[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-start-with-r9-template":3,"chapter-start-with-r9-template-start-with-r9-template-chapter-212":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Start with R9 Template",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1388927,1840,"Chapter 212 - 212","start-with-r9-template-chapter-212",212,"\u003Cp>No pursuit of angles, no pursuit of curve—just relying on ferocious power to score, perfectly illustrating what aesthetic violence truly means.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The stadium fell silent for a full ten seconds, followed by roaring cheers that seemed capable of lifting the roof, as if proclaiming to the world the surge of emotions in their hearts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Manchester United fans watched the young man leaping and punching the air on the pitch, resembling a classical hero or an untamed God of War.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>High in the gantry, Peter Drury's voice was filled with reverence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Unique! Passionate! Persistent! Resilient! It is hard not to love such a player!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Everyone knows Man United's true strength—reaching this stage is already a miracle! How can they compete against Real Madrid, with their back-to-back Champions League pedigree?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The answer is to give everything! Let's carefully recall this goal—Ling's return to the pitch with a wrist injury, losing balance after Ramos' foul, supporting himself with his already injured wrist, channeling all his strength and desire into the football, and unleashing a stunning world wave goal!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jim Beglin added, \"Whether this shot would have gone in otherwise remains unknown, but there's no denying the sheer power behind it. Ramos played a dangerous game, and he got burned.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ronaldo stood near the center circle with his hands on his hips, hair soaked with sweat and plastered to his forehead, his expression serious as he pondered something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This scene struck a chord deep within him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It reminded him of his younger self.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling basked in the joy of scoring, surrounded by his teammates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the celebration concluded, the referee approached Sergio Ramos and showed him a yellow card for the earlier foul.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Honestly, if that shot hadn't gone in, Ramos' clear obstruction could have easily warranted a red card,\" Beglin noted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ramos spat in frustration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He glanced toward the substitutes' bench, where Nacho, Theo Hernandez, and Lucas Vázquez sat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them, only Nacho could play as a center-back, but he had a fatal flaw: his irreparable height disadvantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Ramos were to leave the pitch, Real Madrid's aerial defense would be severely compromised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, Ramos stayed, nursing his swollen wrist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the sidelines, Zinedine Zidane's grave expression showed he'd recognized the problem too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Keylor Navas grimaced while clutching his own wrist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He hadn't expected Ling to shoot directly, leaving him too little reaction time to properly launch into his diving save.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why has Real Madrid persistently pursued David De Gea? This is the main reason—they feel they need a goalkeeper with that extra inch of reach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Usually adept at tactical adjustments, Zidane now looked lost, uncertain how to change things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After some thought, he decided to maintain the current approach.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps, as before, some inexplicable mystical power would emerge!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the other side, Man United substitutes remained immersed in celebratory excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mateo Kovacic watched his former teammates with mixed feelings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least at Man United, he could see hope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Boss, what adjustments now?\" Rui Faria took several deep breaths to calm his excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"With Carvajal's declining form, Real Madrid's right-side attacks have noticeably weakened. They're relying heavily on left-side assaults now!\" Mourinho analyzed rapidly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"So swap Ling and Lingard's positions. Let's fight fire with fire—use our own attack to suppress theirs!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"At the same time, shift the entire formation to the right side, placing the main attacking point in the right half-space. Whenever there's an opportunity, target Ramos—his wrist injury is very serious, much worse than Ling's!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mourinho sketched a simple diagram on the tactical note, then called Nemanja Matic to the sideline and handed it to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Casemiro quietly crept over, craning his neck to sneak a peek at the note, but Ander Herrera saw through him, forcing him to play dumb and scratch his head sheepishly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon the match resumed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Man United had equalized, Real Madrid remained unfazed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their belief in eventual victory remained unshaken.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through both favorable and adverse situations, they had always navigated dangers and emerged stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Every Real Madrid player believed they could lift the Champions League trophy once again!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, the Man United players had reached this stage through resilience and ample quality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, having just equalized, their morale was at its peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After implementing tactical adjustments, Man United balanced the offensive and defensive intensity on both flanks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jesse Lingard harried Luka Modrić, preventing him from easily pushing forward to attack.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ling positioned himself wide on the right flank, forcing Toni Kroos to split his attention defensively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both teams seemed to tacitly reduce their attacking intensity, frequently probing during transitions without committing everyone to all-out attacks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It appeared the first half would end this way.