Real Madrid became European youth champions for the second time this Monday after beating Club Brugge on penalties (2-4), in a final where their goalkeeper Javi Navarro was once again key in the outcome from the 11 meters. In a match that ended 1-1 after 90 minutes, Navarro emerged as the savior of the Spanish team, just as he did against Paris Saint-Germain in the semifinals. Youth, a divine treasure. In a complicated season for the Madrid club, with the first team on the verge of a trophy-less season after being eliminated by Bayern, the ‘cubs’ of the Juvenil A team brought joy to the ‘merengue’ fans by winning their second continental title in the category.
Read more Alcaraz, Sabalenka and Lamine Yamal, crowned at the Laureus Awards in Madrid
If in 2020 it was Raúl González’s team with players like Miguel Gutiérrez, Sergio Arribas, or Antonio Blanco, this time Julián López’s boys, led by Dani Yáñez, Jacobo, or Diego Aguado, among others, are spearheading another exciting generation on which to project certain future decisions. If Álvaro Arbeloa, the first team coach, trusted Thiago Pitarch’s talent to correct the first team’s flaws, he will now have a goldmine at the end of the season to awaken the hopes of the Bernabéu. Whatever happens, Julián López’s team will always be remembered for being the architects of ‘The Second’.
Real Madrid delivered a great first 45 minutes of football but struggled to hold on in a match that became an uphill battle in the second half with Club Brugge’s goal. From the start, the white team dominated possession and patiently channeled play to unleash danger on their wings and dismantle the rocky defense of the Belgian side, who had only conceded six goals throughout the entire championship. Dani Yañez, the best player of the first half and a headache for the English player Andre García, came close to scoring on three occasions, forcing goalkeeper Vanden Driessche to make one of the tournament’s best saves. There were many warnings, and everything came to fruition in the 23rd minute. Again from the right, the most dangerous area for the ‘merengue’ team, led to a triangulation between Yañez, Alexis Ciria, and Jesús Fortea. The latter’s cross became dangerous after touching a defender and was left dead in the small area. The touch favored Jacobo Ortega, who, with his back to goal and a backheel, scored in a pure ‘number 9’ action.
Read more A shooting from the Pyramid of the Moon in Teotihuacan leaves two dead and six injured
With Club Brugge completely groggy, the striker could have scored at least another goal in two actions after the 1-0, but he wasn’t precise, and Real Madrid went into the dressing rooms feeling they had been too merciful in front of goal. Fortea’s early yellow card forced Julián López to give up one of his key players at the start of the second half, bringing on Melvin in a ‘man-for-man’ change. Knowing what was coming, Real Madrid contained the Belgians’ initial surge well and, despite not suffering excessively, could not stop the elusive Koren, who reached the byline to put in a back pass and gift Lund-Jensen the 1-1.
With Real Madrid exhausted and Club Brugge too restrained, the match had to be decided on penalties, just like in the semifinal against Paris Saint-Germain, where Navarro was the great hero. The script had exactly the same outcome. This time, the Real Madrid goalkeeper saved two shots, from Amengai and Koren, while the rest of the Real Madrid players completed an immaculate shootout, finished by Diego Aguado, who capped off his great game.
Read more Junts youth stir up Sant Jordi week by calling for a boycott of Eduardo Mendoza
