All you need to know about the PL International Cup

Match previews

24 Oct 2023

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.

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.

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.

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. 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

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

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