Chapter 370

The main locker room renovation style at Turin Allianz Stadium is very avant-garde.

The players felt as if they had returned to a spaceship.

Regardless of the score, Alves always relaxes his mind and body with music and samba dance during halftime.

He hasn't started swaying yet.

The music stopped abruptly.

Bonucci turned off the sound system and said, "We are behind."

"You don't need to remind me; I've won three big-ear cups at Barcelona!"

Alves was a bit annoyed; being interrupted just as he was entering a relaxed state felt awful.

Seeing the conflict about to escalate, Chiellini and Buffon hurried to pull them apart.

Pap pap pap!

Allegri clapped his hands and tapped the tactical board.

He wouldn't get too close to the players, nor did he care how the conflict arose.

As if nothing had happened, he began adjusting tactics for the second half.

Arsenal locker room.

After Boerde finished reviewing the first-half tactical details, he immediately gave the players chicken soup.

"We have endured hardships all the way to reach the semifinal stage."

"We absolutely cannot let up!"

"Arsenal is on the road to the championship, with glory and dreams awaiting us ahead!"

Welbeck, Xhaka, Sanchez, and others felt their spirits soar.

Cech earnestly wrapped his fingers with a specially made finger bandage, which is also one of the basic elements of his famed "one-handed cannon catch" technique.

In the corner.

Wenger adjusted Li Kang's collar and patiently said, "No matter what tactical changes Allegri makes, he cannot escape the traditional framework of Italian football; his tactical support still relies on the back line."

"Against Italian tradition, no matter how they change, we don't need to study how to break through; we just need to play our own game well."

Li Kang nodded seriously.

The officiating crew led both teams back onto the green field.

At Turin Allianz Stadium, fans from both sides quickly entered a viewing state.

Noise rose everywhere.

"Good evening, viewers, welcome back."

"We are now broadcasting live the Champions League semifinal, Juventus hosting Arsenal, with the temporary score 0:1!"

"Both sides have not made any substitution adjustments for now."

"What changes will occur in the second half? Let's wait and see!"

Beep!

Accompanied by a whistle blast.

The second half officially began.

Arsenal in possession.

Giroud kicked off and passed the ball back to Li Kang.

The midfield-forward zones of both formations gradually overlapped.

Mandzukic has a strong desire to win, actively pressing aggressively on the field, sprinting wildly.

Higuain looks much fatter.

His learning ability is strong; he started as a side midfielder, then after moving to La Liga he switched to winger, then evolved into a poacher-type forward, gradually developing into an all-around center forward.

Unfortunately, he suffered a serious injury in the 2010-11 season, causing lasting damage to his lumbar disc, his ball ability plummeted, so he had to gain weight and transform.

During his Napoli period, he was constantly fed by the deadly trio, producing a record-breaking Serie A golden boot and becoming a super striker.

After joining Juventus, he worked diligently, no longer pursuing personal stats, taking on the important role of tactical focal point, laboring without complaint.

Time passed.

Arsenal did not push forward aggressively; Li Kang, Cazorla, and the dropping-back Morata formed a triangular passing hub.

The three Spanish national team teammates had excellent chemistry, most of the time able to neutralize Juventus' midfield clampdown.

There were also times when they could not resolve it.

Match minute 55.

"Morata is too versatile, his feet are very agile, he withdrew from the front line, that is... huh?"

"The ball is lost!"

Chiellini rushed from the back, switched again to a "false defensive midfielder" form, and helped Khedira complete a tackle!

The ball turned instantly and was slipped to the forward Mandžukić.

At the same time.

Arsenal's midfield defensive line quickly fell back.

"The Zebras' counterattack!"

"Here it comes!"

"..."

"Too bad, it's too slow!"

"No impact!"

"This ball is going to be lost."

Juventus' attacking front line lacks a fast horse.

They couldn't instantly break through the zone between Arsenal's two lines.

The high defensive line formed by Maguire, Mertesacker, and Koscielny easily overlapped with the midfielders, successfully compressing Juventus' central counterattack space.

Mandzukic had to take the ball out to the wing...

Finally, Xhaka and Maguire jointly won the ball.

The Zebra Army's fans couldn't help but sigh.

In the commentator's box, Del Piero frowned, his brows unmoved.

He suddenly recalled his younger days: Wenger was simply a nightmare for Serie A sides. After Arsenal lost to Fiorentina in the 99–00 season, they went on to eliminate Lazio, Inter, AC Milan, and Roma in the Champions League over the following years.

Juventus?

Even worse.

Eliminated twice by the Gunners.

"Wenger's halftime adjustment is obvious—using the one‑goal lead to keep the ball in our half, yet the defensive line didn't push past midfield, deliberately leaving the space between the lines…"

"Juventus lacks an effective counter‑attack threat on the pitch; if they fall into Arsenal's trap, the players' stamina will be drained—Wenger, the toughest foe of Italian football!"

"Allegri must act quickly to adjust!"

Why does Serie A hardly produce wingers, yet become the birthplace of the number‑9‑and‑a‑half?

The presence of Maradona and Platini pointed to a development direction.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Baggio's fame began to rise.

Afterward, Signori, the elder Chiesa, Totti, Di Vaio, Miccoli, Del Piero and other youngsters followed in succession.

They poured all their attribute points into passing, ball control, and shooting.

The main reason remains the tactical environment.

One view holds that the number‑9‑and‑a‑half position was forced into existence by Italian defenses.

The era is evolving.

Capello raised the banner of the anti‑number‑9‑and‑a‑half.

While coaching Milan's youth team, he produced the first defender‑turned‑midfielder, Albertini.

Next came Ancelotti.

Young Ancelotti thought: "Future football doesn't need a number‑9‑and‑a‑half."

While coaching Parma, he dismissed Zola and later turned down Baggio.

