I Am Scouted by Real Madrid

Chapter 695: Chapter 5: Powerhouses

Santiago Bernabeu Stadium

Fans of Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid have entirely different mindsets.

When the team scores a goal, Real Madrid fans can breathe a sigh of relief, whereas Atletico Madrid fans tend to lean more towards despair.

After Cristiano Ronaldo scored, he seemed extremely excited, pointing towards Chen Zhong, then ran to the corner flag area and leapt high, mimicking Chen Zhong’s celebration move.

And in the stands, some Real Madrid fans shouted, ”Siu”

Diego Simeone couldn’t sit still on the sidelines, he began shouting loudly, waving his arms, trying to inspire his players with words and gestures.

Atletico Madrid began to try attacking.

But the result only led to a rise in Real Madrid’s shooting attempts.

Alonso, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, and Chen Zhong took turns shooting, attempting to break Atletico Madrid’s defense. If not for De Gea and the goalpost, the score might have changed again.

In the 77th minute of the game.

Chen Zhong broke away once more, charging into the penalty box, facing the swarming Atletico Madrid players, he slipped the ball to the onrushing Alonso.

Alonso took the ball and unleashed a long shot, only for De Gea to save it again.

”Corner for Real Madrid!”

”Alonso stands near the corner flag.”

”He raises his right hand, ready to take the kick.”

In the penalty area of Atletico Madrid, players from both teams jostled together, and as Alonso launched the ball, Chen Zhong leapt high and powerfully headed it into the net.

3:1

Real Madrid leads by two goals.

After scoring, Chen Zhong sprinted towards the corner flag for a wild celebration.

In that instant, De Gea stood stunned, while Atletico Madrid players seemed to lose their spirit and resolve.

They were not adept at attacking, and falling one goal behind was manageable, but being two goals down with under 15 minutes left, Atletico Madrid clearly lacked the heart of a top team.

If it were Real Madrid trailing at this time, they would push everything forward to try and take the lead before the match ended. However, Atletico Madrid, considering they still had a home leg, chose to concede, to ”defend,” hoping to keep the scoreline till the end.

Yet, reality is cruel.

In the dying moments of the match, Di Maria, who had come off the bench, crossed from the wing to Chen Zhong. Chen Zhong executed a back-to-goal dribble in the penalty area, then performed a one-two with Negredo.

Felipe, having just come on, made an interception error, and Chen Zhong dashed into the penalty area. Facing De Gea’s challenge, he opted for a discreet toe poke.

The ball slid under De Gea, rolling straight into the goal.

4:1

”Hat trick!”

”Chen Zhong!”

”He has completed a hat trick!”

”For Diego Simeone, this is undoubtedly an unforgettable experience.”

”Since he started coaching Atletico Madrid, the team has been known for its solid defense, and until now, no one had scored a hat trick against his team.”

”But Chen Zhong broke this record.”

”Facing Atletico Madrid in the second half, he netted two goals.”

”Completed a hat trick!”

”4:1”

When Chen Zhong once again breached Atletico Madrid’s goal, the entire Santiago Bernabeu Stadium erupted.

Fans in the stands chanted Chen Zhong’s name,

Chen Zhong responded by running to the corner flag, executing a knee slide followed by a smooth rise, then a fist pump, ultimately raising both hands high.

Each swing of his arms was accompanied by the cheers of thousands of fans.

Diego Simeone watched this scene with arms crossed, expressionless; he had hoped to win a championship for Atletico Madrid in his first year of coaching, but now, it seems, that hope has vanished.

Moreover, his ”first blood” was brutally taken by Chen Zhong.

This was the first time since coaching Atletico Madrid that a player had scored a hat trick against them.

Mourinho, on the other hand, watched the scene with a smile. As a tactical and defensive master, with a three-goal advantage from the first leg, and leading a team like Real Madrid, he genuinely wondered how he could possibly lose.

After the match, major media outlets reported the result. Santiago Bernabeu Stadium once again filled to capacity for the Derby de Madrid this season, and the Galaxy Battleship enjoyed another victory in the Derby de Madrid.

However, Real Madrid’s frontline issues persist, with neither Benzema nor Negredo meeting the fans’ expectations and hopes.

After this match, Mourinho and Valdano publicly stated that Real Madrid is considering finding a new forward for the team next season.

In the post-match press conference, Benzema, who was replaced prematurely due to inactivity, faced media questioning.

Facing the media’s questions, Mourinho did not let the French striker bear the brunt alone. At the press conference, he addressed the questioning journalist, saying, ”Hey, do you know?”

”In this match, he showed unprecedented dedication.”

”The only thing lacking was just a bit of goal-scoring fortune, just a bit!”

Of course, this was merely a statement of face-saving on the surface because, after the game, considering Benzema’s continued struggles at Bernabeu, Real Madrid’s general manager, Valdano, changed the previous stance of the higher-ups having no intention to search for a striker during an interview with CANAL+ TV.