Victory Beckons

Aldrich's halftime message was simple: "Play it by ear and match them move for move."

In the second half, Millwall's seemingly aimless long clearances turned out to be unexpectedly effective.

This wasn't about a defender's long clearance and a quick breakaway by Henry leading to a one-on-one chance—if that were the case, Real Madrid wouldn't have made it past the quarterfinals.

After three consecutive clearances, the ball fell into Real Madrid's possession, and they tried to build their attack again. Aldrich, observing from the sideline, noticed something that surprised him.

Once Real Madrid regained possession and attempted to organize their attack, they suddenly found it difficult. Their attacks lacked fluidity!

Aldrich instantly understood what was going on.

In their positional play, Real Madrid's attacking players—strikers Anelka and Morientes, false winger Raúl, and McManaman—were all pushing forward, often operating inside and around the danger zone. Carlos and Salgado joined the attack, while Redondo helped organize or link up in the middle. Due to the high number of attacking players, Real Madrid's attack was generally fluid, with multiple options available for moving the ball forward.

The key moment was the final pass. Millwall disrupted that last link in Real Madrid's attacking chain, forcing them to retreat. After clearing the ball, Millwall's defenders quickly reorganized their defense, returning to their positions and forming a solid defensive line, stifling Real Madrid's attack.

Now, Real Madrid faced a new problem!

The players who had pushed forward couldn't return quickly enough to offer support, and without a link to connect their attack, the midfield was too sparse. This left them with limited passing options and no chance to build up momentum.

This was where Aldrich's relentless focus on hidden attacking points and the importance of off-the-ball movement and awareness in training came into play.

Millwall's defense was quick to respond after every clearance, immediately reorganizing and setting up a tight defense. They disrupted Real Madrid's attacking flow and locked down the players who didn't retreat to offer support.

This was the core lesson Aldrich had been drilling into his players—how to exploit hidden attacking points and how off-the-ball movement could break down an opposing defense.

The unpredictability of Real Madrid's first attacking wave came from their offensive runs, especially with players like Carlos, whose movement down the wing or cutting inside to take a shot could not be easily predicted. But after that first wave was blocked, Real Madrid's attackers didn't immediately fall back. When they tried to reorganize their attack, they ran straight into Millwall's well-structured defense and found themselves stuck in the mud.

In the 58th minute, Real Madrid launched another attack from the back. Redondo dropped deep to support, with Ronaldinho keeping him busy. Redondo passed to Raúl, but Millwall had already anticipated the pass. Pirlo intercepted, and Millwall immediately broke on the counter.

Pirlo, Nedvěd, Lampard, and Ronaldinho combined in a fast-paced exchange, with the ball eventually finding Ronaldinho, who had made his way into the heart of Real Madrid's defense. After a quick one-two with Nedvěd, Ronaldinho powered down the flank and crossed the ball into the penalty area.

As Henry charged into the box, he suddenly pulled back, perfectly positioned to meet Ronaldinho's pass. Facing Campo, Henry received the ball with remarkable composure, cutting back to send his opponent off balance. Campo lost his footing completely, and Henry now stood at nearly the same position as Ronaldinho's goal in the first half. But unlike Ronaldinho, he wasted no time trying to fake out the keeper. Instead, he unleashed a powerful strike.

Casillas could only hear the whoosh as the ball zipped past his head and into the back of the net.

"2–3! Oh, Henry, you beauty! That's another one for him, putting daylight between himself and Raúl in the Champions League scoring race! But let's not forget where this started—Redondo's error gave Millwall the chance, and wow, did they take it! This counterattack was like clockwork—fast, sharp, and absolutely deadly. The Bernabéu has gone quiet—fans are shaking their heads, wondering how their team fell apart like this."

As Henry celebrated with his teammates near the sideline, the live broadcast captured Aldrich pulling aside a Millwall substitute, giving him detailed instructions.

"Curious. Hall's team has just taken the lead against Real Madrid again, yet he's preparing to bring on another striker. Does he think a 3–2 lead isn't enough?"

The player Aldrich was briefing was Klose.

Aldrich had noticed Real Madrid's inability to organize an effective buildup from the back, prompting him to send Klose to warm up immediately.

It wasn't directly related to Henry's goal—just a coincidence in timing. Henry's strike came around the 60th minute, precisely when Aldrich had decided to make the substitution.

The Real Madrid fans in the Bernabéu stared in disbelief as Aldrich walked to the sideline to personally see Klose replace a player.

A forward off, a midfielder on!

It wasn't that the Real Madrid fans had never seen an opponent make substitutions, but seeing a team ahead on the scoreline make such an attacking substitution, weakening their defense, was highly unusual.

Henry's goal had pushed Real Madrid into a corner, and Aldrich's substitution had sent Bosque to the edge of a cliff.

Look at this.

Millwall added a forward, pulling off a midfielder.

What about Real Madrid?

Needing a goal, Bosque didn't dare to make a move.

At least in theory, Millwall, with one less midfielder, would reduce the pressure on Real Madrid's attack.

