Atlético de Madrid Juvenil beat Manchester United 3‑0 in the group stage of the UEFA Youth League, with goals from Joel Sánchez, Fitzgerald and Gonzalo Gross Borja Resurrección. The meeting, held at the Alcalá Sports City, became an emotional celebration of the memory of Ana Merodio, mother of Koke and Borja Resurrección, who died on Tuesday, October 13. Before the start, players and the public paid a minute of silence in his honor.
The victory comes after a 1-1 draw in the tournament's premiere, when the red and white team faced Liverpool in England. On this occasion, coach Pedro Moya and his coaching staff, led by the second coach of the category, Chema G. Fuente, managed to impose their style of play. The first half was decisive: Joel Sánchez, who had already scored in the English phase, opened the scoring, and midfielder Fitzgerald, recently recruited from Elche, added another goal with a shot that sailed through the entire corner. Gonzalo Gross Borja closed the scoring with a header, completing a rout that showed Atlético's superiority in the group stage.
Although the score seems overwhelming, Manchester United showed a remarkable effort. The English shot nine times on goal, but only one converted into a goal, while Atlético managed three of their six shots. The Turkish referee Cihan Aydın did not award a penalty in the first half, a decision that the English team regretted, as they considered that it could have changed the dynamics of the match. Despite United's greater presence in their own half, Atlético kept up the pressure and took advantage of opportunities to extend the lead.
The match also stood out for the quality of the goals. Joel Sánchez and Fitzgerald showed great plasticity and precision, while Gonzalo Gross Borja's goal was a great goal that left everyone present with admiration. Atlético proved to be more effective and forceful, although Manchester United did not miss the opportunity to improve its performance in the competition.
With this victory, Atlético Juvenil consolidates its position in the group stage and moves confidently towards the next stage of the Youth League. The team will continue to work under the direction of Pedro Moya and his technical team, as the club honors the memory of Ana Merodio and celebrates the talent of its young players.