NextGen Series: 2012/13 groups announced

Tuesday, 15 May 2012 21:27

MILAN - Inter can start planning their defence of the NextGen Series after the groups for the 2012/13 edition were announced today.

Next year the 'U19 Champions League' will be expanded to include 24 teams divided into six groups of four. Each side will play six games (home and away) between 13 August and 13 December 2012, with the top two from each group being joined in the last 16 by the four best third-placed sides. If two or more teams finish level on points, qualification will be decided by goal difference then goals scored. Like this year all matches in the final stage of the tournament - from the semi-finals onwards - will be held in the same location.

Reigning champions Inter have been drawn in Group 5, along with Rosenborg, Borussia Dortmund (making their debut in the tournament) and Liverpool.

Here are all six groups:

GROUP 1 
Tottenham; Barcelona; Wolfsburg; Anderlecht.

GROUP 2
Manchester City; Juventus; Fenerbahce; Paris St Germain.

GROUP 3
Chelsea; Ajax; CSKA Moscow; Molde.

GROUP 4 
Aston Villa; Sporting Lisbon; PSV Eindhoven; Celtic.

GROUP 5
Liverpool; Borussia Dortmund; Rosenborg; Inter.

GROUP 6
Arsenal; Athletic Bilbao; Olympique Marseille; Olympiacos.