Another victory for FC Red Bull Salzburg at the 2018 BITZER Cup

• One team from South America and seven from Europe competed for the tournament win
• Many of the participants were already playing for the junior national teams of their countries
• After the victory in 2017, FC Red Bull Salzburg also wins the BITZER Cup 2018

Rottenburg am Neckar/Sindelfingen, 28.05.2018. The international U17 junior tournament was held for the 47th time over the past Pentecost weekend. From 19 to 21 May, seven teams from Europe and one from South America gathered to compete in thrilling matches. Turn- und Sportverein (TuS) Ergenzingen, organiser of the annual football event, was able to fire up some strong teams for the BITZER Cup 2018. In the final, FC Red Bull Salzburg ultimately beat Hertha BSC Berlin with a score of 5 to 3 on penalties.

Eight talented teams from Europe and South America – once again, the high-quality players delivered some gripping football matches. Teams from the Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Brazil and Germany competed against each other for the international U17 junior tournament in the district of Ergenzingen in Rottenburg over the past Pentecost weekend. The local Turn- und Sportverein (TuS) Ergenzingen club organised the traditional sporting event for the 47th time, with the B-juniors (U17) in the limelight for the second time. As in previous years, BITZER, the world’s largest independent manufacturer of refrigeration compressors, supported the BITZER Cup tournament as the main sponsor and namesake. With its headquarters in Sindelfingen and production facilities in the Rottenburg districts of Ergenzingen and Hailfingen, the Swabian driver of innovation promotes sports in the region as well as youth development.

Thrilling matches in mixed weather

It only took a few minutes for the spectators to realise that they were in for some high-quality football played by future stars. In mixed weather, the many spectators experienced some thrilling duels and plenty of passion. The audience welcomed with great excitement the team from the Grêmio Porto Alegre club from Brazil and last year’s winner FC Red Bull Salzburg. The team from Porto Alegre is the current champion of the Copa Libertadores competition, South America’s counterpart to the European Champions League, and is considered to be one of South America’s best clubs. Its work with young players in particular has been of great interest internationally: the club has already launched football greats such as Ronaldinho, Zé Roberto and Marcelinho. The team went up against the Austrian club, which in recent years has frequently caused quite a stir in Rottenburg-Ergenzingen with its exceptional performance. Also this year: on the third day of the competition, the U17 team of FC Red Bull Salzburg came out on top with 5 to 3 goals on penalties in the final.