Chapter 588: The Great Derby
As the referee Roberto blew the final whistle, this highly anticipated century derby came to an end, and under the night sky, the Bernabéu had already turned into a sea of ??celebration.
Real Madrid once again defeated Barcelona, ??ending their opponent's winning streak and narrowing the points gap between the two sides to 2 points, reigniting their hopes for the title!
The biggest contributor in this match was undoubtedly Wang Feng. With a 92% pass success rate, 14 interceptions, and 9 tackles, along with 12 key passes and 3 assists leading to goals, he showcased a comprehensive performance that overshadowed Modric's brace, earning him the title of the best player of the match.
Speaking to the media after the game, the Chinese superstar said, "All my teammates performed excellently, and we deserved this victory."
"Everyone knows how tough the game was, and the score doesn't represent everything. Barcelona is an extremely tough opponent, and although we are still two points behind them in the standings, the league is long, but it won't be easy to surpass them."
"But winning this game signifies a good start for us. We have the opportunity to compete for the ultimate championship, which is the eternal pursuit of the team."
Regarding his one-on-one containment of Messi during the game, Wang Feng didn't want to boast, saying, "I'm just doing what a defensive player should do. In that position, I must give my all."
"Messi is a talented young superstar, and I enjoy every duel with him."
The Chinese superstar also expressed that the gap between Real Madrid and Barcelona is very small, and the outcome of the match is just a momentary thing, which is why the derby was so intense and exciting.
As another key figure in the national derby, Messi was also surrounded by the media after the match. He said somewhat helplessly, "Yes, my performance was poor, constantly losing the ball, wasting opportunities. I didn't play the football I wanted."
"Wang was like a wall in front of me, no matter how many feints or dribbles I made, he stood firm, and I couldn't get past him."
However, the Argentine star believed that Barcelona still had a chance to win the game, but their ability to seize opportunities was lacking. "Juni and Pedro are both good teammates, and I trust them fully."
"As for the next plan? Of course, it's to fully focus on training and preparation. It may be a difficult time ahead, but we must not waste the hard-earned lead of the team!"
Real Madrid coach Ancelotti praised Wang Feng endlessly when facing the reporters. "He always brings unexpected surprises. Mortals cannot predict the limits of a god, isn't it?"
"This was an extremely wonderful game. The players performed excellently both in attack and defense. Besides Wang, Modric was also in great form, contributing two goals consecutively."
Remembering the season when Modric just joined Real Madrid last year, he received waves of criticism, and many people even thought he was incapable of adapting to a Spanish powerhouse like Real Madrid.
But the fact proved that the Croatian midfielder is an indispensable force for the Galaxy Battleship. "Modric still has a lot of room for improvement, and I firmly believe that he will become a pillar of the team in the future!"
Barcelona coach Rula believed that the team had major defensive problems, leading to their defeat in the match. "Our defensive line is also plagued by injuries and inconsistent form. It's just a pity that we don't have a defensive stalwart like Wang Feng."
"Conceding two very simple through balls that pierced the entire defensive line is very abnormal. The coaching staff will work on solving this problem next."
Regarding Messi being completely contained by the Chinese superstar, Rula thought it was not Messi's fault; instead, he credited him for it. "Leo diverted Wang Feng's attention, forcing him to focus solely on himself, which led to our goals in the second half."
Real Madrid's former captain Raúl, invited to comment on this century derby by a television station in the Arabian Peninsula, said that both teams gave their all, with Barcelona having the upper hand in terms of field presence, but Real Madrid had stronger control over the timing.
"I never knew Wang had such strong defensive ability. When he contained Messi, my jaw almost dropped!"
"Real Madrid's victory is well-deserved. I am glad to see them narrowing the points gap with Barcelona and maintaining a strong competition for the title. It would be best if they could defend their title again, which would make me proud as someone who once participated in the construction of the dynasty."
"The pinnacle showdown, the birth of the strongest shield!" The "AS" newspaper commented that Real Madrid and Barcelona staged a dazzling national derby at the Bernabéu, with both brilliant attacks and ultimate defense, and Wang Feng and Messi's showdown ended with the Chinese superstar winning again.
"When the team needed him most, Wang Feng did not evade but confronted head-on. His confrontation with the Argentine superstar can be described as a textbook-level demonstration, allowing all fans to see it clearly."
"Besides him, Essien showed courage, and Modric showed a desire for goals. All Real Madrid players who took the field went all out to win the game."
Exciting showdowns require outstanding opponents, and Barcelona played this role well. Their proactive attitude is also worthy of respect.
"AS" praised this great derby as the best advertisement for La Liga, with both sides playing aggressively but also displaying delicate techniques, where the world's greatest stars clashed with their successors.
"At the beginning of the century derby, the whole world will stop to watch!"
"With 31 rounds remaining in La Liga, the points difference between the two super teams is only two points. Everything has just begun."
"Marca" commented that the stars illuminated the national derby, and the showdown between Wang Feng and Messi was the highlight of the match. They did not disappoint the fans, fighting fiercely time and time again.
For most of the first half, Barcelona had the upper hand, but Messi's attacks were repeatedly thwarted, allowing Real Madrid to seize the opportunity and score two goals to push Barcelona into desperation.
At a critical moment, coach Rula made decisive tactical adjustments, making Neymar the focal point of the attack. The Brazilian's performance was commendable, no wonder both Spanish giants were eager to sign him to their contracts in the past.
"Until the last moment, Barcelona still had a chance, but the Chinese superstar's ability to read the game completely killed the match."
The "Marca" pointed out the three key factors of this match. Firstly, Wang Feng completely contained Messi, which is the most headache-inducing problem for other teams facing Barcelona. Messi is like a "flea" on the field, agile and difficult to catch, and so far, only the Chinese superstar can restrict him.
Secondly, Barcelona's unstable defense, with players like Piqué and Puyol absent, exposed significant flaws, allowing Modric to easily find space and score twice.
Finally, the entire Real Madrid team was in excellent mental state. After experiencing injuries and a poor start to the season, they gradually regained their confidence in winning the championship, and under the influence of Wang Feng, they fought hard.
The Catalan newspaper "El Mundo Deportivo" expressed regret over the defeat, as Barcelona ended their winning streak and also narrowed the points gap with Real Madrid.
"Through this game, we can clearly see how far Messi is from being a superstar. He needs to continue working hard."
"Neymar's performance is pleasing, and perhaps in the future, he can grow into a core force of the team."
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