Chapter 368: The Attacking Shield (Daily Transition)

The referee crew and players have not yet entered the field.

Turin Allianz Stadium is already enveloped by cheerful BGM.

It is not the stirring Champions League anthem, but Juventus' team song.

One hundred twenty-six spotlights flash and move rhythmically, sometimes turning red, sometimes green, illuminating the black-and-white stands.

The sparkling Champions League flag at center stage has become a backdrop.

"Juve, streatlove!"

"White embraces black!"

Li Kang followed the procession onto the field.

The nearby clamor was instantly drowned out by mechanical, cold electronic synth.

【Ding, mission triggered: Black and White.】

【Mission briefing: Apennine moonlight, the twilight zebra, the indomitable black-and-white soul—who says a shield cannot attack? The all-conquering Gunners will sputter in the Alps' capital, and you cannot escape unscathed!】

【Mission reward: Del Piero "Zone" Module (Mysterious).】

【This module is one of the fragments of the legendary "Number Nine and a Half" module.】

Li Kang stared blankly.

Is the system narrator a fan of Chelsea, Bayern Munich, and Juventus? Only when interpreting encounters with these three teams does it use praising language.

Del Piero Zone?

Long obsolete and vanished, the Number Nine and a Half?

"Now let me introduce the starting lineups for both sides!"

"Juventus lines up in a 3-5-2 formation!"

"Goalkeeper: Buffon!"

"Defenders: Barzagli, Bonucci, Chiellini."

"Midfielders: Alves, Pjanic, Dybala, Khedira, Sandro!"

"Forwards: Higuain, Mandzukic."

"Juventus' starting XI averages 30 years and 296 days old, making it the second-oldest team in Champions League semifinal history! Only the 2006/07 AC Milan side is older."

Livestream chat.

-【Khedira's new girlfriend is gorgeous; the director really knows how to cut the camera.】

-【Which of Face Brother's girlfriends isn't pretty? Yet he actually dumped Lena Gercke... I don't get it.】

-【An iron lock across the river; watching Juventus' midfield and defense... I have no idea how Giroud and Morata will break through.】

-【Higuain is so fat—what has he been eating in Serie A? Plus he's gone bald; back at Real Madrid he was so handsome.】

-【My strongest impression of Higuain is his missed one-on-one in the 2014 World Cup final; his career has too many regrets.】

"Arsenal lines up in a 4-4-2 formation!"

"Goalkeeper: Cech."

"Defenders: Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal."

"Midfielders: Li Kang, Cazorla, Xhaka, Sanchez."

"Forwards: Giroud, Morata."

-【Go Li Mingdeng!】

-【What's going on? Wenger's 4-4-2 looks weird; these players' zodiac signs and Chinese zodiac animals give them little advantage against Buffon.】

-【Don't worry, the professor's opening setup may not work against those flashy Premier League "new bosses," but the edge against traditional giants remains huge—Allegri only has a few tricks up his sleeve.】

Accompanied by the referee's whistle.

The match officially began.

The cheers surged like a flood, inundating the entire Turin Allianz Stadium,

Juventus possession.

Higuain kicked off and passed the ball back to Pjanic.

The Zebras' wings did not rush forward, but held their shape, advancing steadily.

"The pressing pressure from Morata, Giroud, and Sanchez does nothing."

"Every Juventus midfielder and defender possesses top-tier ball-playing ability... except Barzagli."

"Huh? After advancing into the forty-meter zone, their formation shifted slightly."

"Mandzukic was pulled to the left flank, while Sandro pushed forward into the central channel."

"Nice! Pjanic surged forward, received the ball, and instantly launched a long pass!"

"Among the young generation of players in the top five leagues, Kroos, Li Kang, De Bruyne, Pjanic, and Calhanoglu are jokingly called by fans: the Midfield Five Absolutes!"

"The five players with the most distinctive passing traits."

The evolution of club tactics is brutal; entering 2017, in the top five leagues... the deep-lying playmaker is also gradually being phased out by the times.

This also makes Pjanic increasingly convinced that he is not Pirlo's successor.

In his first season at Juventus, he gradually evolved into 'the fastest‑processing ball‑handler among off‑the‑ball midfielders,' but Allegri believes he must be placed deeper, forming with Bonucci the dual ball‑playing core of the midfield‑defense.

He is also surrounded by good teammates ahead and behind who can cover his backside, used to hide his shortcomings.

Fortunately, the players' and head coach's thinking are not at odds.

Thus.

The frail Pjanic became the player who covered the most distance for the team.

"Bellerin's defensive positioning is lovely, preventing Mandzukic from turning after receiving the ball!"

"Oh no! I can't hold up!"

Man Zhujiqi has two different playing styles in the national team and the club.

When he plays in league and Champions League, his aggressiveness is very strong and he is more all‑on, simply the opposite of the "national-team version" Pogba—two opposite examples.

Bei Lailin is having a tough time; he intended to limit the Croatian forward's turn, but didn't expect the opponent to lift his butt and twist, leaving him unable to hold up!

Man Zhujiqi does not hold the ball.

Sang Duoluo and He Dilila simultaneously rush into the penalty area, serving as a focal point.

What about Yin Guayan?

This center forward, the little fatty, is still standing outside the penalty area, keeping Koscielny in check.

At the same time.

Di Ba La also surged into the right side of the penalty area.

Juventus stretched the attacking width very long, and the functions of all midfield‑forward players became increasingly vague.

"Who says a shield can't attack!"

"Hey? Why isn't Man Zhujiqi passing? He paused and chose to dribble himself?"

He really couldn't pass it out.

Wen Ge's initial setup is best at playing traditional powerhouses without fancy tricks.

Arsenal's back line was crushed by Juventus, one Bei Lailin was contained, one Koscielny was restrained, but the midfielders' defensive positioning was too timely; we also need to add an old ox Giroud, who drops back into the penalty area, becoming an aerial fortress!

Compressing the opponent's attacking layers.

Pa!

Man Zhujiqi still adjusted the angle and delivered a low, flat cross!

"Look at this chance!"

"Oh dear!"

Another pa sound.

The ball bounced off Li Kang's shin and deflected into the penalty area.

Zha Ka had been waiting a while, hoping to win the ball and launch a counterattack.

But he was a step late; someone was faster in explosive speed and more accurate in judging the landing point.

A discarded Barça player.

A Er Wei Si.

After leaving Nuo Kan Pu, although he liked to form factions and cause trouble in the locker room, his professional level was undeniable; after joining Juventus, he was meek in league matches but his Champions League fighting power exploded.

Ignoring Zha Ka's interference, he swung his thigh!

The ball again swerved into the left side of the penalty area!

"Are we looking for Man Zhujiqi's spot again?"

"Bei Lailin has adjusted! Tight‑marking... oh dear, he's been overwhelmed again!"

"Have to say, Man Zhujiqi playing left wing is remarkably effective!"

"Look at this ball!"

Man Zhujiqi decided to do it himself.

After easily shaking off Bei Lailin, he stayed by the baseline and fired a right‑footed shot!

Too bad.

This zero‑angle shot was easily saved by Qie He with a lateral dive!

"How close!"

"Who says a shield can't attack!"

"Juventus showed suppressing power on the left flank at the start!"

On the sidelines.

Wen Ge was full of confidence.

Hmm, facing such traditional powerhouses, there's no need for Li Lai to rack his brains; Juventus's this kind of reciprocal misplacement attack can't be sustained for long.

The other side.

A Lai Ge Li frowned, his features twisted into an embarrassed expression.

If the first half doesn't crush Arsenal, then in the second half Juventus, at a physical disadvantage... the consequences will be serious.