Bayern's youth surge peaks in win over Atalanta

Bayern Munich’s 4-1 victory over Atalanta Bergamo not only sent the club into the Champions League quarter-finals but also underlined its current strength in bringing young talent through to the first team. With veterans Manuel Neuer and Sven Ulreich sidelined by muscle injuries and Jonas Urbig recently concussed, a debut for one of the club’s younger goalkeepers had been a real possibility.

Urbig was eventually cleared: "Otherwise, one of the lads would have played," he said. "And they would have done just that." Instead, Deniz Ofli (18) and Filip Pavic made substitute debuts; Pavic, at 16 years, one month and 27 days, became Bayern’s youngest Champions League player and the club’s second youngest ever after Paul Wanner.

Ofli quickly set up Lennart Karl’s goal, and Pavic completed 33 out of 33 passes. Those two joined a growing list of teenage debutants from the academy, including Cassiano Kiala (17), Jonah Kusi-Asare (18, now on loan at Fulham), Felipe Chavez (18, now on loan at 1.

bayern munich, champions league, atalanta, deniz ofli, filip pavic, paul wanner, lennart karl, manuel neuer, sven ulreich, academy