Wales stars Ampadu and Matondo to do battle in the Bundesliga
On Saturday, Wales’ Ethan Ampadu and Rabbi Matono could do battle in an unfamiliar territory.
Rabbi Matondo’s FC Schalke 04 host Ethan Ampadu’s RB Leipzig at the Veltins Arena in what is being dubbed ‘the Buttysliga’.
Matondo claimed the first Welsh bragging rights in Germany having scored in Schalke’s 3-1 win over Leipzig back in September.
This is a fixture that will have a feeling of intrigue on it from Welsh fans.
It’s a sign of how Wales youngsters are becoming bold in their careers.
Matondo was the first of the pair to move to Germany after Schalke splashed out a reported £10m on the former Manchester City winger.
Though in recent times, it’s been Ampadu who has been in the spotlight.
Ampadu has been patient in waiting for his first-team opportunities after leaving Exeter in 2017.
An impressive individual performance in Leipzig’s 1-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday saw Ampadu get the plaudits in a solid defensive display.
It was just the second-time that the 19-year-old had started for Leipzig after making his move.
Despite a move away from Stamford Bridge, Ampadu has only played seven times for Julian Nagelsmann’s side who harbour Bundesliga and Champions League ambitions.
The Chelsea loanee himself has admitted his playing time has been limited to BBC Sport after his outing in London: “I have not played as much as I would have liked to but I am definitely learning in training and working hard,”
“When this situation came of starting tonight I knew it was a good opportunity to show what I can do and I’d like to think I’ve done that.
“I would like to go back, I aim to, but right now I am focused on Leipzig and finishing the season.”
Ampadu’s lack of playing time up until now could be linked to the positional dilemma he faces.
The 19-year-old has slotted in comfortably to the midfield of Wales but has been deployed as a central defender for Leipzig.
Throughout the Euro 2020 campaign, Ryan Giggs had to call upon players who had limited first-team opportunities at their clubs but excelled at international level.
His performance on Wednesday though can be the kickstart to his time in Germany and it can also benefit his international prospects.
Matondo is in a similar position to his compatriot in that he hasn’t nailed down a full starting berth, however he has had more minutes on the pitch.
His move from the Etihad has seen his Wales prospects improve but Matondo isn’t in an affordable position as Ampadu.
Matondo has played a fringe role so far in his Wales career and isn’t guaranteed to be in the squad.
The former Cardiff City youngster has racked up nine appearances for Schalke, with five of those being starts.
Given the attacking array Wales has, along with the purple patch Tom Lawrence is enjoying with Derby County, Matondo’s task for the coming months will be to prove himself to Ryan Giggs as the Wales boss makes some key decisions.
Whatever the result on Saturday, it’s certainly a fixture which highlights the position Wales can bask in, as they celebrate their fearless youngsters taking a chance abroad.
(Featured Image: Lewis Mitchell)
