Chapter 800: There Can Only Be One Winner
With Manchester United's defense steady, their attackers began to find opportunities.
Bruno Fernandes delivered a right-wing cross that found Marcus Rashford at the far post for a header on goal, but Wojciech Szczęsny denied it with a fine save.
Shortly after, Bruno threaded a piercing pass from the left channel to Kylian Mbappé, who surged into the box but fired wide.
In the 28th minute, Bruno had a one-on-one opportunity against Leonardo Bonucci, attempting to dribble past the experienced defender. However, Bonucci tripped him up expertly, earning a yellow card from referee Danny Makkelie.
Without argument, Bonucci extended his hand to help Bruno up, patting him on the shoulder before retreating.
Bruno then delivered a dangerous free kick, but Virgil van Dijk couldn't connect cleanly with his header, sending it over the bar.
As the match reached the 30-minute mark, Manchester United remained a goal behind.
Juventus' Renewed Offensive
After a brief lull, Juventus launched another wave of attacks.
Cristiano Ronaldo remained their most potent threat, with dazzling performances that kept Manchester United's defense on high alert. However, he found it difficult to penetrate United's backline, resorting mostly to long-range shots from outside the penalty area—clear evidence of United's defensive solidity.
Juventus' increasing pressure coincided with their defensive line pushing higher up, a fact not lost on Bruno, who saw a potential opening for a counterattack.
In one sequence, Ronaldo attempted a backheel pass but was fouled by Fred, who received a yellow card for the challenge. Juventus earned another free kick, with Ronaldo stepping up to take it.
As Bruno joined the defensive wall, he once again found himself face-to-face with Ronaldo, locking eyes with the Portuguese captain. Ronaldo's gaze burned with competitive intensity, as if silently declaring:
"Tonight, there can only be one winner, and that will be me!"
Bruno's eyes reflected the same resolve:
"No, it will be me!"
Ronaldo's Free Kick
Ronaldo positioned himself with feet shoulder-width apart, fists clenched at his sides, exuding a godlike presence as he prepared to take the free kick.
At the referee's whistle, Ronaldo dashed forward and struck the ball cleanly. It soared over the wall in a graceful arc, dipping dangerously toward the goal.
Yet, David de Gea, having studied Ronaldo's trademark "knuckleball" free kicks, was ready. Despite Ronaldo's waning efficiency with such set pieces in recent years, no goalkeeper could afford to underestimate him.
De Gea reacted swiftly, diving to his left and tipping the ball over the crossbar. Though Juventus earned a corner, Ronaldo's effort was thwarted, allowing United's players a collective sigh of relief.
Bruno Sparks a Counterattack
United reset for the corner with heightened focus, having already conceded once from a similar situation.
Juventus flooded the penalty area with players, including Bonucci and Matthijs de Ligt, ready to exploit any lapse in United's defense.
Meanwhile, Bruno remained stationed upfield, poised for a counterattack. Though unsure when—or if—the ball would reach him, he remained laser-focused, ready to spring into action.
United regained possession but faced immense pressure from Juventus' midfield pressing.
As João Cancelo collected the ball near the backline, Federico Bernardeschi closed in quickly. Cancelo considered passing backward but noticed Bruno racing back toward the ball, raising his hand to signal for a pass. Bruno's movement cut across Bernardeschi's path, creating a viable passing lane.
Cancelo seized the moment, delivering a low, precise pass to Bruno.
Bruno controlled the ball and pivoted sharply, seemingly aware there were no defenders behind him. With one fluid motion, he turned and began sprinting forward.
Rodrigo Bentancur and Alex Sandro quickly pursued him. Before Bentancur could close in, Bruno released a swift lateral pass to Fred, then accelerated further into Juventus' half.
Fred wasted no time, lofting a perfectly weighted pass over Juventus' defense, allowing Bruno to chase it down.
Bruno's Sprint
"Manchester United launches another counterattack down the right flank!"
"Bruno Fernandes is in a foot race with Alex Sandro!"
