Chapter 485: Wings (Daily Transition)

"Good evening, friends and viewers, welcome back."

"The live broadcast now is the second half of the match between Ma Jing and Qieerxi."

"Looking at the data from the first half, the two teams' dense attack-defense transitions actually produced no confusion at all, which is truly astonishing."

"Which side will end the suspense next? Let's wait and see."

"The commentator's words have not yet finished."

"Qieerxi, which had gained the kickoff, had already launched a fierce attack."

"Li Kang, in the forty-meter area, received a pass with his back to goal from Heshuige."

"He did not kick the ball out with one foot."

"The shadow in his mind spread wildly."

"Facing simultaneous pressure from Jiabi, Sawer, and Keke."

"The Blue Team's number 10 repeatedly stepped with his left foot, adjusted his body weight and inclination, and then suddenly made a half-turn spin."

"Can't stop it!"

"Ma Jing's concentrated numbers pressing the midfield left a huge gap on the flanks!"

"Li Kang seems to have a third eye!"

"An inswinging long pass found Asipilikuitta, who had a lot of space!"

"This season, Ma Jing conceded nearly 53% of its open-play goals from wide crosses."

"Although the total number of open-play goals conceded is not high."

"However, Asipilikuitta's nickname is 'crossing maniac'."

"Ma Jing's defensive line quickly contracted."

"Fuersalike and Feilipei each guarded the diagonal of the penalty area."

"Geding closely marked Molata."

"Ximmenisi tightly followed Moxi as he crossed into midfield."

"The defensive positioning was skewed toward a rectangular shape."

"This allowed Keke, Sawer, and Jiabi sufficient time to catch their breath and get into position."

"Ma Jing's forwards did not track back deeply, staying close to the Blue Team's attacking second point."

"The close-up shot showed the foot lifting upward."

"Asipilikuitta is about to kick the ball!"

"No!"

"Smack!"

"There was no expected spin arc."

"The Blue Team's defender in the thirty-meter area passed the ball sideways to midfield."

"Li Kang's body surged forward to meet the ball."

"Gelieziman pulled and tugged."

"Couldn't hold onto the pull."

"Couldn't hold onto the tug."

"Bang!"

"A booming sound echoed through the night sky."

"The football howled as it roared toward Ma Jing's goal!"

"Forceful and domineering."

"Irresistible, like splitting bamboo."

"The defensive line collapsed instantly!"

"Ma Jing's fans were shocked in their hearts."

"Buergesi couldn't open his eyes from the scorching heat of the intense 'detector'."

"Aubulake moved early again."

"The speed of the action almost synchronized with Li Kang's long-range shot."

"The red glove clenched into a fist."

"While extending a sideways dive, he punched toward the dark shadow in his vision."

"Bang!"

"The football flew out of bounds like a broken kite."

"Wow!!!"

"Excellent!"

"Europe's third goalkeeper able to block Li Kang's heavy cannon with a fist!"

"The Wanda Metropolitan Stadium witnessed a legendary moment that left everyone in awe!"

"The ultimate showdown between Shiyizhong and Shiyimen!"

"The livestream room."

"Bullet comments flew across the screen."

"【Awesome.】"

"【Finally exerted force in this time period, Qieerxi, fifteen-minute king!】"

"【Ma Jing is really tough!】"

"【The match between Ma Jing and Qieerxi: possession rate is not possession data, but the distribution of physical energy at different time points!】"

【How could it be that mysterious? But I'm really worried that Atlético Madrid's stamina will collapse; this season is too awful, with widespread injuries.】

Chelsea fans looked utterly incredulous.

Atlético Madrid fans cheered and jumped for joy.

At the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, applause thundered for a moment.

Li Kang staggered a few steps.

Even with titanium alloy protection, the crotch still felt slightly uncomfortable.

He rubbed his inner thigh and gave Azpilicueta a thumbs-up.

Faintly.

In his vision, a golden phantom of the blue-and-white number 10 appeared.

The blurry phantom exuded a combative fervor, almost mad.

Maradona?

Griezmann lay painfully on the turf, his gaze toward Li Kang as if looking at a monster.

In the distance.

Oblak's expression was normal, his demeanor relaxed, but his right arm couldn't stop trembling slightly.

On the sidelines.

Simeone tugged at his waistband, turned to face the stands, and excitedly raised both hands, signaling the home fans to make their noise even louder.

Burgos took off the overheated "detector" and threw it hard onto the grass.

