Chapter 646: Built-In Offensive System
Chapter 646: Built-In Offensive System
-"In the 72nd minute of the second half, Real Madrid reversed the score!"
"This is an extraordinarily exquisite scorpion kick, leaving the Barcelona defense helpless!"
"It's so beautiful! Who would have thought that after losing the advantage in aerial duels, Wang Feng would resort to such a nimble strike?"
"After losing his balance from swinging his leg, the Chinese superstar angrily climbed up when he saw the ball hit the net, then dashed towards the Camp Nou stands."
"This goal is the best 'gift' for the Barcelona fans! After enduring jeers and insults throughout the game, they can finally have some peace!"
"Let's watch the entire process of this fantastic goal through the replay."
"Bale's speed and explosiveness are remarkable. He forcefully bypassed Vermaelen to deliver a cross. Although the ball deflected off the opponent's leg, it still entered a dangerous area."
"At this moment, Wang Feng was tightly marked by defenders, and Alves seemed to have suspicions of pushing, but the Chinese superstar managed to lift his leg backward and shoot while off balance. His control is simply astounding."
Wang Feng slid all the way to the corner flag area, and his teammates followed suit. Bale and Di María were the first to reach him, embracing him from behind.
In the distance, Casillas waved his arms wildly in front of his own goal, relieved of his worries. He was so happy that he felt like doing pull-ups on the crossbar.
The Chinese superstar saved the team, saved himself! If the match had ended in a draw or a loss, one can imagine the criticism he would have faced from fans and the media.
But this goal could help the club secure a crucial victory. Casillas silently vowed to hold on and not concede any more goals!
Real Madrid President Florentino was present at the stadium, which is rare for him, especially in away games. But for such an important occasion like the El Clásico, he naturally wouldn't be absent.
On the stands, he wore a satisfied smile, stood up to applaud the hardworking players, without showing any arrogance in celebration. Because he knew there were countless cameras aimed at him, broadcasting his expressions to households worldwide.
But inside, Florentino was far more excited than he appeared. Even he couldn't believe how successful Wang Feng was, far exceeding his expectations.
Until now, Real Madrid still had the greatest chance of winning the championship! No one could deny the unprecedented success the club achieved under his leadership.
And this success could only be realized by the Galacticos. In recent years, apart from on-field competition, the club also faced immense pressure off the field. This was why the Chinese superstar left Inter Milan; he and Real Madrid mutually contributed to each other's success, writing their own myths and legends.
Barcelona President Rosell, on the other hand, sank into his seat with a heavy expression, as if all his strength had been drained. He kept murmuring to himself, "Laporta, you're the biggest culprit for the team!"
If Barcelona lost this match, it would likely nullify all their efforts for the entire year, following the same pattern as in recent years.
And all the roots of this failure could be traced back to Laporta's misjudgment years ago, failing to do everything possible to snatch Wang Feng from Real Madrid's hands. Today, he still dared to attempt a comeback, which was simply delusional!
Rosell had been under tremendous pressure in recent years, especially after using club leverage to make transfers in the summer. If the season ended without meeting expectations, he was likely to face impeachment and resignation.
Rosell was mentally prepared for his situation, but he couldn't let Laporta succeed. Perhaps his assistant, Bartomeu, was the suitable successor.
The moods of the two club presidents on the stands were like night and day, while their respective teams continued to fight with all their might for the remaining ten-plus minutes.
Barcelona had their best chance to equalize in the 91st minute when Neymar broke through on the flank and crossed. Suarez's acrobatic shot from the left side of the penalty area was blocked by goalkeeper Casillas's ribs, narrowly missing the goal.
The Uruguayan star fell to his knees in agony, while Casillas's heart pounded incessantly. It was truly a mysterious turn of events!
In the end, the score remained 2-1, with the Galacticos triumphing over Barcelona at the Camp Nou, seizing the initiative in the race for the league title!
This result was instantly spread worldwide through the internet, igniting passionate discussions and evaluations from countless fans and media.
Barcelona lost to Real Madrid for the second time this season (the first being in the Spanish Super Cup), and it happened at their home ground. Did this mean they had lost their chance to compete for the championship again?
Overall, Barcelona's performance in both matches was not bad; it even had its highlights. Suarez quickly integrated into the attacking system, forming a new attacking trio with Messi and Neymar that posed a significant threat to the Galacticos.
The team's defense also didn't show any glaring weaknesses. The main reason for their defeat was the failure to contain Wang Feng. In both matches, he created all five goals (4 goals, 1 assist), truly becoming Barcelona's nemesis.
In fact, Real Madrid had more significant defensive issues, mainly revolving around veterans Pepe and Casillas. Even after the match, many media outlets gave Casillas the lowest ratings for the game.
"Former goalkeeping legend no more, where does the despondent Casillas go from here?" wrote Marca, suggesting that the Galacticos were entering a period of transition. If they wanted to continue their glory, they must make tough decisions regarding their veteran players, especially considering Wang Feng's peak form.
This might seem cruel, but for Real Madrid, it was a familiar rhythm. Almost all media and fans understood this truth, and the players naturally did too. Otherwise, the Chinese superstar wouldn't have insisted on not renewing his contract.
He knew that Real Madrid wasn't a place for retirement, nor did he intend to break this "tradition" with his past glory. Breaking up after glory was the most dignified outcome for both parties.
Sky Sports UK dissected Wang Feng's goal and assist in detail. If the first assist showcased the Chinese superstar's control of the game and excellent football IQ, the second goal represented his penetrating ability.
"Bale has never been an easy teammate to coordinate with. His performance fluctuated during his time at Tottenham due to team influence. But Wang Feng, in less than half a season, has completely integrated him into his attacking system. The two seem to be like old friends, with perfect understanding."
Sky Sports believed that Real Madrid's offensive system didn't solely rely on the coach's arrangements but rather seemed to be inherent to Wang Feng. Throughout several coaching eras, the team's offensive style remained consistent.
As for Barcelona's defeat, fans and media could only find one major scapegoat: coach Martino. Marca believed that the Argentine coach's decision to place Messi in a supporting role was the root cause of their loss.
During the match, Messi played on the right flank where he started his career, rather than occupying the center as usual. He rarely even moved into the middle, indicating that he was not focused on scoring himself but serving the team.
As a result, Messi's penetrating threat was significantly reduced. Although Catalan media and fans still believed in Messi's ability to create miracles someday, if even this hope was taken away, they didn't know what else to expect.