In his early days as Milan's head coach, he regretted: "My idea was ahead of its time."

Minute 68 of the match.

Arsenal took the fight into Juventus' half, reaching the 30‑meter zone.

In Li Kang's vision, the phantom of the blue‑black No. 10 grew ever clearer.

"Cazorla's long‑range switch."

"Monreal received the ball near the left by‑line… couldn't get past Barzagli, so he had to quickly pass it out."

"Eh?"

"Look, at this moment Li Kang lies in the gap between Juventus's 4‑4 lines, detached from midfield, behind Giroud and Morata…"

Monreal, having no choice, passed the ball back.

Xhaka stepped up to support, after a brief look abandoned the long‑shot idea, and before Alves could intervene, he laid the ball off to the center.

Cazorla suddenly surged forward and struck the ball.

The ball, like a scalpel, sliced through the Pjanic–Khedira midfield barrier.

"Danger!"

Li Kang was then at the edge of the box, as Bonucci rushed in to close him down.

The phantom of the blue‑black Baggio lifted his left foot.

The player and the phantom moved as one.

The ball seemed to be magnet‑stuck to the instep of Arsenal's No. 10.

Meanwhile,

Giroud and Morata began crossing runs, holding back the remnants of Juventus' defense.

Bonucci reacted quickly.

Although he focused most of his skill points on passing, his defensive interception was also of European top quality.

At the moment he stretched his leg,

The ball seemed to come alive, threading through his legs.

Li Kang also completed his turn.

"Elegant!"

"Flowing like clouds and water!"

"Naturally perfect!"

"Around him it seemed there were no defenders; every move looked as if performed without interference!"

"He broke through!"

"Straight at Buffon!"

"The shooting angle is minuscule; Chiellini's block was perfectly timed!"

Bang!

The blue‑black Baggio phantom faded.

Li Kang shuffled his left foot.

The ball lifted off the ground, drawing a beautiful arc toward the Juventus goal.

Buffon felt that all of this was too familiar, as if he had returned to his youth, facing that wizard with a braid!

He leapt up, the blue glove barely touching the ball.

Accompanied by a sky-filling exclamation of astonishment.

The ball flew over the end line.

"Oh dear."

"What a pity!"

"If Li Kang scores this shot, it will put Juventus in a desperate situation!"

"Buffon's splendid save."

"Arsenal's corner kick opportunity."

Buffon patted Li Kang's shoulder, his heart still racing.

Too similar.

His breakthrough match at 17 in Serie A was when he shut down the red-black Baggio and Weah.

Fortunately.

During his Inter Milan period, Baggio could only threaten him with world-class strikes and low-driven shots.

Still too familiar.

Buffon could guess all the ways Baggio shoots from close range even with his eyes closed.

On the sidelines.

Wenger and Boerde applauded loudly.

The other side.

Allegri leaned on Cuadrado's shoulder, constantly whispering.

The commentary booth.

Piero gazed at the replay on the LED screen high above, his thoughts drifting away...

"Juventus made the first substitution."

"Cuadrado replaced Mandzukic!"

"This Colombian star's nickname is Baoqiang."

"Looking at his appearance... there is some resemblance."

Mandzukic didn't slowly jog to the center circle to shake hands with his replacement; after all, the team was trailing by a goal, so he walked straight off the pitch.

A round of warm applause rose from the stands all around.

Most Juventus fans are very good.

They are patient with their players; for example, Morata when he first arrived in Turin repeatedly wasted golden chances but was not criticized.

The match resumed.

Cazorla took the corner kick.

The ball fell straight into the penalty area.

Morata and Giroud leapt together, but could not overcome Buffon's blue glove.

"Juventus' defensive line and goalkeeper have gelled too well."

"Especially in defending aerial balls, the assignments are clear! No chance given to Arsenal's 'double ghosts' striking at the goal."

"Wenger made a gesture at this moment, likely considering the impact of Bao... Cuadrado in the counterattack phase."

"Cuadrado's straight-line speed is not as good as 37-year-old Barzagli's, but with the ball he is still fast; Arsenal must be careful!"

Pjanic was somewhat helpless.

When he received Buffon's pass, he saw Arsenal's entire team retreat and adopt a low defensive stance...

What was the meaning of taking off Mandzukic?

Arsenal is too good at playing with the wind, huh?

What happened to the promised beautiful football!

Juventus quickly regained the attacking pressure from the first half.

The ball was again passed to the left flank.

Cuadrado began to accelerate after receiving the ball.

His footwork is very delicate, his movement ethereal; during his time at Fiorentina he liked to dive.

He is practically the nemesis of central defenders like Maguire who rely on strength.

But Maguire is no longer on the left flank now! He swapped positions with Koscielny to mark the chubby Higuain.

A moment later.

The Allianz Stadium in Turin gradually grew quiet.

Cuadrado gained no advantage against Koscielny.

Even the chance to kick and pass was hard to come by.

Purely a matter of stylistic restraint.

Time ticked by second by second.

Juventus had no way against Arsenal's stubborn low defensive stance.

Higuain is 16 cm shorter than Mertesacker and 10 cm shorter than Maguire, giving him no advantage in aerial duels.

Li Kang roved before the defense, repeatedly disrupting Juventus' artillery supply.

Pjanic and Khedira took long shots with both feet, either flying towards the stands or easily gathered into Cech's arms.

In the dying moments of the match.

Juventus' heavenly defensive line also pushed forward into the attacking third.

Especially Bonucci, whose nickname is Bo Qianfeng.

Still couldn't change the score.

When facing Serie A teams, Wenger always gives up the idea of beautiful football.

Finally.

Beep! Beep-beep~

The referee blew the whistle signalling the end of the match.

Juventus 0:1 Arsenal.