Soccer System: All the Skills, One Player!

The days following the Champions Youth League draw were marked by a change in training intensity.

The match against Real Madrid wasn't just a knockout game, it was a definitive proof of Brighton's level in the Champions Youth League.

For several days after training, Eddie and Jimenez gathered the players in the institute's video room to study the Real Madrid Under-20s. The lights were dimmed, and a video of the Spaniards' best moments played.

"Now, pay attention," Eddie began, crossing his arms. "They're fast, technical, and have players already tested in professional soccer. But that doesn't mean they're unbeatable."

On screen, the Real Madrid team dominated opponents with possession and an aggressive attacking style. Their midfield worked with short, quick passes, while the forwards were lethal in transition. The first name to appear was Óscar Rodríguez, the team's number 10.

"Óscar Rodríguez is the brain of the midfield. He dictates the pace of the game, has an excellent pass and shoots very well from a medium distance. If we leave him free, we won't have any volume. Felix, you must become a demon to him."

The next highlight was right-winger Achraf Hakimi. Even though he was young, he was already part of the Real Madrid Castilla first team.

"Hakimi is a speed monster and loves to get forward from the wings," continued Alex. "If Loki or Aidan leave any space, he'll exploit it mercilessly."

In defense, the duo comprised Manu Hernando and Álex Martín, both strong and good in the air. But the name that worried Eddie most was on the front line: Borja Mayoral.

"That's the biggest danger," Eddie pointed to the screen, where Borja was scoring against Atlético de Madrid. "He's already got professional experience, with a keen eye for goal and impeccable positioning. Our defense needs to be alert."

Lucas watched everything in silence, recording every detail in his mind. The opponents were formidable, but the names weren't as daunting as those of the first team.

Knowing that Real Madrid could have more possession at various points in the game, Brighton needed to be lethal on the counter-attacks. So, in training, they started practicing that. Felix, Luiz Fernando and Daniel Riber spent hours practicing cover and anticipation of a simulated attack that mimicked Borja Mayoral's movements, and also to set up the play and make good passes.

In midfield, Lucas and Javier were instructed to press Óscar Rodríguez, but Felix was supposed to be the one who would always disturb him.

"If he can't set up the play, Real Madrid loses half the danger," Jimenez said repeatedly.

Meanwhile, Miguel, Raphael and Arthur worked transition moves with quick passes and constant movement. Brighton would not win this game by defending alone, so it was crucial to create chances.

Anton, the goalkeeper, was given special training to deal with long-range shots, as Óscar Rodríguez and Borja Mayoral loved to take their chances from outside the box.

The mood in the team had changed. The fear of the initial draw had disappeared. Now there was just one thought: we're ready to fight.

Eddie and Jimenez had turned Brighton's training center into a tactical laboratory. On the walls of the dressing room, diagrams of the Real Madrid Under-20s covered every inch: 4-3-3 formations, statistics on shots per game, even the movement patterns of the rival goalkeeper.

The night before the game, Lucas was walking down the corridor of the hotel where they were staying in Madrid. His mind was so agitated that he couldn't think about sleeping.

Lucas was pacing back and forth, thinking about something. The clock was just past midnight, and he knew he needed to rest, but his mind was restless.

He stopped in front of the window at the end of the corridor, looking out at the city of Madrid lit up below. The Santiago Bernabéu was not far away, but the match would take place at Ciudad Real Madrid.

"Looking forward to it?"

Lucas turned and saw Javier approaching, wearing a sweatshirt with the Brighton symbol on the chest. The midfielder stopped next to him, crossing his arms as he stared at the view.

"Maybe a bit. Can you sleep before games like this?"

"Not a bit..." Javier laughed. "I'm in my country, playing against the club I supported as a child and always dreamed of playing for. It's a mixed feeling."

Lucas nodded. "Real Madrid is strong, but so are we."
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"And you know what? They're nervous too. Maybe they don't show it, but they know that tomorrow they'll be facing a team that won't give up easily."

Lucas looked at Javier and smiled. "Then let's go all out on them."

The two of them were silent for a few moments, just looking out over the bustling city.

"Well, I'm going to get some sleep," Javier finally said, patting Lucas on the shoulder before walking away. "You should try too. Tomorrow, we have the biggest game of our lives so far."

Lucas stood there for a few more minutes before finally going back to his room. He lay on his bed and closed his eyes, trying to calm his mind.

In fact, the next day would be the most important of his journey so far. And he felt he was ready for a challenge of this magnitude.

On the morning of the big game, the atmosphere in the hotel was full of anticipation. There was none of the usual banter or excited chatter. Just the sound of cutlery clattering against plates and the occasional whisper.

Lucas was slowly chewing his breakfast. He looked around and saw his companions were equally focused.

Jimenez entered the hall and caught everyone's attention with a light clap of his hands.

"Finishing our meal, final tactical meeting in the conference room. I want everyone there in fifteen minutes."

Lucas quickly finished his coffee and headed for the room showed. When everyone had gathered, Eddie and Jimenez positioned themselves at the front, with a whiteboard next to them.

"Gentlemen, we've come this far because we've worked hard. This game is the biggest chance many of you will ever have to show the world what you're made of. Real Madrid may be a powerhouse, but let's remember something essential: they're human like us and they're not professional players yet. And that's what we're going to focus on," said Eddie.

Jimenez took the floor, pointing to a tactical scheme on the board.

"Real Madrid will try to dictate the tempo from the start. But we've already studied that. We know how to disrupt their transition and stop them taking over."

In the blink of an eye, after getting on the bus, they were in a changing room at Ciudad Real Madrid. The Brighton players were making their final preparations. The sounds of cleats clacking against the floor, the rustle of tapes being adjusted, the last words of encouragement being exchanged.

Lucas tied the laces of his boots and closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. He stood up and looked at his teammates.

"Whatever happens out there, we're a team. We're going to fight until the last second, because we know what we're capable of. Real Madrid may have a big name, but on the pitch, it's eleven against eleven."

Anton patted his chest and smiled. "We're going to make history. We're going to take that home advantage with us."

Raphael raised his fist. "They'll remember Brighton."

Eddie walked into the dressing room and looked at the players. "It's time. Let's go."

The pitch at Ciudad Real Madrid was immaculate. The stands weren't packed, but there were a considerable number of spectators, journalists and club scouts there to watch the match.

Lucas stepped onto the pitch and looked around. The Real Madrid team was already there, warming up, passing the ball around with impressive fluidity. Óscar Rodríguez was clearly good at passing, while Achraf Hakimi was making short sprints down the side of the pitch, testing his speed.

Borja Mayoral stood near the penalty area, watching his teammates intently, like a predator on the prowl. He didn't need to attract attention; his presence was enough to show the danger he posed.

Goalkeeper Moha Ramos was shouting instructions to his defenders, Manu Hernando and Álex Martín, who were doing defensive movement drills.

Lucas looked away from his teammates. Brighton was not to be outdone.

Eddie and Jimenez were standing on the sideline, exchanging low remarks as they looked out over the pitch. The head coach then approached the assembled group and clapped his hands to get their attention.

"It's almost time. You know what to do. Keep a cool head and trust in what we've trained."

The referee called the captains to the pitch. Lucas looked at his teammates, who nodded, and he went over to the referee. Hakimi did the same, then the referee started speaking the normal procedures in English.

The two exchanged a quick handshake before the referee tossed the coin. Real Madrid won the toss and chose to start with the ball. Meanwhile, Lucas chose for them to start on the left side of the pitch.