The stadium grew noisy again as the second half began with the teams switching sides.
Atletico Madrid immediately launched attacks after kickoff.
Having previously snatched La Liga titles from Barcelona and Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid excelled at advancing from both wings, executing intricate combinations in the half-spaces, and creating significant threats to the opponent's goal.
Arda Turan possessed balanced technical ability with both feet, good balance, and excellent speed. Filipe was similarly skilled.
Meanwhile, Diego Costa anchored himself in Manchester United's penalty area like a nail, completely pinning down both center-backs.
Although his playing style wasn't popular, his individual quality was undeniable.
Had he been a few years younger, he would have contended for a spot among the world's top five strikers.
Moreover, his unique technical characteristics often produced unexpected effects.
Maguire and David Luiz remained vigilant, focusing entirely on tight man-marking.
To maintain defensive cohesion, Matic and Herrera had to drop deeper, effectively conceding space in front of the penalty area.
Particularly on the left flank where Correa - who had previously suffered from heart problems - was positioned, the defensive intensity gradually weakened, preventing Filipe from joining the attack.
If the match continued in this manner, Manchester United's chances of winning would only increase.
For the remainder of the match, Man United strictly adhered to their game plan, maintaining a solid defense while prioritizing counterattacks.
"Man United's tactical approach is crystal clear—bypass the midfield and focus on direct attacking play. Rashford, Mahrez, and Pogba are all capable of driving forward with the ball and breaking through the defense!" Peter Drury exclaimed excitedly in commentary.
"Ling frequently drops back to receive the ball, acting as a temporary playmaker in the attacking third, thereby freeing up Pogba to push forward and join the attack!" Jim Beglin added.
As for Atlético Madrid, they haven't had enough time to gel, resulting in poor positioning during transitions.
It's highly likely that Man United's counterattacks will breach their defense next time.
In less than ten minutes, Man United had already created three shooting opportunities.
If not for Oblak's outstanding performance, the score would have already been altered.
Just three minutes into the second half, Atlético Madrid managed to advance the ball into Man United's defensive third.
Koke quickly looked up to assess the situation after receiving the ball.
Having officially been promoted to the first team in 2011, he broke out in the 2012-13 season and has since been a consistent starter for the next five seasons.
Moreover, he has maintained an appearance record of 40+ matches per season across all competitions for five consecutive seasons, consistently registering double-digit assists.
It's fair to say he is the most pivotal figure in Atlético Madrid's midfield, potentially following in the footsteps of Maldini, Giggs, and Totti in crafting a one-club legend.
Receiving and passing in one fluid motion without slowing the tempo, the ball was quickly switched to the right side.
Their Spanish compatriot Herrera was just half a step too slow, and could only watch Saúl's retreating back.
And Saúl, he truly is a warrior.
Two years ago, in a Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen, he suffered a ruptured kidney during a fierce challenge and has been plagued by kidney issues ever since.
Symptoms like vomiting, pain, and hematuria occurred frequently, but he ultimately returned to the pitch.
However, Saúl didn't go for the shot himself.
Instead, he adjusted his technique and lofted a delicate pass into the box, painting a rainbow over Man United's penalty area.
De Gea stood ready, prepared to make a save at any moment.
At the end of the trajectory stood Griezmann, who once again opted for a fierce, angled drive towards the top corner!
"Brilliant! De Gea!" Peter Drury cheered. "He's gradually shaking off his slump from international duty!"
"No repeat of the earlier mistake—he firmly punches the ball away with one hand, sending it out for a corner!" Jim Beglin noted. "Look at this exceptional goalkeeping—I'd say it's no less impressive than Oblak's!"
The ensuing corner for Atlético Madrid was taken by Correa.
Although Atlético Madrid is also renowned for their aerial prowess, they still couldn't gain an advantage against Man United's giant formation.
The second ball was collected by Matic outside the penalty area, who executed a spectacular overhead kick to clear it.
Ling, deliberately hanging back half a step, controlled the ball in one fluid motion, sending Rodri stumbling to the side before abruptly halting, transitioning from motion to stillness in an instant.
Due to Ling's recent efficiency in scoring headers, Man United fans are considering giving him a new nickname.
Koke, charging in frantically from behind, found nothing but air!
"Beautiful! It's as if he has eyes in the back of his head!"
The ball spun towards the left flank, where Rashford accelerated instantly, engaging in a fierce duel with Juanfran.
They relentlessly attacked Atlético's aging full-backs with sheer pace.
