Chapter 175: Pogba, Walcott, and Agfinwa
Diego Costa is a troublemaker-type dirty forward.
Son Heung-min is a Yue Buqun-style "gentleman ball".
Before these two emerged, the "bad boys" of European football were still relatively pure.
Bei Derong
Dong Yinbu
Xi Luni
Nan Pepe
At Real Madrid Sports City, Zidane was a little troubled.
Because Varane got injured.
The 23-year-old French centre-back is, in the eyes of European media, the defensive Li Kang.
"Varane's speed, all-around ability, and big-picture vision naturally suppress Leverkusen, a team that loves width!"
"It's fine, we still have Pepe! He's been recovering well lately, and Leverkusen's attack can't threaten Real Madrid."
Bettoni pointed to a bald head on the training ground and suggested.
Zidane said nothing.
In the distance.
Pepe was doing one-on-one practice with Cristiano Ronaldo.
His eyes revealed kindness.
Many fans believed that as he grew older, he became more mature.
Actually, that's not true.
Looking closely at La Liga's top three matches in recent years shows: the main reason is that he encountered the two "unorthodox" forwards Diego Costa and Luis Suárez, which made the monk Pepe realize that ferocity can't solve all problems.
To survive out there, you need to use your brain.
Chain leg sweeps, kicks, hair-pulling Castro, heavy hammer Albin.
A flying knee strike on Sandro, a whip kick on Sissoko.
A groin kick that cuts off lineage on Lago.
An elbow sneak attack on the aging Drogba.
Stepping on Messi's hand.
All these foul deeds aroused the disgust of most neutral fans.
Pepe, who has been playing for 16 years, is striving, striving to shift toward the acting style.
"Li is a flower in a greenhouse; he can't get past this level of mine."
Other Real Madrid teammates were doing the circle-stealing drill.
Casemiro asked, "How should we play in the second leg?"
Kroos pondered for a moment, then said seriously:
"Outside the 30-meter zone, we don't need to mark Li, because his teammates can't keep up the pace."
"Inside the 30-meter zone, we only need to double-team Li, because his teammates can't find space."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Real Madrid led by two goals in the first leg; Leverkusen wants to advance, so they will surely launch a major attack in the second leg.
The execution of the overall tactic is based on the foundation of all players' characteristics.
Leverkusen cannot produce effective attacking combinations under Real Madrid's high pressure.
Leverkusen training base.
Tuopu Laotou worried:
"The two goals in the first leg were entirely down to Li's individual ability; now Real Madrid understands his traits better, so copying those goals in the second leg will be difficult..."
"Real Madrid boasts the best coaching staff on the planet, and their players are not mindless fools."
Royal Madrid has the best coaching staff on this planet, and their players are not thoughtless fools.
He had a feeling: if Li doesn't play, the German Cup could very likely be knocked out by RB Leipzig.
He had a premonition now: if Li is not sent onto the field, the German Cup could very likely be knocked out by RB Leipzig.
Leverkusen, a small city of only 200,000 people, was suddenly flooded with countless Real Madrid fans.
Due to away-ticket sale restrictions, only a few managed to get tickets for the away stand.
But it couldn't stop the enthusiasm of Real Madrid fans.
They gathered in bars and squares, cheering for their team.
Every corner was filled with Spanish...
Every corner is filled with Spanish...
The seats in the home stand were removed.
Over thirty thousand fans flooded into the cramped stands.
They would rather stand for ninety minutes just to cheer for Leverkusen!
"CTV5! CTV5! Good evening, viewers!"
"Welcome to the broadcast of the 2015/16 UEFA Champions League semifinal second leg!"
"Leverkusen hosts Real Madrid!"
"The first-leg score was 4-2! Real Madrid held a two-goal lead!"
"Ah! Varane is injured, and we see Pepe in the starting lineup!"
Ah! Wala's internal injury stopped, we saw Pepe appear in the starting lineup!
For Bei lai yin, this is undoubtedly a plus!
As of now since 2016, Real Madrid has lost only one match; at that time Pepe played the full game and the defensive line gave up the ball a shocking six times!
I am the commentator for this match: Duan Xuan!
I am He Wei.
Next, I will introduce the starting lineups for both sides.
Real Madrid lines up in a 4-3-3 formation!
Goalkeeper:...
Live broadcast room.