If Bosque had to make a change, it would have to be an equivalent substitution to maintain the offensive pressure.

Klose replaced Lampard, and Aldrich slapped Lampard's hand on the sidelines, thoroughly impressed with the young player's performance.

Lampard, however, felt a bit guilty. He thought he hadn't been as stable as he should have been on the pitch. His boundless energy often led to aimless runs, and he hadn't used his efforts where they were most needed. For the team's first conceded goal, he hadn't interfered with Carlos's long-range shot, nor helped Makélélé block Raúl, making him realize just how much room for improvement he still had.

With Klose on, Aldrich made a few hand gestures from the sidelines, and with the ball still not in play, the players took a moment to understand Aldrich's adjustments.

The Lions changed tactics.

From 4-3-2-1 to 4-2-3-1, or rather, 4-3-3.

Makélélé and Pirlo formed a double pivot, one for interceptions and one for playing deep and organizing.

Nedvěd, the box-to-box midfielder, didn't have a specific position, as his nonstop running meant he could cover any space when needed. His key role was appearing where needed, whether in attack or defense.

Ronaldinho on the left wing, Klose as the center forward, and Henry on the right wing.

At this moment, Real Madrid had no choice but to go all-out!

However, due to their formation and the movement areas of their individual players, even with Millwall pulling a midfielder, Real Madrid's defensive vulnerabilities, particularly in the center, would continue to haunt them. From now on, Aldrich was set to seize control of the match from Real Madrid. He would let Millwall dominate and steal the spotlight at the Bernabéu!

The situation was completely different now compared to the start of the game, especially with the massive shift in the mindset of the Real Madrid players. The scoreline felt like a nightmare, constantly replaying in their minds.

After the kickoff, Real Madrid immediately pressed forward, focusing on the flanks where they had strong players. But the center, a critical area of the field, remained a glaring weakness in their defense.

Real Madrid's attacks began to show a distinct pattern.

They could push the ball to Millwall's flanks, but from there, whether attempting through passes, individual breakthroughs, or crosses, the threats they created were severely limited. Millwall had compressed their defensive zones, leaving no space for their opponents to maneuver effectively.

Whenever Millwall successfully defended, they immediately exerted immense pressure in midfield. At this point, one man became critical—Claude Makélélé.

When Real Madrid transitioned from attack to defense, their attacking players would immediately focus on cutting off Andrea Pirlo, aiming to choke the most creative link in Millwall's midfield.

But Makélélé wasn't just a pure defensive player. His technical ability often went unnoticed, overshadowed by Pirlo's offensive brilliance. Pirlo's rise had led opponents to underestimate him, allowing him more room to shine, which inadvertently cast a shadow over Makélélé's contributions.

As Real Madrid's players swarmed Pirlo like wolves, Makélélé stepped up. Using clever positioning, Pirlo created space for Makélélé to emerge as the crucial bridge between defense and attack.

When the ball transitioned from the back to the front, Millwall's attacking strength was undeniable.

Miroslav Klose entered the game with clear tactical instructions. As the central striker, his primary task was to provide support and create opportunities. He offered cover for Thierry Henry, who had shifted to the wing. This wasn't part of Millwall's usual tactics but was a necessity under today's unique circumstances.

Henry's dominance on the flank was overwhelming. When Roberto Carlos pushed forward and failed to recover in time, Henry had free rein on the right.

In the 76th minute, Millwall launched another multi-layered attack. Ronaldinho, mirroring his earlier goal, cut inside from the left and exchanged a quick one-two with Klose, breaking into the penalty area. This time, however, his shot was denied by Iker Casillas.

Pavel Nedvěd followed up with a thunderous long shot, but it was blocked by Aitor Karanka's body.

By now, Real Madrid's forwards had dropped back to assist defensively. When Iván Helguera regained possession, he passed forward, sparking a new wave of movement. As players darted ahead to find space, the ball reached Steve McManaman—only to be intercepted by a tenacious Makélélé.

Makélélé quickly passed to Nedvěd, who, after turning with the ball, scanned the field and sent a precise through ball to the right.

Carlos was charging forward again, but Henry, just three meters away, had already started sprinting. Carlos couldn't stop and reverse direction fast enough to catch up. Henry, unmarked and in full stride, cut inside to collect the ball.

Henry burst in from the right, cutting inside before unleashing a low shot aimed at the far corner. Casillas threw himself desperately, but his dive came a split second too late. His eyes widened in panic as the ball darted past his right hand.

The crowd held their breath—they could see it clearly. This wasn't going in! Henry's shot didn't have the sharpness to find the net.

But just as the ball glided toward the far post, a figure emerged, perfectly timed, to tap it into the unguarded goal.

"Ronaldinho strikes again! A brace at the Bernabéu! Millwall lead 4–2, leaving Real Madrid in deep trouble. The Lions have turned the tide in this half, asserting their dominance with more shots and decisive attacks. Ronaldinho has cemented their superiority, bringing them within touching distance of the Champions League final!"