On social media, fans watching the match had already gone completely insane.
The comment sections refreshed so quickly they were almost impossible to read.
📱 @TheodoreEraCN ✔
That goal looked like Zidane's legendary volley reborn in Theodore's body. What a hit.
| ↳ 📱 @MadridCN_Insider
| Reply: Kroos' corner was perfect, but Theodore's technique was outrageous. First time, no control, straight into the net.
📱 @UCLNightTalk ✔
I did not expect Madrid to create a corner routine like that. They made Bayern worry about Theodore's header, then punished them from outside the box.
| ↳ 📱 @WhiteShirtFaithful
| Reply: Before I even realized what was happening, it was already 3–1. Are Madrid actually going to destroy Bayern at the Allianz?
📱 @FootballCNLive ✔
Usually Bayern are the ones who batter other teams. Tonight, they're finally getting a taste of what a heavy defeat feels like.
| ↳ 📱 @BarcaFanButHonest
| Reply: As a Barça fan, I support Madrid blowing Bayern apart. Don't ask me why. Tonight I'm shameless.
📱 @MadridistaHQ ✔
Don't stop. Keep attacking. This Bayern side can still hurt us if we let them breathe.
After the restart, Flick had already rushed to the touchline and started issuing new tactical instructions to his players.
"Long balls!"
His voice cut through the noise of the Allianz Arena.
"Don't try to show off your technique against Madrid! Use your bodies! Fight them physically and look for chances to play long!"
Then he shouted again.
"Physical duels! Intense physical duels!"
Flick knew very well where Bayern's strengths lay.
In his view, if Bayern wanted to turn the match around tonight, they had to use their physicality as much as possible.
They had to drag Madrid into aerial battles, second-ball fights, shoulder-to-shoulder collisions, and chaotic moments inside the box.
But Real Madrid did not give Bayern that chance easily.
Casemiro and Theodore kept running tirelessly, disrupting Bayern's rhythm again and again.
Whenever Bayern tried to move the ball through the middle, one of them would step in, close the passing lane, or force the ball backwards.
Before anyone realized it, the first half came to an end.
Bayern Munich, playing at home, still trailed Real Madrid by two goals.
3–1!
The Allianz Arena was restless.
...
Halftime.
Inside the home dressing room, Flick stood in front of all the Bayern players with an expressionless face.
His voice was calm, but the pressure behind it was obvious.
"We still have the final forty-five minutes," he said. "If you want to beat Madrid, then you have to bring out every bit of strength you have."
The Bayern players listened in silence.
"Our tactics in the second half are very clear."
Flick's eyes hardened.
"Attack."
Then he repeated it more firmly.
"Attack with everything."
He turned toward the two wide players.
"Sané. Kingsley. I need you to show your strongest level. As long as there's a chance, cross immediately."
His voice grew heavier.
"I need you to put this damn ball onto Lewandowski's head."
In Flick's view, as long as Bayern could deliver enough balls to Lewandowski and Thomas Müller inside the box, those two forwards would definitely have the ability to put pressure on Madrid's goal.
They did not need beautiful football now.
They needed danger, chaos and definitely some goals.
...
Fifteen minutes later, the second half continued.
Bayern's players immediately carried out Flick's instructions.
In the 48th minute, Kimmich sent a long pass straight toward Sané on the wing.
After stopping the ball with his right foot, Sané glanced toward the penalty area and crossed almost immediately.
The ball curved over Real Madrid's box and dropped accurately toward Lewandowski.
Inside the Allianz Arena, more than seventy thousand Bayern fans held their breath.
Every pair of eyes fixed on Lewandowski.
At that moment, he carried the hopes of every Bayern supporter in the stadium.
But Lewandowski failed to turn that hope into a chance.
Because the player responsible for defending him was Theodore.
When Sané's cross dropped toward Lewandowski's head, Theodore had already appeared beside him.
The instant Lewandowski jumped, Theodore rose with him.
The two men leapt at the same time.
Lewandowski and Theodore were not far apart in height, but Theodore's core strength and heading technique were even stronger.
On top of that, Ramos also stepped in to interfere with Lewandowski's movement.
Under pressure from two top Madrid defenders, Lewandowski failed to win the header cleanly.
Theodore got there first and cleared the ball away.
"Sané's delivery is dangerous—Theodore wins it!" Rob Palmer called. "He beats Lewandowski in the air."
