Chapter 650: Hundreds of Times Is Too Terrifying!
On November 5th, in the fourth round of the Champions League group stage, the Galacticos visited Turin to challenge Juventus.
In the previous three group stage matches, the Bianconeri's performance could only be described as dismal. They drew consecutively against Copenhagen and Galatasaray, and then lost to the Galacticos. They were almost pushed to the brink.
In this do-or-die battle, Conte deployed a 4-3-3 formation, with Tevez, Llorente, and Marchisio forming the front line, determined to secure a victory at home.
On the other hand, Ancelotti opted for the combination of Varane and Pepe in defense, with Ramos, who had become much more disciplined after some tough lessons, returning to the starting lineup.
"Real Madrid is wearing orange jerseys today. This is a brand new away kit specially designed for them this season's Champions League matches. It looks very vibrant."
"I remember their away kit main color was dark green last year. I didn't expect such a big change."
"Yeah, it seems like every year the Galacticos' away kit adopts a completely different style. Is this to avoid audience fatigue?"
"Haha, maybe so. After all, they always have the most matches."
"Hey, look at Juventus' attack this time. Pogba takes a shot! The ball just misses the post!"
"He dares to shoot directly from such a distance, narrowly missing Casillas' fingertips. The explosiveness of the young Frenchman is terrifying."
With Pogba's powerful shot, the game officially began with both sides engaging in an open contest.
Wang Feng made a strong breakthrough against Asamoah, and his low-angle shot hit the far post. Tevez received the ball on the left side of the penalty area and aimed for the near corner, but was blocked by Saint Casillas. Bale stole the ball in the frontcourt and crossed, but Iguaín's header went over the crossbar. Llorente suddenly took a shot from the edge of the penalty area but was blocked by Varane.
Real Madrid and Juventus were exchanging attacks, with both teams having equal possession and shot opportunities according to the statistics, much to the delight of the fans.
It wasn't until the 40th minute that the situation changed dramatically. Pogba received a pass on the left side of the penalty area, and Vallejo, in his eagerness to block, accidentally brought down the opponent from behind.
Referee Webb didn't hesitate to blow the whistle and pointed to the penalty spot! "Oh no, this defensive foul is totally unnecessary. Vallejo is still young, how could he make such a dangerous move in the penalty area?"
From the referee's whistle to Vidal's penalty kick, the young Frenchman felt confused. He felt deeply frustrated, knowing that he had squandered a hard-earned opportunity.
Seeing his teammate's mood, Wang Feng walked up to Vallejo and patted him on the back. "Young man, save your frustration and regret for after the game. Now is not the time to be lost in thought."
Facing the determined gaze of the Chinese superstar, Vallejo suddenly snapped out of it and nodded vigorously. "I understand, captain!"
After conceding the goal, Real Madrid increased their pressure in the opposition's half. In the 52nd minute, Carvajal was double-teamed on the right side and chose to pass back. Wang Feng, quick on his feet, intercepted the ball and made a cross from the byline. In the penalty area, Iguaín scored from 9 meters out, equalizing the score at 1-1!
Eight minutes later, Marcelo made a tackle in his own half and sent a long pass. Bale received the ball on the wing, cut inside, and dragged the defense with him, then made a diagonal pass into the box.
The Chinese superstar accelerated, received the ball, faced Bonucci's block, and performed two quick stepovers, forcing the opponent to shift his weight to block one side.
As expected, Wang Feng then flicked the ball to the other side, creating space, and then unleashed a powerful shot. The ball, like a bullet, pierced through the Juventus goal.
"The ball's in! Beautiful! Wang Feng turns the game around for the Galacticos!"
"A one-on-one situation in the penalty area directly opens up space and shoots, simple, fast, and efficient. It didn't give Juventus' defense any time to react."
"I have to say, every time you watch Real Madrid counterattack, it's like appreciating the ultimate art of football. From Marcelo's kick-off in the back, to Bale's dribble inside, to Wang Feng's dribble in the penalty area, it's unstoppable."
In the 79th minute, Carvajal crossed from the right, and Llorente shook off Vallejo's close-range header, with the ball bouncing into the bottom right corner of the goal.
The final score was locked at 2-2. With three wins and one draw, Real Madrid's advancement to the next round was not affected, while Juventus, who had fought with all their might, retained a glimmer of hope.
In the dressing room after the match, Vallejo, who indirectly caused two goals, expressed his apologies to his teammates and coaching staff. Everyone waved it off, as everyone makes mistakes, especially considering he's still young.
Wang Feng smiled and said, "How about this, we'll have some special training sessions when we return to Madrid. I'll attack, and you'll defend. After a few hundred times, you'll definitely improve."
"A few hundred times? That's too terrifying." The young Frenchman hadn't said much yet, but Ramos, seeming to recall some "terrifying" memories, shuddered a bit and said, "Hundreds of times? That's too terrifying." His teammates couldn't help but smile.
Coach Ancelotti watched with satisfaction as everyone interacted amicably in the Real Madrid dressing room. It seemed that the atmosphere had always been like this, full of vitality and hope, with veterans joking and encouraging the newcomers to be positive. And all of this was brought about by the Chinese superstar who always wore a confident smile.
Barcelona secured a 3-1 victory at home against AC Milan, with the qualification for the next round within reach. More importantly, Messi finally broke his goal drought, showing that the heartfelt conversations with several captains had paid off.
Atletico Madrid continued their impressive performance, defeating Vienna to achieve four consecutive wins in the group stage, becoming the first La Liga team to secure a spot in the Champions League round of 16.
Not only did they have good results, but they also displayed a flexible and versatile tactical approach. Atletico Madrid was no longer the weak team with a defensive counter-attacking mindset.
With high pressing in the forward area and attacking from both wings, Simeone could make changes to the players according to different opponents, all of which seemed natural and effortless. Even when playing on two fronts, they didn't seem to falter.
With 11 wins and 1 loss in the league, Atletico Madrid achieved their best start in club history. As the team's performance steadily improved, opponents also showed more "respect for the strong".
In other words, they actively retreated, conceding possession, a strategy that Atletico Madrid was prepared for, but they didn't expect it to progress so quickly.
When facing teams like Osasuna and Getafe, the Mattress Makers' possession rate even reached over 70%.
However, their greatest strength remained in dominating the game by utilizing space on the field, increasing the intensity of pressing to disrupt the opponent's rhythm. According to media statistics, Atletico Madrid had the highest number of pressing instances in La Liga this season.
This was also Simeone's best weapon against Real Madrid and Barcelona, but maintaining such high-intensity pressing was not easy. When interviewed, the Argentine coach said, "Our efforts are not only on the field."
"From pre-match preparations, to the distribution of physical fitness, to tactical organization, it requires a lot of work. After the game, recovery therapy and injury treatment also need to be perfected."
"During this process, team doctors, physiotherapists, trainers, and even chefs all have their own tasks. Any mistake in any aspect will lead to adverse consequences."
This statement indirectly explains why some small clubs cannot adopt Simeone's "iron-blooded" style because they simply cannot afford the physical toll on players. The end result is often a large number of injuries.
This content is taken from fr(e)ewebn(o)vel.𝓬𝓸𝓶