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Throughout history, only one team had ever completed a comeback after trailing 0-3.
Coincidentally, the key figure behind that miracle had once played in this very stadium.
Inside the VIP box at the Meazza, countless familiar faces sat among the celebrities and dignitaries.
Commentator Jian Jun immediately entered the segment he was best known for.
As the camera swept across the stands, Jian Jun rattled off names like he was introducing members of his own family.
"Oh? We can see Milan legend Paolo Maldini. And Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri. Clarence Seedorf and Marco van Basten are here as well."
"On the other side, there's Inter Milan legend Javier Zanetti. And heartthrob David Beckham has also arrived!"
"Beckham once had a short loan spell with Milan and provided tremendous help to the club."
"Over there, we have Felipe VI, as well as former Milan president Silvio Berlusconi."
Atlético Madrid chairman Miguel Ángel Gil Marín chatted and laughed with several dignitaries and celebrities.
The camera also passed over a seemingly inconspicuous couple that most commentators would have ignored.
To everyone's surprise, Jian Jun recognized them immediately.
"Wait, Lance's parents are here too..." Jian Jun forced a bitter smile, clearly helpless.
This was already the second time Lance had led the team into the Champions League Final, and the first time he was starting in the final itself.
Yet he had encountered a squad missing key players, while the opponent stood at the absolute peak of its power.
The small gap in strength between the two teams had been infinitely magnified on the grand stage of the final.
The 3-0 scoreline was painful to watch.
Many young Atlético Madrid fans were already crying on camera, while others crossed themselves in despair.
Lance had overturned countless impossible situations for Bayer Leverkusen and Atlético Madrid before, but he had never trailed by three goals in a final.
Could he save the team this time?
It was incredibly difficult.
Back during the "Miracle of Istanbul," Liverpool F.C. had a complete squad available, while Milan's arrogance and premature celebrations at halftime became the catalyst for the comeback.
Things were different now.
Having learned from Milan's tragedy, Real Madrid CF had no intention of becoming the next victim.
For twenty years since 2005, the "Night of Istanbul" had remained one of the most legendary finals in football history.
At the same time, "opening champagne at halftime" had become an immortal meme among fans.
And in every Champions League Final afterward, no team had ever lost after leading by more than two goals!
Jian Jun spoke in a noticeably heavy tone.
"Real Madrid leading 3-0 at halftime means they are infinitely close to lifting the Champions League trophy."
"It's truly unfortunate for Atlético Madrid, but there may be nothing they can do."
The helplessness was obvious.
One look at the expressions on Fernando Torres and Antoine Griezmann was enough to tell they had almost accepted reality.
The odds of victory were approaching zero.
Whether they personally won the title wasn't the important part. What truly weighed on them was Lance.
Last year, Lance had carried the team all the way to the final, only to miss it because of accumulated yellow cards.
That regret had never left him.
Lance never talked about it openly, but the teammates around him every day understood how deeply he cared.
Unable to help Lance win the championship made the Atlético Madrid players feel genuinely guilty.
"Hey! What kind of expressions are those?" Seeing Torres and Griezmann looking completely defeated, Lance almost wanted to kick them from behind.
What was this supposed to mean?
The match wasn't over yet!
"Buck up! As long as the whistle hasn't blown, we don't give up. Remember?"
"Of course!! Brother, I'm with you!"
"Count me in!"
"And me!"
Seeing that Lance still burned with fighting spirit, the Atlético Madrid players finally recovered some energy.
They came over one after another to high-five and encourage him, while also encouraging themselves.
They still remembered what Lance had said before the match began.
"Remember. No matter what happens, no matter how desperate the situation looks, it's not the end of the world."
"I'm here to cover for everyone!"
"Believe in me. Atlético Madrid is invincible!"
That's right.
Believe in Lance.
...
"You guys!! Focus!!"
Cristiano Ronaldo usually joked around with his teammates, but on the field he was an absolute pressure monster.
At the slightest sign of danger, Cristiano Ronaldo would immediately show his dissatisfaction. He had countless little tempers.
"Focus! Focus!"
The match wasn't over yet, and Cristiano Ronaldo never relaxed his guard.
Gareth Bale glanced at him and silently complained inwardly.
Was this really necessary?
Fortunately, his former Tottenham teammate Luka Modrić comforted him.
"Don't mind him. Staying serious is always the right choice."
"We're not actually going to get overturned... right?"
"Theoretically, no. But we should expand the lead as much as possible."
Modrić didn't feel even a shred of complacency.
Anyone who had ever played against Lance knew one thing.
You could never underestimate him.
Especially in the final stages of a match.
No one could predict what he might do.
All Modrić could do was continue creating chances and continue helping the team score until the advantage became truly untouchable.
At halftime, Real Madrid returned to the locker room with a commanding 3-0 lead.
Zinedine Zidane excitedly encouraged everyone.
"Keep pushing! Let's win this damn championship!"
As long as Real Madrid captured the Champions League title, losing La Liga and the Copa del Rey would mean nothing.
This season belonged to Madrid.
Watching Barcelona end the year empty-handed made everything even sweeter for Real Madrid.
