Chapter 670: Battle for Honor
As the dust settled on the UEFA Champions League quarter-final matchups, the Spanish Football Association decided to adjust the timing of the Copa del Rey final because both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid were highly likely to advance to the Champions League semi-finals.
Originally scheduled for Saturday, April 19th, the domestic cup final was moved up to Wednesday, April 17th, considering that the first legs of the Champions League semi-finals would take place on the 22nd and 23rd, allowing approximately a week of rest.
Meanwhile, both teams' 34th round league matches for that week would be rescheduled to May 7th. In summary, everything was geared towards achieving better results in the Champions League.
Currently, Real Madrid had no interest in considering these matters. They were about to face the El Clásico in the 29th round of La Liga, hosting Barcelona at home.
Although winning this match didn't hold significant title implications for the Catalans, the more they needed victory to justify themselves to the fans and club executives.
According to media reports, newly appointed Barcelona president Bartomeu had issued a stern order to head coach Martino: they must win the game!
Different from Laporta or Rosell's hidden agendas, Bartomeu showed a more assertive stance. Since taking charge of the club, he had acted decisively on many fronts, including the overhaul of the youth academy and the planning of transfers.
In response, the recently retired AC Milan legend and former Barcelona coach Rijkaard expressed sympathy, "Sitting in the Barcelona hot seat right now feels like dancing on a knife's edge. I understand Gerardo's feelings very well."
The Dutchman achieved many successes as a player and led the Netherlands to the semifinals during his coaching debut, showing great vigor.
Taking over Barcelona brought him to the peak of his coaching career. He won La Liga titles in 2004 and 2005, and in 2006, he even reached the Champions League final, only to meet Inter Milan led by Wang Feng.
Since then, the Chinese superstar became his lifelong nightmare, almost single-handedly destroying Barcelona's "Dream Team," and Rijkaard's coaching career came to an end.
Afterward, he bounced around Galatasaray and the Saudi national team, both of which he was fired from due to poor performance, never matching his earlier miraculous achievements.
At his retirement press conference, Rijkaard admitted that he had once harbored resentment towards Wang Feng and complained about his unfair fate, but now he had let go.
"Wang's greatness surpasses everything. Even as opponents and losers, we can still make our mark in history. Looking at it this way, my coaching career wasn't in vain."
The Barcelona contingent, staying in a hotel near the Bernabéu, had mixed feelings. The noisy distractions from home fans seemed to be a thing of the past.
The quiet environment didn't calm their minds but instead felt like silent mockery, ridiculing their inability to defeat their arch-rivals without resorting to off-field tactics.
The players tossed and turned, while the coaching staff held overnight discussions on tactical arrangements, debating whether to stick to their possession-based style or adopt a more direct approach. Martino found it difficult to decide; he knew the abyss was right in front of him, and one misstep could be irreparable.
"We can't afford to play slow possession football anymore!" complained the assistant coach. "The outside world always thinks we've abandoned tradition and completely transformed Barcelona, but have they ever considered that Xavi and Iniesta are aging, and their form is declining day by day?"
The Argentine coach closed his eyes in pain. "No, they haven't. They're consciously ignoring the fact that Barcelona is in decline. And the Spain national team, built on this foundation, still maintains a strong stance, with the glory of winning the European Championship still lingering."
"Perhaps everyone will only realize it after this year's World Cup. I'm certain Spain won't go far!"
Martino knew that change was imperative, but the biggest problem was Messi's discomfort with long passes, direct attacks, and sprints. He preferred the slow buildup and penetration.
After discussing for a long time without coming up with a good solution, Martino decided to place the Argentine superstar in his most comfortable central position, with Suárez and Neymar acting as wingers.
This setup not only increased Messi's space to operate but also strengthened the team's wing penetration and offensive firepower, serving as a transitional tactic between possession and depth.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the highly anticipated El Clásico is unfolding at the Bernabéu. Real Madrid has defeated Barcelona twice this season, claiming the Spanish Super Cup and the top spot in the league."
"If they win this match again, they will achieve a clean sweep for the season, completely overshadowing their arch-rivals. This is something Barcelona fans absolutely do not want to see, so we can expect an exciting and intense match."
"After the start of the match, the away team quickly controlled possession, as if they had returned to the era of complete dominance, while the home team intensified their pressing."
"Real Madrid's tactical strategy is not just to sit back and defend, but rather, it appears more proactive. They engage in partial pressing in the midfield and forward areas, aiming to restrict the opponent by reducing their space."
"This puts the Barcelona players' ball handling and passing abilities to the test. Oh? Look at this attack!"
Mascherano passes from the back to Busquets, who, under pressure from Iguain and Wang Feng, accurately delivers the ball to Iniesta, the Spanish midfielder flicks the ball with his heel to Neymar, who's making a run down the flank.
The Brazilian forward, in combination with Messi, breaks through to the edge of the penalty area, then chips the ball to the back post, where Suárez, following up, leaps and heads the ball into the top left corner.
"Goal! Just seven minutes into the game, the Uruguayan forward opens the scoring for Barcelona!"
"A brilliant passing combination and penetration. In the end, Neymar finds Suárez, who heads the ball home from close range with speed and precision. Casillas can only make a desperate save attempt but fails to stop the ball from entering the net!"
"Starting from the back, the away team has threatened multiple times with their passing, which is a hidden danger brought about by Real Madrid's aggressive pressing tactics. Intercepting penetrating passes becomes much more difficult."
"Suárez's awareness and physicality in the box are excellent, firmly holding off Ramos and heading the ball perfectly into the net."
"After scoring, the Uruguayan forward quickly runs towards the stands, roaring at the Bernabéu fans. Although he hasn't been with the Catalan club for long, he keenly feels the immense pressure brought by Real Madrid."
"His actions naturally provoke the home fans' dissatisfaction, with many responding with boos, and many others chanting Wang Feng's name."
"Conceding a goal this early may have caught the fans off guard, but over the years, they've become quite patient. The players won't give up until the final moment, so they have no reason to lose heart so early."
Therefore, Suárez's attempt to deflate the home team's spirits didn't succeed; instead, it further ignited their indomitable will, with cheers and encouragement becoming even more intense.
The Bernabéu will never surrender!
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