The Battle of Firepower

Why is Real Madrid so strong?

To put it simply: exceptional players and an outstanding lineup.

In Real Madrid's starting XI, nearly every player is ranked among the top ten, even top five, in Europe for their respective positions. Some, like Roberto Carlos, are arguably among the top three.

With such a foundation, they still needed a coach capable of molding these eleven players into a cohesive team. Even though Del Bosque had yet to lead Spain to world championship glory, his coaching abilities were indisputable.

Is Millwall weaker than Real Madrid?

Absolutely not!

Aldrich firmly believed this. While certain positions may have been weaker—like Carlos firmly suppressing Schneider or Ballack and Pirlo's offensive battles, where Pirlo's defense fell short—Millwall had something Schneider: chemistry and teamwork.

Aldrich refused to believe that Millwall would lose at Wembley. He was convinced they could score. If Larsson hadn't squandered that golden opportunity earlier, the score wouldn't be 4–4 now; it'd be 5–3!

As for concerns about team morale splitting, Aldrich needn't have worried.

This group of players had been through countless battles and seen it all. Facing Real Madrid at Wembley, their goal was singular: victory.

Real Madrid scored again, leaving them one goal away from advancing.

But this only shifted their mindset: all-out attack.

40th minute: Raúl collided with Gattuso during a scramble for possession and fell to the ground. Real Madrid's players collectively appealed for a foul, but the referee signaled play to continue.

This level of physicality wouldn't be called a foul in the Premier League. In the Champions League, it was a borderline decision.

Here at Wembley, Millwall's home ground in name, it would be unfair if the referee continued to be overly harsh on Millwall. The first leg had already sparked outrage in Fleet Street, with many claiming Millwall had been treated unfairly. If this bias continues, it will only add fuel to the fire of their grievances.

Even Fleet Street had criticized the penalty awarded against Makelele for handball in the first match as unwarranted.

Gattuso won the challenge and launched a counterattack. Pirlo, under Ballack's tight marking, resisted the urge to force a pass to his close friend and instead calmly sent the ball out wide to Schneider.

Carlos, who had already been pushing forward during Raúl's possession, was now caught chasing back. Schneider surged forward with the ball, exploiting the open space and avoiding immediate pressure. As Carlos closed in, Schneider passed to Nedvěd to avoid a confrontation.

Nedvěd, knowing Redondo was lurking nearby like a predator ready to snatch the ball, took an unusual step backward to create space before making a horizontal pass to the left.

Ronaldinho, breaking from convention, moved centrally without switching positions with Nedvěd.

Picking up the ball, Ronaldinho dribbled forward, bypassing Real Madrid's defensive midfield line. Approaching the penalty area, he threaded a perfectly timed through ball behind Hierro.

The slow-turning Hierro was beaten by Henry, who timed his run perfectly to stay onside, creating a semi-one-on-one situation.

Helguera was well aware of the danger when Hierro was caught out of position—being beaten behind could spell disaster. As Ronaldinho released the ball, he immediately spotted Henry's diagonal run. With Hierro trailing behind, Helguera rushed to block the angle of Henry's shot.

Henry, sensing Helguera's approach, didn't hesitate. He went for a quick cross right in front of the goal.

With Hierro left in his wake and Helguera closing in, Carlos was nowhere near, leaving the right side unmarked.

Casillas, reading the trajectory of the ball, moved quickly from the left side of the goal toward the right. Midway, he decided to charge out and meet the ball head-on.

Larsson!

The striker met Henry's cross at the far post, flying in with a slide and using his toe to poke the ball past Casillas. It slid under the keeper's arm and into the net.

"Larsson! The hero of Millwall, Larsson! He didn't waste this golden opportunity. He sent the ball into the Real Madrid net, giving Millwall a 5-4 aggregate lead over Real Madrid! This goal is absolutely crucial. If Millwall hadn't scored here and Real Madrid had taken their next chance, the tide could have turned completely. But thankfully, Millwall has their goal machine, Larsson, to rely on!"

Aldrich ran a few steps after the goal, his expression wild as he pumped his fist in celebration.

Indeed, this goal was pivotal—a strike that could define the course of the match!

Del Bosque approached the fourth official to protest, claiming that if the referee had called a foul on Gattuso for his challenge on Raúl, Millwall's goal would never have happened.

Real Madrid's players, however, remained composed. They quickly reset their formation, ready for kickoff again.

The roars at Wembley were deafening, with some passionate fans already shirtless, swinging their clothes wildly in celebration.

Aldrich clapped for his team's performance, then stood tall, his sharp gaze fixed on the pitch.

The first half concluded swiftly, with neither team managing to create another clear chance in the final minutes.

"At halftime, the two teams combined for 26 shots, 11 of which were on target. Whether this reflects their offensive firepower or defensive lapses is up for debate," joked the commentator. "But one thing's certain: this was a first half so thrilling it made us forget about time. A fantastic end-to-end battle, and we can't wait for the second half."