-【Lewokusen got a suspended death sentence, huh? Real Madrid still fields its full starting lineup, giving no chance for a comeback.】
-【Pretty much, Li Mingdeng definitely can't replicate his first-leg one-man-army performance; the opposition is on guard and won't just stand there letting you charge.】
-【Even if tonight's score ends in a draw or a one-goal loss, Real Madrid can still advance to the final.】
-【Can Lewokusen pull off a 2-0 comeback?】
The referee squad leads the players of both sides out of the tunnel.
The familiar Champions League anthem suddenly blares.
The stands on all sides instantly erupt with a roar like a collapsing mountain and tsunami.
The black-and-red team flags flutter in the wind.
Mini flares explode one after another in every corner!
The entire Bayer Leverkusen stadium is shrouded in thick smoke and red light.
The broadcast over the pitch shouts the name of the number 10.
Lee!
Lee!!!
In the north stand, a huge mosaic picture silently falls!
On it is printed the silhouette of Lewokusen's number 10!
This might be Lewokusen's last match in this season's Champions League!
After fourteen years, they have reached the Champions League semifinals again! Unfortunately, this time the summit of the Champions League feels so far out of reach!
Bei lai yin, will a miracle happen tonight?
Tuopu Laotou paces back and forth, nervous.
Zidane sits calmly on the coach's bench.
Accompanied by a whistle from the head referee.
The match officially begins.
Lewokusen in possession.
Baszini kicks off, playing a lateral pass to Son Heung-min.
Under Benzema's pressure, he decisively passes the ball back to Li Kang!
Unfortunately, the pass lacks enough power.
The ball is intercepted by a sprinting Cristiano Ronaldo!
Oh dear! Did Benzema put all his skill points into defense? His interference ability is too outstanding!
Real Madrid is about to seize an early lead!
Cristiano Ronaldo strongly suppresses his urge to unleash a long-range shot from the forty-meter zone.
He is no longer at his peak, with little time to waste possession.
Smack!
Facing Li Kang's approach.
He quickly passes the ball to the advancing Modric!
In Li Kang's vision, the phantom of a little horse suddenly appears!
And also the red-black spirit, Nesta!
The forty-meter zone.
Just as Modric stops the ball.
Lewokusen's number 10 darts like the wind.
Everyone can't help but suck in a breath of cold air.
This tackling tendency is too fierce, isn't it?
There isn't the intense physical contact one might have expected.
Modric seems to have already sensed everything.
Having experienced the first-leg clash, he has grasped all of Li Kang's traits.
He lightly lifts his left foot.
The ball lightly slips through the gap under his trousers.
Li Kang's tackle meets only air.
The little horse phantom struggles painfully.
The red-black spirit rages like thunder.
Beautiful!
What masterful poise!
What a suave pass, Modric pulls one back!
Toni Kroos appeared just in time on the football line.
No adjustment needed.
No need to look up and observe.
As soon as he kicked, it was a graceful long pass.
Above the BayArena, a beautiful rainbow suddenly appeared.
The ball precisely landed on the left side of the thirty-meter zone.
Exquisitely perfect.
Leverkusen's defense was caught off guard.
Marcelo shrugged off the challenge, easily dispossessed Boerhes, and surged forward!
All Real Madrid midfield and forward players began to surge forward at high speed!
Virgil van Dijk frantically directed his teammates' defensive positions, but it was too late.
Kramer and Jonathan Tah lost their positions again.
The two rushed to double-team Marcelo, and while running... tried to block his passing lane.
That's not that easy.
Marcelo quietly accelerated, a slight change of direction, and created a passing angle.
Thud!
The ball whistled into the penalty area.
Cristiano Ronaldo outmuscled Virgil van Dijk!
He leapt high!
He headed the ball toward goal!
This was a header close to the maximum in football history.
"That's it!"
"Oh no! Lai Nuo's divine save!"
"It slipped out!"
"Benzema followed up with a shot!"
"Post!"
"Bale!"
The power of Cristiano Ronaldo's header was immense; even Lai Nuo's divine save couldn't completely clear the danger!
The ball stumbled and fell onto the grass!
Karim Benzema shoved aside Bender and fired a sliding shot!
The frame shook violently.
The ball hit the post!
It bounced back into the penalty area again!
Bale stubbornly held off Hilbert and unleashed a volley!
This time.
Finally, we had it.
0:1!!!
"Beautiful!"
"The attack was too smooth!"
"The process was arduous, the result was wonderful!"
"Real Madrid, opening the scoring!"
"The aggregate score leads by three goals!"
"The BBC front trio's chemistry and coordination may fall far short of Messi, Neymar, and Suárez, but each individual's ability has reached its peak!"
