For a split second, João Neves thought about turning.
Then thought about carrying it.
Both ideas vanished the moment he saw the maroon shirt swallowing the distance.
He reacted on instinct and with one touch, he drove the ball long.
High, diagonal and toward the left touchline, something that he had been doing at kickoffs from his time with PSG.
The danger had been avoided, at least for now, but the pass looked overhit.
Pedro Porro certainly thought so and eased off for the briefest moment as the ball curled toward the line.
João Félix never did.
The former Golden Boy winner stretched every inch of himself, twisting his shoulders while using the side of his neck and upper arm to shield the ball from rolling out before cushioning it back under control with remarkable balance.
