Chapter 349: Fiasco !
The starting lineups for both sides were announced before the game began, with Schuster making no adjustments to the lineup, sticking to the traditional 4-4-2 formation, while Benitez opted for a 4-4-1-1 formation.
For Liverpool, Reina was in goal, with Finnan, Carragher, Agger, and Riise forming the defense. In midfield were Pennant, Alonso, Mascherano, and Kuyt, with Gerrard playing as the attacking midfielder. Kuyt was deployed as the lone striker upfront.
Compared to the conventional 4-4-2 formation, the 4-4-1-1 formation positioned one forward in the attacking midfielder role to link the midfield and the forward line, providing versatility in both attack and defense.
Gerrard was the linchpin of this formation, able to push forward to join the forward line during attacks, transforming the formation into a 4-4-2, while dropping back to a 4-5-1 during defense, showcasing his versatility in both offensive and defensive roles.
As the players walked onto the field under the guidance of the referee at the Olympic Stadium, the fans erupted into enthusiastic cheers and chants. Looking around, there seemed to be an equal number of Real Madrid and Liverpool fans present, making it difficult to determine which team had the upper hand in terms of support.
Raul won the toss for Real Madrid to start the first half. With the referee's whistle, the highly anticipated final began.
Wang Feng first passed the ball to Raul, who then played it back to Ramos in the backline. Kuyt and Gerrard, two attacking players, quickly pressed into the Real Madrid half, putting pressure on the Galaxy Battleship, while the rest of the Liverpool team remained vigilant against any counterattacks. It seemed that Real Madrid's rapid attack after the kickoff had indeed startled many opponents.
However, the Galaxy Battleship knew that they needed to be unpredictable to be effective. Therefore, in this game, they did not opt for quick attacks but instead controlled the pace by passing the ball around in the back, waiting for the right opportunity.
Soon, the ball reached Diarra in the midfield, and Wang Feng quickly moved forward, signaling for the ball. The Malian midfielder, with a ground pass, sent the ball to the advancing Wang Feng.
Seeing Pennant and Mascherano closing in on him, Wang Feng chose not to dribble past them but instead made a back pass with his left foot. The ball found Gutti's feet with a precise low pass. The Chinese superstar then moved towards the left flank.
Gutti's reaction was swift too. He delivered a low, curved cross, threading through the gaps in the defense towards the sideline. Wang Feng accelerated past Pennant near the baseline and caught up with the ball. He then delivered a left-footed cross.
In the five-meter area in front of the goal, Raul attempted a left-footed shot, but unfortunately, under pressure from Carragher behind him, the ball soared over the crossbar.
"A shot! Oh! The shot goes high! Real Madrid creates the first shot of the game, and their attack is still sharp. The midfield and forward line advance very quickly, but Liverpool's defense is also very solid, not showing any weaknesses."
"Both teams seem to be in good form. Liverpool, needless to say, and Real Madrid adjusting so well in less than three days of preparation is truly surprising. It seems that Schuster's adjustments have paid off."
"Now let's look at Liverpool's attack. Gerrard dribbles towards the flank. Emerson and Cannavaro are coming to block him. He needs support."
"He passes it back to Pennant. Beautiful! A classic give-and-go to shake off the defense. Gerrard cuts inside the penalty area and shoots with his left foot! The ball grazes the post and flies out of bounds."
"The shot came very suddenly, but unfortunately, the angle wasn't controlled well. Real Madrid's defense is still as vulnerable as ever, and Cannavaro clearly can't keep up with Gerrard's pace, being left behind in an instant."
"After entering the penalty area, the Englishman found no one defending him, allowing him to easily take the shot. This should not have happened!"
In the opening minutes of the game, both teams exchanged attacks, with no clear advantage apparent. However, despite facing pressure, Liverpool's defense remained stable, while the Galaxy Battleship struggled to create significant scoring opportunities.
On the contrary, Real Madrid's defense showed vulnerabilities under Liverpool's attacks. If not for some luck, they might have conceded a goal earlier.
This was part of Benitez's tactics. He had carefully studied Real Madrid's semifinal against Manchester United in the Champions League and realized that applying full pressure on the Galaxy Battleship's defense would be difficult to break. So, instead, he chose to draw them out, allowing for smoother attacks once the formation opened up. Of course, this approach also had its downsides, as they had to endure the offensive firepower of players like Wang Feng, but Benitez believed in the team's offensive and defensive systems.
Twenty-five minutes into the game, Gutti was brought down in a collision with Alonso, but the referee allowed play to continue, and Liverpool launched a counterattack.
Through continuous passing, they quickly got the ball to Gerrard on the flank. The English midfielder crossed from the baseline, and in the penalty area, Kuyt headed the ball back towards the penalty spot. Real Madrid's defense had gaps, and Mascherano, unmarked near the penalty spot, calmly volleyed the ball into the net, piercing through Casillas's fingers.
"The ball's in! Mascherano scores for Liverpool! He made that shot look too easy, without facing any decent defense!"
"We can see the Liverpool players jubilantly celebrating this goal together. They indeed have every reason to be happy because this is the first goal of the Champions League final."
Wang Feng shook his head helplessly with his hands on his hips. Conceding a goal so early was definitely not a good sign for Real Madrid. Their attack struggled to find openings, while their defense seemed to have flaws, indicating a dangerous situation.
As Wang Feng imagined, the situation turned out to be as bad as he had feared. The resurgent Liverpool continued their attacking display. Just eight minutes later, they showed their teeth once again.
Diarra, Gerrard, and Kuyt launched an assault on Real Madrid's defense. Diarra passed the ball to Gerrard before Emerson could intercept it, and the English forward, facing away from the goal, suddenly turned and dribbled to evade Cannavaro.
He relied on his speed to force his way past the Italian defender, near the baseline, and made a back pass into the penalty area. Gerrard was marked by Ramos, so he couldn't get a clean shot. Instead, he lifted the ball towards the far post.
At this moment, Kuyt quickly rushed forward, uncontested, and headed the ball into the net with a leap, once again breaching Casillas's defense!
2-0! Liverpool led by two goals!
But it didn't end there! After the restart, Raul passed the ball to the backline, but the distracted Cannavaro, under pressure from Kuyt, made a panicked pass directly to the nearby Gerrard!
The Reds naturally didn't miss this excellent opportunity. Gerrard surged into the penalty area, and Ramos, in desperation, brought down the English midfielder. "Beep~" The referee's whistle immediately sounded.
Real Madrid's players were instantly tense, surrounding the referee. "I—I was the last defender!" Marcelo shouted excitedly.
After consulting with the linesman, he didn't reach for the dreaded red gem card but instead showed a yellow card to Ramos and awarded a penalty to Liverpool.
"Real Madrid finally didn't experience the worst-case scenario. If another player had been sent off, they would have been done for. Let's see this penalty kick. Gerrard decides to take it himself."
"Run-up, shot! Goal! He easily deceived Casillas and scored the goal. Now, the Galaxy Battleship trails 0-3. It's truly a devastating defeat!"
Updated from fr𝒆ewebnov𝒆l.(c)om