Raúl and the Juvenil of Madrid, against Inter and the elements

The Real Madrid Youth wants the Youth League. It is in the DNA of the white club to lift continental titles, tradition forces and history begins to tighten: In the six previous editions, the whites have never been proclaimed champions and have not even been in the final; the most were three semifinals with an adverse outcome. This cold concentrated version of the Youth in Nyon (Switzerland) has been found a Madrid that, despite arriving without any rhythm after the stoppage due to the coronavirus crisis, he gave an exceptional measure against Juventus in the round of 16: 1-3, coming back and playing almost 80 minutes with one less.

After the initial euphoria, it's time to look ahead, as the slope is getting steeper: Raúl's team has an Inter Milan that has nothing to spare (1-0 in the second round against Rennes, who crashed a ball in the crossbar on the last play of the duel), but with a physical profile that aims to better adapt to the just 72 hours of rest that both squads will have.

To make matters worse, Raúl will have to form a starting eleven without two important pieces: the extreme Jordi, sent off against Juve for a child fever, and the middle Dotor, good dealer and best player, author of one of the goals in the second round. The hyperactive Marvin and Sintes sound like spare parts. The white Youth will once again rely on the hierarchy of Pablo Ramón and Chust in defense, in the command of Blanco in the spinal axis and in the bite of Latasa, who arrives full after his great goal to Juventus, closing the clash for Madrid after a ride.

“I am like the boys, with the typical nerves and the desire to play. We have to be faithful to our identity, to what Real Madrid is. I am very confident, when the game is over I am sure that we are going to feel proud. We have the desire to win the title, but for that we have to take many steps. It will be a great challenge, “Raúl commented yesterday from Nyon. The Castilla coach got this candy after the departure to Panathinaikos of the former Youth coach, Poyatos, and he wants to get all the juice out of it, in addition to showing in the Old Continent the strength of the Madrid quarry, as names such as Carvajal, Nacho, Lucas Vázquez or Fede Valverde do in the first team.

On the horizon, Salzburg, a classic of this tournament, and Olympique de Lyon appear (3:00 pm, Movistar Champions League), but first it is time to leave behind an Inter Milan that combines muscle and good footing, all embedded in the 3-5-2 that the first team also practices with Antonio Conte.