Chapter 582: Top Assassin Cristiano Ronaldo
Casemiro's goal once again plunged the match into uncertainty. After Manchester City took the lead, they had started trying to control the game's pace, using their trademark possession style to gradually wear down Real Madrid's morale and run out the clock.
However, Casemiro's goal threw all of that into disarray. The score was back to level, and Manchester City could no longer stick to their original plan. Moreover, Real Madrid's morale soared because of Casemiro's goal, and they realized that breaking down Manchester City's defense wasn't as difficult as they had initially thought.
City's defense was indeed strong, but Casemiro's unexpected goal showed that, with the right opportunity, it was still possible to score. Now, how to create and seize such opportunities would depend on the on-the-spot performance of Real Madrid's stars.
Having succeeded once, Modric deliberately shifted more of the play to the left side. Benzema, who had just played a key role in setting up a goal, was now fired up. After receiving a pass from Modric, he looked particularly active, frequently attempting to create chances on the wing through his individual skills.
Earlier, Benzema had been struggling against City's duo of Van Dijk and Stones, who had shut him down in the center. But now, moving to the wing, he felt a sense of freedom, like a fish swimming in a wide sea or a bird flying in the open sky. Compared to the congested center, the wing's defense was lighter, and as long as he didn't force his way into crowded areas, most of the time, he found himself in advantageous one-on-one situations.
Benzema's footwork was excellent, and combined with his strength as a center-forward, he had a clear advantage in physical confrontations. Unlike typical wingers who would take the ball to the byline and cross, Benzema preferred to operate near the edge of the box, in areas where he was close enough to his teammates who could move into the box. This type of play posed a much greater threat to City's goal than a regular winger's crosses.
In these ten minutes, Benzema made several attempts on the wing, succeeding three times and failing twice. Of the three successes, one resulted in a goal, one in a shot, and another in a cross that was cleared by a City defender.
Had City's goalkeeper not been alert and saved Ronaldo's volley, Real Madrid might have already taken the lead.
During this period, Real Madrid's attack was relentless. With constant support from the midfield trio, they kept pressing forward wave after wave, gradually forming a siege around City's goal.
Manchester City's defense was under immense pressure, and even when they managed to clear the ball, it quickly fell back into the feet of Real Madrid players, who would resume their attack.
The Real Madrid fans in the stands were ecstatic. This was the way to play! This was the true strength of Real Madrid.
"What European champions? In front of Real Madrid, they have no choice but to kneel!"
Thanks to the overwhelming support of his teammates, Ronaldo had multiple chances to shoot during this period. However, his luck seemed off. His shots were either brilliantly saved by the goalkeeper or too ambitious, narrowly missing the post.
But Ronaldo had a feeling—he was getting closer to scoring his second goal.
Sometimes, players' instincts are very accurate.
In the 69th minute, Manchester City cleared the ball and attempted to push their lines forward, but while Gundogan was carrying the ball and looking for options, he was suddenly pressed by Modric. Modric didn't immediately win the ball but forced Gundogan into a hasty back-pass. As he did so, a white figure dashed in and intercepted the ball before the Manchester City player could react—it was Gareth Bale!
City tried to regroup and reclaim possession, but Bale's path was almost entirely blocked. However, Modric didn't return to the center after pressing Gundogan. Instead, like a winger, he moved out to the flank.
Bale saw a white blur pass by him and, without thinking twice, passed the ball over.
Modric received it without stopping or adjusting. After a quick glance into the box, and just before being shoved off balance by a City defender, he sent a pass into the danger zone.
Modric's pass was incredibly tricky, landing between City's goalkeeper and three of their defenders. None of the four closest City players could get to the ball in time. Instead, a player who had sprinted into the gap with impeccable off-the-ball movement and sharp instincts met the ball just as it hit the ground and volleyed it into the back of the net.
The scorer? Real Madrid's number 7—Cristiano Ronaldo!
The goal didn't look spectacular. It seemed like all Ronaldo had to do was extend his foot and tap it in. But in truth, scoring a goal like this was extremely difficult. It required exceptional shooting technique, top-level instincts, excellent off-the-ball movement, and perfect anticipation of where the ball would land.
Only a handful of forwards in the entire football world could pull off a goal like that.
It might not have been as visually stunning as the solo goals where players like Lin Quan or Messi dribble past multiple defenders, but any true football fan could appreciate the skill behind Ronaldo's goal.
He was a superstar for a reason—it wasn't just hype.
After scoring, Ronaldo was visibly ecstatic. He felt that this goal might very well decide the match, potentially leading Real Madrid to another Champions League trophy!
On the sidelines, Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane, who had been calmly watching with his hands in his pockets, suddenly clenched his fists, bent his knees, and let out a loud roar when he saw Ronaldo score.
At that moment, all thoughts of composure and dignity were thrown out the window. Who cared about composure or what people thought of him? His team was on the verge of winning the title!
Everyone at Real Madrid understood the significance of that goal. As Ronaldo rushed to celebrate by the sidelines, even players on the bench and some club staff ran over to join in the wild celebration.
At Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, it felt as though the Real Madrid fans had taken over. Despite being outnumbered by City fans, the noise and energy they generated far surpassed the opposition.
Both those in the stands and Real Madrid supporters watching on TV were celebrating in unison.
Could Real Madrid finally be about to claim their tenth Champions League trophy?
