Guardiola chose Kaká, Ronaldo, and Neymar to partner in the front line. The lineup from the start was clearly very traditional and direct. They didn't play possession football, but any single attack could directly stab into the enemy's throat.
How could such a star-studded lineup not excite the fans? The stadium was already packed with fans hours before the match started. Regardless of whether they had tickets, everyone had to come and witness this game; entering the stadium wasn't the most important thing.
Anyone who had a chance to see so many superstars was indeed fortunate.
The fans didn't even dare to hope for close contact with these superstars. Even just seeing the team bus pull up and the players disembarking, viewed from dozens of meters away through a crowd of thousands, was considered incredibly worthwhile.
Both teams took this match very seriously. Right from the beginning, both sides played cautiously. For Manchester United, compared to the situation in the previous match, this felt like two completely different teams.
However, for Cao Baiming, this was entirely understandable. There were two distinct tactical approaches. And with the current squad depth, a single substitution could completely change the overall strategy. When Messi or Verratti came on, even with minor changes to the lineup configuration, the team would transform into a traditional system. This was the true strength of Manchester United.
The entire stadium was buzzing with excitement, their cheers never ceasing, echoing throughout the arena. The players on the field were equally thrilled, giving their utmost effort.
In the 5th minute, Ronaldo received a long pass in the right-wing space. With a dribble, he feinted past Romero and Davies before single-handedly charging into the penalty area.
Faced with the goalkeeper's timely block, he opted for a pass to the advancing Kaká. Kaká, also a sharp attacker, struck the ball directly with his left foot without a touch towards the goal.
Unfortunately, it was denied by the goalpost!
They had the skill, but just lacked that tiny bit of luck! Everyone present could see that.
Following closely, Tottenham's counter-attack was equally incisive, initiated by Romero himself. The ball was quickly moved through several passes to find the sharpest spearhead in the center, Harry Kane. Son Heung-min was also sprinting from the left towards the center. As Kane slowed down, Son Heung-min gradually caught up, and their combined effort resulted in a beautiful shot.
However, this time the goalkeeper made the save! Courtois truly lived up to his reputation as one of the world's top goalkeepers! Cao Baiming's acquisition of him was an exceptionally worthwhile and cost-effective deal.
The pace of the game didn't slow down; it only intensified. In the 7th minute, Harry Kane once again received a pass from a teammate and attempted a long-range shot from outside the box on the left side of the field.
The ball, like a serpentine dragon, soared across the pitch, above the penalty area, heading towards the goal. It ultimately went just wide.
At this point, the fans realized that Manchester United's defense seemed to have some vulnerabilities.
But it wasn't long before the team proved them wrong. The reality was that they just hadn't warmed up yet!
From the 10th minute onwards, Manchester United gradually took control of the game. Conversely, Tottenham's chances became fewer and fewer.
Finally, in the 27th minute, Ronaldo unleashed a powerful shot from inside the penalty area into the top left corner of the goal, shattering the deadlock!
Manchester United led 1-0!
In the remaining time, Manchester United largely maintained the upper hand. Throughout the first half, the superstars performed exceptionally well, and Guardiola made no substitutions. The first half ended with the score at 1-0.
While the scoreline might have seemed unremarkable, with only a one-goal lead, the fans found it thoroughly exhilarating. Although it might not have been the most spectacular match in history, its entertainment value was undoubtedly high.
In the first half alone, Kaká had no fewer than 10 solo dribbles. Ronaldo had at least 5 shots on goal, and his signature step-overs also appeared on the field, making fans exclaim that their youth had returned!
With such a visual feast, how could the fans not be thoroughly satisfied!
Cao Baiming wasn't surprised by the first-half result. In fact, the team taking the lead wasn't anything new. Tottenham's strength couldn't compare to the current Manchester United.
These players likely needed some time to get into their rhythm. The earlier play showed that the longer they played, the better they performed, while the opponents increasingly found themselves at a disadvantage.
By the end of the entire match, the score would certainly not be as it was now. It might even be a blowout score like 4-0 or 5-0, similar to the previous game.
The fans' excitement was palpable, and their expectations for Manchester United had soared to a very high level. However, the rational Guardiola didn't harbor such exaggerated thoughts, as Tottenham's strength was not to be underestimated, and keeping a clean sheet was not a realistic expectation.
While not entirely confident in defense, he was certainly confident in attack. The team possessed some of the world's most formidable forwards; how could they not score three or four goals?
The entire football world was paying attention to this match. Fans were discussing who would become the top scorer.
Would it be Ronaldo, Messi, Harry Kane, Son Heung-min, Neymar, Suarez, Luis Figo, Sancho… there were too many potential candidates, making prediction impossible. This was precisely the charm of this match.
As the halftime break concluded, the second half of the match commenced as scheduled.
The referee slowly walked onto the pitch, followed by the players. As the assistant referee raised the number board and the referee blew the whistle to signal the start of the second half, the entire stadium erupted in thunderous cheers.
In such an atmosphere, the players quickly got into their stride.
Whether Guardiola would make adjustments in the second half was something he knew, Cao Baiming knew, and basically all the fans could guess.