While rubbing his eyes, he muttered: 'I fucking saw two monsters.'

He didn't indulge in imagination for too long.

He quickly made exaggerated adjustment gestures to the players.

On the other side.

Dino glanced sideways twice, his tone grave.

"Boss, Atlético Madrid will not focus on counterattacks."

Tuchel nodded.

"Don't panic, Simeone's tactical evolution has missed the batch of players with the highest fit."

Chelsea's head coach deployed conservatively in this match.

He did not let Hazard, Pedro, William, etc., the attacking blades, start; instead he relied on the 'combined engineer midfield' water boy and Moses, engaging in a melee with Atlético's midfield.

The Red-White squad, restricted by the transfer ban, could not complete the old‑new turnover at the optimal time.

The Champions League quarter‑finals, the hard‑won healthy lineup, is more like a 'brief revival before death'.

The most dangerous, yet also the weakest threat, a spent force.

There is a kind of regret in life: meeting the right person at the wrong time.

Simeone's tactical evolution is exactly like that.

In the 2017/18 season, he perfected the Red-White squad's autonomous attacking design.

Unfortunately, the old are old, the injured are injured.

Atlético Madrid's regret is: a 'weak and injured' healthy lineup met a perfect autonomous attacking deployment.

Marcos threw in the ball from the touchline.

This time he failed.

Godín defeated Morata, took control of the ball, and passed it back to goalkeeper Oblak.

"Chelsea's overall defensive recovery speed is very fast."

"Not giving Atlético Madrid a chance to complete the transition of counterattack."

"Hmm, this rhythm?"

"The 442 magazine mentioned Cholo-taka!!!"

Oblak passed the ball to Giménez.

He is only 23 this year; last season he was thrust into a key role in crucial matches, but due to his inexperience he repeatedly made mistakes; now he is growing strongly, especially in mental warfare.

He will ask the opposing forward he's marking what he ate today, how many people are in his family, what car he drives, the color of his club's flag, who his idol is, and after the opponent answers, he will ask again.

Atlético Madrid's formation in the autonomous attacking phase became 3-5-2.

Giménez passed the ball to Felipe.

"Luis Felipe, 33, who has broken his leg twice."

"In this era, the Western super giants have produced several full‑backs capable of carrying a team on their own!"

"Widen the attacking width."

"Go inside."

"Prevent Chelsea from cutting off the flank‑midfield link as they did in the first half."

"The essence of Cholo-taka: against the C‑shaped triangular defense, they locally form a triangular passing and receiving position."

"Felipe charges forward all the way, always having two passing options."

"No."

"It's three, plus the trailing Griezmann."

"Start the wall‑pass."

Atlético Madrid's advancing speed is not fast.

Consecutive wall‑passes.

As the central hub, Griezmann is slow.

He is more often in a back-to-goal position, becoming the fourth point, and making a return pass split.

Back to goal,

Half-turn.

Back to goal again.

It must be said, as long as he remains within Atlético's system, he is the most complete "fourth man in the world" of his era.

Water Brother and Moses are very passive.

They repeatedly tried to suppress the physically weak Griezmann.

The result was always that the little guy skillfully caught the ball, half-turned, made a diagonal run, and cleverly evaded.

Can the little guy also face away from goal?

"Saúl reached the front line."

"Advancing forward, pulling back, inward full-back!"

"So pleasing to the eye! A kind of slow and smooth beauty!"

"Who says Atlético's autonomous attack is ugly!"

Li Kang's God's perspective had already entered a high-speed operating state.

Countless red lines spread wildly across the grid.

Kreiss triangle.

"The timing for the slow and perfect fourth point's reception."

The constantly switching role of the fourth point.

Li Kang quickly assisted his teammates defensively.

The golden phantom of the number 14 in orange gathered with the wind.

Young Cruyff, looking ahead at Cholo-taka, showed disdain.

"The ball has again come to Felipe's feet."

"Griezmann is currently lurking between Chelsea's two lines."

"It got past."

"The wide Carrasco makes another return pass."

"Another miss by Griezmann."

"A beautiful triangle cut"

"The fourth point is out again!"

"Koke."

At this moment, Chelsea's midfield line and defensive line have already overlapped.

Little Fat Koke is unhurried.

He is like an assassin detached from the battle.

Suddenly entering the field, he creates a killing opportunity.

He meets the ball and pushes it.

