December 11, Leeds Amazon Stadium.
In the final round of the Champions League group stage, Leeds United hosted Borussia Dortmund.
Both teams had already secured qualification, so the match was destined to be more of a formality, a tactical exercise rather than a contest for points. The result would not affect the standings.
Leeds United had won all five of their previous group matches, collecting 15 points. Dortmund followed with 10. Even a loss wouldn't change Leeds United's position at the top of the group.
Because of this, both sides approached the match with a relaxed attitude.
Dortmund remained a strong opponent, and Pochettino used the opportunity to test new tactical ideas.
From the very beginning, Leeds United lined up differently from their usual system.
The attacking trident consisted of Vinicius, Haaland, and Rodrygo, while the midfield featured Foden, Tchouaméni, and Enzo Fernández.
The back line from left to right was Alphonso Davies, Gvardiol, Militao, and Achraf Hakimi, with Ramsdale in goal.
From this lineup, it was clear that Leeds United weren't going all out. Bruno Fernandes, Declan Rice, and the two main center-backs were all rested. Even Sancho, one of the team's standout performers this season, started on the bench.
However, it was evident right from kick-off that Leeds United had made tactical adjustments.
On paper, Pochettino's team appeared to play a 4-3-3, but in reality, their structure shifted dynamically during possession.
When attacking, Gvardiol and Militao spread wide. Both were around 1.85 meters tall, quick, and strong in one-on-one duels. Gvardiol was left-footed, Militao right-footed, which gave balance to the back line.
At that moment, Tchouaméni would drop deeper between them to form a temporary three-man defense.
This shape gave both full-backs, Davies and Hakimi, the license to push far forward, operating almost as wingers.
Leeds United didn't push their entire shape too high, but Vinicius and Rodrygo frequently drifted inward to occupy the half-spaces, allowing the overlapping full-backs to attack down the flanks.
Haaland often dropped deep to receive the first ball during counterattacks, distributing it quickly before surging forward again.
Under these conditions, Leeds United started aggressively, immediately launching waves of attacks.
Dortmund also rotated their lineup but not as heavily. Reus, Weigl, and Witsel all started, giving the visitors solid experience in midfield.
Both teams played at a high tempo, producing an open and fierce battle.
In the 14th minute, Haaland dropped deep to receive a pass from Militao, held off a defender, and played it out wide to Hakimi.
The Moroccan full-back sprinted down the right wing before sending the ball to Rodrygo, who drove diagonally toward the edge of the box. Drawing defenders toward him, he then cut inside sharply.
At the same time, Haaland made a diagonal run toward the right side of the box, pulling both Dortmund center-backs with him.
Rodrygo seized the moment, curling a diagonal pass across the box toward the left.
Vinicius arrived at full speed, met the ball first time, and struck it cleanly with his right foot into the far corner.
The ball flew past the goalkeeper and slammed into the net.
"Goalllllllllllllllll!"
The entire Amazon Stadium erupted.
The giant circular screen above the pitch flashed the goal signal, the booming sound effects echoing across the stands. Phones buzzed with notifications, but inside the stadium, no one looked down. Every fan was on their feet, cheering wildly.
Even the most composed ones couldn't hold back.
Almost the instant Vinicius scored, Gao Shen jumped from his seat, clapping and shouting his approval.
It was a beautifully constructed goal.
Haaland's movement was just as important as the final finish.
"That positioning was fantastic!" Ferguson exclaimed.
Many focused on Rodrygo's brilliant pass, but Haaland's run had dragged both Akanji and Hummels away, creating the space Vinicius needed to score.
Without Haaland's decoy run, that opportunity might never have opened up.
"That's exactly how the system works," Gao Shen said with a grin.
He was referring to the artificial intelligence system used to evaluate off-the-ball movement.
For the first time in world football, player positioning without the ball was being measured, analyzed, and improved scientifically.
At only 19, Haaland showed remarkable intelligence in his runs, with the AI data helping him refine that further.
"Sometimes his positioning surprises even me," Wenger added, nodding. "And he's only 19."
Many strikers relied on experience to develop movement off the ball, but Haaland seemed born with it.
"He's trying so hard tonight," Gao Shen said, smiling faintly. "He really wants to score, but luck just isn't with him."
Ten minutes into the match, Haaland had already taken several shots. One went just wide, two were saved by the keeper. His energy was high, but the finishing wasn't clicking.
That was normal. Strikers often found that the more they chased a goal, the further away it seemed.
And that's how goal droughts often began.
Leeds United kept pressing, but their experimental setup left defensive gaps, and Dortmund took advantage.
After a quick counterattack, Leeds initially cleared the danger, but the ball bounced awkwardly in the box. Brandt pressed Gvardiol, forcing an error. Schulz poked the ball forward, and Reus reacted quickest, firing past Ramsdale to make it 1-1.
Only 23 minutes had passed.
Neither side slowed down. With no pressure on the result, both continued attacking freely.
In the 31st minute, Alphonso Davies and Foden combined down the left. Vinicius received the ball, lifted his head, and crossed toward Haaland.
The Norwegian controlled it and tried to create space for a shot.
Dortmund's defenders, aware of his hunger for a goal, closed him down quickly. Akanji lunged in, but Haaland beat him with a feint. Hummels covered from behind, blocking his preferred left-foot angle.
With no clear shot, Haaland shifted right and played a clever through ball.
Rodrygo, bursting in behind left-back Guerreiro, latched onto it and calmly slotted past Bürki.
2-1!
Leeds United were back in front.
The Amazon Stadium erupted again.
Haaland ran to celebrate with his teammates, but as the camera zoomed in, his expression betrayed frustration.
He wanted that goal for himself.
One more goal would make him the player with the most goals in a single Champions League group stage, surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo's record.
And Cristiano Ronaldo was his idol.
Before the match, Ronaldo had even tweeted encouragement to him.
But the more he tried, the harder it became.
Just before halftime, Alphonso Davies and Vinicius combined again down the left. Davies crossed perfectly from the byline. Haaland rose high and powered a shot toward goal, but Bürki got a fingertip to it. The ball struck the crossbar and bounced out.
A collective groan echoed through the stadium.
In the second half, his teammates made a conscious effort to help him.
Haaland soon got a golden chance from an Enzo Fernández pass, breaking into the box one-on-one. Forced onto his weaker right foot by Hummels, his shot hit the outside of the post and rolled wide.
More sighs from the stands.
It was the second time the woodwork denied him.
Tonight, Haaland seemed cursed by inches.
A little more luck, and he would already have had two or three goals.
The more desperate he became, the crueler fate seemed.
Time continued to slip away.
Camavinga came on for Foden, adding energy to midfield. The players closed in around Haaland, feeding him every chance possible.
He was well-liked in the team, even more than Mbappé had been the previous season, and everyone wanted to help him.
But luck was not on his side.
Chance after chance came and went.
Finally, Haaland looked up at the sky, teeth clenched, eyes full of frustration, as if asking the heavens, "Do I still have a chance?"
With the clock winding down, it seemed he wouldn't break Ronaldo's historic record after all.
(To be continued.)