UEFA's new baby

Winning the talent race in football has become an obsessive task. On a wet and drizzly Wednesday afternoon, talent spotters from across Europe squeezed under the only sheltered stand at the Ulrich-Haberland Stadium, adjacent to the BayArena, for Leverkusen's UEFA Youth League match against BATE Borisov.

Formed in 2012 to compete with the fledging NextGen Series - prospective clubs had to submit an application to compete in this event - the UEFA Youth League offers competitive football for U19 players of the 32 teams who reach the group stages of the Champions League and the domestic youth champions of 32 nations.

After a two-year trial period, and the abolishment of the NextGen Series, UEFA is hoping to corner a commerical market by showing the best of the continent's talent on TV. Now with its own unique branding and anthem, the youth event looks like a firm part of the calendar going forward and will provide an excellent test for U19 players.

Notebook clutched in one hand, umbrella in the other, scouts were dotted around the main spectator positions in the stadium. Some were clearly representing other German clubs, while a mix of international scouts were present. Conspicuous by his collection of accessories from the DFB - jacket, hat, umbrella, notepad and pen - one of the national team observers was rating the performance of the Leverkusen squad.

In 18-year-old center-back Tristan Duschke, the DFB observer will probably have one name to pass back to the decision-makers. He was the commanding presence of a high-defensive line, ushering his team forward whenever possible.

Duschke adapted well to the conditions with some short, crisp passing from the back, although the poor movement in the final-third just about sent Peter Dyballa nuts. Elsewhere, captain Marlon Frey looked a smart user of the ball while Joel Abu Hanna defended well at left-back.

In all its purity, there was something old-school about the experience. The spectators were in breathing distance of the players, while every word and curse was heard from those on the terraces above the thunderous instructions of Leverkusen U19 trainer Hyballa.

If his booming voice wasn't enough to make a player sit up and notice, the proximity to the locals at least added a modicum of pressure to the occasion.

The only goal of the game, its arrival in the last 15 minutes (without a timer you can't be sure!), wasn't beautiful, but the ripple of the rain-soaked net was what the 300-or-so spectators had to come to watch. Benjamin Heinrichs, capped by the DFB from U15 to U18 level, found a pocket of space to control the rebound of a previous effort before lashing the ball high into the net.

With sporting director Rudi Völler watching from the roof of the imposing BayArena, Leverkusen's fresh-faced teenagers will have had the perfect opportunity to shine before the first-team takes to the field later in the evening.