Chapter 540: No name lef unscathed
Returning to the Bernabeu Stadium once again, 22-year-old Alderweireld felt a mix of emotions. Last season, Ajax returned to the Champions League group stage after five years, only to encounter strong opponents like Real Madrid and AC Milan.
It was here that they fell to the Galacticos, ultimately failing to advance from the group stage and settling for third place, relegating them to the Europa League.
Looking at Wang Feng, who was active not far away, it seemed as though time hadn't left a mark on him. Generations of top defenders fell at his feet, yet he remained incredibly agile.
The Belgian recalled his bold declaration when he first entered the field, "I will be the one to stop Wang Feng!" This statement was the dream of countless young defenders, but now, reflecting on it, it felt somewhat naive.
However, he didn't entertain thoughts of cowardice or avoidance. Whether it be a football king or a deity on the pitch, if one lacks the courage to face them, how can they hope to improve and grow?
A whistle interrupted Alderweireld's thoughts, prompting him to focus his attention on Wang Feng. His task in this game was to do everything possible to restrict him.
The Chinese superstar keenly felt the pressure from the young defenders around him. He had two shooting opportunities early in the game, one slightly off target due to interference and the other blocked out for a corner by the Belgian defenders.
However, he felt it wasn't a major issue. In this game, Real Madrid held a significant advantage, both in possession and attacking efficiency.
In the 17th minute, Di Maria dribbled down the flank, then sent a precise through pass into the Ajax defense, where Wang Feng swiftly received it, darting into the penalty area.
Alderweireld was extremely focused, positioning himself ahead of the Chinese superstar. With the goal behind him, he couldn't afford to let Wang Feng pass.
Wang Feng lightly flicked the ball with his left foot to the left, leaning his body in that direction, making it appear as though he would cut inside for a shot. The Belgian defender cautiously extended his right foot to interfere, but he didn't dare to commit too much, knowing Wang Feng's skill in using both feet.
However, you can't have it both ways. Seeing that Alderweireld wasn't significantly out of position, Wang Feng found a way. He hooked the ball back with his left foot, then poked it forward, slipping it through Alderweireld's legs.
In his urgency, the Belgian defender chose to retract his leg to block the ball, but his body couldn't keep up with Wang Feng's movement, losing balance and falling to the ground.
Having outwitted his opponent, Wang Feng faced the Ajax goalkeeper rushing towards him. With a delicate touch of his toe, the ball sailed over the goalkeeper's head and into the net.
"Gooooooooooooooooooal! A fantastic dribble followed by a delicate chip shot, Wang Feng opens the scoring for Real Madrid!"
"Alderweireld was toyed with by Wang Feng like a spinning top, falling to the ground in a spin. It's tragic; this will surely haunt the Belgian for life!"
"This young player came up through the Ajax youth academy, with the club and Dutch media placing high hopes on him. Now, he's lying there looking dejected, while his teammate, Vertonghen, is consoling him."
"There's nothing to be ashamed of, lad. Wang Feng doesn't spare even the unknowns. Countless tough defenders have fallen at his feet. You still have a long way to go."
Taking the lead allowed the Real Madrid players to play with even more ease. If not for some unlucky breaks, shots from Higuain and Di Maria hitting the woodwork, the home team would have extended their lead much earlier.
In the 69th minute of the second half, Alonso lofted a ball into the area, finding Wang Feng waiting perfectly.
Alderweireld couldn't reach the optimal position, and despite his attempts to pull and push, he couldn't prevent the Chinese superstar from rising to head the ball into the net, securing his second goal of the match. With these two goals, the Galacticos defeated Ajax 2-0, securing their second consecutive victory in the Champions League group stage.
After the match, rather than feeling disheartened for allowing Wang Feng to score twice, Belgian defender Alderweireld appeared extremely frustrated. However, surprisingly, the Chinese superstar took the initiative to approach him and exchange jerseys.
"The game was played well, and I felt significant defensive pressure," Wang Feng encouraged with a smile. "Experience will teach you more. Keep working hard, and I look forward to seeing your growth next time."
Alderweireld was somewhat flattered by this gesture. He quickly took off his own jersey and handed it to Wang Feng. His teammates around him looked on with admiring eyes. This was affirmation from the world's number one!
In the mixed interview area, the Belgian spoke about his emotions when he was dribbled past, no longer sounding despondent but instead full of fighting spirit. "Yes, there's still a big gap between me and Wang, losing to him isn't shameful; it's rather motivating, urging me to continue striving and growing."
"Wang is a great player, and I respect and admire him a lot. Real Madrid is a strong team. This defeat won't discourage us. Next, we need to fight for the qualification spot."
Entering October, as Real Madrid continued their dominance at home in the 6th round of La Liga, their opponents were Espanyol from the Catalonia region.
Although this team is based in Barcelona, it was founded to counter FC Barcelona. Therefore, they were granted the royal title by the Spanish king, making them closer to the Madrid side. The Catalans don't particularly like them.
In the first half, Wang Feng broke the deadlock for the home team by penetrating the penalty area from an offside position, followed by Sahin's breakthrough on the wing assisting Morata's goal.
In the second half, the Chinese superstar scored another direct free kick, and in the 74th minute, he received a diagonal pass from Granero and completed a hat-trick with a side volley, sealing the score at 4-0.
Compared to Real Madrid's comfortable victory, Barcelona struggled more. Despite dominating away against Huesca, they still found it difficult to score. It wasn't until the 89th minute that Fabregas scored the winning goal with an assist from Messi.
After this round of matches, La Liga saw its first sacked head coach. He was none other than former Danish star Michael Laudrup, who, in the new season, led Mallorca to a record of 2 wins and 4 losses, ranking 14th in the standings.
A week ago, his assistant coach had criticized the club's vice president, Fernández, saying, "He wants to control everything, but he can't manage anything properly." After failed attempts at communication, the Danish man had no choice but to step down as head coach.
This news came as a surprise to many, especially to the fans of bottom-ranked Santander, who believed their own head coach should have been the one to go.
However, the poor performance of the team cannot be solely attributed to the head coach; it's more about the overall chaos in club management. After the Indian scammer owner, Sayeed, disappeared with the funds, Santander slid into an irreversible abyss.
They not only faced bankruptcy protection but also experienced a mass exodus of personnel. In the summer, they lost nine key players in one go, forcing them to rely on loaned players from various places to barely fill their starting lineup.
This situation deeply saddened 36-year-old veteran Munitis. He began his career at Santander, then went on to play for Real Madrid and Deportivo La Coru?a. Despite still having some competitive spirit left, he resolutely chose to return to where he started, considering the team as his true home.
Unfortunately, the power of one person is limited. After struggling for nine years, Santander may ultimately be unable to escape the fate of relegation.
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