04/20/26 02:26:00
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04/20 14:24 CDT Real Madrid is a European champion again beating Club Brugge in
UEFA Youth League final
Real Madrid is a European champion again beating Club Brugge in UEFA Youth
League final
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) --- Real Madrid has at least earned one trophy this
season and become a European champion again on Monday.
Madrid won the UEFA Youth League final --- effectively the Champions League for
under-19 teams --- by beating Club Brugge in a penalty shootout after a 1-1
draw on a sun-splashed evening in Switzerland.
Madrid goalkeeper Javier Navarro was key to a 4-2 shootout win, saving from
Brugge's Naim Amengai and Tian Koren.
The Spanish power's second title in the 12-year history of the UEFA youth
competition came five days after elimination in the Champions League
quarterfinals, where Madrid fielded no homegrown academy players in the
starting lineup against Bayern Munich.
Club president Florentino Perez was present on Monday at the stadium of Swiss
club Lausanne-Sport alongside UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin. Two months
ago, Madrid and UEFA settled a years-long dispute over the failed breakaway
Super League project driven by Perez.
Ceferin presented the players' medals and put his right arm around the
shoulders of his fellow Slovenian Koren to console the tearful 16-year-old.
Madrid defender Diego Aguado scored the decisive spot kick beyond the dive of
Brugge goalkeeper Argus Vanden Driessche. The teams went directly to a shootout
without playing extra time.
It was the second shootout win for Madrid in three days, after Navarro's saves
helped the team beat Paris Saint-Germain on Friday in the semifinals, which
also finished 1-1 on Lausanne's artificial turf.
On Monday, Madrid dominated the early play and influential winger Daniel Yez
came close to scoring three times.
The lead came in the 23rd minute when center forward Jacobo Ortega scored from
a deft flick with his right heel in the goalmouth. The Brugge defense was in
nervous turmoil and Madrid twice had chances in the next 90 seconds to double
the lead
Brugge leveled in the 64th when Tian Koren's surging run and low cross across
the goal was met by Tobias Lund Jensen.
Madrid joined Chelsea with two UEFA Youth League titles. Barcelona has three,
including last year.
Barcelona has a clear lead over Madrid in Spain's La Liga, and Real Sociedad
won the Copa del Rey on Saturday, leaving Madrid's star-studded first team
trophyless for a second straight season.
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