Chapter 587: Bruno vs. Ronaldo
Real Madrid had a goal kick. Navas kicked the ball far forward, where Casemiro controlled it in the center circle. He headed it down to Ramos. Ramos passed it to Varane, who started to advance with the ball.
As a central defender, Varane's forward runs were a part of Real Madrid's attacking strategy. In some ways, Varane was similar to Barcelona's Pique.
However, this time, Varane didn't continue his advance and instead passed the ball to Modric.
Once Modric had the ball, Real Madrid's attacking formation began to move. Bruno noticed that Ronaldo was always close to Modric and Kroos, maintaining a perfect distance.
He knew this was one of the reasons Ronaldo was so effective. To stop Ronaldo, they needed to cut off his connections with Modric and Kroos. But this wasn't something Bruno could do alone; it required the whole team's effort. His task was to freeze Ronaldo in one-on-one situations.
Kante was tasked with marking Modric. Seeing Modric receive the ball, Kante immediately pressured him, trying to stick to him.
The Croatian star quickly passed the ball to Ronaldo before Kante could get too close.
"Ronaldo has the ball!" the commentators and Real Madrid fans cheered excitedly.
Seeing Ronaldo with the ball calmed the nerves of Real Madrid's supporters, who were ready to cheer for a dazzling dribble or a goal. They trusted Ronaldo as much as Manchester United fans trusted Bruno.
Something was bound to happen now.
Ronaldo glanced up and saw Bruno standing in front of him.
"Ronaldo faces Bruno!"
At that moment, fans worldwide were thrilled. This was the first time these two Portuguese superstars, among the best players in the world, faced each other in a Champions League final.
Could Ronaldo get past Bruno? Could Bruno successfully defend against Ronaldo?
Ronaldo wasn't surprised to see Bruno and even felt a bit relieved—it made things easier. He was both familiar and unfamiliar with Bruno. Familiar because they were national teammates and shared the same agent, with a good private relationship. Unfamiliar because they rarely faced each other as opponents on the field.
Despite having played against Real Madrid four times, Bruno's position rarely brought him directly against Ronaldo.
But today was different. Bruno had taken on the task of defending Ronaldo, ensuring they would clash repeatedly on the field.
Ronaldo knew Bruno was outstanding—his past performances and worldwide acclaim were undeniable.
However, Ronaldo had rarely experienced Bruno's prowess as an opponent. Now, Ronaldo decided to test him out personally.
Ronaldo dribbled forward at a moderate pace, but as he approached Bruno, he suddenly flicked the ball to his right and accelerated.
In that moment, Bruno had one thought—how fast!
Even at 33, Ronaldo's speed was dazzling. He seemed to flash past Bruno, and by the time Bruno reacted, Ronaldo was almost behind him.
Ronaldo, tall and strong, was also agile with quick footwork and impressive speed.
Bruno, needing to turn, was at a disadvantage. By the time he turned around, Ronaldo had already left him behind.
Real Madrid fans and Spanish commentators cheered, "A clean dribble! That's Ronaldo!"
Meanwhile, Manchester United fans and Bruno supporters sighed in frustration. If Bruno couldn't stop Ronaldo, who else on the team could?
Bruno didn't give up. He turned and chased after Ronaldo, while Manchester United's defenders closed in, trying to contain him.
Seeing himself nearing a crowd of defenders, Ronaldo passed the ball.
Benzema received it on the wing, cut into the box, and took a shot, but with a narrow angle, De Gea easily saved it.
The shot and defense were unremarkable, but the focus remained on Ronaldo. His smooth dribble past Bruno was a perfect counter to Bruno's earlier move against Benzema.
Benzema gave Ronaldo a thumbs-up for his assist, and Ronaldo jogged back.
Bruno watched him, silently smiling. This was what he wanted—an elite opponent, a real challenge.
"…Bruno had to turn and chase, which slowed him down against Ronaldo. Ronaldo's speed and ball control are exceptional… He's a top-tier player, and difficult to handle. There's no shame in getting beaten…" a pro-Manchester United commentator said, making excuses for Bruno.
But Bruno's fighting spirit was fully ignited.
As Ronaldo faced the field, he saw Bruno. Reflecting on the recent dribble, Ronaldo thought Bruno was no different from other defenders—tall and strong but slow to turn.
Ronaldo felt a twinge of disappointment. He had hoped Manchester United's only interesting opponent would be stronger, making the match more enjoyable. But if Bruno was no different from ordinary opponents, Ronaldo's sole focus would be winning the championship. He aimed to lead Real Madrid to their third consecutive Champions League title.
Seeing Bruno get easily beaten by Ronaldo made Mourinho frown slightly. Bruno had volunteered to defend Ronaldo, and Mourinho had hoped Bruno could hold his own. Was Ronaldo truly unbeatable?
Mourinho, who had coached Ronaldo for three years, knew him well. If they couldn't contain Ronaldo, victory would be a mere dream because Ronaldo alone could defeat the entire Manchester United team.
After Real Madrid's attack, Manchester United organized one. Bruno's long pass aimed for Harry Kane, but Varane outjumped him, and the ball quickly returned to Modric's feet. Real Madrid launched another offensive.
Every Real Madrid attack drew attention to Ronaldo, with fans eager to see his brilliance. They cheered his earlier dribble past Bruno and wanted more.
Modric positioned himself deeper, with Kante guarding the middle. Bruno, more mobile, kept an eye on Ronaldo.
Real Madrid had many players who could make a difference, but Ronaldo stood out. Successfully defending against him would boost Manchester United's morale and cause Real Madrid to hesitate.
Despite being outplayed by Ronaldo once, Bruno was determined to keep defending him.
Modric scanned the field, saw Ronaldo find space, and passed the ball.
Bruno reached Ronaldo almost simultaneously with the ball.
Ronaldo was surprised by his teammate's speed, a new experience in their encounters.
He nudged the ball left with his left foot, preparing to dribble past Bruno.
This time, it wasn't so easy. As Ronaldo's right foot neared the ball, Bruno charged from the side, almost unbalancing him. Ronaldo quickly adjusted, pulling the ball back and shielding it from Bruno.
This halted his forward progress, and he was forced to turn away from the goal.
Ronaldo didn't pass. He wanted to break through Bruno.
Feinting left, he turned right, dragging the ball between Bruno's legs.
Bruno spun quickly, knowing Ronaldo's move, and blocked his path.
"Great defense! Ronaldo couldn't shake off Bruno!" the commentator shouted.
Ronaldo hadn't expected Bruno to turn so swiftly. Losing his chance to accelerate, he decided to change tactics.
He used his left foot to stop the ball with an outside flick, coming to a sudden halt.
Bruno stopped and pressed closer.
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