Chapter 599: The Real Real Madrid
The impromptu on-field meeting quickly concluded, and the players dispersed to get ready for the restart. Real Madrid made a substitution, with the fourth official displaying the board: No. 11 Gareth Bale replaced Isco. Clearly, this was a signal to intensify their attack.
As Real Madrid was preparing for the kickoff, Cristiano Ronaldo heard Luka Modric calling him: "Cristiano." Ronaldo turned to look at Modric.
"Is Bruno difficult to handle?" Modric asked.
Ronaldo had repeatedly failed to break through Bruno's defense. Whenever he got the ball and Bruno was in front of him, Ronaldo generally opted to pass rather than attempt to dribble past him.
Ronaldo nodded, "He seems to always anticipate my moves. It's really difficult to go one-on-one against him..." Ronaldo felt a deep sense of admiration. He never expected his national teammate to be so formidable, not only in attack but also defensively.
Modric had observed this during the match. He noticed that, aside from the initial two attempts, Ronaldo had been unable to shake off Bruno's defense. Although Ronaldo, with age, had shifted from relying on his dribbling to being more of a finisher, his ability to break through defenses remained one of Real Madrid's key attacking assets.
With their attacking core being neutralized, it was no surprise that Real Madrid was trailing in the scoreline.
Having confirmed his suspicions, Modric reflected on the past two seasons. Ronaldo's exceptional form had created a dependency among the team, leading them to believe that as long as the ball reached him, all would be well. When facing difficult situations, teammates would habitually pass the ball to Ronaldo, relying on his skills to create opportunities.
But this reliance was based on the notion that "Ronaldo is the best one-on-one player in the world, and no one can defend him." Now that this best one-on-one player had met his match, they could no longer solely depend on him.
Modric gestured for Ronaldo to come closer and said, "You're too far from me. Come closer; let's use our teamwork to bypass him."
Ronaldo nodded.
Modric then spoke to Kroos, "You too, come closer."
Mourinho's strategy to deal with Ronaldo was straightforward: cut off the connection between Ronaldo and Modric or Kroos, forcing them to maintain a distance. Deprived of midfield support, Ronaldo was left to fight alone, making this defense highly effective. Historically, against Mourinho's teams, Ronaldo had only scored once in 14 matches.
For a player like Ronaldo, scoring just one goal in 14 matches against a particular coach's team was almost unbelievable, considering he typically scores over fifty goals a season. This could only be described as miraculous.
If Ronaldo could maintain an appropriate distance from Modric and Kroos, his threat would significantly increase.
Real Madrid's strength was not in the dribbling skills of one player but in their unbeatable passing and movement. Once they started passing the ball around, they would invariably find the weaknesses and gaps in any defense.
That's why Real Madrid fans were so shocked by Manchester United's second goal—it was executed in the style that Real Madrid itself was famous for.
The match resumed with Real Madrid in possession.
Fans and viewers quickly noticed a change in Real Madrid's approach, as did the commentators.
"Real Madrid has strengthened their attack... and the distance between their attacking players has shortened, facilitating Modric's passing..."
With shorter distances, Real Madrid's attack became more threatening.
Just a minute after the restart, Real Madrid organized an attack. Modric passed to Kroos, who then passed laterally to Ronaldo. The shorter distances ensured precise passing, making it hard for Manchester United players to intercept.
Even Bruno couldn't handle this alone. No matter how good he was one-on-one, he couldn't defend against three players moving quickly and passing skillfully.
After receiving the ball, Ronaldo dribbled diagonally as if to break through, drawing Bruno closer, then back-heeled the ball to Modric. Modric immediately passed to Kroos, who had moved to the wing. Instead of crossing, Kroos sent a low ball into the penalty area, where the newly substituted Bale received it.
"Beautiful!" the Spanish commentator exclaimed.
Real Madrid had moved the ball into the opponent's penalty area, bringing them close to scoring.
Bale turned and swept the ball to the center, where Benzema and Van Dijk clashed but failed to connect with the ball. It rolled to the far post.
"Cristiano Ronaldo!!" nearly all the commentators shouted in unison.
However, He Wei was different; he shouted another name: "Bruno!!"
Ronaldo took a direct shot at the far post, but the ball didn't reach the goal. Instead, it was deflected by Bruno's thigh.
In Real Madrid's rapid attack, Bruno couldn't always handle Ronaldo directly. But he knew that they would eventually try to get the ball to the goal, so he stationed himself near the goal.
Despite this defensive success, Bruno was not relieved. If Benzema had managed to tap the ball in, his efforts at the far post would have been in vain. Real Madrid had multiple attacking threats, not just Ronaldo.
Bruno didn't feel any satisfaction from this successful defense. Instead, beads of sweat formed on his forehead—not from exhaustion but from anxiety. Real Madrid's powerful attacks required constant vigilance. With thirty minutes left in the match, such defense had to continue.
Real Madrid's attacks inherently increased defensive pressure on Manchester United due to the constant threat of conceding a goal.
Bruno didn't know how long his teammates could withstand this pressure. His goal was to give his all in every defensive effort to prevent the opponent from succeeding.
Ronaldo, unfazed by the missed opportunity, signaled for a corner kick, rallying his teammates to prepare.
This unwavering determination was what made Real Madrid formidable. They hadn't lost their fighting spirit or composure.
Now, Real Madrid seemed to be in their true form!
Did the match really start now? It was a cliché thought, but it was Bruno's genuine feeling at that moment.
For Real Madrid fans, the real final indeed seemed to start now. They saw their familiar, invincible Real Madrid, the team that could end matches within thirty minutes if running smoothly.
This was the source of their confidence. Despite the match's ups and downs, they believed Real Madrid would ultimately prevail.
"Manchester United is indeed a strong opponent; I quite like them!"
"They deserve respect. Beating such a team makes Real Madrid's potential victory even more valuable!"
"This is an exciting final! Very exciting! Manchester United has given us enough trouble, but I believe we will win in the end!"
Fans spoke confidently, praising Manchester United to showcase their own winning demeanor.
Three minutes after falling behind for the second time, Real Madrid equalized again.
The goal was spectacular, as they practically passed the ball into the net!
Ronaldo, Modric, Kroos, Carvajal, and finally, the newly-substituted Gareth Bale completed the dazzling sequence with a bicycle kick, sending the ball into Manchester United's goal!
"Real Madrid! What a brilliant goal! This is the Real Madrid we know!"
"Gareth Bale! He scores! He equalizes for Real Madrid!"
"Manchester United's joy lasted only three minutes before the powerful Real Madrid bared their fangs!"
"Gareth Bale! This is the true 'Saint of Madrid.' He equalized just 122 seconds after coming on!"
"This is Real Madrid! This is the real Real Madrid!!"
"Manchester United's second goal was brilliant but somewhat complex, requiring two attempts. Real Madrid's goal, however, was seamless and straightforward—they were determined to score. The difference in class is clear!"
"What a beautiful goal! The preceding passes were stunning, and Bale's bicycle kick was even more so!"
Amid the celebrations, Real Madrid's players embraced tightly, as if they had already won.
(End of the chapter)
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