RB Leipzig U21

Premier League International Cup

Crystal Palace U21

### The Premier League International Cup

The Premier League International Cup structure pits the top 16 sides from last season’s Premier League 2 against 16 of the best European sides in four 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, the English sides will not play each other. All ties will be contested in England.

The top two from each group will progress to the quarter-finals, where the matches will then become one-off single elimination fixtures with extra-time and penalties, if required.

This is Palace’s third entry into the competition, [having won it last season](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/academy/crystal-palace-under-21s-season-review-2324/) and finished as runners-up in their inaugural campaign in 2022/23.

The Eagles have been drawn in Group D and will face Real Sociedad, RB Leipzig, RSC Anderlecht and Sporting CP as they look to defend their title.

Premier League International Cup Final Highlights: Crystal Palace 1-0 PSV Eindhoven

### Real Sociedad

The first opponents for Darren Powell’s side in this season's tournament will be Real Sociedad. Based in the Basque Country -  an autonomous region in the north of Spain and southwestern France - the side are fierce rivals with Athletic Club, whom Palace faced last season.

Though they are in the Basque region, La Txuri-Urdin (the White and Blues), don’t adopt the Basque-only player policy of their rivals. Their youth system has produced the likes of Antoine Griezmann, Mikel Oyarzabal, Xabi Alonso and Txiki Begiristain.

Real Sociedad B, as their youth side are known, are in the Primera Federación Group I, the third tier of Spanish football. They play against professional sides, as well as other La Liga youth sides at this level.

They finished mid-table in ninth last season and are currently coached by former player Sergio Francisco, who took over from Xabi Alonso as the latter departed to manage Bayer Leverkusen.

This is the first time Real Sociedad have competed in the Premier League International Cup.

**One to watch: Jon Martín.** The 18-year-old centre-back was one of the first names on the team sheet for Real Sociedad B last season, and he even made his debut for the first-team in 23/24.

#### Fixture details

- Tuesday, 17th September

- VBS Community Stadium

- Kick-off: 19:00 BST

### Sporting CP

Sporting Clube de Portugal, or Sporting CP, are one of the three giants of Portuguese football, alongside FC Porto and SL Benfica.

The Lisbon-based side have produced global football superstars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Rafael Leão, Luis Figo, João Palhinha and even former Palace brothers José and Rui Fonte.

Sporting CP B, as they are known, currently compete in Liga 3, the third tier of Portuguese football. They also face professional sides as well as the youth teams of sides in the Primeira Liga.

Like Real Sociedad, this is the first time that Sporting CP B will be competing in the Premier League International Cup.

**One to watch: Diogo Pinto.** The 20-year-old goalkeeper has been at the club since the age of 13 and recently made his debut in the Primeira Liga last season and also featured in the Taça de Portugal final against FC Porto in 2023/24.

#### Fixture details

- Friday, 18th October

- Selhurst Park

- Kick-off: 19:00 BST

- Stream details to be confirmed

### RSC Anderlecht

The most decorated club in Belgian football and the most prevalent Belgian side in Europe.

Anderlecht’s Academy has produced a number of notable stars such as Jérémy Doku, Romelu Lukaku, Vincent Kompany, as well as Belgium legends Paul Van Himst and Jef Mermans.

RSCA Futures, as their youth side is known, currently compete in the Challenger Pro League, the second tier of Belgian football. They play against professional sides and youth teams of teams in the top division.

RSCA Futures are also competing in the Premier League International Cup for the very first time this season. They are also the first side from Belgium to feature in the competition’s nine-season history.

**One to watch: Lars Montegnies.** The 18-year-old Belgian midfielder joined RSCA Futures from KV Kortrijk last season, having already made his debut in the top flight.

#### Fixture details

- Tuesday, 10th December

- VBS Community Stadium

- Kick-off: 19:00 GMT

- Stream details to be confirmed

### RB Leipzig

Palace’s final opponents in the group will be RB Leipzig. The German side have been pushing at the top of the Bundesliga in recent seasons, having only been formed 15 years ago.

Despite being a relatively new side, they have produced the likes of Brentford’s Vitaly Janelt, German international Lukas Klostermann and Bosnia and Herzegovina striker Ermedin Demirovic.

RB Leipzig’s youth side compete in the A-Junioren Bundesliga, Staffel Nord/Nordost. They field an Under-19s side and compete against other U19 sides of other senior German teams.

The German outfit are also competing in their first ever Premier League International Cup, and have made a strong start by beating Chelsea 4-2 in the opening game of Group D.

**One to watch: Viggo Gebel.** Despite being only 16 years old, Viggo Gebel made his debut for Leipzig’s first-team in August as a substitute in the DFB Pokal first round against RW Essen.

#### Fixture details

- Friday, 17th January 2025

- VBS Community Stadium

- Kick-off: 19:00 GMT

- Stream details to be confirmed

Crystal Palace Under-21s face Real Sociedad, Sporting Clube de Portugal, RSC Anderlecht and RB Leipzig in this year's Premier League International Cup group - here’s everything you need to know about them and the tournament.

All you need to know about the Premier League International Cup

Crystal Palace U21 v RB Leipzig U21 (2025-01-17)

Crystal Palace U21 v RSC Anderlecht U21 (2024-12-10)

Crystal Palace U21 v Sporting CP U21 (2024-10-18)

Crystal Palace U21 v Real Sociedad U21 (2024-09-17)

Premier League International CupVBS Community Stadium

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