Chapter 694: Unstoppable Momentum
After scoring two quick goals, Manchester United gained immense confidence. Schalke 04, in contrast, seemed utterly lost, unsure of how to respond.
At this point, United launched yet another counterattack. Luke Shaw surged down the left flank and sent a diagonal pass to Bruno Fernandes in midfield.
Bruno carried the ball diagonally toward the left, breaking through Bastian Oczipka's challenge. He reached the byline and delivered a perfect cross into the box.
Harry Kane met it with a close-range header—goal!
"GOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLL!!!!!!"
"A third assist! This is Bruno Fernandes' third assist of the match! He just delivered a stunning assist after a 50-meter solo run!"
"My God, he has completed a hat-trick of assists in less than 20 minutes!"
"3-0! In just ten minutes, Manchester United have unleashed a relentless barrage of attacks. Schalke 04 is completely overwhelmed at the Cardiff City Stadium!"
"Tedesco needs to stabilize his team quickly. If United continue with this momentum, Schalke will inevitably concede more goals."
...
With three goals scored in quick succession, the entire Cardiff City Stadium erupted in cheers.
Manchester United was now playing with confidence and control. Their earlier defensive struggles were replaced by relentless attacks, led by Bruno Fernandes, who was in scintillating form.
Two minutes after Harry Kane's goal, Bruno came close to scoring himself. He expertly turned past Suat Serdar and unleashed a left-footed shot that narrowly missed the post. Shortly after, his powerful strike from outside the box was saved by Schalke goalkeeper Ralf Fährmann.
United's dominance was clear, but Schalke 04 wasn't entirely out of the game. The German side, now desperate, pushed forward with renewed aggression. Their coach, Domenico Tedesco, seemed powerless to control the situation as his players threw everything into attack.
The result of this high-paced exchange was inevitable.
Bruno, now operating centrally, shook off Serdar's close marking and dribbled toward the right. He slipped past Weston McKennie and delivered a perfectly weighted diagonal pass over the defense to the far post.
Kylian Mbappé, racing into the box, met the ball with a thunderous header that smashed into Schalke's net.
4-0!
...
"Oh my God! Four goals!"
"All four goals for Manchester United have been assisted by Bruno Fernandes—this is absolutely unbelievable!"
"Bruno has orchestrated an unstoppable wave of attacks, leading United to an extraordinary first-half performance."
"By the 34th minute, Manchester United is 4-0 ahead of Schalke 04. This is a result no one could have predicted before the match. The German side is collapsing under relentless pressure."
"Bruno Fernandes is undoubtedly the standout player of the night. Although he hasn't scored, every move he makes, every touch of the ball, creates brilliant opportunities for his teammates."
"Even Bruno has had a couple of decent chances himself, but luck seems to be favoring him only in providing assists tonight."
"Regardless, Bruno remains the star of the show. Don't believe me? Just listen to the deafening roar of the crowd here at Cardiff City Stadium!"
...
With over 70,000 fans roaring in support, Manchester United showed no signs of slowing down. Even with a four-goal lead, they kept pressing Schalke 04.
Bruno, determined to score himself, continued creating chances, but it seemed his finishing touch wasn't with him tonight. Two solid opportunities went unconverted, and the scoreline remained unchanged until the halftime whistle blew.
As the referee signaled the end of the first half, United's players walked off the field to thunderous applause, a 4-0 lead in hand. Smiles lit up their faces as they entered the tunnel, clearly proud of their performance.
"This has to be United's most dominant first half of the season—possibly even better than their match against Arsenal!" the commentator exclaimed.
...
In the dressing room, the atmosphere was buzzing. Some players stripped off their jerseys, wiping off sweat; others relaxed in their seats, receiving massages from staff. A few paced back and forth, too energized to sit still.
The mix of post-match energy and preparation for the second half filled the room. To an outsider, the scene might have looked chaotic, but to the players, it was perfectly normal.
"This Schalke team isn't what I remember," remarked Gündoğan with a sly grin. Having scored earlier, he was clearly in high spirits.
