Chapter 702: Evenly Matched? Beijing Guoan Forces a Breakthrough Against Manchester United's Goal!

"It's starting, brothers!"

"Bruno Fernandes is playing as a center forward; does Ten Hag know how to arrange a lineup so well?"

"You wouldn't understand this; our big Brother Bruno playing as a striker is definitely no problem."

"Shouldn't Manchester United give some ground? What's the situation with all these starters fielded except for the injured ones?"

"Ten Hag: Beijing Guoan and Manchester United have similar strength, so we need to respect our opponent."

Bruno Fernandes is playing as a forward, or more precisely, as a second striker.

This move by Manchester United seems a bit like showing off, but in reality, it isn't.

Last season's league experience has already proven Bruno Fernandes' ability on the front line, so Ten Hag's arrangement is without issue.

The other players are also basically playing in positions they are best at.

The current configuration of Manchester United's starting lineup can be said to be at the level of a Champions League semi-finalist.

As for Beijing Guoan's side.

According to Ten Hag's theory, the Chinese Super League is second only to the top five leagues, meaning CSL teams ≈ top-five-league teams.

Beijing Guoan is currently ranked 3rd in the Chinese Super League, meaning they can be compared to the 3rd-place team in the Premier League.

Last season's 3rd-place team in the Premier League was Liwupu, who were also one of the four teams in last season's Champions League semi-finals.

!

Thinking of this, many fans have already realized it.

Unknowingly, a balance has already formed between Manchester United and Beijing Guoan!

Both sides' starting lineups are at the level of Champions League semi-finalists!

Boom!

Beijing Guoan launched a quick counterattack; Li Lei played a through ball directly to Bakambu on the left wing driving toward the byline.

The speed is very fast!

He gets the ball!

Bakambu holds up the ball in front of De Jong!

He wants to drive to the byline, but muscling past De Jong is obviously unlikely.

Bakambu traps the ball, waiting for Gao Gao Tianyi to surge up from behind.

Possession is passed to Gao Gao Tianyi making an overlapping run!

"Wow!!!"

Beijing Guoan seems poised to create a scoring chance; the fans in the stands are screaming continuously.

Could it be that Beijing Guoan can truly go toe-to-toe with Manchester United!

Gao Gao Tianyi cuts diagonally toward the penalty area but has not yet found a suitable passing option.

Bakambu prepares to come over and combine.

Seizing the opportunity, De Jong shifts laterally and successfully blocks Gao Gao Tianyi's forward run.

The two press against each other; after a few physical contests, De Jong easily gains possession.

"Beautiful!"

"Manchester United looks set to counterattack; Rodri is providing support nearby!"

Zhang Zhang Xizhe and Cao Cao Yongjing both charge toward Rodri to press, while Wang Wang Ziming is also closing in.

Rodri!

With Cao Cao Yongjing right in his face, Rodri pulls the ball back, then suddenly accelerates.

Boom!

Cao Cao Yongjing is easily brushed aside by Rodri using his body.

"Here!"

Tang Ye receives the pass!

"Wow!!!"

The fans in the stands also kick into gear at this moment, shouting Tang Ye's name incessantly.

"One-on-one, one-on-one!"

"Tang Tang Qiuwang, go the whole length, crush them!"

"Tang Ye is awesome!"

Although the cheers are loud, Tang Ye remains quite rational.

He dribbles forward for over ten meters first, then passes to Mata nearby.

Then he moves forward again to receive the ball!

OK!

Regaining possession, Tang Ye has already bypassed Beijing Guoan's defensive line in their own half.

Continuing to pull toward the left byline, he glances toward the penalty area out of the corner of his eye while running.

Snap!

【De Bruyne 45-Degree Cross Lv6: Never Ashamed to Ask】

Tang Ye's 45-degree cross is delivered very high.

Dembélé!

Surging up the right flank.

Dembélé suddenly accelerates, leaving Li Lei far behind in an instant.

Yu Yang attempts to defend, but Dembélé changes direction at extreme speed.

Lift your left foot!

Slap!

"Dembele, an aerial volley, oh my, haha!"

"Goal!"

"That's a goal from Dembele; Manchester United opens the scoring!"

Although it was a volley, Dembele actually completed this shot quite easily.

"Nice!"

Giving Tang Ye a thumbs-up, Dembele then waved to the fans in the stands.

