At the same time, Bayern's two center-backs, Süle and Boateng, had both stepped up.
Judging from the way they charged toward Theodore, it was obvious they were ready to stop him by force if necessary.
But Theodore did not give them the chance.
At the critical moment, he released the ball.
A perfectly timed through ball.
The pass sliced through the gap between Süle and Boateng like a surgeon's scalpel, skimming across the grass with terrifying precision.
At that moment, the only thought in the two Bayern center-backs' minds had been how to stop Theodore's breakthrough.
They had not expected him to pass.
And by the time they realized it, the ball was already gone.
"Through ball!" Rob Palmer shouted. "Theodore has split Bayern open!"
"That is sensational," Terry Gibson said. "Süle and Boateng both step out because they're terrified of his run, but Theodore sees the space behind them. The weight on the pass is perfect."
The ball found Ødegaard in the inside channel of the box.
Ødegaard lifted his head once, saw Neuer rushing out, and calmly clipped the ball over him.
The chip rose gently over the German goalkeeper and dropped into the net.
4–1.
Real Madrid had scored again at the Allianz Arena.
"Ødegaard scores! Real Madrid have four in Munich!" Rob cried. "And once again, it all comes from Theodore Bjorn!"
"That is another beautiful Madrid goal," Terry said. "Theodore breaks the pressure, drags Bayern's defenders toward him, then releases Ødegaard at exactly the right second. The finish is composed, but the pass is the key."
"Two goals, two assists," Rob added. "Every Real Madrid goal tonight has Theodore's fingerprints all over it."
In the Allianz Arena stands, the eyes of more than seventy thousand Bayern Munich fans had already begun to look blank.
By the 80th minute, many of them had already lost confidence in the match, but actually seeing their team concede again still filled them with disappointment and sadness.
📱 @BayernZone ✔
Four goals conceded at home. In a Champions League semifinal. This is humiliation.
| ↳ 📱 @MiaSanMiaTalk
| Reply: Theodore has two goals and two assists. All four goals are connected to him. We have no answer.
📱 @GermanFootballLive ✔
That pass from Theodore was ridiculous. Süle and Boateng stepped out to stop the dribble, and he cut them open with one ball.
| ↳ 📱 @NeutralUCLFan
| Reply: This is why he won the Ballon d'Or. He can destroy you by running, shooting, heading, defending, or passing.
📱 @BayernForever ✔
Please don't concede again. Four at home is already bad enough. The second leg is almost impossible now.
| ↳ 📱 @UCLMadridista
| Reply: Almost?
Inside the Allianz Arena, after Ødegaard broke through Neuer's goal, he did not celebrate wildly.
Instead, he immediately pointed both hands toward Theodore.
Then Ødegaard jogged all the way over to him.
The two Norwegian stars embraced.
"A lovely moment between the two Norwegians," Rob said. "Ødegaard finishes it, but he knows exactly who created it."
"And what a season Ødegaard is having," Terry noted. "There were questions before the season about whether he would stay at Real Madrid or go out on loan again. But he's taken his chance, and tonight he scores in a Champions League semifinal."
This was Ødegaard's fifteenth goal for Real Madrid this season.
At the same time, he had also refreshed his single-season scoring record.
Thinking back to the start of the season, there had been many rumors that Madrid would continue loaning Ødegaard out.
But during the preseason friendlies, Ødegaard had repeatedly received assists from Theodore and scored quite a few goals. In the end, Madrid chose to keep him in the squad.
Facts had proven that decision correct.
The former Norwegian wonderkid was playing the best season of his Real Madrid career.
And after the club season ended, the Euros would begin.
With Ødegaard, Haaland, and Theodore together, the Norwegian national team suddenly looked far more dangerous than anyone had imagined.
📱 @NorwayFootballWatch ✔
Ødegaard scores from a Theodore assist in a Champions League semifinal. Norwegian football is entering a new era.
| ↳ 📱 @TheodoreEraCN
| Reply: Theodore, Ødegaard, Haaland at the Euros. That team is going to be terrifying.
📱 @MadridistaHQ ✔
Remember when people wanted Ødegaard loaned out again? Fifteen goals this season. Trust the project.
| ↳ 📱 @BlancoPulse
| Reply: Playing with Theodore unlocked him. Those Norwegian connections are deadly.
...
After the restart, the number of fans in the Allianz Arena had already decreased dramatically.
Looking around, at least half of the supporters had begun leaving the stadium.