Everything was moving toward the perfect conclusion.
...
Cristiano Ronaldo didn't know what had happened inside Atlético Madrid's locker room.
But the moment the second half began, Atlético Madrid launched a razor-sharp attack!
Lance's sudden diagonal pass from the right side was like an intercontinental missile, landing perfectly inside the penalty area!
Torres charged diagonally and unleashed a trademark "lion shaking its head" header!
"Torres!!!"
Hiss!
Cristiano Ronaldo nearly had his soul scared out of him!
Goalkeeper Keylor Navas flew through the air but couldn't reach the ball!
The next second...
Clang!
"It hit the crossbar and bounced out!!!"
"Real Madrid survives a disaster!"
"What a pity! Such a pity!" Commentator He Wei shook his head in regret.
It was obvious Atlético Madrid had prepared this move meticulously.
Lance deliberately held back to draw defensive attention, and the sudden long pass caught Real Madrid completely off guard.
The chemistry between him and Torres was flawless, and Torres trusted Lance's long passing completely.
It was a perfect sequence.
A perfect attack.
A nearly perfect finish.
But luck was missing by mere centimeters.
Torres's header narrowly missed.
"This was already Atlético Madrid's most threatening attack since falling behind by three goals! If that had gone in, perhaps there really would've been hope for a comeback!"
"You can see they still haven't given up! They are still searching for goals! They are still burning in adversity!"
The camera zoomed into the stands, where David Beckham couldn't help standing to applaud Lance.
Beautiful.
Absolutely beautiful.
Ever since retiring, Beckham had rarely seen players use such classic long-range curling passes to create opportunities.
At that moment, he almost felt like he was watching his younger self.
He had heard people say Lance's free-kicks resembled his own.
Some fans on YouTube had even created comparison videos analyzing their free-kick techniques frame by frame.
It was nearly a perfect replica.
"I really want to see him take a free-kick."
"He's got far more talent than you."
"Too late to regret it now. You've already stayed by my side your entire life."
"I've never regretted it."
Still elegant and charming at forty, Victoria Beckham leaned gently into her husband's embrace.
...
The match continued.
Atlético Madrid's fierce opening attack in the second half had sounded the alarm for Real Madrid.
After stabilizing for a brief period, Real Madrid launched an even more violent counterattack!
The battle instantly became incredibly intense!
"Lance sends it forward!! Griezmann!! Great ball!! Cross into the middle..."
"LANCE!!!!"
"The shot misses by inches! What a pity! Real Madrid's defense got there just in time!"
Casemiro's perfectly timed sliding tackle disrupted Lance for a split second.
The [Tiger Shot] still carried terrifying power, but the angle drifted slightly wide, flying past the post and sending a chill through Real Madrid.
"Good defense."
Lance reached out and pulled Casemiro back to his feet.
Casemiro froze for a moment.
At a time like this, he was still acting so calmly?
If it were Cristiano Ronaldo, he would've exploded long ago.
Either Lance had already given up, or he possessed overwhelming confidence that he could still reverse the match.
Casemiro instinctively believed it was the latter.
"Thanks. You're incredible," Casemiro said sincerely.
Despite the 3-0 lead, the pressure Lance created made him unable to relax for even a second.
This was unquestionably the most exhausting match of Casemiro's career.
Atlético Madrid's relentless attacks began showing signs of dragging the scoreline back.
Real Madrid refused to fall behind in momentum and quickly pushed the ball into the attacking third.
Sixty minutes had passed.
Modrić deliberately slowed the tempo, scanning the field for openings.
Atlético Madrid's defensive structure looked airtight.
But their center-back and defensive midfielder were still too young.
Young players could be baited.
Within a single second, Modrić made his decision.
He dribbled left and shaped to pass toward Cristiano Ronaldo.
The 22-year-old defensive midfielder Matías instinctively stretched out a leg to intercept.
Modrić instantly cut the ball back, changed direction, beat him cleanly, and after drawing additional defenders, threaded through a killer pass!
The flank was exposed!!
"Danger!!"
After committing two costly mistakes earlier, Stefan Savić was already mentally shaken.
Now his mind went completely blank as he rushed over to cover.
But Gareth Bale reacted faster and poked the ball away first...
"It's over."
Lance's heart sank instantly.
Sure enough, a sharp whistle rang out.
Beep!
Gareth Bale collapsed inside the penalty area!
At the same moment, referee Mark Clattenburg reached into his pocket and pulled out a yellow card.
Moments earlier, Savić had already been booked while defending Bale.
Now, after both pulling and tripping him, Atlético Madrid faced complete disaster.
The Atlético Madrid supporters let out anguished cries, while Jian Jun sat frozen in shock.
"This challenge!! The referee points to the penalty spot and shows a second yellow card! Center-back Stefan Savić receives two yellows and is sent off!"
The sky had collapsed.
"It's over!" Cristiano Ronaldo finally failed to suppress the smile at the corner of his mouth as he carried the ball toward the penalty spot.
If he converted this penalty, Cristiano Ronaldo would complete a hat-trick in the Champions League Final.
"This time... I can finally surpass you, right, Lance?"