The big day is here. The day every team dreams of playing. This Monday 28 April, the UEFA Youth League will crown its champion. Many have fallen along the way, and only two teams remain: FC Barcelona and Trabzonspor. Catalans and Turks will battle for the Lennart Johansson Trophy in the Swiss city of Nyon.

Difficult opponent

The challenge is enormous. Trabzonspor have not lost a single match nor ever trailed on the scoreboard during their fairy tale Youth League campaign. They started their journey through the domestic champions' route, unlike Barça, who entered through the group stage. Trabzonspor also battled through two knockout rounds to reach the final, eliminating the Italian trio of Juventus, Atalanta and Inter, as well as Salzburg along the way to the club's first appearance in a continental final of any kind.

They have done so with the strength of their passionate supporters, who have travelled in large numbers to the shores of Lake Geneva among the Alps. After breaking the Youth League attendance record against Inter, with 40,368 spectators at the Şenol Güneş Spor Kompleksi, they once again filled the Colovray Sports Centre for the semifinal against Salzburg. Their goalscorers Yiğit Kemal Turan and Boran Başkan, along with a crucial penalty save by goalkeeper Erol Can Çolak, secured their place in the final.

Cakiroglu is another key player for this compact and defensive side. He brings a touch of quality to a rock-solid team, with four goals and two assists so far. 

Confidence

But Juliano Belletti's might be their toughest challenge yet. As Landry Farré emphasised in the build-up, Barça will need to show their best form and impose their playing style, and moments of suffering are expected, just like in the 1-0 semifinal win over AZ Alkmaar, but those experiences have strengthened this team. Barça have learned to endure in continental competition while showcasing their talent and control with the ball.

Work ethic and talent are two cornerstones of this U19A side, who want to cap off a dream season with another trophy. Having already won the Copa del Rey and the league title, they are eager to bring the UEFA Youth League crown back to the club’s trophy room — a title they last lifted in 2017/18. Players like Yaakobishvili, Xavi Espart, Landry himself, Quim Junyent, Jan Virgili, Arnau Pradas, and Hugo Alba are all part of the plan to become the first team to win the competition three times.

Força Barça