LAUSANNE, Switzerland — On Monday, Real Madrid secured at least one trophy this season and celebrated becoming European champions once again.
The team triumphed in the UEFA Youth League final, a prestigious competition akin to the Champions League for under-19 teams, defeating Club Brugge in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw under the sunny skies of Switzerland.
Real Madrid goalkeeper Javier Navarro played a crucial role in the team’s 4-2 victory in the shootout, successfully saving attempts from Brugge’s Naim Amengai and Tian Koren.
This victory marks Madrid’s second title in the 12-year existence of the UEFA youth competition, occurring just five days after their elimination in the Champions League quarterfinals, where no homegrown players featured in the starting eleven against Bayern Munich.
Club president Florentino Perez was in attendance at the Lausanne-Sport stadium alongside UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin.
Defender Diego Aguado netted the decisive penalty, sending the ball past Brugge goalkeeper Argus Vanden Driessche.
The match went straight to penalties without extra time. Madrid took an early lead in the 23rd minute, with center forward Jacobo Ortega scoring through a clever flick with his right heel in the goal area. Brugge’s defense struggled, allowing Madrid two additional opportunities to extend their advantage within the following 90 seconds.
Brugge equalized in the 64th minute, with Koren’s impressive run and low cross being finished by Tobias Lund Jensen.