Another scalp for Club NXT after AS Monaco, Atalanta Bergamo and Bayern Munich. Club NXT U19 played a very strong game in which Lund Jensen scored just 15 minutes in. Barcelona had its chances to score the equalizer, but it was the substitute Van Britsom who made his way to the back of the nets shortly before the end of the game. With twelve out of twelve, Club NXT U19 is already assured of European football after the New Year.
Due to the absence of some players who are at the U17 World Cup in Qatar, coach De Roeck had to make some changes in his starting eleven. Furo started in the striker position. The hosts started the match full of confidence after the convincing win in Munich. The first chance was for Amengai who just could not get the ball after a fine cross, goalkeeper Bonfill quicker to the ball. Barcelona also soon came to threaten the Bruges goal. Argus stopped a hard shot fired at him from close range. It promised to be an entertaining match, that much was certain. Our Slovenian Koren soon showed his speed and went solo through the visiting lines. However, his shot went wide of the goal. The visitors had trouble taking their best aim either, as another attempt also went wide. Amengai tried in turn but the leather went narrowly over. Club NXT U19 tried to embarrass the Spanish defense with careful combinations. It worked after fifteen minutes of play. Goalkeeper Bonfill was lured far out of his goal, allowing Lund Jensen to nicely kick the ball into the empty cage. 1-0, a handsome lead. Furo then had a chance to double the score, but he kicked narrowly wide of the goal. Also on Lund Jensen's cross, Furo again had bad luck in finishing. The goalkeeper caught his header. But Barcelona showed its ability a few times after that. Goalkeeper Argus floated a shot out of his goal. And afterwards he had to take a hard shot centrally. On the half hour our talented goalkeeper saved with his foot. It was often all hands on deck to keep the zero on the scoreboard. It stayed that way until halftime.
The second half started quietly, until Verlinden was able to clear Pallas' ball from the goal line. Still, Club NXT U19 was able to control the match well. The visitors were not often dangerous in front of goal. Both teams regularly replaced some pawns, but the play hardly changed. Blue-Black fought for every meter. Amengai crossed, but Furo just could not score. Afterwards Amengai made another rush, but was eventually stopped. Goalkeeper Argus confidently grabbed a shot from the Blaugrana. The clock continued ticking in favor of our youngsters but the spoils were not yet in. On a corner kick, Barcelona headed just over the goal. At Club NXT U19, Delorge and Koren still missed opportunities. The substitute Van Britsom got the ball at his feet in the last minute of regular playing time and pulled the trigger. He shot the 2-0. Barcelona could do nothing more in return and so Club NXT U19 won their fourth game in the Youth League. With twelve out of twelve, they are already assured of European football in early 2026. The last two games will be against Sporting Lisbon and Arsenal.
Club NXT U19: Argus Vanden Driessche, Mohamed Elbay, Wout Verlinden, Laurens Goemaere, Alexander Vandeperre (67' Sacha Marloye), Gianluca Okon, Lucas Delorge (88' Ilyas Bouazzaoui), Naïm Amengai (77' Utku Kurtal), Tobias Lund Jensen (77' Jakke Van Britsom), Tian Nai Koren, Kaye Furo (67' Yanis Musuayi).
Bank: Stefan Ostojci, Emiel Callens, Kamara Al-Hassan, Brian Didrich.
Coach: Jonas De Roeck.
FC Barcelona: Max Bonfill, Pol Bernabeu, Andres Cuenca (71' Baba Kourouma), Hafiz Gariba, Guillem Victor, Ebrima Tunkara (71' Nuhu Fofana), Pedro Rodriguez, Quim Junyent (82' Orian Goren), Riol Pallas (82' Lovro Chelfi), Shane Kluivert, Sama Nomoko (62' Pedro Villar).
Bench: Gerard Sala, Adrian Guerrero, Alex Campos, Nil Teixidor.
Coach: Pol Planas.
Goals: 16' Lund Jensen 1-0, 90' Van Britsom 2-0.
Yellow: 33' Vandeperre, 89' Marloye, 90+1' Van Britsom.
Referee: Matthew McDermid (Scotland).
Venue: The Nest Roeselare.
Audience: 2,661.