The latter, now 33 years old, is already past his prime.
How could his current form possibly match that of the young and powerful Rashford?
Rashford didn't attempt to control the ball, instead directly cushioning it toward the center with the outside of his foot.
He shares a common trait with Mahrez—both prefer cutting inside onto their left foot to shoot.
At this moment, he executed a mesmerizing series of steps.
"Going for the shot straight away!"
"Wow, Godín covers ground incredibly fast, sliding in to make a tackle and getting a touch on the ball. Unfortunately, the deflection skims just past the post!"
After nearly 60 minutes of high-intensity pressing, Atletico Madrid players' physical stamina had significantly declined.
On the sidelines, Simeone could no longer contain himself.
He decided to go all-in, unwilling to accept a passive, slow demise.
"Lemar, that bastard grabbed you by the neck earlier. I'll file a complaint with UEFA after the match!" Simeone shouted.
"But if we lose this match, it will all be meaningless. Because the loser has no dignity to speak of—he only makes the victor laugh more heartily! So I need you to control the ball, strengthen your connection with Griezmann, utilize your dribbling ability, and push the attack into Man United's defensive third. Let the whole world know you're better than him, including that Mourinho over there—make him regret not choosing you!"
After these few simple words, Lemar was instantly fired up, pulling on his training vest and starting his warm-up.
Simeone's gaze returned to the field.
Ling and Mahrez exchanged positions, shouting for the ball from Herrera while suddenly feinting with their bodies!
What followed was a comical scene.
Filipe, seemingly overly tense because he knew if he failed to keep up from the first step, he might not even manage a tactical foul—after all, Ling's short-distance explosive speed was officially certified—instinctively moved early, only to realize Herrera hadn't passed the ball.
He ended up stumbling awkwardly to the ground!
But to the fans in the stadium, it was simple: Ling had made Filipe stumble without even touching the ball, a visual impact no less stunning than the Pendulum feint.
Herrera keenly spotted the opportunity and decisively launched a long pass behind Filipe.
Ling controlled the ball in one motion, surged into the penalty area, and before Giménez could challenge, delivered a cutback pass to the edge of the box.
Pogba follows up, swinging his right foot high and unleashing a powerful instep drive!
Boom!
The ball skimmed across the turf, brushed past Oblak's fingertips, struck the right post, and bounced into the net!
2-1!!!
Amid the roaring cheers of Man United fans, Pogba ran to the sidelines and started dancing.
This was his newly developed celebration move!
Simeone, who had just been about to change tactics with a substitution, was stunned by the sudden goal—he even began regretting not making the decision earlier.
"In the 64th minute of the match, Man United scored again to take the lead, with Pogba netting a brilliant Ground Shot!" Peter Drury announced.
"United's sustained offensive pressure over more than ten minutes finally paid off," Jim Beglin analyzed.
The Atletico players weren't as disheartened as one might expect, seeming almost accustomed to such setbacks.
Though outsiders often questioned their style of play, beneath it lay a resilient spirit—every Atletico player knew their strength.
That was unified and absolute execution!
They could break down parked buses in attack and stop Barcelona in defense—Atletico players had absolute confidence in themselves and their team.
Filipe spat in disgust, his face contorted. "That was my mistake just now!"
To be faked out by Ling and sent tumbling was an unprecedented humiliation, stirring a surge of fury within him.
"We've been pinned back and unable to break out, which is why Man United can push so high up and create numerical advantages in small areas! We must strengthen our possession in the final third and drag the game into a positional battle." Koke tightened his captain's armband and spoke earnestly.
Rodri nodded in agreement—he had transferred from Villarreal to Atletico precisely for a better platform to pursue championships.
Today's match was one they had to win, not lose!
Amid the mutual encouragement and rallying words, the Atletico players quickly regained their morale.
"The fourth official raised the LED board. Simeone used his remaining substitutions, bringing on Lemar for Correa and Savić for Giménez!" Peter Drury called out.
"Simeone wasn't as hysterical as one might expect; instead, he made these like-for-like changes very calmly," Jim Beglin noted. "I suspect it's to counter Man United's defensive counterattacks. Savić from Montenegro possesses top-tier awareness, experience, and mental attributes."
Peter Drury curled his lips.
He knew Savić was a thorough villain, and under Simeone's tutelage, he had become even worse, frequently committing malicious fouls.
It was easy to imagine that the remainder of the match would be even more challenging for Man United.
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