Real Madrid Hoping To Get Third-Time Lucky

Denied on their first two attempts, Real Madrid are determined to get their name etched on the Hamdan Bin Mohammed U16 International Football Championship trophy this time around, but face stiff competition from the likes of reigning Brazil U16 champions CR Flamengo, 2016 finalist Borussia Dortmund of Germany, Egyptian powerhouses Al Ahly and PSV Eindhoven of Netherlands.

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council, and organised by the Dubai Sports Council, the Hamdan Bin Mohammed U16 International Football Championship is one of the best tournament of its kind, showcasing the world’s top young talents.

Foremost among the world’s football clubs and nurseries, Real Madrid reached the final on their debut here in 2015, the fifth edition of the tournament, but came up short against AC Milan in the title-clash, losing 1-2. The following year, they were shocked 3-4 by Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal, the eventual winners, in the semis.

Coming back, the Spaniards are hoping to they will be third-time lucky.

“As Real Madrid, and as one of the best clubs in the world, our goal always is to win the title,” said David Cuenca, the Real Madrid defender. “So that’s what we are here for. We are really thankful to Dubai Sports Council for the invitation and we are now looking forward to having a good tournament and living up to our expectations.”

Drawn in Group B alongside Dortmund and two Dubai clubs, Shabab Al Ahli Dubai and Al Nasr, Real will open their campaign against Shabab Al Ahli on April 11 and then take on Al Nasr on Friday before closing their group engagements on Sunday against Dortmund.

Group A comprises PSV and Flamengo, alongside Al Ahly and Dubai club Al Wasl, and the race for the two semi-final spots could be really close. The opening match of the group, and the tournament, itself could be a cracker with PSV taking on Al Ahly, followed by the clash between Flamengo and Wasl.

On Thursday, Flamengo, who are both the state and national under-16 champions, will take on Ahly in the first match of the evening, while PSV will meet Wasl in the second. And the final round of Group A matches on Saturday will see Wasl lock horns with Ahly and Flamengo take on PSV.

“We are always trying to be the best,” said Flamengo’s Gabriel Noga. “So our target here is to return home with the title. We are the Rio de Janeiro state U16 champions as well as the Brazil U16 champions, and we have a huge number of fans who will looking forward to us doing well here.”

“We are here to enjoy this experience and the tournament,” said Jalal Ahmed Faris of Al Ahly. “But that does not mean we are here to make up the numbers. Our goal is to reach the final and then, hopefully, go on to win the title.

“We know we are up against some of the biggest clubs in the world, but we are a big club as well and we have a huge fan-following. We know we are a good team, we believe in ourselves and we are here to compete for the title.”