The ball sticks to the grass, piercing the blue army's defense line pulled open by Cholo-taka.

Griezmann has already turned and made a forward run, charging into the penalty area.

The fourth point's role switches again!

Wanda Metropolitano Stadium instantly erupts!

Saúl covers the back post.

Atlético's forward players' positioning seems to have clamped Chelsea's goalkeeper—Buffon!

Bang!

Griezmann forcefully pushes the ball, somewhere between a pass and a shot.

Buffon reacts quickly.

He goes to ground.

His pink glove hooks the ball.

Bitello, attempting a follow-up shot, crashes heavily into the net.

"How thrilling!"

"Buffon's experience is rich, his positioning is too reasonable."

"Griezmann didn't control the power of this shot well."

"Is he intending to pass or to shoot?"

Griezmann frowns and scratches his head.

Simeone helplessly shakes his head, making a double-handed downward pressing gesture to his disciples.

Stamina.

This historical period's Cholo-taka places a heavy burden on players' stamina.

Its current meaning may be: because its completion level is too low, it has not yet become a research topic for coaching staffs of all clubs.

Dino's eyes blazed as he frantically took notes in his little notebook.

"The previous sample size was too small; I finally saw the details of Atlético's changes in the autonomous attacking phase in this match."

Tuchel couldn't hold back and took off his peaked cap.

Pretentiousness is too uncomfortable.

He is now a little panicked.

Li Kang shook his head a bit.

God's perspective stopped deconstructing.

He won't be as fixated on breaking the deadlock as before.

Because of the Atlético Madrid before him, another football paradox has arisen.

The eternal 4-4-2 formation, Cholo-taka, and the current players' style are completely incompatible.

The final link of the attacking chain is still a common routine.

The livestream.

The big screen replayed the entire attacking process.

【Is a goal about to happen? Both sides missed excellent scoring chances!】

【No, their taka actually has suitable players, while Atlético's this Cholo is still in its embryonic stage, just hatched.】

【When luck strikes and they put together a complete attacking chain, three teammates work themselves to death locally, while the fourth point just strolls; why is it slow? If it speeds up, it will affect the stability of passing and receiving.】

【What are you talking about? Is there still hope for the big ball?】

【No hope, still the same old saying: Atlético's possession rate is low; they're not controlling the ball, but their stamina.】

The match resumed.

Time passed.

The situation became increasingly intense.

Atlético failed to produce a perfect Cholo-taka again.

Li Kang is always able to restrain the "fourth point role" in various situations.

It's not that this system doesn't work; rather, the current squad's players don't fit it, and the eternal 4-4-2 formation fits even less.

The current bedsheet army cannot fully unleash the advantage of the "fourth point role."

Correspondingly, the stamina of Atlético's veterans cannot support high-intensity shuttling runs.

Stamina declined.

Many times they can only stop attacks by fouling.

He Shui Ge and Mo Xi's effects became apparent.

Two tough, sandbag-type midfielders grew braver as the battle wore on.

Chelsea's front repeatedly earned free-kick opportunities, and the chances they created were all neutralized one by one by the godlike Oblak.

Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.

The chants of Atlético Madrid's fans echoed through the night sky.

"AupaAtleti!!!"

The bedsheet army's fan culture is very unique.

Juanfran was the "sinner" who missed the penalty kick in the 15/16 UEFA Champions League final; after the match, he did not become the target of Atlético fans' criticism, but instead became a hero, with jersey sales skyrocketing twentyfold.

Minute 88 of the match.

Atlético's defense completed an interception.

The ball was given to Koke.

Griezmann made a lateral run, while captain Gabi pushed forward to provide support.

Three points formed.

The ball was passed between the red-and-white striped jerseys.

What about the fourth point?

Saúl was blocked in position by Li Kang.

Kanté easily tackled the ball away from Griezmann's feet.

It's Water Brother again.

He kicked it powerfully forward!

Or look for Azpilicueta.

"How slow is Atlético's defensive recovery positioning this time?"

"Godín and Gabi are tired."

"Felipe is also tired."

"Morata is making a high-speed forward run!"

"Li Kang is faster, he ran to the rear point of the penalty area!"

"Atlético's midfield lacks speedy players!"

"Azpilicueta, what are you waiting for?"

Thud!

The blue army's full-back's foot finally gave a true upward lift.

The ball kicked up turf and rose off the ground.

It spun violently in midair, lofted toward Atlético's penalty area.

