บท 491: Attacking Fury: A Duel of Offenses
When Casillas managed to block the initial shot, Real Madrid fans were already gearing up to cheer. Yet, in the very next moment, Ronaldinho's follow-up calmly slotted the ball into the empty net, like a heavy blow landing directly on the hearts of every Madrid supporter.
The Bernabéu fell silent in an instant. Then, the visiting fans took over, turning into the dominant force in the stands. The Lions' supporters roared, waved their flags, and reveled in their moment.
For the visiting fans, tickets for today's match were worth their weight in gold. Due to limited availability, it was impossible for all the key fan groups to make it to the away game. Thus, they had coordinated in advance, mixing 4,000 fans from different organizations to form a unified cheering squad, amplifying their presence.
The signature celebration of Lions fans—honoring their goal scorers—unfolded at the Bernabéu.
On the visiting section, a line of fans turned their backs to reveal shirts spelling out "Ronaldinho." Beneath it was a simple caption: A Gift from God.
After scoring, Ronaldinho clenched his teeth and dashed toward the sidelines, his face radiating one of humanity's purest emotions—a genuine smile.
As his joyful grin lit up the field, the commentator erupted in a frenzy:
"Ronaldinho! Millwall's latest masterpiece this season! With assists that amaze, goals that dazzle, silky-smooth dribbling, and breakneck speed, he's the epitome of Brazilian flair. And tonight, he's struck at the Bernabéu! That goal is a triumph, bringing Millwall closer to a place in the final in France. Ronaldinho is no longer just a promising talent from Millwall's academy; he's their next global icon.
A year ago, Hall called him 'Ronaldo' during an interview, creating quite a stir. The reporters laughed when he claimed Millwall's Ronaldo could rival the legendary Brazilian. But there's no laughter now. His name is Ronaldinho—not a copy of Ronaldo, but a star shining brightly in his own right."
On the sidelines, Aldrich pointed repeatedly toward Ronaldinho, his face filled with emotion. Was he acknowledging Ronaldinho's brilliance? Or was he telling the world: Remember this name!
For Del Bosque, his worst fears had come true.
He believed a head-to-head offensive approach favored Real Madrid. But Millwall had adopted a counter-attacking strategy—the very tactic he dreaded the most. While Madrid had chances, conceding the first goal put them in a deeply unfavorable position.
If Madrid had scored first, Del Bosque could have stabilized the team, shifting from relentless attack to a more balanced approach. Players and fans alike would understand—it's natural to play cautiously when just one step away from the final, especially against a red-hot team like the Lions. However, after conceding, they were left with no choice but to attack aggressively.
With Millwall's crucial away goal, even if Madrid scored twice in succession, they couldn't ease up. They needed to press forward relentlessly, aiming for a larger margin. A 2–1 home victory wasn't secure enough.
As the match resumed, neither team altered their tactics.
Aldrich felt slightly relieved. With the away goal in hand and an aggregate lead, they could continue relying on counterattacks, knowing more chances would come.
But this season, Real Madrid was proving to be utterly unpredictable.
Their domestic performance was a disaster—eliminated from the Copa del Rey and needing a miracle to win the league as they trailed several teams. Yet, in Europe, they were on fire, showing incredible form as the season neared its end.
Such is the nature of top teams. Over an 8–9 month league campaign, maintaining consistency is nearly impossible. But when they hit their stride, they're unstoppable. This type of explosive form might not help much in a league, which demands endurance and stability, but it makes them a formidable force in cup competitions.
In just six minutes, Real Madrid tore through Millwall's defenses with a near-brutal display of power.
Roberto Carlos, positioned outside the box, unleashed a thunderous long-range shot—a missile-like strike that hurtled toward Millwall's goal. Butt, directly in line with the ball, braced himself. Against any other player, such a shot would have been manageable for most goalkeepers. But Carlos's strikes were anything but ordinary; the ball's unpredictable trajectory caught Butt off guard. Just as it neared the goal, the ball shifted slightly mid-air, making direct handling impossible.
Butt clenched his fists, opting to punch the ball away.
The rebound fell to Raúl, who was positioned perfectly to take advantage. Without allowing the ball to touch the ground, he delivered a magnificent volley. Makélélé gritted his teeth in frustration—had Raúl paused to control the ball, Makélélé would have undoubtedly intercepted it. However, Raúl had already read his opponent's defensive tendencies and acted decisively within the danger zone.
Raúl's volley struck the ground before heading goalward, angling toward the inside of the post. Butt produced a world-class save, diving to parry the shot once again. Yet, the loose ball landed in the path of Morientes, who followed up with a ferocious strike, smashing it into the unguarded net.
Carlos and Raúl's successive attempts had thrown Millwall's defense into chaos. It was a frustrating yet unavoidable concession for the visitors.
"Morientes on the rebound—goal! Real Madrid waste no time leveling the score! Their Champions League form lately has been absolutely sensational. If only they could replicate this in La Liga, the title race might already be a foregone conclusion!"
Amid the frenzy at the Santiago Bernabéu, Vicente del Bosque exhaled in relief. At least the situation on the pitch wasn't spiraling further out of control. Equalizing quickly was far better than trailing.
Aldrich, meanwhile, signaled his team to regroup and focus. There was no need to dwell on the conceded goal.
