup

Crystal Palace U21 v Feyenoord U21 (2024-01-17)

Crystal Palace U21 v Benfica U21 (2023-12-06)

Crystal Palace U21 v Monaco U21 (2023-10-24)

Crystal Palace U21 v Athletic Club U21 (2023-09-27)

International Cup Highlights: Crystal Palace 1-1 Athletic Club

## Summary

- Akinwale came in as the only change for Palace

- Lopez tested Whitworth early on with a tame effort

- Grehan put in a last-ditch challenge to deny Gift 15 minutes in

- Palace struck the bar through Devenny a few minutes later

- Grehan heads Palace in front just before half-time

- Seconds before the break, Mustapha hits the bar for Palace

- **HT: Palace 1-0 Athletic**

- Akinwale was denied by the post early on in the second-half

- Duñabeitia equalises for the visitors in the 59th minute

- Umeh threatened as the game went on

- **FT:  Palace 1-1 Athletic**

Four days on from [the late defeat to Nottingham Forest](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/match-reports/nottingham-forest-crystal-palace-premier-league-2-2324/) in the Premier League 2, Crystal Palace Under-21s returned to action for their first game of the Premier League International Cup.

Head coach Darren Powell made one change to the side which faced Forest as Victor Akinwale came in for Ademola Ola-Adebomi, [who was with the first-team](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/first-team/who-is-ademola-ola-adebomi-crystal-palace-manchester-united-carabao-cup/). 

The visitors threatened early on through Inigio Lopez, though his effort from the edge of the box was tame and well held by Joe Whitworth in the Palace goal.

Athletic were in with a gilt-edged chance a quarter of an hour in as defender Chris Francis slipped, however captain and fellow centre-back partner Seán Grehan recovered in time to block Elijah Gift’s effort inside the box.

Palace came agonisingly close to taking the lead just a few minutes later after Justin Devenny hit the crossbar. Roshaun Mathurin’s free-kick in wasn’t dealt with, and it fell to the midfielder inside the box who struck it on the volley against the woodwork.

It looked as though Palace were going to go in level at the break, though the skipper had other ideas. A dangerous ball from a Mathurin corner towards the far post picked out Grehan who headed in his second of the season from close range, inside the six yard box, to give Palace the lead. 

A goal to the good, the Eagles looked to see out the half. They almost went in two goals up - a short free-kick routine picked out Hindolo Mustapha on the edge of the box and the midfielder’s first-time effort cannoned back out off the crossbar.

Palace came out after the break in search of a second and nearly claimed one early on in the half through another set piece. Another corner from Mathurin was aimed in at Grehan who headed back across goal towards Akinwale - Palace’s No. 9 flicked it on and saw his effort bounce off the post and into the ‘keeper's hands.

Athletic, looking for an equaliser, threatened early on in the second-half on a counter attack, however Noah Watson did brilliantly to track back and cut off Gift from creating a chance.

The Basque outfit did manage to find an equaliser and it came through a corner of their own. A whipped ball in from a corner picked out Aimar Duñabeitia in the box and the defender headed home the equaliser for the visitors.

With the game level pegging, the two sides were in search of what proved to be an elusive winner in the remaining half an hour. Franco Umeh was the focal point of the Palace attacks, though his two major chances were just wide of the mark and denied by Oier Gastesi in the Athletic goal.

The visitors best chance in the remaining half hour came through their striker Lopez, though Whitworth saved and held onto his effort on the counter. Late changes for Palace which introduced three Under-18s players into the U21s squad for the first time didn’t see them claim all three points.

A point apiece for both sides sees Athletic ahead of Palace by virtue of alphabetical ordering. The Basque side are second whilst the Eagles are third. Monaco top Group C after beating Liverpool.

**Palace:** Whitworth (GK), Imray, Grehan, Francis, Watson, Raymond (Austin, 90), Devenny, Mustapha (Marsh, 79), Umeh (Cardines 90+4), Akinwale, Mathurin.

Subs not used: Izquierdo (GK), Grante, Derry, Sheridan.

**Athletic:** Gastesi (GK), Palacín (Vicandi, 81), Barandalla, Duñabeitia, de Luis (Ebro, 56), Rego, Gift, Bito (Alboniga-Menor, 72), López (Hierro, 72), Canales (Arredondo, 81), Bilbao.

Subs not used: Santos (GK), Huestamendia.

Crystal Palace Under-21s shared the spoils with Athletic Club U21s on a rainy September evening at the VBS Community Stadium. Captain Seán Grehan’s first-half header was cancelled out by Aimar Duñabeitia’s equaliser in the second-half.

Report & Highlights: Palace held by Athletic Club in International Cup opener

The fixture marks the first game of the new Premier League International Cup campaign for Darren Powell’s side, having [made the final of the tournament last season](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/match-reports/match-report-crystal-palace-under-21s-jong-psv-cup-final/). They have been drawn in Group C and will face not only Spanish giants Bilbao, but also Benfica, Feyenoord and Monaco.

Incidentally, this is [the first of 12 allotted games that the Under-21s will play at Sutton United’s VBS Community Stadium](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/announcement/crystal-palace-under-21s-games-sutton-united-stadium/). Fans can be there to see every minute of the action unfold by purchasing tickets from just £2 - [click HERE for more information](https://www.eticketing.co.uk/cpfc/EDP/Event/Index/189?position=4).

Tickets can also be purchased on the gate at the VBS Community Stadium.

Buy tickets

### The Premier League International Cup

The Premier League International Cup pits 12 Category 1 sides from England against 12 of the best European sides in three separate groups of eight.

In each group, the four English sides will face the four European sides once. The English sides will not play each other in the group stage.

The top two from each group, along with two of the best third-place sides, will progress to the quarter-finals.

The Premier League International Cup isn’t the only competition that Palace U21s are competing in this season. They [got off to a winning start in their Premier League Cup campaign](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/match-reports/middlesbrough-crystal-palace-premier-league-cup-2324/) and will also[ face League One and League Two opposition in the EFL Trophy](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/announcement/crystal-palace-under-21s-efl-trophy-fixtures-2324/).

Crystal Palace Under-21s begin their Premier League International Cup campaign against Athletic Club U21s TONIGHT -  Wednesday, 27th September (19:00 BST) – and you can be there to back the boys!

Premier League International CupVBS Community Stadium

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