UEFA Youth League: Juvenil A open defence with heartbreaking draw to Inter

A big night for Real Madrid in the Champions League was preceded by a big night for the Under 19s in the Youth League. Having won the title in 2020, a much changed side clocked their first X of the campaign.

Manager Hernán Perez managed to squeeze four “veterans” from the championship winning side, however, Peter Gonzalez and Israel Salazar were the lone representatives in the opening match. Bruno Iglesias captained a side containing some highly rated talents such as full back Rafael Obrador, Edjar Pujol and David Gonzalez.

There was plenty of nerves to start the match with both sides clocking a lot of misplaced passes and fouls. Eventually, Real began to take offensive edge through Peter and Aranda. Castilla first real chances came towards the half an hour, captain Bruno Iglesias was at the centre of some quick passes in the Inter half and broke free of his markers at the top of the box. Initially jockeying to shoot, Bruno laid the ball off to a free Aranda who struck the post.

Another great chance came around a few minutes later, Rafael Obrador slipping past his opposite number and laying up, what seemed an easy finish for David Gonzalez, however the midfielder blasted his shot over the bar leaving the scores level at half time.

Things continued in the same vein in the second half. Within two minutes of kicking off, David Gonzalez missed another golden opportunity to put Madrid in front, missing a deflected Aranda shot. Inter started to come into the match more the visitors flooded forward, even missing an open net. A goal finally did come thanks to Peter whom initially set up Raul Jimenez inside the box and then converted the eventual rebound in some style.

The deadlock broken, Real went hunting for a second. Aranda came close with a free kick as well as Carboni for Inter. Entering stoppage time, Inter were yet to have a shot. From a corner, Nunziatini arose from the centre of the box and headed home a shock equalizer with two minutes left to play.

It's a heartbreaker of a result given the performance and puts Juvenil A on the backfoot given Shaktar's big win earlier in the day

Sheriff are next up for the Under 19s, an interesting challenge given the Moldovan side are new to European football. Hopefully a morale boosting win will be on the cards