Spartak Moscow sought to shore up their defense by increasing numbers at the back, retreating their defensive line, and narrowing the dangerous spaces in and around their penalty area. Their objective was to prevent another situation like the one that led to the earlier goal. Yet, when Ronaldinho bypassed the fullback on the wing and reached the byline, the defensive midfielder and center-backs couldn't react in time. It left him with a simple opportunity to deliver a precise assist.
Millwall, in turn, adapted by pushing their defensive line higher and employing an aggressive high press. Their offensive play emphasized short, sharp passes to break through Spartak's defensive compactness.
Today, Spartak Moscow truly experienced the strength of Europe's top teams!
Even with their tight defensive setup, they couldn't stop Millwall's fluid and relentless ground passing game, which cut through their lines with precision.
In the 22nd minute, Ronaldinho cut into the half-space of the penalty area and received a perfectly threaded through ball from Pirlo, slicing through a crowded defense. His control was seamless, followed by a fluid move to evade the center-back with a quick stop-and-pull maneuver that also set up a clear shooting angle. He struck the ball cleanly, but it lacked curve, and Spartak Moscow's goalkeeper made a heroic diving save to parry it away.
The rebound fell to the far side of the box, where Larsson, displaying excellent anticipation, reached it first. Opting for control over power, he attempted a precise side-footed shot toward the bottom corner.
Agonizingly, the ball struck the post and bounced out.
Chaos reigned in Spartak's penalty area—two defenders were down on the turf after throwing themselves in the line of fire, while the rest looked completely out of sorts, struggling to reorganize amid the pandemonium.
The ball rebounded to the middle of the box, and before any defender could clear it, Klose stormed in and unleashed a thunderous strike, blasting it into the net.
Three Spartak players lay on the ground in disbelief, while the rest stood frozen, staring at their shattered defense.
Despite their numerical advantage, Spartak were outclassed in positioning and technical prowess. Millwall's forwards each possessed unique talents, and the gap in ability was glaringly evident.
"3-0! Klose has all but sealed the victory for Millwall just midway through the first half! If anyone claims Spartak can score three goals at the Lion King Stadium, I wouldn't believe it—nobody would! Millwall's progression to the Champions League round of 16 is now a certainty!"
The celebration that followed brought the fans in the stands to a fever pitch.
Klose, after scoring, ran to the sideline with Henry, Ronaldinho, Larsson, Pirlo, and Schneider. The six players formed a semicircle facing Aldrich on the bench. With synchronized movements, they crouched slightly, delivering three quick downward punches before finishing with an upward hook aimed triumphantly at the sky.
This was Millwall—unapologetically bold, passionate, and domineering on the pitch!
Even in a seemingly lopsided matchup, memories of their previous defeat to Spartak made this game adrenaline-fueled for every Millwall player and fan.
Aldrich, in high spirits, embraced Klose, planting a kiss on his head before shoving him back onto the field with a firm pat.
Due to Nedvěd's unexpected injury, Klose has had many opportunities to play this season so far. While his skills still need improvement, he is a very disciplined player. He diligently follows Aldrich's instructions, particularly in developing his playmaking awareness.
As for things beyond his abilities, Aldrich doesn't push him too hard. Of course, Aldrich knows Klose isn't Nedvěd. Asking him to fill that attacking midfield spot? There's no way he's covering ground like Nedvěd, who's practically a perpetual motion machine on the pitch!
Spartak, meanwhile, were utterly shell-shocked. Despite entering the Lion King Stadium brimming with confidence as group leaders, their ambitions crumbled before Millwall's overwhelming dominance.
Their earlier victory over Millwall had elevated Spartak's status in European football, but today's encounter exposed the stark reality. Attempting to use Millwall as a stepping stone for further recognition only led to humiliation.
Just four minutes after Klose's goal, Pirlo scored from outside the penalty area, receiving a clever backheel from Henry before unleashing a thunderous shot that rippled the net.
Aldrich's smile vanished, replaced by a cold, steely expression as he raised both fists high on the sideline.
Even the top clubs in Europe wouldn't dare act recklessly at the Lion King Stadium. And you, champions of a second-tier Eastern European league, think you can challenge us?
We are The Lions, the kings of the league with an unbeaten streak of 64 matches!
Since you fail to see the reality of the situation, let me make it clear for you.
As the match reached the 37th minute, Ronaldinho and Klose executed a perfectly timed crossover just outside the penalty area. Ronaldinho followed up with an incisive through ball, threading it into Klose's path. From there, Klose whipped a low cross across the goal. Henry, showing incredible awareness, held his position to distract the defense, allowing Larsson to surge into the middle and smash the ball decisively into the back of the net.
At the 43rd minute, Larsson unexpectedly drove the ball down the flank and delivered a low cross. Henry darted to the near post and deftly volleyed it in from a tight angle, completing his brace.
The stadium erupted. The stands turned into a boiling sea of joy, with fans locking arms, jumping, and celebrating as if performing a jubilant dance, unable to contain their excitement.
"This is insane! Absolutely insane! 6–0! And it's not even halftime yet! It's 6–0!"
"Moscow Spartak never seemed to find their footing since kickoff. Maybe securing early qualification made them complacent. Either way, this match is destined to be a nightmarish chapter in their club's European history!"
Meanwhile, live broadcasts of other concurrent Champions League matches were underway, but many TV viewers were left stunned by the live scoreboard updates flashing on their screens.
"Is the broadcast crew at Millwall playing a prank?"
