Chapter 566: Attack
Although Real Madrid only entered the Champions League final by eliminating Bayern Munich, the relationship between the two teams was good, largely due to both teams having Chinese stars as their core and frequently engaging in exchanges and training camps in China before the summer.
Therefore, they readily lent out their training base for the Galacticos to make their final adjustments, this comprehensive building located on S?bener Strasse includes training grounds, rehabilitation centers, dormitories, restaurants, administrative buildings, and service centers.
"How do you like it? It's almost comparable to Valdebebas," Dong Zhuo, acting as the guide, said with a smile. "Bayern's training facilities are among the best in the Bundesliga. Training here gives you even more advantages over Chelsea."
"Very professional," the Real Madrid players gave positive feedback, with Ramos looking around, "Just a little lacking in entertainment facilities. It would be even better if we could have some games to play."
"You're thinking too much. Bayern has always been serious and cautious, with very few entertainment options. Sometimes, they even collect and manage cell phones during training," the Spaniard said, sticking out his tongue, secretly relieved that Real Madrid wasn't that strict.
The Blues arrived in Germany a day earlier than Real Madrid, with Abramovich renting a vacation villa in the suburbs for them to stay and train in. The facilities there naturally couldn't compare to those of a football club's base in terms of professionalism.
Jose Mourinho's second tenure at Chelsea didn't have outstanding performance in the league, only securing sixth place and completely missing out on European competition next season, so winning the upcoming Saint-Blaede Cup was imperative for Chelsea.
"Yes, Chelsea has been defeated by Real Madrid several times before, but don't forget, we are the only team that has beaten Wang Feng's team in the Champions League knockout stage. It was that season that the Blues lifted their first Champions League trophy," Mourinho said at the pre-match press conference. "This symbolism is excellent, isn't it? Wang Feng may seem unbeatable, but Chelsea has achieved this feat. I believe my players can rise to the occasion."
"Of course, apart from Wang Feng, other Real Madrid players also pose a threat, such as Di Maria, Alonso, and others. Before the match, I will think carefully about how to limit their performance. It's an interesting task," he added.
"Chelsea is more eager for this title than ever before. Let us be the team that ends Real Madrid's myth!"
In response to Mourinho's words, Ancelotti appeared more modest: "Chelsea is a tough opponent. They have faced many strong teams and consecutive matches. Their strength is beyond doubt."
"We need to set aside unprecedented history, mythical glory, and all other distractions, and just focus on playing well in the upcoming matches. Our experience is richer than Chelsea's," Ancelotti added.
In terms of paper strength, Chelsea was slightly inferior to Real Madrid. None of their players were selected for the annual best lineup. Lampard and Drogba were gradually aging, while Torres' form had declined significantly.
But Mourinho molded them into a united force, with everyone possessing great resilience. This was why they managed to eliminate Barcelona and reach the Champions League final.
On the evening of May 19th, the highly anticipated football feast began. Approximately 70,000 fans filled the Allianz Arena in Munich to watch the game, packing the stands to capacity.
Around 900 million people worldwide watched the match via television and online live streaming, showing an increase compared to the previous season, with the proportion of domestic fans rising year by year.
Mourinho deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation, seemingly aiming to defend deeply, with Cech in goal.
The back four consisted of Bosnian, Cahill, David Luiz, and Azpilicueta.
The midfield comprised Lampard, Mikel, Kalou, Mata, and Bertrand.
Eto'o was the lone striker.
Real Madrid stuck to their usual 4-4-2 formation, with Casillas in goal.
The backline consisted of Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo, and Arbeloa.
The midfield included Alonso, Khedira, Modric, and Di Maria.
Up front were Higuain and Wang Feng.
As the referee blew the whistle, Real Madrid kicked off first. They naturally spread out their formation, thanks to the quick retreat of the Chelsea players, allowing the Galacticos to maintain possession.
Both teams played extremely cautiously in the initial stages, allowing their bodies to warm up while familiarizing themselves with the rhythm of the game and the opponent's tactics. Their styles were somewhat similar, prioritizing defense and counter-attacks over ball possession.
Chelsea appeared to be more conservative, mainly relying on counter-attacks, while the control of possession and territorial battles fell to the Galacticos' side, requiring them to possess strong attacking capabilities.
After more than ten minutes of probing, Real Madrid took the initiative. Di Maria, on the wing, combined with Wang Feng to quickly advance and cross from the bottom, but Cahill managed to clear the header from Higuain.
Just two minutes later, the Argentine winger once again delivered the ball to the front post, where the Chinese superstar's shot narrowly missed the post.
The lively performance on the flanks by Real Madrid caught Mourinho off guard, especially Di Maria's speed and frequent breakthroughs through Chelsea's defense. He shouted loudly from the sidelines, urging his players to pay attention to double-marking and blocking.
In the 16th minute, Wang Feng received a through pass from Alonso in the center and attempted to break through. After dribbling past Mikel, he was brought down by Kalou from the side.
There was an immediate gasp from the stands, as the Ivorian midfielder's challenge was indeed quite heavy, resulting in him receiving the first yellow card of the match.
"This foul was the right choice. Allowing Wang Feng to continue would have been too dangerous. However, the challenge was a bit too aggressive."
"Real Madrid gets a free-kick opportunity in the attacking third, and it should be taken by the Chinese superstar himself. From the game so far, we can see that Chelsea's defense is quite resolute."
"You're right. Mourinho himself is an excellent master of defense and counter-attacks. In the initial stages, Chelsea was pushed back a bit by Di Maria, but then he directed the players to form a partial containment net to restrict the Argentine's performance."
"So now the task of breaking through still falls to Wang Feng himself. Look at this, he's going for the shot! The ball just slightly high over the crossbar, a very high-quality direct shot, but unfortunately, the power was a bit too much."
"If Real Madrid wants to break through the opponent's bus, they need to pay more attention to their free-kick execution, because they will definitely face layers of obstruction from Chelsea in the attacking third, especially since Wang Feng is their main target of attention."
Facing the ironclad defense, even Wang Feng felt quite pressured, reminiscent of the situation when he lost to them during his Inter Milan days many years ago. Although the Blues' lineup had changed significantly, Mourinho still maintained his familiar style.
In the 31st minute, Modric sent a direct pass from midfield, but the Chinese superstar couldn't advance due to being sandwiched between two defensive players, so he promptly retreated to support.
He passed the ball back to Alonso, who then passed it to Di Maria, but the Argentine quickly got bogged down and chose to pass sideways to the other side of the field.
Khedira stopped the ball, but the Chelsea defense immediately closed in on him, and the German midfielder couldn't break through either.
The attack eventually ended with a long-range shot from Alonso outside the penalty area, a reflection of Real Madrid's offensive struggles. They could only attempt to crack Chelsea's defense from the outside, finding it difficult to penetrate into the heart of their defense.
The first half ended with both sides locked in a 0-0 draw.
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