"Bruno is flying—neck and neck with Sandro as they both chase the ball!"
Bruno's speed proved decisive as he reached the ball first, just as it approached the edge of the penalty area...
Although Bruno Fernandes had the advantage in speed and stamina, the initial gap between him and Alex Sandro, along with Sandro's tenacious pursuit and subtle shirt-tugging, made the chase more challenging.
But Bruno could only focus on one thing: reaching the ball.
With his exceptional ability to predict the ball's trajectory, Bruno anticipated where it would land. He also understood his opponent well—five years ago, when Sandro had just joined Juventus, Bruno might have struggled to match him in pace. But the now 30-year-old Sandro was no longer at his physical peak, and Bruno knew he could win the chase.
Yet, as Sandro closed in, Bruno had to make a quick decision about how to control the ball. If he stopped it at his feet, Sandro would immediately pounce and obstruct his next move.
So Bruno chose to flick the ball behind himself, where there were no defenders—a calculated risk that gave him more room to recover if something went wrong.
In mere fractions of a second, Bruno acted. Judging the ball's trajectory, he extended his right foot, adjusting the angle of his foot and leg instinctively.
The ball struck his foot and veered left, brushing past his shoulder before dropping between him and Sandro.
Bruno Outsmarts Sandro
The sudden change in the ball's path momentarily stunned Sandro.
Bruno wasted no time, planting his foot to stop and pivot.
Sandro, now scrambling to recover, halted his sprint and turned sharply, extending his hand to grab Bruno. However, Bruno swung his right arm with force, slapping Sandro's hand away with an audible smack.
As if insult were added to injury, Sandro lost his footing and tumbled onto the pitch, watching helplessly as Bruno accelerated past him. Bruno deftly collected the ball with his right foot, cutting into the penalty box.
"What a brilliant touch!"
"Bruno shakes off Sandro with a stunning first touch!"
"What will he do now?"
Bruno faced Leonardo Bonucci next. He feinted to dribble past but was unable to beat the veteran defender, opting instead to lay the ball off to the edge of the box.
Harry Kane was there, striking the ball with power—but the shot lacked precision and went straight to Wojciech Szczęsny, who parried it away.
A Split-Second Decision
As the ball rebounded toward Bruno, he froze momentarily, caught off guard.
Everything seemed to slow down.
The ball floated toward him gently, while Bonucci spun around to intercept, moving as if in slow motion. Szczęsny, sprawled on the ground, shouted as he sluggishly retracted his arms to rise. Matthijs de Ligt began a desperate slide tackle.
Behind Bruno, Sandro was still getting to his feet after his earlier fall, clearly shaken.
On the sidelines, Maurizio Sarri looked apoplectic, screaming inaudibly as his arms flailed in frustration.
Meanwhile, José Mourinho, wide-eyed, seemed to shout:
"Shoot!"
The cacophony of sights and sounds flooded Bruno's mind. Suddenly, instinct took over. He snapped out of his trance, swung his right leg, and struck the ball.
A Thunderous Goal
Bonucci lunged, de Ligt slid in, and Szczęsny pushed himself upright.
But it was too late.
With a resounding thud, Bruno's strike sent the ball rocketing forward, low and fast. It zipped between the defenders and past the helpless Szczęsny, slamming into the back of the net.
Bruno knew the moment his foot connected that the ball was destined to score. Years of relentless practice had ingrained this certainty in him.
The shot felt like an extension of himself, a culmination of muscle memory and intuition. He didn't wait for the referee's whistle—he knew it was a goal. Letting out a triumphant roar, Bruno took off in celebration, sprinting across the field with arms outstretched.
Behind him, the referee blew his whistle to signal the goal's validity.
Devastation for Ronaldo
As Bruno celebrated, Cristiano Ronaldo covered his face with both hands, his posture embodying pure anguish.
The goal had turned the tide of the match, silencing Juventus' momentum and sparking hope for Manchester United.
Bruno's strike was a masterpiece of timing, skill, and determination—proof that on this night, the battle of the Portuguese titans was far from over.
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