UEFA Youth League semi-final preview: Benfica vs Club Brugge, Real Madrid vs Paris Saint-Germain

The UEFA Youth League semi-finals are played on Friday at Stade de la Tuilière, Lausanne, which is hosting the finals due to renovation works at the regular Swiss venue, Colovray Stadium in Nyon.

Benfica, winners in 2022, take on first-time semi-finalists Club Brugge before 2020 champions Real Madrid face former runners-up Paris Saint-Germain. We preview the ties as the teams aim for Monday's final.

Benfica vs Club Brugge

Benfica are in a record-equalling fifth semi-final and will bid to maintain their perfect run of last-four victories from 2014, 2017, 2020 and 2022 – when they claimed their first title. They have already broken the single-season best for goals in this competition, racking up 38, two more than the 11-year-old record held by Chelsea (who were the only side to inflict defeat on Benfica in their run this season, 5-2 on Matchday 2).

Club Brugge have built their own campaign on solidity; no one conceded fewer than the three they let in during the league phase, when they were behind second-placed Benfica only on goal difference. They had to come back from two down to beat Monaco 3-2 in the round of 32 but since then Club Brugge have kept clean sheets away to Žilina and Atlético de Madrid, the latter a stunning 4-0 success that ensured the first Belgian semi-finalists since Anderlecht in 2014/15 and 2015/16.

Gonçalo Moreira (who like Francisco Silva has nine goals in Benfica's run) is returning from quarter-final suspension and is fresh from his senior league debut on Sunday, though they will be missing banned midfielder Rafael Quintas. Club Brugge are similarly without Lucas Delorge and Naim Amengai but Gianluca Okon – an Italy Under-17 midfielder, son of an Australian international and brother of an ex-Benfica player – is available after his own quarter-final suspension.

Gonçalo Moreira, Benfica forward: "We don't want to stop here, but we have our heads in the right place and we want to play this semi-final as if it were the game of a lifetime so that we can achieve our next objective."

Vítor Vinha, Benfica coach: "Reaching this final four is a sign that we’ve done well to get this far, having played with great quality, a lot of perseverance and plenty of ambition. So, we’re feeling good right now.

"We’re up against a Brugge side that, like us, has eight wins and one defeat. They have the best defence in the competition, but they’re a team that concede a few chances and could have conceded more goals throughout this competition. We have the best attack, which is excellent news, but [on Friday] that won’t count for much."

Wouter Goemaere, Club Brugge captain: "We never stop, we stay disciplined, and we want to play attractive, attacking football. As captain, I'm incredibly proud and it's fantastic to be part of this final tournament. This will be our toughest match yet. We'll need to play with real maturity, but we certainly have the quality."

Yanis Musuayi, Club Brugge forward: "This is one of the very best competitions, so the match will come down to the fine details. Focus will be key. We'll need to be clinical. I hope I can help the team by getting on the scoresheet, but the win is the only thing that matters."

Real Madrid vs Paris Saint-Germain 

Ten years on from Paris beating Real Madrid 3-1 at this stage – the only time the French club have previously made the finals – these teams face off again. Madrid, like Benfica in their fifth semi-final and looking for a second title, cruised through the league phase in fourth with 15 points, and count among their knockout victims table-toppers Chelsea.

Paris were only 13th in the league phase yet picked up convincing home wins against Atalanta, Bayern München and Tottenham Hotspur. They have subsequently earned similarly impressive defeats of Dinamo-Minsk and HJK Helsinki prior to showing their defensive strength in prevailing 1-0 at Villarreal, and warmed up last weekend by winning a friendly 3-1 against Liverpool Under-21s.

In attack Pierre Mounguengue (5 goals, 5 assists) and Adam Ayari (5 goals) have both been training with the PSG senior side. However, Madrid can boast the likes of winger Daniel Yañez, who has already made several La Liga outings, though Roberto Martín is injured and fellow midfielder Thiago Pitarch has ceased to be eligible after passing three UEFA Champions League appearances.

Carlos Díez, Real Madrid midfielder: "We know what it means to represent this club in European competition; we know the history this club has, and so we’re going to take the field with the same determination as if it were the last game of our lives, to defend this badge and try to win so we can reach the final.

"We know [Paris] are a very physical team, a team that's going to make things very difficult for us, a team that play very well. So we have to match them in intensity and determination, and do what we do best with the ball. That way, we'll try to win the game."

Daniel Yáñez, Real Madrid forward: "We need to give 100%, everyone needs to stick together: those on the field, those coming on later, and those not playing. That’s what we’ve shown in every match we’ve played in the Youth League, and we’ll definitely keep doing it because we’re one big family.

"Those of us who play here don't feel the pressure of being at Real Madrid; we just want to compete in this important tournament. On the contrary, it gives us extra motivation to show what we're made of, that's what we carry inside us and what we've been taught ever since we arrived here."

Dimitri Lucea, Paris defender: "We're not going to let this name [Real Madrid] intimidate us. We’re going to show them on the pitch, on that bit of turf, so to speak, that the most deserving [team] will be decided on that bit of turf.

"I saw [Madrid] a little bit against Marseille in the league phase and knockout phase. I also saw them against Sporting. I’m not surprised because it’s Real Madrid and they always offer high-level football. I think it’s going to be a tough match for both teams."

Pierre Mounguengue, Paris forward: "PSG-Real Madrid is a great fixture, and that’s what we’re working for every day. We’ve been working since the start of the season for a big game like this. We know that we’ll be ready on matchday.

"The atmosphere is great within the squad. We didn’t all know each other at the start of the season, but we’ve created bonds."