6-1: Convincing win for the under-19s sees them take top spot in their group | OneFootball

The under-19s thrashed Shakhtar at the Alfredo Di Stéfano in the UEFA Youth League group stage matchday three fixture. Goals from Iker Bravo, Gonzalo and Pol in the first half put our side on track for the win. The Ukrainians reduced the deficit with Jacobo's own goal, but Gonzalo's goal and César Palacios' brace capped off the win in the second half. Arbeloa's side are now top of Group F and remain unbeaten this season.

The under-19s kicked off on the front foot against a Shakhtar side that sat back and defended. After 20 minutes of pressure, during which time, our boys could have taken the lead on more than one occasion had it not been for the visiting goalkeeper, the Ukrainians held out. The first goal for Under-19s came with 30 minutes on the clock, however, when Iker Bravo finished off a quick move down the left by dribbling inside the area and finishing when one-on-one with the keeper. Arbeloa's men double their lead a few minutes later, when Gonzalo headed home from Manuel Ángel's cross in the 33rd minute. The latter missed from the penalty spot shortly after, firing over the crossbar. Shakhtar pulled one back three minutes before the break with Jacobo's own goal, but the youth team hit back immediately and got the third in the 45th minute, Pol scoring from Iker Bravo's pass.

The under-19s weren't satisfied and continued to look to add to their lead in the second half. Just three minutes after the interval, Gonzalo grabbed his second goal of the game, with another header (48'). The Real Madrid dominance soon saw them make it 5-1. Another great move in the box by Iker Bravo resulted in an assist for César Palacios, who fired a low left-footed effort past the keeper (54'). Palacios doubled his tally when he notched the sixth and final goal of the game, back-heeling home a Tobias pass from the right.

MATCH INFO 6-Juvenil A: Diego Piñeiro, Tobias, Jacobo (Sotres, 81’), Manu Serrano, Youssef (Camero, 61’), Chema, Palacios (Julen, 81’), Manuel Ángel (Borja Alonso, 72’), Pol, Gonzalo (Lancha, 72’) and Iker Bravo. 1-Shakhtar: Tvardovskyi, Chuiko (Yanovich, 55’), Savchenko, Farina, Buleza, Rosputko (Bashmarin, 77’), Yushchenko, Losenko (Smetana, 70’), Siheiev, Pushkarov (Tsukanov, 78’), and Pohorilyi (Lomaha, 70’).

Golas 1-0 (min 30): Iker Bravo 2-0 (min 33): Gonzalo 2-1 (min 42): Jacobo (o.g.) 3-1 (min 45): Pol 4-1 (min 48): Gonzalo 5-1 (min 54): Palacios 6-1 (min 73): Palacios