After a long and impressive European campaign this season, Club NXT U19 has made history. Blue-Black made it to the finals of the UEFA Youth League and after a strong final battle was crowned the second best team in Europe. Although the ultimate crown remained just out of reach, the course taken deserves nothing but praise. Against the absolute top of European youth soccer, Club NXT U19 showed character, quality and maturity. An achievement to be particularly proud of.
Club NXT U19's European journey in the 2025-2026 season started promisingly with a home victory against AS Monaco U19, in which captain Laurens Goemaere made the difference from the spot. That good start continued in Italy, where Atalanta Bergamo U19 was beaten 0-2 thanks to two goals by Jesse Bisiwu. Also on location at Bayern Munich U19 , Blauw-Zwart impressed with a convincing 0-3 victory, after goals by Laurens Goemaere, Yanis Musuayi and Wout Verlinden and on top of that a third consecutive clean sheet for goalkeeper Argus Vanden Driessche.
At home against FC Barcelona U19 , Club continued its strong run. Tobias Lund Jensen opened the score, before Jakke Van Britsom put the decisive 2-0 on the board in an exciting closing phase. Four matches, four wins and not a single goal against: the numbers speak for themselves. The only defeat in the group stage followed on the field of Sporting CP U19, where Club lost 2-1 despite a late connecting goal from Yanis Musuayi. In the final group match against Arsenal U19, the team showed resilience. After falling behind early, Club NXT U19 still managed to salvage a 2-1 victory through goals by Yanis Musuayi and Jakke Van Britsom deep into extra time. With 15 out of 18 and only three goals against, Club NXT U19 finished a handsome third in the overall standings.
Blauw-Zwart also continued to impress in the knockout phase. In the round of 32 against AS Monaco U19, Club had to go deep after falling behind twice before halftime, but thanks to Tobias Lund Jensen and Laurens Goemaere, the score was equalized. The same Tobias Lund Jensen eventually gave Blauw-Zwart a deserved 3-2 victory. In the eighth finals, Club NXT U19 also eliminated MŠK Žilina U19, with a mature performance and a decisive goal by Tian Nai Koren after a rehearsed free kick. It marked a historic qualification for the quarterfinals of the UEFA Youth League.
In that, too, Club kept the level high. Atlético de Madrid U19, in the quarterfinals, was put behind before halftime with goals from Yanis Musuayi and Tian Nai Koren. In the closing stages of the second half, Jesse Bisiwu recorded the convincing 0-4 final score. In the semifinal against SL Benfica U19, Blauw-Zwart again confirmed its maturity. Laurens Goemaere, Andre Garcia and Yanis Musuayi ensured the lead and despite a late own goal the victory remained out of reach for the Portuguese: 1-3 in Lausanne.
In the final, Club NXT U19 eventually came up just a little short to take the crown. Despite a strong performance and a collective that kept fighting until the final whistle, Blauw-Zwart had to acknowledge its superiority to Real Madrid U19 after penalty kicks. A goal by Tobias Lund Jensen was not enough to take the victory and the cup back to Bruges. Disillusionment was present, but it quickly gave way to pride. With neat play, mental resilience and an impressive series of results against top European teams, Club NXT U19 proved that it belongs at the very highest level. This adventure ended without a trophy, but with heads held high, pride and a healthy hunger for more.
