Real Madrid U21’s clash with Southampton U21 showcased several young talents who stood out for their performances and potential.
These promising players could be key figures for the club in upcoming matches and are worth keeping an eye on.
Mestre (GK): Could do little to prevent Southampton FC’s late goal. In the first half, he intervened twice with confidence. In the second half, he was mostly a spectator until the 93rd minute, when he could do nothing about the Saints’ strike.
Manu Serrano (LB): Came on to replace the injured Fortea. The left-back was reliable defensively and dynamic during transitions. He stood out for his speed, anticipation, and tactical awareness, often closing down spaces effectively. His safe distribution supported the team’s build-up play.
Mario Rivas (CB): The right-sided centre-back impressed with his pace, anticipation, and solidity in open spaces. He proved dependable both in one-on-one duels and in covering wide areas. He showed composure under pressure and sound judgement in distribution, taking an active role in building play from the back. His approach remained proactive, marked by tactical discipline and collective commitment.
Lamini Fati (CB): Played on the left side of central defence and showed a clear understanding of shifting, covering, and spatial occupation. He maintained constant awareness of positioning and opposition passing lanes. His body shape and ability to turn quickly made him dependable against physical forwards and during crosses. On the ball, he provided calm to the back line, offering secure options and helping the team play out through short, simple passes.
Diego Aguado (RB): Operated as a full-back capable of playing on either flank and stood out for his speed and anticipation. He showed great poise on the ball and composure in one‑on‑one duels, which enabled him to initiate attacks from deep with accuracy. His tactical reading allowed him to position himself effectively in defence. Aguado looked agile and elegant, adapting well to both advanced and deeper defensive shapes, though he did not dominate aerially.
Cristian David (CDM) : Played as a defensive midfielder and occasionally dropped into the back line. He maintained excellent tactical discipline and positional sense, recovering multiple balls. His physical strength, intensity in duels, and quality on the ball gave balance to the midfield. He displayed good judgement in passing and sustained high work rate throughout the match.
Mesonero (CM): Displayed outstanding vision, passing range, and technical quality. He proved creative and mobile across different midfield zones, showing a fine first touch and control in tight spaces. He broke lines through both passes and carries. His tactical intelligence and reading of play were clear, though he needed to improve physical endurance. (Deep-lying playmaker)
Bruno Iglesias (CM): Gave balance to the side, even if not fully effective in the final third. His work rate and tactical involvement kept him influential during his time on the field.
Daniel Yañez (RW): Played as a left-footed winger starting from the right flank. He showed confidence and ability to unbalance defenders, relying on his one‑on‑one skill and sharp change of pace to attack space. His play was marked by verticality and intent, making intelligent choices on when to drive inside or combine to maintain attacking rhythm.
Castrelo (LW): Constantly offered himself as a passing outlet, moving between lines and linking play with speed. He showed excellent peripheral vision and decision-making. Whenever he received possession, he accelerated the move with a well‑oriented first touch and delivered through passes that broke Southampton’s defensive structure.
Álvaro Ginés (ST): It was not his best night in front of goal, but he worked tirelessly to press the opposing centre-backs. He drifted wide regularly to support the wingers and offer passing options, contributing defensively and in combination play.
Palacios: Made an impact coming off the bench thanks to his tactical intelligence and ability to find spaces between lines. He added rhythm and verticality, arriving effectively in the box. He struck well from medium range and showed vision to assist teammates. Technically refined and creative, he dribbled with precision and posed a threat in transition phases.
Thiago Pitarch : came from the bench and revolutionized the match with energy and personality, providing criteria in the movement of the ball. Showed good tactical reading, intelligence in the occupation of spaces and ability to arrive from second line. Scored a great goal, to overtake Castilla at a key moment, demonstrating technical quality and determination. He was participative in the recovery and distribution, helping to control the pace of the match in the second half. His performance showed potential to take responsibility in high-level youth matches, being differential in the crucial section
