Epic in white! Real Madrid into Youth League final with Javi Navarro | OneFootball

Real Madrid once again showed that its love affair with comebacks in Europe knows no categories or age limits.

In a heart-stopping semifinal, Álvaro López’s team survived PSG’s siege to seal its place in Monday’s grand final against Club Brugge.

What looked like an inevitable elimination turned into a heroic feat thanks to the emergence of two key figures: “hurricane” Liberto and “saint” Javi Navarro.

Ly’s sucker punch and Madrid’s resistance

The match began with Madrid on the front foot, but lacking accuracy. PSG, who arrived as a disguised threat after finishing 13th in the league phase, struck first with a work of art.

Elijah Ly, the 17-year-old Parisian gem, picked out the top corner with a shot from the edge of the box that left everyone in attendance stunned.

After the goal, Madrid looked groggy, and only Javi Navarro prevented a bigger disaster, pulling off impossible saves with interventions reminiscent of the best handball goalkeepers.

VAR and Madrid DNA

The second half was an exercise in faith. Madrid came close to equalising with a Jacobo Ortega shot off the crossbar, but it also nearly saw its fate sealed by a penalty given against it.

However, VAR, crucial in this Final Four, did justice by spotting a “dive” from Boly, overturning the penalty and giving Los Blancos a lifeline.

Last-gasp equaliser and a miracle in the shootout

As the clock ran down, Madrid’s DNA emerged. After a scramble inside the PSG box, Liberto pounced on a loose ball to score a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser.

The madness carried into a penalty shootout where, despite early misses from Ciria and Díez, Javi Navarro rose to legendary status by saving the decisive spot-kicks.

La Fábrica is already dreaming of a second Youth League title in a final where it will face Club Brugge.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.