The sting of conceding first lingered in the minds of the Manchester United players as they reset for kickoff. Jerry took a deep breath, glancing toward Jester, who gave him another reassuring nod. There was no time to dwell on the goal—they had to respond, and fast.
Barcelona, emboldened by their lead, played with even more confidence. Their passing became sharper, their movement more fluid, and Manchester United found themselves on the back foot again almost immediately after the restart. Toni Fernandez, riding high from his goal, was even more dangerous, buzzing around the right wing with relentless energy.