Vukoević shook his head helplessly.
This match was very passive, especially after Suker scored, Lyon's overall rhythm began to collapse.
Since being overturned by Suker in the last match, Lyon's mentality also showed some problems.
Though it seemed stable on the surface, everyone inside was extremely anxious.
They desperately wanted to score, desperately wanted to win.
But their excessive aggressiveness resulted in ineffective offense and many defensive problems as well.
"Congratulations!"
Seeing Suker approach, Vukoević smiled and extended his hand.
Suker sighed, "You really don't get injured, huh!"
Vukoević fought hard but showed no sign of injury.
However, Suker could sense his muscle fatigue and stamina dropping, so he worried that Vukoević might get hurt in a few weeks or months.
"Don't worry," Vukoević smiled, "I'll take good care of myself."
Suker shook his head, "Forget it, just don't overdo it!"
Then Suker smiled, "In the Champions League quarterfinals, we have three players: me, Luka, and Srna. If you guys hadn't met us, you probably would have advanced too."
This generation of Croatian players was improving rapidly and performing outstandingly in their teams.
Suker at Real Madrid. Modrić at Manchester United. Srna at Inter Milan.
Except Real Madrid, which had somewhat reached its limit, the other two clubs had the strength to contend in the Champions League.
Hearing Suker's words, Vukoević's expression turned strange.
"Did you forget about Tommy?"
"What?"
Suker was momentarily stunned.
Vukoević shrugged, "Yesterday, CSKA Moscow beat Sevilla to advance to the Champions League quarterfinals."
He held up four fingers: "Four in total! Besides the three of you, Tommy also made it to the quarterfinals."
Suker was directly stunned.
He hadn't really considered Dujmović or consciously connected the two.
Although Dujmović had been playing for CSKA Moscow for two years, Suker still didn't associate the two easily.
The Champions League quarterfinalists were now confirmed: Inter Milan, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Bordeaux, CSKA Moscow, Barcelona, Arsenal, and Bayern Munich.
At 10 pm, Suker, Ramos, Marcelo, Benzema, Di María, and others gathered to watch the draw ceremony.
"Feels like no matter who we get, it won't be easy!" Marcelo couldn't help but grin.
"Bordeaux and CSKA Moscow are the easiest. Their offensive strength is relatively weaker than the others," Ramos frowned.
This was Real Madrid's current dilemma.
Their defense was too weak!
If the opponent excelled at offense, their backline would be exposed.
If the opponent was strong defensively, like Inter Milan, Suker might be restricted.
So Real Madrid was stuck in a very uncomfortable position.
Getting past the Round of 16 was doable with effort.
But in the quarterfinals, after two rounds of home-and-away knockout matches, overall morale and form improve further.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid had encountered many problems — coaching changes, tactical reorganization, and a rigid starting lineup.
All these seemed to indicate they wouldn't go far.
"What do you think?" Casillas asked.
Suker crossed his arms and stared at the TV, replying casually: "Take it one step at a time. Go as far as we can. Our goal this season is the Copa del Rey and the league. We'll fight in the Champions League if we can. If eliminated, we'll come back next season."
Currently, Real Madrid had many problems.
First and foremost was the defense.
With Pellegrini gone, Ramos' transformation plan was shelved.
There were also issues with offensive progression, which might need Kaká's arrival to fix.
Di María couldn't play in the Champions League yet, and though still young, he showed some effect in the league and cup.
Many things needed further integration. Pellegrini wasted too much time.
Perhaps it would have to wait for Mourinho's arrival next season for Madrid's defense to be renewed.
At present, Madrid's defensive issues were truly thorny; even a top coach might struggle to fix the mess.
In the original timeline, Mourinho was the key figure to transform Ramos and build a top-class defense for Real Madrid.
So Suker believed only with Mourinho's arrival could Real Madrid truly enhance their combat power.
This season, Madrid stumbled along the way.
From coaching turmoil to tactical changes, Pellegrini's departure stabilized the locker room somewhat, but core first-team problems remained.
Everyone watched the TV and saw the draw.
For Real Madrid, as long as they avoided Inter Milan, Bayern Munich, Manchester United, and Barcelona, they had a chance to advance.
Arsenal was also tough.
The answer was clear: Bordeaux and CSKA Moscow were the best choices.
"Look!"
Everyone saw Real Madrid's emblem drawn on the screen.
"Here we go!"
Tension rose instantly.
The remaining un-drawn teams were Inter Milan, Bordeaux, and CSKA Moscow.
For Real Madrid, as long as it wasn't Inter Milan, it was fine.
Soon, the opponent appeared.
A black and white shield.
From Ligue 1, Bordeaux!
The locker room was silent for a moment, then erupted.
A great draw!
Absolutely a great draw!
Compared to Inter Milan and CSKA Moscow, Bordeaux was the weakest overall.
For Real Madrid, this opponent was easier to manage in the quarterfinals, giving a higher chance to progress.
Finally, the quarterfinal matchups were set:
Bayern Munich vs. Manchester United
Real Madrid vs. Bordeaux
Inter Milan vs. CSKA Moscow
Barcelona vs. Arsenal
"Fortune favors Real Madrid with a great draw in the Champions League quarterfinals!"
"Real Madrid successfully avoids Inter Milan and faces French team Bordeaux!"
"After Lyon, Bordeaux might suffer the same fate at the hands of Real Madrid!"
"Is Suker the French league killer?"
"Recalling those French teams eliminated by Suker over the years."
Real Madrid was very lucky in the draw.
Bordeaux was the weakest team among the quarterfinalists in terms of overall strength.
However, Bordeaux, having reached the quarterfinals, should not be underestimated.
Especially since in the group stage, Bordeaux topped their group, ahead of Bayern Munich and Juventus.
Before Christmas, Bordeaux's performance was stunning.
They went undefeated in six group matches, achieving a 5-1-0 record.
But entering the knockout stage, Bordeaux struggled.
Against Olympiakos in the Round of 16, they stumbled—drawing 1-1 at home, then scoring a late goal at 89 minutes away to narrowly advance.
Compared to their strong group stage showing, they appeared less comfortable in knockout play.
This is typical for many underdog teams.
They play freely and daringly in group stage, but under knockout pressure, they tighten up.
This causes overall strength and form to shrink.
This difference is what separates giants from grassroots clubs in the Champions League.
For example, Real Madrid, even with an unstable lineup and lack of tactical cohesion, mostly consists of players with rich Champions League experience, including several champions.
They know how to adjust their state in the Champions League and actively help the team adapt—this is part of a big club's foundation.
Real Madrid's situation was rough after a coaching change, but Bordeaux's might be even worse.
"For us, this is a brand-new challenge," Bordeaux's coach said confidently to the cameras.
"Every victory we get creates new history.
Facing such a strong opponent as Real Madrid in the Champions League, we will gain a lot of experience.
Just like in the 07/08 season, I believe we can play even better football."
...