Chapter 615: Bale's Overhead Kick Stuns the Crowd!
The first half ended quickly with a score of 0-0, as neither team managed to score. Compared to previous Champions League finals, this match was noticeably less intense. However, both teams had strong offensive power, so goals could come at any time in the second half.
During halftime, both coaches used the break to review and adjust their strategies. Manchester City faced the problem of heavy pressure from their opponents once they advanced into the opposing half. This made it much more difficult for them to organize their attacks.
On the other hand, Real Madrid struggled with their formation being too disconnected. The link between the forwards and the midfield was weak, causing them to miss several key opportunities. As a result, Real Madrid had produced very few threatening attacks in the first half.
After careful consideration, Zinedine Zidane decided to bring on Bale in the second half. With Bale on the field, Madrid shifted to a 4-3-3 formation. Luka Modrić would now take charge of connecting the midfield with the forward line, a role he was fully capable of handling.
Additionally, with Bale on the field, Real Madrid now had the speed to launch fast counterattacks down the flanks. They could pass the ball to Bale on the wing and use his pace to try and break through Manchester City's defense.
City's formation was pushed high up the field, leaving large gaps in their defense, which was the perfect space for a player like Bale to exploit.
The 15-minute break flew by, and both teams returned to the pitch, ready for the second half. Zidane, in an attempt to confuse Guardiola, held off making any substitutions at first, keeping his tactics hidden.
Guardiola glanced curiously at Isco, who remained on the field despite a lackluster first-half performance. Based on what he saw, Zidane should have subbed Isco off, but for some reason, Zidane hadn't made the switch.
For City, this was actually a good thing. With Isco on the field, Real Madrid's defense would have vulnerabilities that City could exploit.
In the 55th minute, Manchester City won possession in the attacking third and launched a quick counterattack. Kevin De Bruyne delivered a perfect through ball that sliced through Madrid's defense. Sergio Agüero took the pass, drove into the box, and coolly finished past Courtois.
1-0, Manchester City took the lead!
Agüero was ecstatic. He began running toward the crowd, ready to rip off his shirt in celebration, but quickly thought better of it, knowing he'd get a yellow card. Instead, he slid on his knees in a passionate celebration, and his teammates rushed in behind him, joining him in the slide.
Pep Guardiola jumped for joy on the sidelines, embracing his coaching staff in celebration.
On the other side, Zidane, who had just called Bale to start warming up, watched in frustration as his team conceded. He was furious, feeling he should have subbed off Isco earlier to prevent this from happening.
Now filled with regret, Zidane knew there was no turning back, but it wasn't too late to make adjustments. Once Bale finished his warm-up, Zidane made the substitution without further hesitation.
Bale's entrance immediately boosted Real Madrid's attacking threat.
In the 59th minute, Real Madrid launched an attack down the right side. Using his pace, Bale sprinted down the wing, looked up to see who was in the box, and whipped in a precise cross.
Cristiano Ronaldo met the ball in the air, towering over the City defenders for a powerful header toward goal.
Ronaldo's heading ability was unmatched, and this shot was no exception. It was perfectly placed and struck with force. However, luck was not on his side, as the ball smashed against the crossbar and bounced out.
A collective sigh echoed through the stadium, and Ronaldo, frustrated, held his head in his hands, clearly disappointed. He had felt sure the ball was going in, but the goalpost had denied him.
Bale glanced at Ronaldo but said nothing, though inside, he was eager for his next opportunity. If he got another chance, he planned to take the shot himself.
The pace of the game continued to accelerate. Just moments after Real Madrid's attack threatened City's goal, Manchester City launched a rapid counterattack from a goal kick.
They bypassed Madrid's heavily fortified central defense and attacked down the same wing where Bale was positioned.
Lin Quan drove the ball forward, splitting the defense and passing it to Aymeric Laporte, who overlapped him. Laporte sent a low cross back to the edge of the box, where Lin Quan struck a powerful long-range shot.
This time, however, Madrid's goalkeeper, Courtois, made a spectacular save. He leapt high, tipping the ball over the crossbar with one hand, saving his team from danger.
This save gave Madrid a huge boost in morale, as several teammates ran over to high-five Courtois. The goalkeeper himself was brimming with pride; stopping a shot from Lin Quan was something to boast about for a long time.
Lin Quan wasn't discouraged. After a brief discussion with De Bruyne, they decided De Bruyne would take the corner. He delivered the ball to the far post, where Virgil van Dijk met it but headed it wide, failing to pose a threat.
As the second half progressed, both teams increased the tempo of their attacks. They avoided the congested midfield and focused on creating chances from the flanks. Crossing the ball from the wings became the primary tactic for both sides.
At this point, it came down to which team had better crossers and which players were stronger in the air.
Players like Agüero, who was short and struggled to win aerial duels, gradually faded from the game.
Guardiola quickly noticed this and didn't hesitate to call on Erling Haaland.
"Erling, do you want to play in the Champions League final?"
Haaland, hearing Guardiola's words, sprang up from the bench like a loaded spring.
"Yes! Yes, coach, I want to play!"
