The restart after Elian's equaliser felt electric. Camp Nou still buzzed with the aftershocks of that brilliant counter‑attack, the fans were cheering loudly now, singing praises to their team.
But this Real Madrid team couldn't be bothered less, they took possession of the ball, determined to close out the half on a high.
As the clock ticked into the forty‑first minute, Madrid's midfield pivot, Xavier López, received the ball from keeper Ignacio Figueroa and turned, scanning for the first passing lane.
He stared up ahead, not even bothering to look behind him. His mind was clear: keep the ball, probe for openings, and punish any Barcelona lapse.
López rolled the ball to Antonio Ruiz at right center‑back. Ruiz felt Barron's earlier instruction—never let Marin get comfortable—burning in his ears, and so he looked first for the safest option: Carlos, the defensive midfielder. Carlos's boots snapped around the pass with precision.
