Chapter 594: Master Bruno
"This is Real Madrid! This is Real Madrid football! What a beautiful play! What a brilliant goal! Their continuous passing left the Manchester United players disoriented, and breaking through their defense was only a matter of time!"
The Spanish commentator continued praising his team: "As long as Real Madrid plays their style of football, no team in the world can defeat them! Especially in the Champions League, they are truly invincible! They are the kings of the Champions League!"
The match had resumed amid his incessant praise.
Real Madrid clearly intended to capitalize on their recent goal, aiming to score another and take a lead into halftime. If they could lead at halftime, the second half would be theirs.
As soon as Manchester United kicked off, Real Madrid pressured their ball handlers. Wherever a Manchester United player had the ball, at least two Real Madrid players swarmed them. Bruno had no fewer than three players around him.
But Bruno's ball control shone in this environment.
Benzema came to steal the ball, so Bruno pulled it close to himself. Isco rushed from behind, and Bruno leaned back to shield the ball with his body. The shorter-legged Isco couldn't reach the ball, even with an extended leg.
But their primary goal was to entangle Bruno. As long as they could preoccupy him, there would be opportunities to take the ball away.
The third player was Casemiro, willing to abandon his position and come up to Manchester United's half to seize the ball from Bruno and launch a counterattack on the spot.
Losing the ball in the defensive midfield area is lethal, almost impossible to defend against!
Casemiro saw Bruno's head turned towards Benzema and his arm holding off Isco, knowing his attention was diverted. Casemiro approached from the side, suddenly surging forward to steal the ball!
But Bruno unexpectedly leaped, tapped the ball with his left foot, then landed and pivoted on it, switching to his right foot to pull the ball out of the surrounding circle.
Bruno maneuvered the ball forward, breaking free from Real Madrid's three-man press.
This escape drew cheers from the entire Kiev Olympic Stadium, with commentators from various countries exclaiming.
"Fantastic!"
"Beautiful!"
"Incredible!"
Vanessa even whistled, "Wow! That was amazing!"
Lineker excitedly pounded the table, exclaiming, "An extraordinary escape! Bruno showed Real Madrid's technical players his own skills, which are no less impressive!"
Even the Spanish commentator couldn't help but shout, "Zidane!!"
Such moves were reminiscent of Zidane's masterful performances at Real Madrid. This was a Marseille turn, yet not a standard one, adapted to the situation. Bruno used this technique effortlessly, proving he was a true master.
After escaping the press, Bruno pushed forward.
Modric and Kroos awaited him, while Casemiro was chasing back.
Facing this situation, Bruno looked around but saw no good passing options. With Real Madrid's formation still compact, Manchester United's players were just entering the opposing half, clustered together.
It seemed he had to keep controlling the ball himself.
Facing another one-against-three situation, what should he do?
At about five meters from Modric, Bruno began stepovers, circling the ball with his left foot, then his right, without touching the ball—a simple feint.
Modric wasn't fooled, and Bruno didn't expect to deceive him so easily.
Bruno's left foot circled the ball again.
Typically, the next move would involve using the right foot's outside to push the ball to the right. Alternatively, he might not touch the ball and continue the stepover. But if he were to touch the ball, there was a 95% chance it would be pushed outward.
Bruno did neither; instead, his right foot quickly pulled the ball to the left!
Modric, expecting the ball to go outside, was caught off guard and left behind by Bruno's unexpected move.
Bruno had targeted Modric's side from the start, knowing that Kroos was on the other side. Even if he got past Modric with an outward push, he wouldn't get past Kroos.
The reverse pull was beautifully executed, allowing Bruno to continue his charge forward.
In the stands, Manchester United fans cheered again, and the TV was filled with Wei He's excited commentary: "Oh? He got past him! Beautiful! Bruno dribbled past two men!"
As Kroos lunged from the other side, Bruno had already passed the ball.
Of course, he first feigned continuing his dribble before passing the ball directly.
Rashford received it, and Bruno continued running forward, creating a passing lane and opportunity for Rashford.
Rashford quickly passed the ball again, faced with Real Madrid's fullback Carvajal, a tough opponent.
Bruno was already ahead, but Rashford's pass went behind him. He could turn to control it, but that would lose the attack's speed and surprise, forcing Manchester United to reorganize.
So Bruno, while running, didn't turn but instead used a sudden brake and backheeled the ball to Rashford, who had moved to support him.
"Wonderful!" Lineker and Wei He shouted simultaneously.
Bruno's performance in this final surprised these familiar commentators: He seemed even stronger than before!
He was calm and composed, skillfully maneuvering against powerful opponents.
"Although Real Madrid just equalized, we can see from this sequence that Bruno isn't affected by conceding a goal. He's still playing with ease!"
"That's right! In football, you have to relax. If you're too tense, you can't even perform 30% of your usual ability!"
After backheeling the pass, Bruno didn't continue forward but ran back to support Rashford. His mere presence was enough to intimidate the opponents.
If Ronaldo was Real Madrid's nuclear deterrent, Bruno was Manchester United's.
Rashford passed the ball horizontally to him, and Casemiro rushed forward.
Bruno didn't stop the ball dead but used his ankle to tap it back, sending it rolling two or three meters backward, fooling Casemiro.
Bruno then explosively sprinted after the ball, getting there before Ramos could intercept and suddenly shot from a distance!
"Here it comes! Bruno——" Lineker yelled excitedly.
This was Bruno's first long-range shot of the match.
Though his first shot in the penalty area had been challenging and well-executed, Bruno's long shots were a different experience.
Lineker, well aware of Bruno's shooting power, was thrilled.
Navas, seeing Bruno charging towards the ball, was prepared. As the ball flew, he dived.
His fingertips touched it, slightly deflecting it, but it smashed against the far post!
The sound was so loud that even fans watching on TV heard it, showing the shot's power.
The ball hit the outside of the post and went out of bounds.
While some indicated it was a goal kick, Bruno didn't argue. The referee and linesman, however, awarded a corner, having clearly seen the play.
Though the ball didn't go in, its impact was undeniable.
Bruno's brilliant attack warned Real Madrid: don't think you can score another goal right after your first. Manchester United is not to be trifled with!
Indeed, Real Madrid's players were visibly shocked by Bruno's performance in this attack.
Ronaldo looked at Bruno with delight, happy to find such a worthy opponent.
Modric, frowning and deep in thought, wasn't concerned about being beaten easily. He focused on Bruno's role and abilities in this attack.
This was a formidable opponent, a true midfield rival!
With the first half nearing its end, Real Madrid players finally took Manchester United seriously as a team that could threaten them at any moment.
Zidane stood up, dissatisfied with his players' defense.
Mourinho, clapping, walked to the sidelines, giving a thumbs-up towards the pitch.
Bruno's outstanding performance made his coach immensely proud.
Mourinho wasn't the only one proud; millions of Manchester United fans worldwide felt the same.
Seeing Bruno's spectacular display, they flooded the internet with comments:
"Dribbled past two!"
"No, six! He got past three the first time, then another three!"
"That backheel pass was brilliant!"
"I think the move to trick Casemiro was even more exquisite!"
(End of the chapter)
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