Everything you need to know about the PL2 playoffs | OneFootball

After City’s Elite Development Squad beat Newcastle 4-0 on Monday evening, Ben Wilkinson’s youngsters guaranteed our place at the Premier League 2 summit ahead of the competition’s playoffs.

This means our potential route to the final has been confirmed, but verification of our opponents for the upcoming fixtures are yet to be finalised with the final few Gameweek 20 matches to be played on Friday 18 April, which will complete the top 16 standings.

Ahead of the playoffs, which will begin at the end of the month, here is all the key information you need...

HOW DID WE GET HERE?

The format of the PL2 is in its second season. Prior to the 2023/24 campaign, the structure was changed to allow for a more competitive scene in academy football.

To begin with, Ben Wilkinson’s side played 20 games – 10 home and 10 away – against fellow PL2 sides, with all outfits fighting for a place in the top 16 in a 26-team league table.

City topped the PL2 with 15 wins, two draws and three defeats – totalling 47 points, the highest achieved in the new format.

Our young boys in blue bagged an impressive 61 goals and conceded just 23 in what has been a fantastic campaign so far.

WHAT DOES THE PLAYOFF STAGE CONSIST OF?

The playoff champions will be determined by four single-leg knockout matches.

City’s journey will begin with a Round of 16 fixture on the weekend of 26 April, with the fixtures/route to the final based on the seedings of the 16 teams.

This means City will face the 16th-seeded team in our first playoff game. Because Wilkinson’s youngsters topped the PL2 table, all of our knockout fixtures will be on home soil.

If a winner isn’t decided in 90 minutes, the games will go to extra-time before a penalty shootout if a decisive goal still cannot be scored.

WHO WILL WE PLAY?

For our Round of 16 game we will face either Nottingham Forest, Liverpool or West Bromwich Albion.

The latter two have one final game left taking on Aston Villa and Middlesbrough, respectively.

WATCH: Extended highlights: City EDS 5-0 Chelsea

WHEN WILL THE FIXTURES TAKE PLACE?

Round of 16 – weekend of 26 April

Quarter-final – weekend of 3 May

Semi-final – weekend of 10 May

Final – weekend of 17 May

WHAT IS OUR ROUTE TO THE FINAL?

Round of 16 – 1st v 16th – match 1

Quarter-final – winner of match 1 v winner of match 2 (8th v 9th) – match 9

Semi-final – winner of match 9 v winner of match 10 (5th, 12th, 4th or 13th) – Match 13