This was the Champions League final—a stage where players could make a name for themselves. Haaland was young, but he wasn't foolish. He knew that if he seized this opportunity, it would greatly benefit his future career.
After all, how many 17-year-olds had ever played in a Champions League final?
"Then go warm up!"
Guardiola was pleased with Haaland's enthusiasm. A young player with drive and energy was exactly what the team needed. The last thing he wanted was players who lacked hunger and ambition.
Even though Haaland was eager to jump right into the action, he knew he had to be patient. He needed to warm up properly to avoid any injuries when he entered the game.
Five minutes later, Haaland was ready. Guardiola subbed him in, replacing Agüero.
Agüero, however, was less than thrilled. He had scored the game's only goal so far and felt he was playing well. Why didn't the coach trust him to continue?
His frustration was understandable. After all, no player wants to be subbed off when they're playing well.
Normally, Guardiola might have explained his reasoning to Agüero, but today, he didn't have the time. His focus was entirely on the game, making adjustments based on how the match was unfolding.
One key aspect of judging a coach's quality is their in-game decision-making. Legends like Ferguson, Ancelotti, and Mourinho were masters of this.
On the other hand, Arsène Wenger, the former Arsenal manager, was often criticized for his lack of decisiveness in making tactical changes. Guardiola wasn't considered particularly strong in this area either, which had caused him to struggle in previous Champions League campaigns.
When Real Madrid saw that City had subbed on a 17-year-old forward, they were puzzled.
"Who's this kid?"
"What's City thinking?"
Madrid's fans were equally confused. Why sub out Agüero, who was playing so well?
Liverpool fans watching the match, however, felt a pang of pain. They hadn't forgotten that this same kid had scored two goals against them.
Zidane, too, had studied Haaland. Although the player was young and still developing, his heading ability was already a standout feature. Guardiola's intention was clear—Haaland was there to win aerial duels in the box.
Zidane quickly shouted instructions to his players, warning them to be cautious of Haaland and not be fooled by his youthful appearance.
Following Zidane's orders, Sergio Ramos took on the task of marking Haaland. With years of defensive experience and confidence in his current form, Ramos believed he could handle the young forward.
But when they started battling for position in the box, Ramos quickly noticed something strange.
Wait, what's going on? Why does this kid feel like he's made of stone? I can't even push him!
Just as Ramos was coming to terms with Haaland's strength, the young forward gave Ramos a shove, stepped back two paces, and jumped backward, flicking the ball with his head toward the goal.
It was a clever move. Haaland had noticed that Courtois was positioned toward the near post, so he aimed for the far post instead.
His idea was sound, but he underestimated Courtois' reaction speed and reach. The goalkeeper moved quickly across the goal, stretching his long arms to deflect the ball away at the last moment.
Haaland was stunned. How did he save that? Is this guy Superman?
Lin Quan, who had watched Haaland's attempt up close, walked over and patted him on the shoulder:
"Next time, aim to bounce the ball off the ground. That's the hardest shot for a goalkeeper to predict and save."
Haaland nodded eagerly. He'd learned something new again!
In hindsight, he realized his shot, though well-placed, lacked speed. It had given the goalkeeper too much time to react. If this had been a faster keeper like Casillas or Oblak, it would've been even worse.
Just as Lin and De Bruyne were preparing to try again, Real Madrid launched a rapid counterattack down the left side.
Marcelo dribbled to the byline and sent in a cross from near the edge of the box. By the time the cross came in, there were four Manchester City defenders in the box, with only Cristiano Ronaldo and Bale for Madrid.
It was 4-vs-2, so the City defenders were well-positioned to deal with the danger. But Bale, seeing how the defense was set up, decided against a regular shot.
Instead, he attempted an audacious overhead kick!
The players in the box, as well as the fans in the stadium and those watching on TV, were stunned as Bale leaped high into the air and executed the perfect bicycle kick.
The ball curved beautifully, flying straight into the top right corner of the net!
1-1, Real Madrid equalized!
The stadium fell into a moment of shocked silence as everyone processed what had just happened.
Even Zidane, who had scored one of the greatest goals in Champions League history, was left with his mouth hanging open in disbelief. He could barely contain his shock.
"Did a human really just do that?"
"Is this guy an alien?"
Bale's goal not only leveled the score but also lifted Real Madrid's spirits while dampening City's.
Bale himself seemed surprised that the shot had gone in, and especially that it had gone in so spectacularly. He jumped to his feet, arms outstretched like an airplane, sprinting across the field in celebration.
The rest of Madrid's players followed behind him like jets trailing a plane, running with wild excitement.
Ronaldo, however, didn't join the group celebration. He glanced at the ball still rolling in the net, then at Bale, who was basking in the moment. Shaking his head slightly, Ronaldo turned and walked back toward the center circle to wait for the restart.
Bale had only been on the field for a few minutes and had already scored, while Ronaldo, who had played for over 60 minutes, hadn't found the back of the net. It left him feeling frustrated.
This was his last game for Real Madrid, and he wanted to end his nine-year career with the perfect farewell. Ronaldo desperately wanted to score, but so far, the opportunities just hadn't come his way.
Sometimes, the more you want to score, the harder it is to find the net.
(End of Chapter)