Morata, while moving, judged the ball's trajectory and unconsciously placed his hands on Giménez's chest.

When the two anticipated the landing point,

the ball had already entered its descending state.

Instantly, the gazes of over sixty thousand spectators in the stadium converged on Chelsea's number 10.

In Li Kang's vision, two golden apparitions simultaneously appeared.

The number 14 in orange.

Blue-white No. 10.

Cruyff, Maradona.

The next moment.

He made an astonishing move.

Simeone gaped.

Tuchel looked bewildered.

Li Kang had his back to the goal.

He kicked hard at the turf with both feet.

He leapt high.

His posture stretched out.

Sky-Shattering Echo.

Inverted golden hook.

Godín and Gabi felt despair welling up; they were just a hair's breadth away from stopping the birth of a legendary moment.

They stared wide-eyed at the black-haired figure in midair, like an eagle spreading its wings.

Oblak stared: that kid seemed to be glowing.

Bang!

Supreme ball sense.

Inverted hook heavy cannon!

The ball in Atlético Madrid's penalty area traced a 'V' trajectory.

Diagonal spin.

Bounced off the ground.

Oblak was slow.

Even bearing the title of the world's number one goalkeeper, it could not stop this ball, a crystal filled with consciousness, inspiration, imagination, and flexibility!

0:1!!!

The sheet legion's net was lifted high.

Despairing sighs echoed over Madrid's skies.

On the 21 districts and 1100 zebra crossings of Spain's capital, verses of all kinds were written.

The 60,000 spectators present almost simultaneously recalled one of those lines.

"Your wings pull my soul."

"Wow! The ball went in!"

"A great moment!"

"Brilliant beyond compare!"

"A world-famous painting!"

"He seems to have grown a pair of wings!"

"Unbelievable hang time, inconceivable flexibility, and heart‑shaking ball‑control precision"

"Inverted hook heavy cannon!"

"The helmsman of the bullfighter fleet ultimately drew his sword against his own people."

Live broadcast room.

The danmaku fell silent for one second, then surged like a violent storm across the big screen.

【Will it be a clincher?】

【So handsome!】

【Off the charts!】

【Li Mingdeng is awesome!】

【I would call him the strongest!】

【It feels like watching a sci‑fi movie—why doesn't he go compete in pole vault?】

【Finally broke the egg, a lifelong fan!】

【Atlético Madrid's veterans are out of steam, and many players are still injured.】

【Who said that? If Li Mingdeng had stopped the ball, adjusted, and then shot, Godín and Gabi would have tackled him.】

Li Kang lay on the turf.

Morata was the first to rush over.

Then came Moses, Azpilicueta, and the water‑drinking brother.

The blue team's players piled up a high Arhat in Atlético Madrid's penalty area.

Buffon really wanted to go.

However, according to the rules, one person must stay in our own half.

The Italian goalkeeper could only lie lonely on the turf, celebrating in sync.

The Chelsea fans accompanying the troops were not large in number, but full of strength.

"Lee!!!"

"Carefree!!!"

The voice was quickly drowned out.

The Atlético Madrid fans, who had the numerical advantage, cheered on the lagging sheet legion.

Oblak picked up the ball and threw it to Gabi.

The Atlético Madrid captain ran toward the center circle while loudly encouraging teammates.

On the sideline.

Burgos angrily broke the detector: "What the hell is this thing good for?!"

Simeone struggled to stay calm.

He showed no sign of despair.

There was still a chance.

He was only behind by one goal.

In a two-legged tie, anything is possible.

On the other side.

Dino put away his little notebook.

"Boss, some things are beyond the scope of tactics."

Tuchel wholeheartedly agreed: "Let tactical ideals go to hell!"

The fourth official held up the LED board: 3 minutes of injury time.

Time left for the sheet army was running out.

They did not give up.

Seize the last two attacking opportunities—let any Cholo get out of the way.

Launch high balls into the box!

Godín and Giménez, the two center backs, took turns becoming the focal point of the attack!

Buffon wasn't panicking at all.

He calmly directed the defensive line.

One time he intercepted the ball early.

One time he blocked Saúl's close-range push shot.

Fans of both sides were agonizing.

One side wished time would go faster.

The other side wished time would go slower.

Finally.

Beep! Beep-beep~

When the head referee blew the whistle signaling the end of the match,

Only then could all emotions be released through a smooth breath.

The match ended.

Atlético Madrid 0–1 Chelsea.