"That is a huge defensive action," Terry Gibson said. "Bayern's entire plan is to put the ball onto Lewandowski's head, but Theodore reads it, matches him physically, and Ramos helps make sure the striker never gets a clean contact."
"Madrid are defending their box with real discipline," Rob added. "And Theodore is right in the middle of everything."
In midfield, Casemiro won the second ball at the first opportunity.
He did not think twice.
He immediately passed it to Modrić.
In Madrid's current midfield, there were three attacking engines.
Theodore.
Modrić.
Toni Kroos.
This time, after the ball arrived at Modrić's feet, the Croatian decisively sent out a long pass.
His idea was simple.
Use one lofted ball to pierce Bayern's entire defensive line and find Benzema before the back line could recover.
But when the pass flew toward Bayern's box, Süle rose and headed it clear.
Benzema could not reach it.
Immediately afterward, Bayern were the ones who gained a counterattacking opportunity.
Süle's headed clearance dropped toward Kimmich.
Kimmich did not take any risks. He immediately moved the ball out to Kingsley Coman on the left flank.
As Bayern's flying winger, Coman had not held the ball for long before Carvajal stepped across to challenge him.
Carvajal was extremely experienced.
In the first half, he had already relied on his individual ability several times to destroy Coman's attempts to break through.
This time was no different.
Carvajal timed his sliding tackle well and knocked the ball out over the touchline.
Bayern had a throw-in.
"Bayern! Attack!"
"Bayern! Attack!"
"Bayern! Attack!"
In the Allianz Arena stands, more than seventy thousand Bayern Munich fans shouted the attacking chant in unison.
There was not much time left.
Only the final thirty minutes remained.
If Bayern wanted to beat Real Madrid at the Allianz Arena, they needed to score at least three goals in those thirty minutes.
That was not an easy thing to do.
On Bayern's bench, Flick looked increasingly anxious.
He kept discussing tactics with his assistant coach, pointing toward the wings, then toward the penalty area, clearly dissatisfied with how little service Lewandowski had received.
Roughly five minutes later, Flick made his first substitutions.
Javi MartÃnez came on to replace Kimmich, who had performed only average.
At the same time, Alphonso Davies came on to replace Pavard.
There was no denying that after those two players entered the pitch, Bayern's attacking threat immediately grew stronger.
After Coman received the ball on the wing, he did not cross at the first opportunity. Instead, he played it inside to Javi MartÃnez.
As a veteran, Javi MartÃnez possessed rich match experience.
Even when facing the combined pressure of Casemiro and Toni Kroos, he remained calm and composed.
He protected the ball well, waited for the right moment, and quickly shifted play toward the opposite flank.
At that moment, the other substitute, Alphonso Davies, received the ball in a wide position.
The Canadian's speed was terrifying.
Facing Marcelo's defense, Davies pushed the ball forward explosively and completed the breakthrough with ease.
At that moment, he looked like a bolt of lightning.
Fast as the wind.
On the flank, he surged forward as if there were no one in his way.
Marcelo tried to turn and chase, but Davies had already blown past him.
"Davies is away from Marcelo!" Rob shouted. "That is exactly why Flick brought him on."
"Pure speed," Terry said. "Marcelo simply cannot live with that burst anymore. Davies pushes it past him and he's gone."
"Bayern suddenly have a real outlet on that side," Rob added. "Madrid need to deal with this quickly."
The Allianz Arena roared back to life.
For Bayern fans, Davies' breakthrough was like a spark dropped into dry grass.
Hope burned again.
📱 @BayernZone ✔
Davies just cooked Marcelo with one burst. This is why he had to come on.
| ↳ 📱 @MiaSanMiaTalk
| Reply: Keep attacking that side. Marcelo can't handle him.
📱 @GermanFootballLive ✔
Flick's substitutions are already changing Bayern's rhythm. Javi MartÃnez gives them calm in midfield, Davies gives them speed out wide.
| ↳ 📱 @NeutralUCLFan
| Reply: Madrid are still ahead, but Bayern are not dead. This could get wild.
📱 @MadridistaHQ ✔
Davies against Marcelo is dangerous. Zidane needs to adjust before that flank becomes a problem.
| ↳ 📱 @BlancoPulse
| Reply: Theodore may need to start covering that side too, because Davies is flying.
Almost unstoppable, Davies continued beating men one after another.
Bayern had entered their last stand.
And this time, they were attacking like mad!