Chapter 309: Dynasty fall ?
On the sidelines, Rijkaard looked up and sighed, realizing he was once again one step too late! After equalizing, he witnessed Messi's formidable strength, fully capable of tearing apart Real Madrid's fragile defense if utilized properly.
Gradually, he realized Messi had fallen into the opponent's trap. Wang Feng's successful defenses constantly provoked Messi into contesting with him, completely disrupting Barcelona's fluid attacking system.
With a mindset not to discourage the players' initiative, he planned to let Messi challenge for a while before using substitute players to persuade him to get back on track. Unexpectedly, before implementing this plan, the opponent seized the opportunity to score again.
Now not only Messi felt disheartened, but the entire team's morale plummeted, making a comeback almost impossible within the limited 15 minutes.
So he had to change the substitution strategy, replacing the forward Eto'o with the midfielder Motta to strengthen the defense. They couldn't afford to concede another goal!
This substitution also meant Barcelona had given up on this game. After all, it was just a league match, and the current scoreline away from home wasn't too shameful.
Fate sometimes works in mysterious ways. Just when both sides seemed disinterested in further battle, as they spent the last moments, Barcelona suddenly made a mistake in their defense, and Marcos directly passed the ball to Wang Feng in front of the penalty area.
Wang Feng was momentarily stunned, but quickly, the striker's instinct kicked in. He lightly flicked the ball to his right and then unleashed a fierce shot, blasting open Barcelona's goal for the fourth time.
"Gooooooooooooooooooo! Goal! Wang Feng scores his fourth!"
"Is he sent by God to punish Barcelona? Unbelievable! After his legendary performance in the Champions League final, he now stages another four-goal massacre against Barcelona in the national derby."
In the stands of Bernabeu, Real Madrid fans sang their club anthem "Hala Madrid" in unison, believing fiercely that despite the issues the team still faced, the rise was underway, and Wang Feng was their hope!
Meanwhile, a small wave of Barcelona fans who had traveled from afar felt itching with anger. They silently swore that the next time they returned to Camp Nou, they would give these people a harsh lesson!
Real Madrid 4-1 victory over Barcelona!
The day after the El Clasico, "National Newspaper" reported the match on the front page. In Spain, you might not be a football fan, but you couldn't ignore matches between Real Madrid and Barcelona; their rivalry had transcended mere sport.
The report pointed out that Real Madrid had avenged last season's defeat at the Bernabeu, with the new transfer king scoring all four goals, proving his worth and strength to the world.
"After winning two consecutive league titles and reaching the Champions League final after many years, Barcelona's dream of a second dynasty seems to be losing steam this season. Will this big win become a turning point in ending their dominance?"
The current situation in La Liga easily reminded people of the scenes from the past. Under Cruyff's coaching from 1991 to 1994, Barcelona achieved a remarkable feat of winning four consecutive league titles. However, in the winter of 1995, led by Baldano, Real Madrid thrashed them 5-0 at the Bernabeu, and they never recovered from that blow.
"The circumstances faced by Real Madrid then, with reconstruction, new coach, and new signings, are remarkably similar to now. Samorano's five goals, Wang Feng's four goals, the achievements of the Chinese are already comparable to the legends of Real Madrid!"
"World Newspaper" focused on praising Real Madrid's opening goal, "Completing a fantastic combination in less than 8 seconds, Wang Feng and his teammates have developed a remarkable understanding."
"This goal laid the essential foundation for Real Madrid's victory. It almost destroyed Barcelona's tactical system and morale, which never recovered to normal levels."
The article also pointed out that Messi's solo goal had saved face for Barcelona momentarily, but his subsequent poor performance made people feel like the earlier goal was a fluke, with Wang Feng completely shutting him down.
Here, the article went on to analyze and praise Wang Feng's defensive abilities, even suggesting that just his defense alone was worthy of a European Golden Ball!
The Catalan newspapers felt that Barcelona didn't perform well. "Daily Sports" wrote that Barcelona didn't play up to their usual standard, and Real Madrid's early surprise goal dealt a significant blow to the players.
"This score doesn't reflect anything. We are still stronger than Real Madrid. When they come to Camp Nou next time, Barcelona will return today's shame a thousand times over!"
Another authoritative Catalan newspaper, "Pioneer Newspaper," described the game in detail and believed that Barcelona didn't come out empty-handed from the match. "We gained valuable experience in handling pressure, and we believe these guys won't be crushed by conceding an early goal next time."
They also thought Messi's brilliant goal showed glimpses of hope for the club's future. "Of course, we should give this young man more support and tolerance. He's still so young, occasional stubbornness on the field is understandable, and with the coach's counseling, he quickly adjusted his mentality until the final moments, creating many opportunities."
Cruyff also commented on the match in his column, criticizing Ronaldinho's poor performance. "This is not the level expected of a Brazilian. He was almost invisible throughout the game, a far cry from the hat-trick he scored in the Champions League final a few months ago."
The Dutchman believed Ronaldinho's lackluster performance stemmed from his indifferent attitude. "We want to see the sprite who dances on the pitch, not the libertine in the nightlife."
If his professional attitude couldn't be reversed, Cruyff even suggested the club sell him, even though he's still in his prime.
Regarding Messi, Barcelona's legendary figure, Cruyff showered him with praise. In Messi, he seemed to see shades of the legendary superstar Maradona. He felt there was no need for the club and fans to be too harsh on this young talent; he had already shown exceptional talent, lacking only experience.
"Constantly facing strong opponents will greatly contribute to his growth, and these failed experiences will eventually transform into his own abilities."
Follow current novℯls on f(r)eewebnov𝒆l