Skhiri received the ball deep and turned.
He spotted Lukas in space just ahead of the halfway line and played it into him quickly.
The moment the ball reached Lukas, he already felt it—
Bissouma.
Not tight.
But there.
A presence just behind him.
Close enough that he could feel the pressure without seeing it.
Lukas took the touch.
Then glanced up.
Larsson was ahead of him, slightly to the right, showing for the ball.
Simple.
Safe.
Lukas passed it to him immediately.
But instead of standing still—
he moved.
He spun and tried to accelerate forward into the space beyond Bissouma.
For a split second, it worked.
But Bissouma reacted instantly.
He stepped across and grabbed him.
A firm arm around the body.
Stopping the run completely.
Lukas went down.
The whistle came immediately.
"Free kick," Fletcher said.
"And that's a cynical one," Bale added.
The referee didn't hesitate.
He reached into his pocket—
and produced a yellow card.
