Gao Shen stared ily at the pitch where both Zidane and Beckham stood at the penalty spot, each poised as if ready to take the free kick.

  The pt of the ball was ideal, a prime opportunity for a skilled free kick taker to score.

  Both Zidane and Beckham were renowned masters of free kicks. Either of them could capitalize on this ce, depending on who could seize the moment.

  Arsenal had arranged a five-man wall he top of the penalty area, shielding the left side of the goal. Raul positioned himself to the right of the wall, with Arsenal's two-man wall to his right.

  The defeup clearly highlighted Arsenal's cautious approach to defending this free kick.

  Gao Shen himself was uain about who would ultimately take the kick, but he felt Beckham had a slightly higher probability.

  The Englishman's desire to make an impact alpable, particurly sihis marked his return to Engnd since joining Real Madrid.

  As referee Lubos blew the whistle, Zidaepped forward first, feinting a shot. Simultaneously, Raul darted towards the right, creating a deceptive gap in the middle of the defensive wall.

  Following Zidane's move, Beckham swiftly approached, pnting his left foot beside the ball before curling a trademark shot with his right. The ball sailed gracefully over the five-man wall, describing a perfect arc before dipping sharply into the left side of the goal.

  Lehmane reag swiftly, was uo stop the ball in time. Though he managed a desperate dive, the ball crossed the line before his fingers could deflect it.

  "GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!" erupted the Real Madrid's fans, their cheers eg through the stadium.

  Gao Shen leaped from his seat, pumping his fists in jubition.

  After nding, he tio exult, his arms raised in triumph as he cheered loudly.

  "Excellent job!!!"

  Meanwhile, Beckham spriowards the sidelines in celebration, his teammates following in a frenzy.

  "The referee has firmed the goal!"

  "Real Madrid takes the lead in the away game, 1-0."

  "Beckham's direct free kick has put them level on aggregate, 1-1 with an away goal apiece."

  The Real Madrid pyers rushed to embrace Beckham at the sidelines, while Gao Shen turo celebrate with Maqueda, Lucas, and the coag staff.

  1-0!

  Now both teams were ba level terms!

  ...

  ...

  In Madrid's Odaleza district, the air seemed to hum with the collective cheers of tless fans as the live TV broadcast reyed Beckham's stunning goal.

  In his living room, Carlo couldn't tain his excitement, jumping to his feet and pumping his fists in celebration.

  His wife, beside him, shared his enthusiasm, the couple embrag tightly as they cheered on Real Madrid.

  The goal had e suddenly, yet it felt pletely justified.

  From the opening moments, Real Madrid had besieged Arsenal with unwaveriermination aless attacks, repeatedly testing the Gunners' defehe goal seemed iable.

  Now, with the score leveled at 1-1 on aggregate, Real Madrid's situation had dramatically improved.

  After the initial excitement, Carlo's thoughts returo what Gao Shen had told him earlier.

  "At Highbury, you'll see a pletely different Real Madrid."

  And ihat prophecy had e true.

  The first 20 minutes alone had left an indelible impression on everyone.

  This Real Madrid, pying at Highbury, dispyed mrit and resiliehan their ret performa the Bernabeu and against Atletiadrid.

  In the opening exges, they had attacked ferociously, refusing to retreat despite Arsenal's terattacks. It was a testament to the team's determination.

  Gao Shen had clearly instilled in every pyer the y of sg in this game.

  "It's been many years since I've seen a Real Madrid like this," remarked Mrs. Carlo, a seasoned football enthusiast.

  Carlo nodded in agreement. Who could argue with that?

  " we win tonight?" she asked, a hint of in her voice.

  Carlo looked into her worried eyes, suddenly feeling a jolt of reality.

  "It's difficult, very difficult," he replied somberly.

  Real Madrid faot just a tough oppo in Arsenal but also their own physical limitations.

  "But he's proven something tonight. Unlike us, he chose a harder, yet more correct path to greatness. Now, he's leading this team towards hope, reigniting that fire in every pyer's heart."

  "Why has Ronaldo seemed ckluster? It's not in his nature to be zy, nor is it a ck of self-discipline. He's overe injuries that would have ehers' careers. Is it a ck of heart? A bition?"

  Carlo shook his head.

  "No, it 't be. Ronaldo has always hungered for success. Why did he leave Inter Min for Real Madrid? Because he craved championships."

  "Then why has he struggled here?"

  Carlo paused, choosing his words carefully.

  "Maybe it's because he's never won the Champions League. Not at Bara, not at Inter, and not here. He's never even gotten close."

  "Does he not want it?"

  "No, he does. But he's seen no hope."

  "People get used to darkness when they've never seen the light. But once you've glimpsed that light, even for a moment, you 't bear the darkness anymore."

  "In the game against Atletico, Gao Shen showed them that light. Now, every pyer is willing to give everything, because they 't go back to the darkness of before."

  "And tonight, at Highbury, Gao Shen and his Real Madrid have shown the world that light within them."

  "After tonight, Real Madrid ever go back."

  Ronaldo, Carlos, and the others would have to resider their p the team and their itment to its cause.

  Regardless of their past deeds, right , they all shared a renewed sense of purpose.

  ...

  ...

  Following Real Madrid's breakthrough, Arsenal found themselves momentarily disanized, struggling tain their footing as the momentum swung against them.

  Gao Shen urged his pyers to capitalize on Arsenal's disarray, pushing for a sed goal to establish a definitive advantage.

  Yet, uedly, after a high-energy opening 20 minutes, Real Madrid's pyers began to tire, failing to exploit their hard-earned advantage.

  Wenger responded swiftly, making tactical adjustments that quickly turhe tide in Arsenal's favor.

  Approag the 40th minute, he pushed Reyes forward, shifting to a 4-4-2 formation and ung relentless attacks and terattacks.

  Real Madrid, caught off guard, found themselves pushed onto the back foot.

  In the 43rd minute, Ljuhreaded a precise through ball to Henry, who deftly trolled it and surged into the penalty area between Ramos and Helguera.

  Though both Real Madrid tral defenders attempted to tain Henry, they were uo stop him in time, resulting in a foul ihe penalty area.

  The referee promptly blew his whistle, signaling Ramos for a clear infra and awarding Arsenal a penalty.

  Henry opted to take the penalty himself. Despite Casils guessing the dire correctly, Henry's shot was swift and decisive, finding the bottht er of the beyond Casils's reach.

  Just before halftime, Arsenal had recimed the lead, 2-1 on aggregate.

  The entire Highbury Stadium erupted in jubition, energized by Arsenal's sudden resurgence.

  Initially awed by Real Madrid's early onsught, the Arsenal faithful now felt victory within reach.

  Real Madrid appeared weary, Arsenal looked poised to triumph.