They had been waiting for this moment for fifteen years!
After winning their ninth European Cup in the 2001-2002 season, countless Real Madrid fans had been hoping to lift the tenth trophy. But despite gathering a squad of top players and building the legendary Galácticos, Real Madrid still fell short, even entering a period of decline after the first Galáctico era ended, with years of early exits in the Round of 16.
Over the years, Real Madrid spent huge sums in the transfer market, bringing in one star after another, and they went through multiple coaches. Yet in the Champions League, they kept losing, first to Barcelona at their peak and later to the rise of Manchester City.
That elusive tenth trophy always seemed just out of reach.
But now, they saw hope!
Victory was within their grasp, and Real Madrid fans could almost feel the trophy calling to them.
"Damn it!"
Guardiola kicked a water bottle in frustration as he saw his team concede another goal.
The fourth official glanced at him, but seeing Guardiola's miserable expression, chose not to intervene.
Guardiola was furious, though not entirely at his players, despite the fact that they did bear some responsibility for the conceded goal.
The greater fault, however, lay with him.
Earlier, when Bale had repeatedly attacked City's left flank, Guardiola had considered making a substitution. He had planned to bring on Fernandinho to replace Gundogan and strengthen the defense.
Gundogan had played well, but he wasn't a specialized defensive midfielder, so he couldn't be expected to do everything.
Fernandinho, however, was different. If he had come on, City would have had two midfielders who could sweep up danger, effectively stifling Real Madrid's midfield play.
However, this substitution would have shifted almost all of City's creative burden onto Lin Quan and David Silva. With Kante and Fernandinho focused primarily on defense, it would have been risky to expect much from them offensively.
That hesitation caused Guardiola to delay, and in those ten minutes, City conceded two goals, completely reversing the game.
From being in the lead, Manchester City had now fallen behind.
Now, City not only had to defend against intense pressure, but they also needed to mount a comeback.
Real Madrid could easily continue their aggressive attacks or, like City had done earlier, slow the game down, defend solidly, and run down the clock.
After Ronaldo scored his second goal, the balance of the game had shifted completely.
Guardiola wasn't one to dither. Having recognized the defensive issues, he quickly decided to make substitutions—two at once, in fact!
Fernandinho came on for Gundogan. Leroy Sané replaced Sergio Agüero.
If the first substitution was logical, the second one left many puzzled.
Sané was a winger, so who would play striker for City now?
The answer was Kylian Mbappé!
What shocked fans even more was that Guardiola didn't place Fernandinho in his usual defensive midfield role. Instead, Fernandinho was sent to play as a full-back, and City's formation shifted to an unorthodox 5-1-3-1.
Fans were baffled. What kind of formation was this?
Even Manchester City fans couldn't make sense of it.
Was it a back three?
It didn't seem like it! City only had two center-backs, one holding midfielder, and two full-backs. Could this really work as a three-at-the-back system?
And Sané? Wasn't his position strange? Based on this formation, he should be playing as a left midfielder, but he seemed to be positioned more like a left winger.
But the biggest question mark was Mbappé. He was only 18 years old, and primarily a winger. Could he really play as a central striker?
Fans were confused, genuinely confused.
Some began wondering if Guardiola's infamous tendency to overcomplicate things had struck again, and not just a little—this time, he had gone all out.
Seeing City's change in formation, Zidane couldn't help but frown.
What exactly was Guardiola planning?
Why was Fernandinho, such a good defensive midfielder, being used as a full-back? Wasn't that a waste of his talent?
It wasn't that pulling David Silva into a central role was a bad idea—Silva had excellent playmaking skills. But in this position, the pressure from Real Madrid's pressing would be far greater than on the wing. Could Silva handle that?
As for whether Mbappé could play as a striker, Zidane wasn't sure. But based on what Mbappé had shown so far, his explosiveness was certainly a threat.
In the stands, France's national team coach Didier Deschamps sat up straight when he saw Guardiola's changes.
Deschamps was very interested in Guardiola's tactics, but even more so in Mbappé's performance as a striker.
He had no doubts about Guardiola's talent-spotting ability. If Guardiola was doing this, there had to be a reason.
Deschamps was eager to see what surprises Mbappé might deliver in this new role.
In one of the executive boxes, Real Madrid's president, Florentino Pérez, finally relaxed after his team took the lead.
Like Deschamps, he watched Mbappé's performance closely.
There were three players on City's team that Pérez was most interested in.
The first was Lin Quan, the second was Mbappé, and the third was N'Golo Kanté.
Bringing Lin Quan to Madrid seemed almost impossible, and with Casemiro playing well, the club wasn't desperate for Kanté.
But Mbappé? For Real Madrid, this was someone they were very eager to sign.
With Bale getting older and more injury-prone, and with Ronaldo gradually transitioning from winger to striker, Real Madrid was running out of true wingers.
A young, talented, and fast winger like Mbappé, with immense potential, seemed tailor-made for Real Madrid.
Florentino was excited to see more of Mbappé's abilities, though naturally, he hoped that Real Madrid would still win in the end.
With curiosity, skepticism, and excitement in the air, the match resumed.
Would Manchester City's tactical shift pay off? Only time would tell.
As play restarted, Real Madrid's players quickly noticed that something had changed about their opponents.
Despite only two substitutions, it felt as if City had become a completely different team. (End of chapter)
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