The Under-19s qualified for the UEFA Youth League quarter finals with a win over Leipzig at the Alfredo Di Stéfano. Our team came through the tie thanks to goals for Gonzalo (25’) and Cristian (80’), the latter a stunning volley from outside the box. In the next round, Arbeloa's boys head on the road to face Milan, who edged past Braga on penalties. The quarter finals will also be a single-game tie, set to be played on the 12th or 13th of March.
Madrid started with their concentration levels high, controlling the ball in the opposition half. After a cagey early spell, our team broke the deadlock. Palacios superbly evaded the attentions of two opposition players and sent a ball deep in behind for Gonzalo, who got the better of the visiting goalkeeper (25’). It could have been two after 33 minutes as Cristian did brilliantly to fashion a chance but the angle was against him and the ball ended up in the goalkeeper's gloves.
In the second half, the game became increasingly stretched and chances began to present themselves at both ends. On 65’, Quetglas made a super stop to avoid the German leveller, keeping out Jatta. The best opportunities for our side fell at the boots of Iker Bravo. First, he just failed to bring the ball under control in the box, before losing out to the keeper in a one-on-one. The madridistas' determination ultimately garnered its reward, though, when Cristian unleashed a sublime volley that found its way into Schlieck's net off the right post (80’). Leipzig upped the pressure in the closing stages but our team managed their lead well to ensure their presence in the quarter-finals.
LINE-UPS
2-Under-19s: Quetglas, Fortea, Joan Martínez, Jacobo, Youssef, Cristian (Pol Durán, 88’), Manuel Ángel (Antonio David, 88’), Palacios (Pol Fortuny, 84’), Iker Bravo, Hugo de Llanos (Meso, 58’) and Gonzalo (Paulo Iago, 88’).
0-Leipzig: Schlieck, Hennig, Lenz (Sasche, 78’), Schierack, Eduardo, Schöbler (Massanka Bungi, 58’), Bayindir, Onuoha, Jatta, Kob (Kuhnhardt, 70’) and Böhm (Boog, 78’).
Goals:
1-0 (min. 25): Gonzalo.
2-0 (min. 80): Cristian.