Tournament recap
The 2025 edition of the Ascale LaLiga FC Futures National Tournament unfolded at the sleek Estadio de la Cerámica, Villarreal’s home ground. While the venue suggested a home‑advantage storyline for Villarreal CF, the drama belonged to Espanyol. The Catalan side edged past Sevilla FC in a nerve‑wracking penalty shootout to win the title.
Both finalists fought hard through regular time and extra time, but neither could break the deadlock. When the spot‑kick round began, Espanyol’s composure shone through, ultimately sealing a 5‑4 victory. The win handed the club its third Futures championship, adding a fresh chapter to its youth development legacy.
Sevilla FC, despite the loss, showcased a promising crop of youngsters who will likely break into first‑team action soon. Meanwhile, Valencia CF and Real Madrid rounded out the top four, each finishing strongly in the third‑place play‑off and the consolation match respectively.
Beyond the team triumphs, individual accolades sparked talk among scouts. Gorka Cantín emerged as both joint top scorer and tournament MVP, a rare double that underscored his attacking flair. On the defensive end, Martí Rey earned the best goalkeeper award, making crucial saves that kept Espanyol in contention throughout the competition.
The tournament also highlighted the growing importance of the FC Futures platform in Spanish football. By gathering the nation’s top youth talent in a competitive setting, clubs can benchmark their academies and give young players a taste of high‑pressure matches.
While Villarreal CF didn’t lift the cup, hosting the event reinforced the stadium’s reputation as a modern venue capable of staging major youth tournaments. The club’s youth side will look to build on the experience and aim for a stronger finish next season.
Espanyol really showed heart out there! That penalty shootout was pure tension. Gorka Cantín? Absolute beast. This is why youth tournaments matter - future stars are being forged right now. 🙌
Gorka Cantín is the future!! 😍🔥 Best part? He didn’t even celebrate after the winning penalty. Just nodded and walked off like it was nothing. Class act.
You win with your head, not just your feet. Football is life. Life is pain. Pain is growth. Espanyol didn’t just win a trophy - they won the right to keep believing.
Oh please. 'Composure shone through'? More like Sevilla got robbed by a ref who was probably on his 3rd coffee. You think a 5-4 penalty score is fair? Yeah right.
Martí Rey was a wall 🧱👏 Gorka carried the team. Espanyol academy is cooking
Did you know the tournament was moved last minute because someone at LaLiga got a tip that Espanyol’s coach was secretly funded by a Catalan separatist group? The whole thing was staged to boost their image. They’ve been doing this since 2018. Look up the flight logs. And why is Villarreal always hosting? Coincidence? I think not.
I’m not crying, you’re crying. When Gorka stepped up for the 5th penalty and just… calmly buried it? I lost it. I was in my car. I screamed. My dog barked. My neighbor called the cops. That’s football. That’s why we’re here. That’s why we bleed for this game. Espanyol didn’t just win - they gave us a memory we’ll carry forever.