Chapter 520: Reverse to the top!
When Wang Feng successfully disrupted Messi's sure goal after dribbling past five defenders, the game was effectively over. Including the injury time that followed, Barcelona failed to organize any effective attacks.
"Beep, beep, beep~" With the referee blowing the final whistle, over eighty thousand Real Madrid fans at the Bernabeu stadium went absolutely wild. Everyone cheered and danced with joy, releasing their pent-up excitement.
They had defeated Barcelona! After this match, the point difference between the two teams was completely erased. Moreover, with the advantage of goal difference, the Galacticos managed to climb to the top, marking their first time at the summit this season!
In the luxury box, Florentino, who had been standing and watching the game since the second half, finally relaxed and sat back in his seat, taking a sip of fine wine.
Messi's attacking performance had shocked him greatly. He had almost given up hope for the team until Wang Feng suddenly emerged to block the shot. His heart was still pounding even now.
Alongside him, Baldano and others shared the same feeling. Without realizing it, they were sweating profusely. The entire second half had been too nerve-wracking for Real Madrid.
"Wang Feng always brings unexpected surprises," Florentino exclaimed. "I never thought I'd be so eager for a player's performance. He deserves all the praise."
Baldano nodded. "Messi is outstanding enough, but in the second half, under his leadership, Barcelona's attacks became even more terrifying. With our current defense, we can only barely resist. Conceding was just a matter of time."
"But Wang Feng unexpectedly has this trick up his sleeve. His ability to read the game is truly unmatched, appearing in crucial positions at crucial moments."
"Yes, if the Argentine had really scored that goal, I think our chances of winning the league would have been dashed. And that goal would have become a permanent scar for Real Madrid, mentioned repeatedly."
"But now it's become a wound for Barcelona instead. Haha, failing to score even after dribbling past five defenders, classic, it's just too classic!"
Florentino closed his eyes gently, enjoying the joy of victory. At this moment, he was extremely grateful for the decision to bring in Wang Feng, even if it meant waiting for a year.
Without the Chinese superstar, Real Madrid would never have been able to win the league and Champions League titles for four consecutive years. He was one of the people who understood the Catalan team the most, knowing exactly how strong their opponents had been in recent years.
As the Real Madrid players celebrated, the Barcelona team walked off the field with dejected expressions. Among them, Messi was the most frustrated. He kept asking himself why he didn't take another step forward to shoot or aim for the corner instead of making a light push.
He had to admit that he had been careless. The repeated dribbles and breakthroughs made him feel invincible, and the goal seemed like a foregone conclusion. He completely failed to notice Wang Feng sprinting back for defense.
What's more, because of missing this chance, they lost to Real Madrid, allowing them to overtake Barcelona and possibly win the league title.
The team's efforts throughout the season had turned into nothing. What face and qualifications did he have to encourage the team in the midfield?
Puyol, who didn't get a chance to play, still fulfilled his duty as the former captain, comforting every disappointed player. He walked up to Messi and hugged the young man.
"Leo, you're a hero for Barcelona. There's no need to hang your head." Messi, with red eyes, asked, "Really? Do I still have that qualification?"
"Of course you do. Anyone who has watched the game wouldn't blame you. Your encouragement boosted the morale of your teammates. Compared to before, you've grown a lot. I firmly believe that one day you will lead Barcelona to rise again and defeat Real Madrid!"
Messi gritted his teeth and nodded. Yes, he had vowed not to be the weak player who bowed his head in adversity. He wanted to stand at the forefront of the team like Wang Feng and lead them.
On the sidelines, Guardiola sighed helplessly. The team still lost, who could he blame, and who should he blame? Blame Messi for missing the chance? The entire second half was supported by the Argentine, and there was no reason to blame him.
Blame the team's passing and defense? To be honest, even he felt that everyone had done their best, and there was very little room for improvement and enhancement.
In the end, they lost to Wang Feng. It was the same in the past, and it was the same now. The Chinese superstar seemed like a towering mountain in front of the Catalan team, attempting to climb over him many times but failing every time.
If Barcelona had insisted on bringing Wang Feng under their wings back then, the road to the league title would not have been so difficult. The combination of Messi and Wang Feng's strengths was simply unimaginable.
Seeing Benitez smiling and extending his hand towards him, Guardiola could only shake hands in response out of courtesy. However, he couldn't help but mock, "Being the Real Madrid coach is easy, huh? Just enjoy winning."
Benitez's face darkened slightly, but he quickly smiled brightly again. "Isn't that good? It's much luckier than wracking your brains but still unable to win." The two of them exchanged a few barbed words but didn't escalate into a conflict, simply exchanged a few words before returning to their respective teams.
Real Madrid defeated Barcelona 2-1, winning the crucial league title race. The news quickly spread throughout Spain and even across European football circles.
Many media outlets focused on the showdown between Wang Feng and Messi, claiming that the Chinese superstar once again outperformed his counterpart. It was not just about scoring twice; more importantly, he disrupted Messi's excellent scoring opportunity.
This move was significant. The Spanish newspaper "El Pais" believed that Wang Feng's control of the overall situation and his active role in both attack and defense were worth learning for Messi.
"This was a wonderful textbook-style display of attacking and defending. The Argentine star showed us the ultimate football talent and dribbling skills, while the Chinese superstar showed us how to actively run and defend correctly."
"Marca" deliberately published a photo of the moment Wang Feng disrupted the goal, capturing Messi's face from joy to surprise.
They commented, "The Argentine was on the verge of creating a miraculous goal, but in the end, it was only the Chinese superstar who could summon miracles. Real Madrid will once again climb to the top under his influence!"
"Of course, all of this is inseparable from Wang Feng's diligence and positive attitude. Everyone only sees his superb defensive skills, but they don't notice his serious attitude."
"As Messi started his breakthrough, the Chinese superstar was still in the opponent's half. It was his long-distance sprint back to defense that created this classic defensive move."
"AS" believed that Real Madrid's reversal of the points table at this time was significant. Although it couldn't be said to have secured the championship early, they had indeed taken the lead.
With six rounds left in the league, judging from the performance of the two Spanish giants in the past, the remaining opponents could not stop them. The most important thing was to avoid making mistakes themselves.
"The Galacticos are more reassuring. In recent years, they have always been stable in crucial moments, while Barcelona, who have lost the initiative, are prone to psychological issues."
The Catalan newspaper "Sport" also admitted this but believed that the team could regain the initiative as long as they gave their all in the remaining matches and won convincingly. After all, the difference in goal difference between the two sides was only eight goals.
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