Chapter 233: Ascending Europe

Chapter 233: Ascending Europe

Barzagli, with his rich experience, knew that you must always leave some room for maneuver in defense. Having played professional football for decades, he had seen every scenario possible. So, when he abruptly stopped, he kept a keen eye on Bruno.

Bruno's cutback was exactly what Barzagli anticipated, and he immediately moved to block, trying to cover Bruno's shooting angle. But Bruno reacted quickly, relying on almost instinctive reflexes. Seeing Barzagli move, Bruno realized his cutback wouldn't work. He quickly pulled the ball back with his right foot.

In the tight confines of the left side of the penalty area, in the blink of an eye, Bruno made a sharp stop and two quick cutbacks. These moves were the result of relentless training over the past three years, honed through tough professional matches. Each action was extremely refined, aiming for simplicity while maintaining maximum threat.

Bruno's touch wasn't too strong because if it were, he wouldn't be able to generate the necessary power and angle for the subsequent left-footed shot. With Marchisio and Bonucci right behind him, he had only one chance. A quick cutback and immediate shot were his only options.

In that split second, Bruno managed to carve out a gap from Barzagli. Juventus's goalkeeper Buffon, initially blocked by Marchisio, was shocked when he saw Bruno cut the ball back and immediately shoot with his left foot. Buffon dived towards his right, but to his dismay, Bruno's shot was quick and aimed at the top right corner. Buffon completely missed it!

"GOOOOOOOOOOOAL!!!!" "It's in!!!!" "In the 68th minute, Udinese takes the lead again, 2-1!" "What a fantastic goal!" "Bruno scores a brace! This is his 17th goal in the Champions League this season, tying the record set by his national teammate Cristiano Ronaldo last season!"

As soon as Bruno struck the ball with his left foot, he knew it was a goal. Once he steadied himself, he saw the ball hit the top right corner of the net with Buffon missing it completely. He swiftly turned, dodging the diving Bonucci and Marchisio, and sprinted towards the stands packed with Udinese fans. Even breaking free from Di Natale's bear hug, Bruno slid on his knees near the sidelines, leaving two visible trails on the soft turf.

Under the stands filled with Udinese fans, Bruno raised both fists high, basking in the thunderous applause from thousands of supporters. A brace in the Champions League final – this was the moment he had dreamt of!

"Bruno is in exceptional form tonight!" "Not only did he score a lightning-fast goal in the first half, but he also created multiple dangerous opportunities. In the second half, he seized another critical moment to give Udinese the lead again." "The entire play was beautiful. Di Natale, coming off the bench, made a crucial contribution with his header, creating a direct attacking chance for Bruno. With his superb individual skill, Bruno capitalized on it. This is truly a moment of brilliance from a top-tier superstar!"

Led by Di Natale, Udinese players rushed to the sidelines, swarming over Bruno and bringing him down to the ground in a heap of jubilation. The entire squad joined the pile, celebrating wildly.

Meanwhile, on the sideline, coach Guidolin was equally elated. With around twenty minutes remaining, this goal was pivotal. Udinese could now play more relaxed and take control of the match. Juventus, whether they liked it or not, had to press forward and attack.

Allegri shook his head helplessly, muttering as he returned to the away bench, "I knew it, I always knew it..." Though he didn't finish the sentence, it was clear what he meant.

Conceding at this critical juncture was a devastating blow for Juventus. They had no choice but to attack now. If they didn't press forward, Udinese would simply run down the clock.

Allegri faced a tough decision. Pressing forward was necessary to equalize, but it would leave them vulnerable to counterattacks. Bruno's passing, Salah's speed and dribbling, and Di Natale's finishing ability were significant threats. It was a dilemma – attack to level the score or risk being exposed at the back.

"Bring on Llorente, and take off…"

Who should he take off?

Allegri hesitated. In Juventus's current lineup, everyone seemed indispensable.

"…Lichtsteiner!" Allegri finally decided, though it felt like a painful choice. By taking off Lichtsteiner and bringing on Llorente, he aimed to bolster the attack and switch to a three-man defense.

Following Juventus's substitution, Udinese quickly responded. Hertaux replaced Piris, with Cancelo shifting to the right and Hertaux taking the left-back position.

Hertaux brought new instructions from Guidolin: fall back and let Juventus attack, focusing on countering their advances. It seemed like a cunning strategy, but it was highly effective.

With Juventus pushing forward, Udinese defended solidly while constantly threatening on the counter. The game's tempo quickened, and time swiftly passed. As regulation time neared its end, Udinese intercepted a Juventus attack, and Bruno launched a long pass behind the Juventus defense.

Guilherme sprinted down the left, reaching the ball before anyone else. He paused, allowing his teammates to catch up, then quickly crossed from the left. Di Natale and Salah drew the defenders' attention, leaving Cancelo, who had slipped forward unnoticed, to finish from close range, scoring again.

3-1!

By this point, the game was in the 87th minute, and the match's outcome was almost certain.

Indeed, despite seven minutes of added time, Juventus couldn't alter the scoreline. When the Turkish referee Cüneyt Çakır blew the final whistle, Udinese's coaching staff, substitutes, and sideline personnel flooded the field.

The Berlin Olympic Stadium erupted in celebration. Thousands of Udinese fans in the stands sang the club's anthem at the top of their lungs. From the first minute, their voices hadn't ceased, supporting the players on the field in their own way.

Fans cheered, cried, and shouted in jubilation. This was the scene of victory for Udinese supporters in the Champions League final.

After the match, Bruno first approached referee Çakır with a smile, shaking his hand and appreciating his fair officiating. Then, he walked towards Pogba. The Frenchman looked up with red eyes, a mix of sweat and tears on his face. He seemed devastated.

Bruno had complex feelings toward Pogba, who came through Manchester United's youth system. In another timeline, when Pogba left United for Juventus, Bruno didn't pay much attention, as Pogba wasn't well-known back then. However, when Pogba returned to United in 2016 for a record fee, Bruno, a die-hard United fan, took notice. Initially, he liked Pogba during his early years back at United, but Pogba's lackluster performances in his final two years soured Bruno's opinion of him.

In this timeline, Bruno felt sympathy for Pogba. Since winning the U-20 World Cup in 2013 and the Golden Boy award, and their Serie A clashes, Pogba's spotlight had often been overshadowed by Bruno. Pogba could have been one of Europe's hottest young talents, but he had to compete with the phenomenal Bruno.

"Pogba," Bruno said, placing an arm around his shoulder.

Pogba looked at him, forced a smile, and congratulated him, though his tone was bitter. His eyes showed a sense of desolation.

"Let's swap jerseys," Bruno suggested.

Pogba hesitated but soon nodded. Both removed their jerseys, revealing their muscular upper bodies. Only then did Pogba notice that Bruno's physique wasn't as slender as it seemed. He was also covered in muscles, distributed proportionately.

(End of Chapter)

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