LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) – Real Madrid won at least one trophy this season and were crowned European champions again on Monday.
On a sunny Swiss night, Madrid won the UEFA Youth League final (effectively the Champions League for under-19 teams), defeating Club Brugge on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
Madrid goalkeeper Javier Navarro was key to the 4-2 penalty shootout victory, making saves from Brugge’s Naim Amenghai and Tian Koren.
Five days later, the Spanish giants clinched their second title in the 12-year history of the UEFA youth competition. Eliminated in the Champions League quarterfinalsIn this match, Madrid did not use any of their own academy players in the starting XI against Bayern Munich.
Club president Florentino Perez attended the stadium of Swiss club Lausanne Sport on Monday alongside UEFA president Alexander Ceferin. 2 months ago Madrid and UEFA reconcile Years of controversy surrounding the failed Super League exit project led by Perez.
Ceferin presented medals to the athletes and put his right arm on fellow Slovenian Koren’s shoulder, comforting the tearful 16-year-old.
Madrid defender Diego Aguado took the decisive spot kick past the diving Brugge goalkeeper Argus van den Driessche. Both teams went directly to a shootout without overtime.
Navarro’s save helped his team defeat Paris Saint-Germain in Friday’s semi-final, marking Madrid’s second penalty shootout win in three days, which also ended 1-1 on Lausanne’s artificial turf.
Madrid dominated early play on Monday, with influential winger Daniel Yañez coming close to finding the back of the net three times.
They took the lead in the 23rd minute when centre-forward Jacobo Ortega scored with a deft flick of his right heel into the goalmouth. Brugge’s defense was in a nervous mess and Madrid had two chances to double their lead in the next 90 seconds.
Bruges leveled the score in the 64th minute when Tobias Lund Jensen met Tian Koren’s strong run and a low cross across the goal.
Madrid won the UEFA Youth League twice and joined Chelsea. There are three in Barcelona. including last year.
Barcelona has a clear lead over Madrid in La Liga, Spain. Real Sociedad wins The Copa del Rey ended in the final on Saturday, with Madrid’s star-studded first team missing out on the trophy for the second season in a row.
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