Real Madrid triumphs over Brugge to secure UEFA Youth League championship
LAUSANNE, Switzerland — Real Madrid has secured at least one trophy this season, reclaiming the title of European champion on Monday.
The team triumphed in the UEFA Youth League final — essentially the Champions League for under-19 squads — defeating Club Brugge in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 stalemate on a sunny evening in Switzerland.
Madrid goalkeeper Javier Navarro played a crucial role in the 4-2 shootout victory, making saves against Brugge’s Naim Amengai and Tian Koren.
This marks the Spanish club’s second title in the 12-year history of the UEFA youth tournament, coming just five days after their exit in the Champions League quarterfinals, where no homegrown academy players were included in the starting lineup against Bayern Munich.
Club president Florentino Perez was in attendance on Monday at the stadium of Swiss club Lausanne-Sport, alongside UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin.
Madrid defender Diego Aguado converted the decisive penalty, sending the ball past Brugge goalkeeper Argus Vanden Driessche.
The match proceeded directly to a shootout without any extra time being played.
Madrid took the lead in the 23rd minute when center forward Jacobo Ortega scored with a clever flick using his right heel in the goal area. The Brugge defense was unsettled, and Madrid had two opportunities in the following 90 seconds to extend their advantage.
Brugge equalized in the 64th minute when Koren’s dynamic run and low cross into the box was finished by Tobias Lund Jensen.
