"Kai! Brilliant reading of the flight!" Martin Taylor exclaimed. "He's been dominant in the air throughout these two matches, especially when dealing with Cristiano Ronaldo. You've got to say, for a holding midfielder, Kai's aerial defense is right up there with some of the best!"
Real Madrid's throw-in. Coentrão stepped up and tossed the ball toward Di María.
The moment Di María received it, he felt a body on his back — heavy pressure followed instantly.
He tried to turn, but Kai was right there, forcing him into trouble.
Di María wanted to release the ball, but Cazorla had dropped back in time to double up.
Cazorla immediately looked up after recovering possession.
"Here!"
Kai's shout came from beside him.
Cazorla sent the pass sideways without hesitation.
Kai carried the ball left, using his arms to create space and guide the rhythm forward.
After opening enough distance, he stopped the ball, then passed to Ramsey.
Ramsey to Rosický — the Czech tried a few feints but couldn't shake Modrić.
He quickly gave it back to Cazorla, who passed again to Kai.
Kai took control and called out, "Santi, push wide! Let Theo tuck in!"
Cazorla blinked for a moment, then ran toward the wing. Walcott understood and dropped deeper to fill the central pocket.
From behind, Bale came charging, looking to pounce.
But Kai had already anticipated it — he pulled the ball back under his boot, shielding it strongly. He swung his right leg over the ball, leaning his whole body toward his own half. Bale instinctively followed.
Then, in one smooth motion, Kai spun back, tapping the ball lightly with his left foot, shaking off Bale with ease, and driving forward across the halfway line.
He sent the ball to Walcott.
Walcott to Cazorla.
Everyone ahead started to surge into the box.
Cazorla took on Coentrão down the flank.
The Portuguese defender stayed tight, wary of the Spaniard's quick feet.
Cazorla dribbled, keeping just enough distance with each touch — not too close, not too far — making Coentrão hesitate.
Then, suddenly, Cazorla feinted left, pushing the ball that way.
Coentrão stepped to follow — but in that same instant, Cazorla rolled it back through his legs with his right foot.
Nutmeg!
He was through!
Breaking past Coentrão, Cazorla raised his head to shoot — but Ramos was already there.
Ramos lunged in with perfect timing, stabbing the ball clear.
Cazorla's move came to nothing.
The ball spun out toward the edge of the box, where Modrić arrived to collect — but before he could settle it, Kai barreled in and bumped him off balance.
Kai took control, shifted sideways to open space, and slipped it back to Cazorla.
"Go on! Keep driving!" he shouted.
At this point, Cazorla was Arsenal's most dangerous threat. Kai knew that — he wanted him to keep pressing the left channel, to force Madrid to react.
Walcott was better for transitions; Cazorla thrived in these tight positional battles.
Cazorla steadied himself again and went for another run.
Martin Taylor: "Cazorla's trying again down the left! That's his second breakthrough attempt this match — Arsenal clearly want to use his skill to break Madrid's shape out wide."
Alan Smith: "They've been impressive so far, Martin. Many thought losing Suárez would cripple their attack, but they've found new patterns — more structure, more control. Though, yes, it all hinges a bit on Cazorla's brilliance on that wing."
Under heavy pressure, Cazorla knew he had to make something happen. Kai's message was clear — keep hammering away at that flank.
Coentrão wasn't easy to beat, but twice now, Cazorla had gotten past him — even if the final pass hadn't connected.
Ramos kept sweeping up, preventing the final ball from finding a target.
But this time, Real Madrid switched tactics.
Instead of clearing long, Ramos flicked the ball with the tip of his boot, sending a perfect lofted pass toward Bale.
Bale brought it down smoothly and turned on the jets.
At the same moment, Kai was already tracking back — his Foresight read the danger as soon as Ramos played the pass.
Bale sprinted down the wing, with Ramsey sliding across to block.
"Don't press! Hold your line!" Kai shouted.
Hearing Kai's shout, Ramsey resisted the instinct to press, choosing instead to delay and force Bale to slow down.
But Bale saw it too — that hesitation. He pushed the ball past Ramsey with a powerful touch and exploded off his toes, bursting forward with frightening acceleration.
It was the simplest kind of move — pure pace, no tricks.
Ramsey stretched out a leg, then an arm, trying to block him, but Bale brushed past with ease.
"Damn it!" Ramsey muttered, his fingertips grazing Bale's sleeve as the Welshman sped away.
The Bernabéu erupted.
"Wow!" Martin Taylor exclaimed over the roar. "That's the Bale we know — raw, electric, unstoppable when he hits full stride!"
Alan Smith added, "Ramsey tried to stand him up, but once Bale's got that step on you, there's no catching him. Arsenal will have to be careful leaving that much space behind."
After gliding past Ramsey, Bale slowed just enough to compose himself before whipping in a cross.
Benzema and Mertesacker both leaped for it — but Benzema leaned back mid-air, nudging Mertesacker just enough to throw off his jump.
Neither made contact.
The ball dropped perfectly to the far post, where Cristiano Ronaldo came charging in like a bullet train.
He met it first time — bang!
The net rippled violently.
1–0 to Real Madrid!
Cristiano Ronaldo had opened the scoring in the 9th minute!
He raced to the corner flag, leaped into the air, twisted mid-spin, and landed with his arms crossed.
"SIUUUUUU!!!"
The entire Bernabéu thundered in unison, the sound echoing like a tidal wave.
Kai stopped running and exhaled, his eyes following the ball that had just hit the net. He shook his head — helpless.
This was exactly what he feared.
The moment he drifted too far from the backline, Arsenal's defense lost its shape.
If he'd been in Ramsey's spot, maybe he could've intercepted or at least forced Bale wide. But now, as the team's main orchestrator, he couldn't commit as deeply to defensive duties.
Martin Taylor: "Cristiano Ronaldo again! His hot streak continues — and under Carlo Ancelotti, he's been absolutely relentless!"
Alan Smith: "And that's the risk for Arsenal. Without Kai sitting deeper, there's a gap in front of the defense. Ramsey was left isolated, and Madrid punished them instantly."
On the touchline, Arsène Wenger remained calm, arms folded, eyes fixed on the pitch. His expression didn't waver, not even after conceding.
He'd expected this.
When he decided to push Kai further up, he knew the trade-off. Arsenal's defensive solidity had always depended on Kai's positioning. Without him screening the backline, vulnerabilities would show.
But Wenger wasn't here to play it safe. Not this time.
This wasn't about testing Arsenal's defense — it was about seeing how far their attack could go.
Under Kai's direction, could they play with enough tempo and imagination to threaten Real Madrid?
Simply put, Wenger had sacrificed defense for ambition.
After all, it was the Champions League semi-final.
Even if Arsenal reached the final by sitting deep and grinding it out, their chances of lifting the trophy would be minimal.
So instead of playing with fear, Wenger wanted his side to go for it — to fight, to express themselves, and leave everything on the pitch.
Kai's earlier tactical call — giving Cazorla the task of driving play down the left — had been spot on.
Now, it was up to Cazorla to make it count.
If he could open up that flank, Arsenal might just turn this game around.
...
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