"The suspense over qualification is dwindling!"
The live stream.
Danmaku flew across.
-【No way, it feels like Modrić kicked Li Mingdeng into becoming Pogba!】
-【Pogba is a super midfielder with maxed-out stats in the game, but what's the use? Even against masters like Xavi, Pirlo, and Modrić, he's still toyed with.】
-【How does Li Mingdeng play? When he's off the ball, his teammates can't keep possession; when he's on the ball, they still can't keep possession.】
-【This scoring is so complicated—how many goals does Leverkusen need to score to advance?】
-【As expected, the two goals conceded in the first leg were just Li Mingdeng confusing Real Madrid; once Modrić and Zidane are ready, Leverkusen is doomed to exit.】
-【Even Schalke 04 can score three against Leverkusen—guess how many Real Madrid will net tonight?】
-【If they keep playing like this, even RB Leipzig's firepower would knock Leverkusen out of the German Cup.】
Bale and his teammates simply bumped fists, celebrated with a hug, and returned to the center circle.
Everything came too easily.
It doesn't feel like we're playing in the Champions League.
It feels more like we're thrashing minnows in La Liga.
"Enjoy the match—this is the easiest time in my career dealing with Li..."
"Shhh, a lip-reading expert might be watching you!"
"What's there to fear? Toilet-paper news says I don't speak Spanish, but the day I go to MLS I'll have to speak Spanish with my teammates!"
It's not just the Bayer Stadium.
The entire Lewokusen town, including Cologne Square twenty li outside.
Real Madrid's slogan kept echoing.
"HalaMadrid!!!"
"HalaMadrid!!!"
"HalaMadrid!!!"
The Lewokusen players lowered their heads.
Bendel loudly cheered his teammates... to no avail.
Li Kang shook his head, trying to dispel all negative emotions.
He picked up the ball from the net and ran back to the center circle.
In the God's perspective, the details of his duel with Modric kept replaying.
He was beaten into Pogba, beaten into Walcott, beaten into Alfinwa...
In the distance.
Modric gazed into the distance at the figure of Lewokusen's number 10.
His expression carried a hint of regret.
At the sideline.
Tuopu Laotou slumped onto the coach's bench.
His whole body kept trembling.
He could think of no countermeasure.
All the pre-match preparations vanished in the face of Real Madrid's powerful individual player abilities.
Dino picked up a pen and frantically recorded Real Madrid's entire offensive process on the tactic board.
On the other side.
Betoni celebrated wildly.
He tentatively suggested: "Can we put James on? This match won't have any big problems."
Zidane lightly clapped, smiling and shaking his head.
"If we put James on, we will lose."
The match resumed.
Lewokusen's possession was quickly intercepted by Casemiro, who had pressed up to the front line!
Real Madrid did not speed up for a fast break this time.
Instead, they steadily controlled the midfield tempo.
Li Kang began to run back and forth frantically...
But Modric and Kroos's passing and receiving abilities were too superb.
The two had already fully understood Li Kang's defensive traits in the first leg, and could easily resolve the opponent's pressing.
Not to mention someone like Nesta.
Even if Maldini, Cannavaro, Baresi and other super defensive masters possessed you, Li Kang, you're still just one person.
No matter how fast you are, you can't be faster than the ball.
As Marcelo and Carvajal moved forward.
Real Madrid gained more passing outlets on both wings in midfield.
The weight of possession gradually shifted to the two flanks.
Li Kang could hardly possibly cover the entire width of the pitch in a short time to engage in harassing.
What about the teammates?
The teammates' interlocking pressing net couldn't even touch the ball.
The overall strength gap is too huge.
Real Madrid doesn't even need to employ any complex attacking tactics.
It's like playing a friendly match.
Minute 24 of the match.
Modric was like a bullfighter wielding a blade and red cloth.
Facing the oncoming Li Kang.
Real Madrid's midfield had mastered control of the timeline to a state of perfection.
He lightly flicked the ball with the outside of his foot.
Lewokusen's number 10 lunged at empty air again.
The grasp of spacing and timing.
This cannot be made up for by an all-around attribute boost.
Li Kang before him, in Modric's eyes...
There is no difference between him and Pogba, Walcott, and Alfinwa.
Kroos, advancing to support, launched a lofted low, long pass.
"Precision guided!"
"In this situation, he can still spot a loophole in Lewokusen's defense!"
"Beautiful!"
"Carvajal!"
「No offside! 」
Fan Daike wanted to retreat.