"Wow!!"

"Awesome!"

"So awesome, so awesome!"

"Go Beijing Guoan! Go!!!"

"Is the gap really this huge, damn it!"

Manchester United's textbook counter-attack from the backfield to the frontfield made some fans who had never watched a Premier League match live widen their eyes.

Beijing Guoan's defenders had not lost their positions, at least not at the very beginning.

Yet Manchester United gave the impression that they simply did not take Beijing Guoan's defense seriously, receiving the ball whenever they wanted and passing it whenever they pleased.

However!

If there were fans who frequently watched Manchester United matches, they would know.

In their current state, Manchester United was actually holding back.

Because the speed of Manchester United's counter-attack in this match was not fast; Beijing Guoan's players even had time to chase back.

If this were a league match, Tang Ye estimated he wouldn't even coordinate with Mata but would go straight to Dembele; that would be a counter-attack in the truest sense!

The Manchester United players gathered and walked toward their own half, covering their mouths as they communicated rapidly.

"We scored too quickly!"

Rodri glanced at the time displayed on the big screen, then reminded them, "It's only the 4th minute; why are you playing so urgently?"

Rodri scolded Dembele; that cross was not one Dembele should have scored.

"Don't score, don't score, slow down a bit, slow down the rhythm!"

After Rodri briefly emphasized this, Dembele acted somewhat aggrieved: "Then what should I do when I receive the ball?"

B. Fei placed a hand on Dembele's shoulder: "Just play normally during the attack; you only need to blast your shots wide. If you keep playing like this, we'll have to score at least five goals today."

"Haha!"

Five goals is the upper limit for a friendly match; if we exceed five goals, it ceases to be a friendly.

This is their turf; you have to give them face!

The match continues!

Having learned from the lessons of their previous attack, Manchester United became much more well-behaved over the next few minutes.

The most obvious change was at Dembele's position.

The Manchester United winger directly started slacking off; after a shift in rhythm, he simply kicked the ball straight into Gao Gao Tianyi.

"Wow!!!"

This is Beijing Guoan's chance!

"Gao Gao Tianyi! You can speed up a bit more!"

"But it seems he can't get going! Let's see how Beijing Guoan plans to handle this!"

"Bakambu has dropped back to support, but if that's the case..."

After a series of maneuvers, Beijing Guoan successfully got the ball to Bakambu.

Of course, after doing so, they encountered a problem: with Bakambu dropping back, Beijing Guoan's frontfield was now completely empty.

"Wang Wang Ziming, Wang Wang Ziming needs to fill in for Bakambu's position!"

"Sigh, but the players on the field don't have our god's-eye view; they might not have reacted in time."

Bakambu adjusted the ball, and by this time, Zhang Zhang Xizhe was already preparing to drive down the left flank near the touchline.

Slap!

Pass it over!

Zhang Zhang Xizhe stepped forward.

Control the ball!

"Go, go!"

"Go Zhang Zhang Xizhe!"

"Take down Wan-Bissaka!"

In the one-on-one between Zhang Zhang Xizhe and Wan-Bissaka, the Manchester United full-back was slowly retreating.

Zhang Zhang Xizhe was still adjusting!

Waiting for the Manchester United defensive line to retreat to a suitable position, Zhang Zhang Xizhe made his preparations.

Slap!

Pass it out!

Into the penalty area!

Lucas Sousa!

Jump up!

Bang!

With a single header, Sousa sent the ball straight into Heaton's arms.

"Fuck!"

It was hit too squarely!

A header that straight obviously wasn't going in.

What a pity!

"Come on!"

"Go Beijing Guoan!"

In the 17th minute of the first half, while teammates were defending in their own half, Tang Ye was slowly strolling near the center circle.

When the Beijing Guoan players shifted the ball to the left flank, Tang Ye slowly walked toward the left.

When the ball moved to the right flank, Tang Ye walked to the right.

Dreaming back to his Eredivisie days in 2015, the loyal Tang Army in the stands shed tears.

"Tang Ye!"

"Tang Tang Qiuwang!"

"Tang Ye!"

Hearing the fans' chants, Tang Ye turned his head and then raised his right hand.

"Wow!!!"

Slap!

Suddenly, a through pass came from de Jong!

Tang Ye pushed off the ground and accelerated!

"Tang Ye!"