As the match progressed, Villarreal gradually adapted to Monaco's rhythm and began to show their strength as an experienced team.
In the 36th minute, Villarreal quickly launched a counterattack after winning the ball in midfield.
Their passes were like sharp blades, tearing through Monaco's defense again and again.
Forward Borré, the number 24, an attacker with both speed and strength, rushed towards Monaco's penalty area like a flash of lightning after receiving a pass from his teammate.
He used his excellent dribbling skills and explosiveness to shake off the defenders, creating an excellent attacking opportunity for his team.
Just as Borré was about to shoot, the Brazilian Golden Boy Pato burst out from an angle.
He cleverly got to the ball before Borré, controlling it firmly at his feet.
Pato, the talented teenager who once drove countless fans wild, now displayed his excellent individual ability and calm shooting technique.
He adjusted his steps, then used all his strength to shoot the ball fiercely towards Monaco's goal.
The ball drew a strange arc in the air, flying straight into the top corner of the net.
Although Monaco's goalkeeper made an extreme save, he still could not prevent the ball from entering the net.
After scoring, Pato excitedly waved his arms and ran to the sidelines to celebrate with his teammates and coaching staff, embracing them tightly.
At this moment, he seemed to have found the feeling of his peak period, and also allowed fans to see the hope of his resurgence.
Villarreal's fans erupted in wild cheers, celebrating the goal and applauding their team's counterattack.
Monaco's fans, however, felt a sense of loss and worry, knowing that in the upcoming match, their team would need to work even harder to equalize.
The halftime whistle blew, and the stadium's clamor temporarily subsided, but the discussion between Lin Feng and agent Snyder in the stands grew more intense.
Both men stared intently at the field, their faces showing an expression of wanting more.
Lin Feng excitedly waved his arms, his eyes sparkling: "This match is truly spectacular! Monaco's penalty, Moutinho's composure and decisiveness are truly admirable."
Snyder nodded, a slight smile playing on his lips: "That's right, but Villarreal's counterattack was equally excellent.
Pato's goal, Borré's assist, it was simply textbook-level teamwork."
The second half of the match began in a tense and fierce atmosphere.
Both teams' players re-entered the field, their eyes firm and muscles taut, clearly well-prepared for the upcoming battle.
With a whistle from the referee, the match resumed.
Monaco launched the first attack, their players attempting to break through Villarreal's defense with precise passing and quick runs.
Villarreal, not to be outdone, relied on their solid defense and sharp counterattacks to defuse the opponent's offensives again and again, and sought opportunities to score.
The second half of the match had already reached the 69th minute.
Monaco's Head Coach, the Portuguese Jardim, stood on the sidelines, his gaze like a torch as he assessed the situation on the field.
Although his team was playing well, the score was still 1:1, which made him feel a bit anxious.
He knew that if he wanted to turn the tide, he had to make a change.
So, he decisively made a substitution, replacing the Colombian "Tiger" Falcao with the 191cm Argentine tall forward Carrillo.
This decision immediately attracted the attention and discussion of the fans, who were curious whether this tall forward could bring new attacking firepower to the team.
After coming on, Carrillo immediately displayed his height advantage and excellent heading ability.
He stood like a tall tower in the front field, putting immense pressure on Villarreal's defense.
His passing and shooting abilities were also excellent, and he quickly created attacking opportunities for the team.
Just three minutes after Carrillo came on, Monaco had an attacking opportunity.
Carrillo received a pass from his teammate inside the penalty area.
He had his back to the goal and shielded the ball with his body.
Then, he cleverly turned and passed the ball to the overlapping Bernardo Silva.
Bernardo Silva did not waste the opportunity; after receiving Carrillo's pass, he quickly shot.
The ball flew towards the goal like a cannonball.
Although Villarreal's goalkeeper made a save, he still could not prevent the ball from entering the net.
After the goal, Monaco's players excitedly embraced each other, cheering for the goal.
The Monaco fans in the stands were even more engulfed in a wild celebration, shouting the team's name and applauding the goal.
This goal not only helped Monaco take the lead, but more importantly, it demonstrated Carrillo's value and impact.
His entry brought new attacking ideas and a focal point for the team, making Villarreal begin to feel uneasy and worried.
Monaco, on the other hand, regained control of the match with this goal.
With Monaco's goal, Villarreal fell into a clear passive state.
Their players ran on the field, trying to recover the disadvantage through more aggressive challenges and more precise passes, but Monaco's defense was like an impregnable barrier, defusing the opponent's offensives into nothingness again and again.
Villarreal's fans began to feel anxious and uneasy, seeing their team struggle on the field but unable to provide any substantial help.
Monaco's fans, on the other hand, became more excited and enthusiastic, cheering for their team and hoping they could maintain the lead until the end of the match.
In the final stages of the match, Villarreal launched a final counterattack.
Their players gave their all, trying to equalize with a brilliant combination or a long-range shot.
However, fate did not seem to be on their side, and their efforts ultimately came to naught.
When the final whistle blew, the score was fixed at 2:1, and Monaco secured victory in the first leg.
The players and coaching staff excitedly embraced each other, celebrating this hard-won victory.
In the stands, Monaco's fans were even more engulfed in a wild celebration, feeling proud of their team.
On the other hand, for Lin Feng, there was also a hint of regret in this match.
His former B team teammate Pau Torres did not get the opportunity for a first-team debut in this match.
Lin Feng knew that Pau Torres was a promising young player, but in this crucial match, due to the team being behind in score, he did not get a chance to show what he could do.
However, Lin Feng also believed that as long as Pau Torres continued to work hard and wait, he would definitely have his stage in the future.