"Did they make a mistake?"
"How are goals flying in one after another?"
By halftime, with the score at 6–0, traveling fans from Moscow Spartak had seen enough. Many left the Lion King Stadium early, heading straight to catch a flight home—this was too painful to watch.
As Spartak players walked into the tunnel, many had blank expressions, completely bewildered by what had just happened in the first half.
In one of the luxury boxes, even Kaká and Cristiano Ronaldo's families were left speechless.
Millwall was a complex team—capable of enchanting fans with mesmerizing, beautiful football and unleashing devastating bursts of energy to obliterate opponents.
At the start of the second half, Aldrich substituted Henry and Larsson with Villa and Larmore.
Spartak, learning their lesson, refrained from any "reckless" moves and pulled back everyone to defend.
Millwall, however, eased their pace. Having taken full control, they began rehearsing their set-piece routines for breaking down packed defenses.
With the penalty area crowded, the forwards could barely move freely. Instead, they ran to create openings for midfielders. Even Pirlo was tightly marked, but Millwall had plenty of long-range sharpshooters.
In the 66th minute, Zambrotta unleashed a thunderous strike from 45 yards out, piercing the goalkeeper's defenses.
In the 79th minute, Schneider's long-range shot struck David Villa in the back, causing a deflection that wrong-footed the goalkeeper. The ball looped into the net, much to the keeper's dismay.
As the match neared its end, Larmore was blatantly shoved down in the penalty area by a Spartak defender. The referee hesitated to blow his whistle, likely out of pity for Spartak. However, the foul was too blatant to ignore. Larmore had been pushed from behind while controlling the ball—a clear penalty. Not calling it would raise questions about the referee's integrity, no matter how inconsequential the situation.
Ultimately, a penalty was awarded. Ronaldinho stepped up to the spot and calmly slotted the ball into the back of the net.
With 12 seconds still on the clock, the referee impatiently blew the final whistle.
Spartak players, drained and demoralized, rushed off the pitch like fugitives fleeing a nightmare.
Meanwhile, Millwall's players stayed back, pulling off their sweat-soaked jerseys and draping them over their shoulders. Standing in place, they exchanged incredulous smiles.
9–0.
It was a massacre that would send shockwaves through European football.
Now, they could fully savor the moment.
The players slowly gathered at the center circle, then walked hand-in-hand toward the stands, saluting the fans who refused to leave.
The Lion King Stadium roared with cheers, applause, and whistles. Whenever the players approached a stand, the fans would collectively bow, pressing their hands down in an act of worship.
As Kaká's family stepped out of their box, they ran into Cristiano Ronaldo's family. The adults exchanged polite greetings, while the soon-to-be 16-year-old Cristiano and the 18-year-old Kaká locked eyes for a few seconds, nodded, and then went their separate ways.
Aldrich, however, had already disappeared into the tunnel at the final whistle.
At the post-match press conference, journalists whispered among themselves, discussing the unbelievable thrashing they had just witnessed.
Aldrich had calmed down significantly by the time reporters began asking for his thoughts on the match. With a carefree smile and a casual shake of his head, he responded, "I don't think there's much to analyze here. Millwall had the strength to beat our opponents, and we did just that. The scoreline may look a bit exaggerated, but that's about it."
The reporters, sensing no deeper angle to pursue, nodded in agreement, acknowledging Aldrich's concise summary.
Indeed, there wasn't much left to discuss.
The match was a clear-cut demonstration of dominance. Millwall outclassed their opponents in every aspect, from individual player strength to tactical superiority, not to mention the undeniable advantage of playing at home.
Scores like 9–0 rarely offer meaningful insights when dissecting the game. Even if the match were replayed, Klose might not set up Henry again at the opening, and Zambrotta's long-range shot might not find the net.
Overwhelming victories like these are often a result of the winning side seizing every opportunity—turning even half-chances into goals—while their opponents fail to find any rhythm.
This type of result has played out before in football history: Inter Milan's 1–5 home humiliation against Arsenal, Manchester United's 7–1 demolition of Roma, PSG's 7–2 thrashing of Rosenborg, Monaco's 8–3 rout of Deportivo, Lyon's 7–2 hammering of Werder Bremen, and Liverpool's 8–0 destruction of Beşiktaş.
In matches like these, excessive analysis is redundant. Replaying them once, twice, or ten times wouldn't reproduce the same results.
Aldrich shifted the conversation to the bigger picture of the Champions League.
With this win, Millwall ensured their direct qualification to the Round of 16. Even a Sporting Lisbon victory wouldn't have changed their fate. Yet Sporting Lisbon's draw against Hamburg left them and Hamburg battling for third place, and with it, a spot in the Europa League.
As for the group standings, Spartak Moscow leads with 12 points to Millwall's 10. But Aldrich? He couldn't care less about topping the group. After all, it's out of Millwall's hands!
Aldrich actually hoped Millwall would end up second in their group. That way, when the next stage comes, they'd be placed in a group with the other winners, making sure the competition stays tough and Millwall keeps up a high level of play for the second half of the season.
Originally, Millwall was the favorite to top their group, and it seemed like a done deal. But now? It looks like they're heading for second place!
Other strong teams in the other groups were furious!
They had all been aiming for first place so they could avoid Millwall in the second round, but now, those non-Premier League teams that were fighting tooth and nail for first place are left stunned.
Teams like AC Milan, Deportivo La Coruña, and Valencia, for instance...