Barcelona 1-4 Real Madrid

Before you, a treble never seen before. La Fábrica’s treble. Real Madrid are the champions of champions, after lifting the league title and the Youth League. Three trophies into the cabinet in one sweep. It had been done before – most recently with Álvaro Arbeloa on the bench in 2022-23 – but never with the youth Champions League among them. Álvaro López and his players have pulled it off, after taking the final crown against Barça. They came from behind in a mini-Clásico for which the prefix did no justice. It had everything: tension, controversy, red cards, a comeback. La Masia had started in control, carried by its ball players. But nine minutes, and Gabri Valero, changed everything. A walkway into history.

Ïu’s red card in the 49th minute was the springboard. Because by the 51st, La Fábrica had already equalized. Valero’s twists, his assist and Captain Díez’s killer instinct proved decisive. Then Alexis Ciria delivered the verdict. A golden signing from Sevilla who has taken Valdebebas by storm in just a few months. He headed in the second, then supplied the assist with his right foot for Yeremaiah to seal it. Only two Clásicos had ever decided the champion of champions in the competition’s history, and the series was level. Now the balance is white. The ninth is here.

The game began with personality in front of major figures – Luis de la Fuente among them, hours before the World Cup squad announcement; Rafael Louzán arrived in the second half – and with changes. Lezcano, Beto and Adri Pérez came in for Madrid; Iker, Pedro Rodríguez and Álex González for Barça. But the legs that weighed heaviest early on, however fresh some were, belonged to La Fábrica, burdened by extra time against Granada. Although Díez and Ciria created the first opening, Barça took control. Pedro Villar and Quim Junyent conducted the play – and delivered the punishment.

The latter had the first big chance, a one-on-one denied by the reflexes and gloves of a towering Javi Navarro. The former made the opener. It came in the 27th minute, after a chain of Madrid misfortune. Adri Pérez, after a museum-piece dribble, pulled up with a hamstring issue. And in that moment, while Gabri Valero was waiting to come on, La Masia prepared the strike. Pedro Rodríguez, the Granadan who grew up admiring Iniesta, slipped in a pass “like Andrés.” Ïu collected it and crossed a sweet ball that the other Pedro, Villar, unwrapped. All eyes had been on Pharaoh Abdelkarim, but the ball players opened the scoring. An ice-cold bucket of water for Madrid’s youth side in the desert heat.

But what truly woke Madrid up was halftime. Álvaro López wanted to add muscle on the right flank with Melvin, to stop a rampant Álex González. The switch, though, was flipped in the 49th minute: Ïu’s second yellow and his dismissal. With Barça down to 10, magic appeared on the very next move. Valero’s magic, delivering a ball with music on it. Carlos Díez’s magic, finishing it off, celebrating with rage, equalizing and dismantling a Barça side that almost went down to nine. Pol Planas replaced Pedro Rodríguez after a challenge right on the limit from a player already on a yellow, avoiding bigger trouble. Everything happened in nine minutes. Nine minutes that changed it all.

Ciria’s moment

It was an injection for Madrid, who became a steamroller. Almost without blinking, two more followed, with Alexis Ciria as the leading man. From a corner, showing instinct, he headed in the 2-1. And with barely time to celebrate, he celebrated again – this time as the creator. A move down the wing, a delivery into the heart of the area and there, where killers feed, was one of them: Yeremaiah. The 2009-born striker started the semifinal and the final, and scored in both. That made it 3-1 and put everything downhill. Gabri Valero’s 4-1 was the perfect finishing touch, a parade of talent toward the treble, toward history.

Because the second player had the first chance. A one-on-one that was thwarted by the reflexes and gloves of a gigantic Javi Navarro. Because the first player scored the first goal. It was in the 27th minute, after a string of misfortunes for Real Madrid. Adri Pérez, after a masterpiece of dribbling, clutched his hamstring. And at that moment, while Gabri Valero waited to come on, La Masia orchestrated the attack. Pedro Rodríguez, that Granada native who grew up admiring Iniesta, threaded a pass reminiscent of Andrés. Ïu latched onto it, delivering a perfect cross that the other Pedro, Villar, unwrapped. All eyes were on the Pharaoh Abdelkarim, but the goal was opened by the young players. A bucket of ice water for the Real Madrid youth team, in the midst of the desert heat.

But what truly awakened Real Madrid was the halftime break. Álvaro López wanted to add muscle to the right flank with Melvin, to rein in an unleashed Álex González. Although the switch was flipped in the 49th minute. Iu received his second yellow card and was sent off. And with ten men, in the very next play, magic appeared. Valero’s magic, to deliver a ball with musical flair. Carlos Díez’s magic, to finish it off. To celebrate with fury. To equalize. To dismantle a Barça side that almost went down to nine. Pol Planas, after a very close call from Pedro Rodríguez, who already had a yellow card, substituted him to avoid further damage. It all happened in nine minutes. Nine minutes that changed everything.

Ciria’s hour

A shot in the arm for a Madrid side that was a steamroller. Almost without blinking, two more. With Alexis Ciria as the main protagonist. From a corner, with a nose for goal, he headed home the 2-1. And almost without time to celebrate, he celebrated again. This time as the architect. A play down the wing, a cross into the heart of the area, and there, where killers thrive, was one: Yeremaiah. That striker from 2009 who started in the semi-final and the final, who scored in both. To make it 3-1. To make it easy for everyone. A catwalk to success. A parade of talent leading to the Treble. To making history.

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