Chapter 50: Is this the improved Catenaccio?

Lewokusen possession.

Kiesslin returns the kick-off pass to Li Kang.

Rome players did not perform any pressing.

The positions of Pjanic and Džeko kept moving back.

Li Kang passed the ball to Son Heung-min.

Son Heung-min dribbled a few steps, lifted his head to observe briefly, then knocked the ball back to Hilbert making an overlapping run from the flank.

The ball began to be passed laterally back and forth on the pitch.

The speed of advancement was extremely slow.

In God's perspective.

Rome's formation was arranged into two 'chains'.

De Rossi, Nainggolan, Pjanic, and Kaita formed the first central defensive line.

The four defenders constituted the second defensive line.

Džeko, this top striker, was active at the forefront of the defensive line.

Salah kept wandering near the midfield circle.

They moved in neat, uniform runs as the ball's path changed.

Between every two Rome players, an extremely subtle distance was maintained.

"The match tempo is slow, but not boring!"

"Modern football has developed to this point; Simeone once led a period of discussion among European football about defensive layering!"

"Looking at Roma's formation, it has nothing to do with the term 'layering'!"

"Chain defense! Garcia is carrying forth this ancient tactic on today's Champions League stage!"

"Watch how their two defensive lines change!"

Brandt and Son Heung-min surged forward on both flanks.

Kiesslin again returned the ball to Li Kang.

In God's perspective!

Rome's formation's 'first chain' began to contract! The 'second chain' began to spread!

Player spacing and movement.

A clear change occurred!

Li Kang momentarily could not find any space to play a medium- to long-range forward pass.

He tried to dribble forward.

Džeko and Salah quickly came to interfere!

The not-yet-fully-developed Salah is nothing to fear.

But Džeko's 'forward-defender' ability is somewhat abnormal.

Li Kang decisively passed the ball to Boles, who had made an overlapping run from the right flank.

After receiving the ball, he began to surge forward frenetically!

Rome's formation did not descend into any chaos.

Salah turned back to chase.

The 'first chain' began to tilt!

Nainggolan and Kaita blocked the advancing lane of Lewokusen's full-back!

At the same time, they cut off his forward passing lane!

"There's no way; with Salah still behind him, Boles could only return the ball to the well-positioned Kramer."

"Roma relied on this tactical style last season to achieve decent results in Serie A!"

"Garcia preferred attacking football during his Ligue 1 coaching stint; after arriving at Roma, his coaching staff and players underwent a season of integration before crafting this retro defensive system."

Dragon Kingdom livestream room.

The barrage of comments gradually dwindled.

-【How boring! What kind of play is this? Lewokusen, launch a quick attack! Dragging your feet! Push forward!】

-【With this starting lineup, Rome can hold a 50-50 even against a cosmic team for a while these two seasons! Too cowardly!】

-【The nickname 'Luoxiao Ping' is not for nothing! Look at the positioning of the midfielders and defenders! It changes according to which Lewokusen player has the ball—alternating loose and tight, strangling Lewokusen's forward runs and through passes.】

-【Rome and Atlético Madrid's defending are two extremes: one emphasizes width positioning, the other emphasizes depth pressure; Rome is like using a non-stick pan for various screens, while Atlético is like wielding a cleaver to block a few moves then go berserk on you.】

-【I'm vomiting blood! Watching this match is just wasting time! Wasting life!】

The boredom didn't last long.

Minute 6 of the match.

Li Kang received Kramer's return pass in the forty-meter zone of Rome's half.

A strong orange-clad figure suddenly crashed in!

Naingolan!

Džeko had already fallen back to cover the midfield position, releasing this good boy who likes smoking, tattoos, and dyed hair!

A sturdy build.

A fierce appearance.

Invisibly.

This Rome midfielder exuded a wild boar-like aura!

He charged straight at Li Kang!

At the same time, he thrust his right foot toward the ball!

"The showdown between the Luoma tough guy and the Lewokusen genius!"

"Too fierce!"

"Lewokusen might lose this ball!"

Thud!

The advanced close-range audio pickup device transmitted a close-combat sound to the ears of the spectators in front of the TV!

Tuopu Laotou's expression was solemn.

Jiaxiya crossed his arms in front of his chest, relaxed, lightly rubbing his thumb and index finger, always ready for the team's counterattack!

Olympic Stadium.

Luoma fans also burst into deafening cheers!

Lewokusen fans couldn't help but start to worry:

Although Li Kang's physical confrontation ability is not bad!

But the opponent is a Nainggelan, one size stronger!

It's not surprising to overturn a weak little devil, but to overturn this European tough guy?

There was no expected overturning of people and horses!

Li Kang leaned back with his back!

His knees slightly bent!

He withstood the Luoma tough guy!

He forcefully pushed with the arch of his left foot!

The ball clung to the grass and instantly tore through Luoma's midfield defense!

"The first line of defense" broke!

The breakthrough was exactly the not-yet-positioned Zheke!

Sun Xingmin inserted into Luoma's 30-meter area!

After receiving the ball, he shook off Kaita!

Go wide!

On the right flank, he sprinted at high speed!

"Nice!"

"Really can't see how Li Kang withstood the Nainggelan who is one size bigger than himself?"

"Molata was bumped by the Luoma midfield last season and immediately called for the team doctor!"

Nainggelan smoothed his multicolored rooster head.

His gaze swept over Li Kang's feet.

Could this kid be balanced with both feet?

No wonder the speed of adjusting the center of gravity is so fast?

By the field.

Both head coaches had no mind to pay attention to the earlier confrontation!

Constantly directing their own players!

Sun Xingmin frantically advanced with the ball on the right flank!

Luoma's defensive formation quickly returned to its original state!

"The right end of the second line of defense" simultaneously pinched Sun Xingmin!

Just like a pair of pliers!

Want to control the Korean winger!

Fulunqi, Deluoxi, and Kaita's triple-team movement was extremely coordinated!

One goes wide.

One goes inside.

One directly slides in.

Jislin pulled the left flank!

Bulte switched to the central lane, raising his right hand high!

Sun Xingmin decisively chipped the ball!

At the moment the triple-team was completed!

He chipped the ball toward the edge of the penalty area!

"Nice!"

"Bulte!"

"One-on-one!"

"Huh?"

The assistant referee raised his flag!

The head referee blew the whistle.

Indicating Bulte was offside!

Sun Xingmin shook his head and gave Li Kang a thumbs-up.

Bulte wanted to argue with the assistant referee, but Jislin pulled him away.

Li Kang was stunned.

He had mastered all the information of the just‑started attacking stage from God's perspective.

Rome's defensive system.

Even harder to deal with than in the video.

No wonder they could achieve a record of nine consecutive draws.

By the pitch.

Tuopu Laotou gazed at the distant Rome head coach, angrily saying: "This guy is so disgusting and sneaky! Does he want to snag a draw at the Olympic Stadium?"

Dino scrutinized the well‑dressed Garcia, bewildered: "Boss, you mean the tactics, right?"