As a former Borussia Dortmund player, Gündoğan was no stranger to Schalke 04. The Ruhr Derby, a fierce rivalry between the two clubs, was one of the most iconic fixtures in German football.
Historically, Schalke 04 boasted an impressive record, with seven German top-flight titles and several domestic cups. However, their glory days seemed far behind, especially compared to Dortmund, who had become Bayern Munich's main challengers in recent years.
Tonight, Schalke 04 appeared a shadow of their former selves, and Gündoğan couldn't help but relish the moment.
In Gündoğan's memory, every Ruhr Derby was a fierce battle where the outcome often hinged on a single goal.
During his years at Borussia Dortmund, the team was at the peak of its history, giving them a slight edge in the Ruhr Derby. However, historically, Schalke 04 has had the upper hand overall.
But today, Schalke 04 seemed utterly powerless, conceding four goals to Manchester United in the first half with almost no resistance. For Gündoğan, it felt surreal.
...
"Schalke 04 is still a decent team. Their abnormal performance today might have a lot to do with their current situation," Bruno commented.
In the Bundesliga, Schalke 04, last season's runners-up, had only managed 23 points after 25 matches this season, teetering on the edge of the relegation zone. This put immense pressure on both head coach Domenico Tedesco and the players, with fans and media offering little support.
Schalke 04's fortunes weren't much better in the Champions League.
In a relatively weak Group D consisting of Porto, Galatasaray, Lokomotiv Moscow, and Schalke 04, their record of three wins, two draws, and one loss earned them 11 points and a second-place finish in the group.
This marked Schalke 04's return to the Champions League after a four-year absence and their first qualification for the knockout stages in as many years.
In Europe's increasingly competitive football landscape, four years is practically a lifetime. Few players from that Schalke squad remain today. Notably, all 11 players in Schalke's starting lineup for this match were new faces.
This inexperience was why many analysts highlighted Schalke's lack of experience in their pre-match assessments.
The Champions League knockout stage is a completely different beast compared to league play, with distinct strategies and opposition.
Both Schalke 04's players and coach Tedesco clearly lacked this experience.
"The team's dire situation, coupled with the coach and players' inexperience, has left them unable to hold back. They're actually trying to go toe-to-toe with us at our peak!" Bruno said, shaking his head with a wry smile.
...
Bruno wasn't overly familiar with Schalke 04's Bundesliga performance, but based on this match, it was clear they had no grasp of controlling the tempo. They started aggressively, kept attacking after conceding, and continued to play an open game against United.
The problem is, Manchester United has the resources to handle it. Not only were they playing at the formidable Cardiff City Stadium, but they also boasted a midfield trio of Bruno, Gündoğan, and Kanté, making it nearly impossible for Schalke to contend with United's dominance in midfield.
Back in the dressing room, United's players discussed the first half. While there was no excessive boasting, their confidence was evident. With a four-goal lead already secured, Bruno occasionally reminded his teammates not to get complacent.
He vividly recalled how four years ago, Real Madrid defeated Schalke 04 2-0 away but nearly collapsed at the Bernabéu in a 4-3 loss.
Bruno was determined to ensure nothing similar happened to Manchester United.
...
As United's captain and central figure, Bruno's influence on the team was undeniable. In many ways, even coach José Mourinho didn't have the same level of control over the squad.
After Bruno issued his warnings during the halftime break and then initiated the team's second-half push, United continued their relentless assault on Schalke 04.
"United launches an attack down the right."
"Cancelo has the ball, pushes forward, passes to Mbappé—no opening there—back to Cancelo."
"Cancelo switches it with a long pass to Bruno."
"Bruno controls it with his chest, facing McKennie one-on-one."
"A powerful drive forward, a quick cut, moves to the inside channel, and takes a shot!!!"
"Fährmann! Schalke 04 goalkeeper Fährmann comes up big! He gets both hands on Bruno's fierce strike from the left edge of the penalty area!"
(END CHAPTER)
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