Sporting CP made an aggressive start to UEFA Youth League matchday 5, showing a real determination to take the game 📈 to Real Madrid with some good movement in possession and high pressing without it. However, a strike from Sergio Diaz 📈 against the run of play really shook Tiago Fernandes's side and the team from the Spanish capital showed their maturity 📈 with some well controlled football.

The occasional turn of pace from Gutiérrez Hernández's outfit is what troubled Sporting's under-19's the most 📈 and on 38 minutes Hernando doubled Madrid's lead with a header. Pedro Marques had a half chance to pull Sporting 📈 CP back within a goal, but his shot straight at the keeper summed up what had been a frustrating first-half.

The 📈 break did prove useful for the Alvalade youngsters, who came out looking more aggressive and with a touch more pace 📈 going forward. Rafael Leão was somehow denied by Luca Zidane after an excellent dart down the left wing from Pedro 📈 Ferreira, before Rafael hammered a header against the bar. A goal really was deserved for Fernandes's charges and it finally 📈 came in the 69th minute, courtesy of Daniel Bragança after a pass from Pedro Ferreira that Pedro Marques could have 📈 first converted on.

Sporting CP's rally was dealt an extremely harsh blow by a couple of debatable decisions from the referee, 📈 which saw Real Madrid break forward and net a third through Franchu (73’).

Despite the loss, Tiago Fernandes's side still hold 📈 their fate in their own hands, with a win in Poland against Legia Warsaw on matchday 6 enough to secure 📈 qualification for the next round.