The second half began with both teams back in action, but Millwall wasted no time in pressing high and intercepting everything in sight. As soon as Real Madrid kicked off, Millwall quickly set up an interception in midfield. Ballack, taken by surprise, didn't expect the onslaught of pressure so early. With attacking players making their moves and Henry lurking near Redondo, Ballack hesitated for a split second, and the ball was lost.

Pirlo, receiving Zambrotta's pass, quickly sent the ball to Ronaldinho. The Brazilian dashed down the left flank, igniting Millwall's counterattack.

Henry and Larsson switched positions during their forward runs, their diagonal movements disrupting Real Madrid's defensive structure.

Ronaldinho, opting against a direct confrontation with Salgado on the flank, stopped abruptly and executed a precise diagonal cross to the far post.

Henry made a diagonal run to the far post of the box, and before Helguera could close in on him, he met the ball in mid-air, taking it on the volley with the inside of his foot, sending it straight back into the middle.

It seemed like he might have misjudged the timing, as Larsson raced to the near post, pulling Hierro out of position.

But from behind, a diving leap came, and Nedvěd's header rocketed toward Casillas' goal like a missile. Casillas, already moving toward the other side to deal with Henry, found himself out of position, and his attempt to save was in vain as he could only watch the ball fly into the net.

Nedvěd, after rising from the ground, screamed in triumph, running to the sideline and waving his arms to incite the crowd.

"Nedvěd! The warrior of Millwall has struck, 2-1, with an aggregate score of 6-4! Millwall seem to have one foot in the final now! This goal is an absolute masterpiece, with Ronaldinho's cross from the left, Henry's assist at the far post, and then Nedvěd's incredible header—without the ball even touching the ground!"

Aldrich finally allowed himself a smile. At 2–1, Millwall's path to the final seemed all but secured.

With a two-goal cushion in aggregate, Real Madrid now needed at least three goals to advance.

Could Madrid still turn this around?

Perhaps. But even Aldrich knew this was a monumental task.

In battles between giants, goals are rarely easy to come by.

Yet the looming joy of advancing may have slightly distracted Aldrich's focus.

Thirteen minutes later, Raúl met McManaman's cross with a header, setting up Morientes for another headed finish. Real Madrid had clawed one back!

"This game mirrors the last leg: Millwall scores, and Madrid responds in kind. Their unyielding spirit is something every Real Madrid fan should be proud of."

Aldrich gestured decisively from the sidelines, urging his team to keep attacking.

As he hadn't anticipated Del Bosque's lineup at the start, Aldrich was equally unprepared for Madrid's relentless determination.

Yes, battles between the best often hinge on the finest of margins.

But Millwall and Real Madrid's fiery clash was never destined to be a cautious duel—it was a collision of titans.

In the past, clashes with Juventus and Bayern Munich were strategic battles—focused on exploiting each other's weaknesses within tight constraints. Today, however, it was an all-out offensive war. Both sides unleashed their firepower, with the scoreboard as the ultimate judge of supremacy.

In this high-paced match, the intensity was earth-shattering. As time ticked away, the fans in the stands grew quieter, their initial abandon replaced by growing tension.

The Lions' supporters prayed fervently: Don't let Real Madrid score again...

If 2-2 turned into 2-3, Madrid would be just one goal away from securing a spot in the finals, shifting all the pressure onto Millwall.

Madrid's fans, on the other hand, had one clear thought: Score! Score again!

Anelka had a golden opportunity inside the box, but Butt denied him with a stunning one-handed save. Anelka clutched his head in disbelief.

Without a doubt, the player who has impressed the most for Millwall today is Butt.

He hasn't made countless world-class saves, but he's been solid in every way, dealing with danger after danger with a steady hand. His performance has been more reliable than usual, and he's even pulled off some unexpected moments of brilliance.

The match entered a fever pitch. Every chance felt like it could change the game.

Aldrich started considering tactical adjustments through substitutions.

Gattuso had been working tirelessly, but his lack of experience at this level showed. He was no Makélélé. Even with Pirlo alongside him, they struggled to contain the central threats of Raúl and Ballack. This imbalance forced Nedvěd to spend most of his time defending, limiting his offensive contributions.

Millwall began preparing substitutions. Aldrich sent Lampard and Neal to warm up.

As soon as the two players finished warming up, Aldrich walked over to personally assign their tasks for the upcoming match. But just as he was about to speak, the atmosphere on the pitch suddenly shifted.

He noticed the glances exchanged between Lampard and Neil as they looked toward the field, and his heart skipped a beat. Without hesitation, he turned to follow their gaze.

What he saw made his pupils contract.

Zambrotta had carried the ball past the halfway line, then passed it straight to Henry. Henry, with his back to the play, took a quick touch to control the ball before shifting into gear. As he moved sideways, he spun to face the goal and found the perfect angle for a shot. Without wasting a moment, he unleashed a powerful strike that swerved unpredictably through the air.

The ball swerved unpredictably through the air, curving as it descended toward the far post. Casillas stretched desperately but was powerless as the ball crashed into the inside of the post and into the net.

Goal!

3-2, and 7-5 on aggregate!