"A long-range missile from Carlos set the stage, followed by a seemingly unstoppable strike from Raúl. The rapid succession of shots exposed a defensive gap, leading to a marking error. This is not unusual—Millwall isn't afraid of direct attacks but struggles with the secondary balls. After several waves of relentless pressure, it was only a matter of time before an opportunity arose. Realistically, no team in the world can maintain perfect marking when subjected to sustained attacks. Defenders are tasked with marking their opponents and tracking the ball simultaneously. And when a shot is fired towards their own goal, their instinct to glance back to check if it's going in inevitably leads to these lapses."
Real Madrid's equalizer significantly boosted their morale.
Real Madrid came alive after the restart, with Carlos almost abandoning his defensive role entirely to operate as a de facto winger.
Recognizing this, Pirlo made an intelligent forward run down the right flank during a transition from defense to attack. At the same time, Nedvěd drove forward from the left side of midfield, forcing Helguera to retreat step by step. As they approached the penalty area, Helguera stepped up to challenge Nedvěd, who cleverly laid the ball across to the right. Positioned on the right edge of the penalty area, Pirlo had ample time to control the ball and fire a long-range effort. Thanks to Ronaldinho and Henry's clever off-the-ball movements, the center-backs were effectively neutralized, leaving Pirlo with a clear opportunity.
Redondo started tracking back toward the center but quickly shifted his focus to Pirlo when he saw the ball at his feet. He sprinted to close him down but couldn't make it in time. Pirlo, calm and composed, struck the ball with precision, sending it soaring toward the top-left corner.
Casillas leaped with everything he had, his fingertips agonizingly close, but the ball found its mark—just beyond his reach and into the back of the net.
'Wow! Real Madrid have paid the price for their relentless offensive push. Left unmarked, Pirlo produced a world-class finish, beating both Casillas and Real Madrid itself. Millwall now lead 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu, with only 39 minutes played. What twists and turns lie ahead? One thing is clear: Real Madrid have no choice but to respond. Real Madrid are on the ropes, and they know it!"
Pirlo ran to the sidelines to celebrate, embraced by his teammates. Gattuso, charging off the bench, was the first to grab him.
Aldrich raised both fists in triumph, his jubilant gestures reflecting his excitement. With an aggregate lead and two vital away goals, Millwall was in a strong position.
But his excitement lasted only three minutes. In the 43rd minute of the first half, Real Madrid equalized the score through a corner kick.
The quality of the corner kick was shockingly poor, flying directly to the far post where Zambrotta headed it clear. However, the ball landed at McManaman's feet. He delivered a perfect cross from a 45-degree angle, assisting Raúl in scoring with a header at the far post.
"Bernabéu's golden boy, Raúl, has made it 2–2! Real Madrid demonstrates remarkable resilience and determination. They won't let Millwall leave here with a victory so easily. But even with this equalizer, the current scoreline is still highly unfavorable for Real Madrid."
Del Bosque's mood mirrored that of the entire Bernabéu crowd—an emotional rollercoaster!
Concede one, score one, concede one, score one.
It might seem like Real Madrid hadn't lost anything, but this was the Bernabéu, their home turf. The difference between a 0–0 draw and a 2–2 draw? Enormous.
This situation made Real Madrid's path all the more difficult.
As halftime arrived, there wasn't much Del Bosque could adjust. They had to attack—there was no other option.
He was also concerned about what Aldrich might do in the second half. If Millwall decided to increase their offensive pressure, Real Madrid would be in trouble if their attack faltered and they found themselves caught on the counter.
The battle of wits between the two managers was also in full swing.
Ultimately, it came down to predicting the opponent's tactical intentions.
Del Bosque dared not make significant changes. Fixing Real Madrid's defensive gaps left by their aggressive offense would mean weakening their attack, and he feared Aldrich would capitalize on that.
As the second half began, the game's dynamics remained unchanged.
Millwall continued their defensive counter-attacking strategy, while Real Madrid maintained their relentless attacking posture.
Aldrich's situation is considerably easier than Del Bosque's. While the score is tied, Millwall hold the advantage thanks to their away goal. Their counter-attacking approach has already shown that they can score, even with fewer opportunities, and their chances have been far more decisive than Real Madrid's.
Aldrich has no reason to change his approach. Whatever moves Real Madrid make, The Lions won't lose their foothold in the game. It's clear as day—Real Madrid simply can't cope with the blistering speed and sharpness of Millwall's counters.
However, Aldrich placed more meticulous demands on his players: they had to limit Real Madrid's second-chance attacks. The goal was to avoid giving the opponent opportunities for repeated threats.
While situations like a rebound from the goalkeeper or a ball deflected off a player's body were sometimes unavoidable, moments like Zambrotta's clearance header, which allowed McManaman to cross again, needed to be minimized. Even aimlessly kicking the ball forward would be acceptable in such cases. At least that way, Real Madrid would have to rebuild their attack from their own half, giving Millwall enough time to regroup their solid defensive lines.
As the second half begins, with both teams switching sides, Aldrich's team holds a slight advantage for now. Yet, he remains on the touchline, closely monitoring the action. The halftime break presents a critical juncture, and Aldrich knows he must assess Real Madrid's approach in the second half, watching for any adjustments before making his own tactical decisions.
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