Defeat by more than one goal would have left qualification out of the Reds' hands and, after the heavy defeat at Watford and subsequent departure of manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, all eyes were on the team at the Estadio de la Ceramica, as Michael Carrick took caretaker charge.
The tension increased when there was a delay to the kick-off as referee Felix Brych's technical equipment was not wired up correctly.
As the wait continued, the players decided to congregate on the pitch and go into a huddle, emphasising togetherness and motivation for the task ahead, and reiterating a belief that the job could be done in Spain.