Chapter 298: La Liga debut
On August 28, 2006, at 8 p.m. local time in Spain, the opening match of La Liga was about to kick off at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, with Real Madrid facing Villarreal.
Coach Schuster continued with the 4-4-2 formation used in the first warm-up match. With Raul leading the attack alongside Wang Feng, the only weakness was in defense, with Carlos being considered too old. The club's management hoped to find suitable reinforcements during the winter transfer window.
Villarreal had suffered losses against Wang Feng in the Champions League, so they placed special emphasis on defending against him. Defenders Gonzalez, Alvarez, and center-back Josico collaborated to mark him.
Shortly after the start of the match, Wang Feng was closely marked. In the 6th minute, Josico received the first yellow card of the match, and also the first yellow card of the new La Liga season, for a fierce tackle.
Wang Feng took a free-kick in the opponent's half, lofting the ball into the penalty area, but Raul failed to beat Villarreal defender Aruabarrena to it, and the ball was cleared.
Despite facing defensive pressure, Wang Feng remained active on the flanks, frequently creating crosses. However, Real Madrid's aerial ability was weak, and his teammates failed to capitalize on the chances.
After creating numerous opportunities without scoring, Wang Feng decided to change his approach. Instead of sticking to crosses from the flanks, he opted for a different strategy. When Real Madrid launched another attack, Raul passed the ball back to Emerson, who noticed an open space for Reyes on the wing. Meanwhile, Wang Feng positioned himself near the edge of the penalty area, ready to make a run into the box. However, there were many defenders around him.
Instead of passing to the wing as Villarreal's defense expected, Wang Feng played a through ball directly, piercing through the dense defensive line like a sharp knife. Timing his run perfectly, Wang Feng sprinted ahead and received the ball just before the penalty spot, calmly chipping the ball over the goalkeeper's head with his left foot, and into the net.
"Gooooooooooooooooooal!! The ball is in! In the 16th minute, Wang Feng opens the scoring for Real Madrid!"
"This is the first goal scored by a Chinese superstar representing Real Madrid in La Liga. Although we all knew that Wang Feng scoring was just a matter of time, we didn't expect it to come so soon!"
"I am honored to inform you all that this goal is also the first goal of the new La Liga season. None of the other nine matches that started simultaneously have seen a goal yet!"
After scoring his first goal, Wang Feng sprinted to the corner flag, pointing to the sky in celebration, while passionate Real Madrid fans continuously chanted his name, resonating throughout the Bernabeu in strange Chinese pronunciation.
His teammates soon surrounded him, with Raul expressing heartfelt admiration: "With you here, I feel much more relieved. No need to worry about goal drought anymore!"
Conceding early unsettled the Villarreal players slightly. Soon after, Villarreal had another chance, but Riquelme's shot was saved by Casillas, who then sent a long ball to the midfield.
Before the Villarreal defenders could fully regroup, Wang Feng had already received the ball and was charging towards the penalty area!
Goalkeeper Bieira could only choose to confront Wang Feng head-on. He silently calculated in his mind that as long as he tackled the ball in time, he could block it outside the penalty area, even if it meant fouling and receiving a card.
But Wang Feng wouldn't engage in a physical battle. With a swift move, he deftly dribbled past Bieira with his right foot, effortlessly evading the goalkeeper's plan. He then caught up to the ball and calmly slotted it into the empty net with a low-angle shot.
Defender Aruabarrena desperately tried to block the ball, but he was a step too slow, and the ball slipped into the net along with him.
2-0! Wang Feng scored his second goal!
At halftime, Real Madrid maintained their two-goal lead. In the 61st minute, Diarra lofted the ball into the penalty area from the front, and Wang Feng, on the left side of the goal, outmuscled defender Alvarez, turned sideways, and volleyed the ball directly into the net.
The ball smashed into the turf in front of the goal, then bounced rapidly into the net. Because of this deflection, Bieira's attempt to save became futile.
"Goooooooooooal!! Wang Feng completes a hat-trick!! He scores three goals in the first round of La Liga. My God, does he not need an adjustment period?"
"Diarra's pass was very precise, finding Wang Feng directly. As Raul was also waiting for his chance in the penalty area, there was a slight gap in Villarreal's defense against Wang Feng, and they couldn't double-team him."
"It's terrifying. Wang Feng, like a fierce beast, pinned down Alvarez relentlessly. The poor Spanish defender will have nightmares tonight. He tried his best to stop him, but still let Wang Feng make a fatal blow."
As one of Spain's top clubs, Real Madrid's first-round match of the new season attracted many dignitaries from politics and business, such as Madrid city officials, members of the Spanish royal family, and the deputy CEO of ZARA, among others.
In addition, many celebrities also made appearances. Real Madrid has the highest percentage of celebrity fans among all clubs in the world. Celebrities like Tom Cruise, Penelope Cruz, and Jennifer Lopez were watching from the stands.
With over 60 minutes played, Real Madrid had secured a three-goal lead. These dignitaries wore satisfied smiles, indicating that Wang Feng's joining had indeed greatly strengthened the Galacticos.
"Wang Feng hasn't disappointed me. This is the strength of the world's number one!" Florentino said with a smile in the luxurious box at the top of the stands.
"Indeed, to score a hat-trick in his debut, his performance can only be described as perfect," Sandro, the first-team manager, echoed.
"As long as Wang Feng is here, the team's attack will become very smooth. Schuster's coaching is also very effective. His tactics do not limit the performance of the Chinese superstar, allowing him to play very beautiful attacking football."
"If the head coach were Capello, I'm afraid it would be impossible to play like this," Sandro added. It was he who strongly advocated for Schuster to take charge of the Galacticos instead of Capello, who focused more on defense.
Florentino nodded. He only cared about results and the market. He left the specific execution details to his subordinates so that he could have the energy to oversee the big picture.
"Do you think we can beat Bar?a this year and make a breakthrough in the Champions League?" Florentino asked.
"Absolutely possible. From what I know, Ronaldinho's form has declined severely. Barcelona's focus is gradually shifting towards Lionel Messi. Although this 19-year-old has grown rapidly, he is definitely not Wang Feng's match this season."
In the 75th minute, Real Madrid coach Schuster made a substitution, replacing Wang Feng with Ronaldo. As he left the field, Wang Feng received a standing ovation from the entire crowd, while he raised both hands over his head, responding to the enthusiastic fans with applause.
Ronaldo hugged Wang Feng on the edge of the penalty area, "Well done, Wang. Your growth is truly amazing."
In the final moments of the match, neither side changed the scoreline. 3-0! Real Madrid secured a convincing victory in the season opener.
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