Unfortunately, at this time his awareness and anticipation still couldn't match the peak form of Ka Wa Ha Er when he first debuted.
With a lateral cutback, he toyed with Lewokusen's two centre-backs!
Immediately, an extremely terrifying speed burst forth.
Rushing to the landing point, he received the ball and burst forward!
Lai Nuo charged!
He barely stepped out of the edge of the penalty area.
Then he saw a black shadow lightly sweep over his head!
He turned his head.
The net was lifted again.
0:2!!!
「Too simple! 」
「Ka Wa Ha Er knows Lai Nuo's characteristics well! 」
「A consummate lob shot scores! 」
「When did he get up front? Qi Da Nei gave the players too much freedom in this match! 」
「No celebration! 」
「We saw Ka Wa Ha Er raise his palm, no celebration! 」
Ka Wa Ha Er's professional career began with the first team at Lewokusen.
He didn't celebrate wildly; instead, he raised both palms and silently walked back to the centre circle.
VIP box stands.
The little assistant gave a wry smile: 'Boss, if we hadn't sold players these years... we might have...'
Wo Le Er lit a cigar: 'The situation is different... how many more goals do we need to advance?'
The little assistant's face darkened: 'Five goals!'
On the green field.
Mo De Li Qi pulled Li Kang up.
He wanted to say something, but in the end he just shook his head.
Individual ability is too insignificant in Europe's top-tier tactical contest.
Especially for a midfielder.
Once restricted, even possession cannot be controlled...
How to play the attack-defense contest?
You don't even have a chance to break the deadlock.
Match minute 32.
Sun Xingmin received Li Kang's through pass.
Thud!
A bald strongman flung the ball out of bounds with a flying tackle!
Sun Xingmin couldn't stop his foot in time, and Pepe collapsed 'in pain'!
「Yellow card! 」
「No big problem. 」
「Pepe is no longer the former martial monk but a holy monk, causing no chaos, letting the head referee decide the outcome! 」
「Adding frost to snow! 」
「The attack can't be opened, and furthermore a big action earned a yellow card. 」
Match minute 36.
Yue Na Tan·Ta used hands and feet to take down Ke Luo Si in the rib area.
C Luo unexpectedly did not stand at the foul spot.
Bei Er took a three-step run-up!
He launched an extremely piercing cloud-piercing arrow!
Once again he pried open Lewokusen's goal!
0:3!!!
Bai Er Stadium, deathly silent.
Many Lewokusen fans began to leave early.
Royal Horse fans began early celebrations.
Fireworks and salute cannons roared together!
Multicolored paper scraps fluttered in Bei lai yin's sky.
There is no Yinsitanbu'er.
The second half was still a massacre!
"I doubt this Real Madrid. They won't lose a game in 2016!"
"At most, at most they'll lose two games!"
"Their European competition dominance is just like that of AC Milan and Bayern Munich back then."
"Simple, efficient, not relying on any single core!"
No need to drastically change tactics just because someone is missing!
No weak points!
70th minute of the match.
Li Kang received Van Dijk's long pass in the front.
The Dutch centre-back figured it out.
It's impossible to pass the ball through midfield; better to launch it long to the focal point!
Unfortunately, at the moment he played the ball.
Modrić had already completed the defensive setup in the back.
He won't allow the 'one-man army' incident from the first leg to happen again.
Li Kang began to accelerate.
The shadow in his mind spread to the extreme.
In his vision, the phantom of a little colt and Figo appeared simultaneously.
Under the gaze of everyone in the stadium.
His speed and ball-touch precision surged to the extreme.
It was useless.
No teammate's runs to create space and timely support.
He ultimately collapsed at the top of the penalty arc of Real Madrid's box.
Pepe, Ramos, Casemiro, and Carvajal let out a long breath.
No foul!
In the final moments, Li Kang almost replicated Messi's miracle of dribbling past five!
Unfortunately, Real Madrid's defensive line maintained its depth!
Modrić's tackle was clean!
Real Madrid's counterattack!
Finally.
Beep! Beep-beep~
The head referee blew the whistle signaling the end of the match.
The LED scoreboard in mid-air displayed the disastrous 0:5 result.
Real Madrid eliminated Lewokusen with an aggregate score of 9:2 and advanced to the Champions League final!
Tuopu Laotou sat on the ground like a defeated rooster, grimy and disheveled, clutching a handful of grass clippings.
Dino kept his head down, still striving to record Real Madrid's attacking and defensive details.
The draft paper gradually got soaked by rain.
All the hardships, all the struggles...
End of Chapter
