Chapter 749: Extremely Awkward
At 8:30 PM on May 28th, at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy, the 61st UEFA Champions League final is about to ignite!
After the familiar opening song played, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, these two city rivals, stepped onto the field under the guidance of a British referee team.
Stepping onto the unfamiliar yet familiar turf, with the sound of countless fans chanting his name echoing in his ears, Wang Feng felt a bit surreal at this moment, as if he had returned to the age when he dominated the pitch in his early twenties.
For a moment, boundless confidence and strength surged within him. He used to be the king here!
For the mattress makers, this year marks their third entry into the Champions League final. It is regrettable that they failed in their previous two attempts, but this time they are determined to reach the peak.
As for the Galacticos, they are the most successful club in the history of the Champions League, not only being the team with the most appearances in the final but also the team with the most titles, a total of 18.
Moreover, they have achieved a five consecutive championships and a nine consecutive championship dynasty, and tonight they are aiming to shock the world with a tenth consecutive championship.
Real Madrid has completely dominated the world football scene for a decade, leaving countless opponents, as well as UEFA and FIFA, helpless.
They have even resorted to unconventional methods that are not acceptable in the football world, but it backfired. Not only did it fail to have the desired effect, but Platini and Blatter also fell because of it.
So, UEFA must restore its reputation with this match, ensuring that the competition is conducted in the fairest manner possible. As for who will win, it will be determined by strength and fate.
"Real Madrid is still wearing their iconic white jerseys for this match. Coach Ancelotti is using a 4-3-3 formation, with Navas as the goalkeeper."
"The four defenders are Carvajal, Ramos, Pepe, and Marcelo."
"The three midfielders are Casemiro, Modric, and Toni Kroos."
"The front three are composed of Wang Feng, Higuain, and Bale."
"There doesn't seem to be any surprises in the starting lineup. It's the usual first team for the Galacticos. The only difference is that the veteran Pepe is back in action. Such a crucial battle indeed requires experienced players to lead the team."
"Yes, Atletico Madrid is wearing red and white striped jerseys for this match. Simeone has lined them up in a 4-4-2 formation, with Oblak as the goalkeeper."
"The four defenders are Juanfran, Stefan Savic, Godin, and Felipe Luis."
"The four midfielders are Saul Niguez, Gabi, Augusto Fernandez, and Koke."
"The forwards are Griezmann and Torres."
"It is worth mentioning that both Savic and Fernandez are making their debut in the Champions League for Atletico this season, and their first match is the final. The coach's boldness is evident."
"Compared to two years ago, there have been significant changes in Atletico's personnel. It can be said that they are two completely different lineups. However, Simeone's tactical ideology remains the same, and it is even more mature and reliable."
The match started with Real Madrid kicking off. Wang Feng quickly passed the ball to Higuain, who immediately passed it back to Ramos.
Griezmann and Torres immediately entered Real Madrid's half to pressurize, and Atletico's midfield also advanced to press high up the pitch.
Seeing Torres approaching from the side, Casemiro turned around to shield the ball and used his back to block his position, then passed it to Carvajal on the wing.
The Spanish defender wanted to make some adjustments before kicking the ball forward, but Torres quickly rushed up and reached him in the blink of an eye. In haste, his pass turned into a clearance, flying directly out of bounds, conceding possession.
This made Ancelotti on the sidelines very dissatisfied. He shouted loudly, urging the players to focus and quickly get into the game. It was obvious that the opponents were coming at them with all they had from the start.
Godin threw the ball forward, Torres received it on the wing, and attempted a breakthrough but failed, passing it horizontally to the center.
Casemiro, with quick reflexes, rushed out to intercept the ball. Just as he was considering his next move, Fernandez's sliding tackle followed, directly sending the Brazilian midfielder sprawling.
"Beep!" Referee Kraltenberg blew the whistle, and the Real Madrid fans in the stands booed loudly. That was too dirty!
"Be a bit more careful. I don't want to see another incident like this!" The Englishman warned the Atletico midfielder. The game had just begun, and he didn't want to show cards too easily.
Atletico went all out from the first second of the match, pressing high up the pitch against Real Madrid, even pushing their defensive line up to the halfway line.
The Galacticos were caught off guard and played somewhat chaotically in the first five minutes, especially in the third minute when Kroos' cross resulted in a mistake, and Saul seized the opportunity to intercept and then shot just wide of the post near the edge of the penalty area.
Fortunately, Real Madrid was a seasoned team, and after continuous reminders from coach Ancelotti and captain Wang Feng on the sidelines, they immediately became vigilant and stabilized the situation.
They had a clear tactical plan before the game: not to stick to the ball or control possession but to organize quick counterattacks whenever an opportunity arose, prioritizing speed and efficiency.
With their strong passing ability in midfield and the speed of players like Bale and Wang Feng in advancing, they would undoubtedly pose a great threat to Atletico's defense.
In the 7th minute, Casemiro sent a long pass from the back, and the Chinese superstar sprinted forward to receive it. Just as he was about to penetrate the defense, Juanfran rushed over in time to send the ball out of bounds, also colliding with Wang Feng.
"Hiss!" The Atletico fans in the stands and the players on the field were all inexplicably shocked. If he had broken through, it would have been a one-on-one situation, almost certainly resulting in a goal!
In the following attack, Kroos threw the ball to Modric, who then passed it several times in succession before finding Bale on the wing. The Welshman accelerated down the flank and crossed to Higuain in the box. Under pressure from the defenders, Higuain shot directly at goalkeeper Oblak's chest.
It was Real Madrid's first shot of the game.
Unable to make any headway, they quickly retreated to their own half, with even forwards like Wang Feng falling deep, as if forming a pocket waiting for Atletico to bring the ball over to attack.
Simeone's eyebrows furrowed into a frown, and the more he looked, the more uncomfortable he felt. He wanted to fight for possession, but not for ball possession. Why did it feel like he was being forced to play a possession game?
With high-pressure tactics and localized encirclement, wouldn't it be a joke? Atletico could only carry the ball to penetrate the attack, but then they had to worry about the opponent's quick counterattacks if they lost possession.
"This old fox can really play possum." The Argentine coach gritted his teeth and cast a fierce glance at Ancelotti, who was standing nearby with his hands in his pockets.
You are the strongest powerhouse with ten consecutive league titles and nine consecutive Champions League titles, unparalleled. Yet, you're playing defensively against our small Atletico?
And that Wang Feng, your position is clearly a forward, not a defensive midfielder. Why are you dropping back to the front of the penalty area to tackle and intercept, doing this kind of "dirty work"? It doesn't look like a world-class superstar at all!
Watching his own players passing the ball sideways continuously but still unable to break into threatening areas, and facing the opponent's rapid counterattacks like a storm whenever they made a mistake in passing, Simeone felt helpless.
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