The world around him buzzed with noise —the chanting crowds, the shouting players, the sharp whistles of the referee.
But inside Mateo's mind, there was only focus.
He remembered Coach Dietrich's instructions:
"Start slow.Control the rhythm.Dictate the tempo.Once you're comfortable — then unleash your creativity."
Mateo planted his boots into the turf and set to work.
No rush.No panic.
First — stabilize.
He moved into pockets of space, always showing for the ball, making himself an option.
Every time he received a pass, he kept it simple:
Quick, precise touches.
Short, sharp passes.
No risky moves.
Little by little, the effect rippled through the team.
Bayern's frantic energy slowed into something more measured.The midfield began to breathe, pass, and control the ball again.
Leverkusen's aggressive press started to stretch, just slightly.
Mateo kept scanning.
Looking.Waiting.Calculating.
Then he saw it.
Leonhard Schmitt, Bayern's gifted left winger, was making a brilliant diagonal run —slicing between the center-back and full-back.
The timing was perfect.
Without hesitation, Mateo shifted his body and sent a perfect through ball, threading the defense like a needle.
The pass glided across the turf — not too hard, not too soft —landing exactly in Schmitt's stride.
Schmitt controlled the ball masterfully on his first touch, sprinted to the edge of the box, and lifted his head.
In the center, Lukas Müller — Mateo's old friend — had already sensed the moment.
He charged into the danger zone.
Schmitt delivered a low, precise cross.
Müller slid in, connecting with a powerful strike.
The ball smashed into the back of the net.
Goal.
The stadium roared.
Bayern 1 – Leverkusen 2.
Mateo clenched his fists, a fierce grin flashing across his face.
He didn't celebrate wildly.He didn't jump into the air.
He just jogged calmly back toward midfield, mind burning with a single, focused thought:
There's still time.We're not done.
As he passed Lukas, slapped him lightly on the back, grinning.
"Perfect pass, González!" he shouted above the noise.
Mateo just nodded, locking eyes with him.
They had closed the gap.
Now they had 25 minutes.
And with the momentum shifting,anything was possible.