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as stoppage time arrived, the situation on the pitch shifted dramatically!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With two of Real Madrid's three defensive midfielders restricted, only one free man remained: Casemiro.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This actually aligned perfectly with Zidane's plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As one of football's finest defensive midfielders, Casemiro possessed more than just exceptional defensive skills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His understanding of pitch dynamics allowed him to choose optimal moments and routes for forward runs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His long-range shots after bursting from deep were particularly lethal!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After dispossessing Romelu Lukaku, he immediately played a diagonal pass to Isco ahead and swiftly surged forward to support.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Casemiro and Isco formed diagonal attacking positions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Simultaneously, Ronaldo dropped into midfield to receive, while Benzema made a direct diagonal run into the penalty area.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ball traveled in a curved path through continuous circulation, bypassing Man United's midfield before arcing through the air toward the left flank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marcelo overlapped at full speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As if his feet were coated with glue, he controlled the ball perfectly in front of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Antonio Valencia was marking him!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Three Marcelos couldn't stop one Marcelo!\" Drury cried. \"The Brazilian DNA ingrained in his bones!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Two step-overs in succession, bulldozing past the defender from the outside!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Brilliant! He sweeps the ball toward the edge of the box!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ronaldo follows up with a shot!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid Real Madrid fans' roaring cheers, the ball skimmed across the turf toward the goal!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the critical moment!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Eric Bailly decisively stretched his leg in a sliding challenge, extending his body to the limit and deflecting the ball with his toe!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ball rolled out of the penalty area once more, into unoccupied space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sprinting into the frame was Real Madrid's number 14!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Casemiro!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A child whose early life was filled with endless hardships.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A teenager who couldn't even afford 20-cent Yakult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A player once mocked for being arrogant, greedy, and lazy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After joining Real Madrid, Mourinho promoted him to the first team, Rafa Benítez gave him numerous playing opportunities, and Zidane molded him into a world-class midfielder!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, he was determined to give everything for Real Madrid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He needed a goal—one that would decide the match!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the gaze of tens of thousands of fans in the stadium.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He charged forward with tiger-like ferocity, swinging his leg to meet the ball!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a thunderous crack, the ball soared past Man United's defense, grazed De Gea's fingertips, and buried itself in the net!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>2-1!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"OH MY GOODNESS ME!\" Peter Drury roared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"FROM DISTANCE! CASEMIRO HAS ABSOLUTELY THUMPED IT!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The script had long been written: Real Madrid were the protagonists penning this legend! Just minutes after conceding, they breached Man United's goal in identical fashion, scoring a strike that crushed the Red Devils' hopes!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Kiev Olympic Stadium erupted into absolute frenzy once more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hala Madrid!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hala Madrid!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hala Madrid!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The deafening chants swelled every eardrum in the stadium.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Amid the electric atmosphere, Casemiro sprinted dozens of meters before sliding into a passionate knee-slide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had shattered all doubts!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When future generations speak of Real Madrid's three-peat, his name would forever be inseparable from that glory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Casemiro thought to himself that he'd drink a few extra bottles of Yakult after the match.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jim Beglin sighed, \"In the dying moments of stoppage time, Real Madrid retake the lead through Casemiro's long-range strike! Man United have their heroes, and so do Real Madrid. So long as you possess the resilience to defy adversity, you can step up and turn the tide!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Witnessing the ball roll into their own net, Man United's players couldn't help but feel a flicker of doubt—would they concede every time they equalized?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What was the point of fighting back, then?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Man United fans sensed darkness creeping over the horizon, viewing this Real Madrid side as an insurmountable force.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the touchline, Zidane smiled, though not without a trace of astonishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He never expected the plot to unfold this way—not only navigating Real Madrid safely through a perilous phase but also granting him more room for adjustments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, the opposing dugout sank into prolonged silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mourinho's expression darkened by the second, his frustration simmering with a visceral urge to vent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pressed his hands against the bench in the coach's box, gripping so hard his knuckles turned white.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he knew he had to remain calm, because if even he lost his composure, he would personally extinguish Man United's last hope.\u003C\u002Fp>",1496,"2026-06-05T22:48:23.062Z",1,"novelbin.me","918df5649fea91b7b5a149bf9159e3e71dfb3641602af9337db98910203a703b","start-with-r9-template-chapter-213","start-with-r9-template-chapter-211",371,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fstart-with-r9-template-cover.jpg"]