On the pitch, however, Bayern Munich's players had not given up completely.
They were still making one final push.
Alphonso Davies, who had come on as a substitute in the second half, drove forward at high speed down the wing again, trying to rely on his individual breakthrough ability to create one last chance.
Since most of Real Madrid's players had already reached the limit of their stamina, Davies could break through more easily than before.
Before anyone realized it, Bayern's flying full-back had already dribbled past two Madrid players in succession.
Casemiro.
Toni Kroos.
Just as Davies wanted to continue carrying the ball forward, that man appeared again.
Theodore Bjorn.
When every other Madrid player was running on fumes, Theodore could still sprint at high speed.
This time, he relied purely on his pace and forcibly caught up with Alphonso Davies from behind.
And just as Davies prepared to pass, Theodore stretched out a foot and completed the tackle.
"Theodore wins it from Davies!" Rob called. "We are in the 85th minute, and he is still sprinting like it's the opening five."
"That is ridiculous stamina," Terry said. "Davies is one of the fastest players on the pitch, fresh off the bench, and Theodore still catches him. Then the tackle is perfect."
"He really is a monster," Rob added, almost laughing in disbelief.
After Theodore won the ball near Madrid's back line, Bayern's players reacted with experience.
Müller, Musiala, Goretzka, and several others immediately moved toward him, trying to use their numerical advantage to stop Theodore's breakthrough before it could begin.
Bang!
But Theodore did not choose to dribble alone this time.
As an experienced player, he displayed another weapon instead.
His long passing.
In an instant, the ball flashed over the heads of three Bayern players.
After crossing half the pitch, it dropped perfectly in front of Benzema.
This was Real Madrid's counterattacking opportunity.
In Bayern's half, the moment Benzema received the ball, he charged alone toward the penalty area.
At that moment, in Bayern's back line, aside from Süle, only Neuer remained.
It was an excellent chance for Benzema to extend the score even further.
But just as Benzema was about to shoot, Süle crashed into him head-on and sent the French striker flying.
"Beep!"
The instant Benzema fell, Anthony Taylor blew his whistle.
Then he pointed his right hand toward the penalty spot.
Penalty!
Real Madrid had won a penalty in the final stage of the match!
And that was not all.
Anthony Taylor reached into his pocket again.
Red card, Süle was sent off.
"Penalty to Real Madrid!" Rob shouted. "And Süle is off!"
"He knows what he's done," Terry said. "Benzema is through, he's about to shoot, and Süle takes him out. That is denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity. The referee has no choice."
Süle did not argue.
He simply lowered his head and walked silently off the pitch.
He knew very well what he had done.
It was the correct decision.
📱 @MadridistaHQ ✔
Penalty. Red card. Bayern are falling apart.
| ↳ 📱 @BlancoPulse
| Reply: Theodore wins it from Davies, launches the pass, Benzema gets taken out. Again, everything starts with Theodore.
📱 @BayernZone ✔
Süle sent off. Penalty Madrid. This night cannot get worse.
| ↳ 📱 @MiaSanMiaTalk
| Reply: Please don't say that. Theodore is taking it.
📱 @UCLMadridista ✔
If Theodore scores this, it's a hat-trick and two assists at the Allianz. That is one of the greatest semifinal performances ever.
At the penalty spot, Theodore slowly placed the ball down.
Then he took five steps back.
Originally, Theodore had wanted to let Benzema take it. After all, Benzema had been the one who won the penalty.
But the Frenchman had no intention of stepping forward.
The reason was simple.
Benzema was still somewhat wary of Neuer's ability.
If Bayern's goalkeeper had not been Neuer, Benzema would definitely have taken the penalty himself.
But against the German goalkeeping god, he preferred to leave the responsibility to Theodore.
"Theodore will take it," Rob said, the noise of the Allianz Arena swelling around him. "A chance for his hat-trick."
"And what a moment this is," Terry added. "Neuer against Theodore. One of the greatest goalkeepers of his generation against the best player in the world right now."
"Can Neuer produce a miracle?" Rob asked. "Or will Theodore complete his hat-trick at the Allianz Arena?"
Theodore stood behind the ball.
Neuer bounced lightly on his goal line, eyes locked forward.
The Allianz Arena whistled desperately as the Madrid fans held their breath.
The match had already been decided.
But this penalty still felt enormous.
Because if Theodore scored now, this would no longer just be a victory.
It would become a massacre!