I Am Scouted by Real Madrid

Chapter 802: Chapter 55: Chen Still Has to Come On

Real Madrid have hopes of winning titles on three fronts.

For the match against Athletic Bilbao, Real Madrid cannot easily give up. Mourinho has a Plan B; for this match, almost all the main players are resting.

Cavaleiro, Marcelo, Alonso, Chen Zhong, Kaka, Cristiano Ronaldo all got the chance to rest.

When Real Madrid’s starting lineup was announced, everyone felt that this would be an opportunity for Athletic Bilbao. After all, Mourinho sent out a substitute lineup for this match.

San Mames Stadium, this focus match attracted a lot of attention from the fans.

After this match, Real Madrid will face Barcelona at home, and in the league, Real Madrid and Barcelona are in a class of their own. In other words, as long as they can overtake the other in points, the team can win the league title.

Mourinho did not make the same mistake Pellegrini did. Even though Chen Zhong, Kaka, and others weren’t in the starting lineup, they were still on the substitute list.

In the match, Real Madrid did not, as usual, completely dominate the midfield. In fact, Athletic Bilbao even had the initiative for a while. In the 4th minute, they already had a shot on goal.

Of course, Callejon and Di Maria also posed threats to Athletic Bilbao’s goal, especially Di Maria, who, after receiving a pass from Granero, completed a beautiful shot with his left foot from outside the right edge of the penalty area. Unfortunately, it narrowly missed the target, or seeing the opponent’s reaction, there would have been a good chance of scoring.

On the bench, Chen Zhong, Kaka, and others followed the shifting advances and defenses of the two teams, looking left and right, which was particularly amusing.

After ten minutes into the match, the actions of both teams clearly became more aggressive.

Obviously, even with most of the main players resting, Real Madrid’s players are still tough opponents for Athletic Bilbao.

Ramos fouled Muniain in the backfield, Gurpegi was penalized with a yellow card for a sliding tackle on Alvaro, Di Maria broke into the left side of the penalty area and was tripped by the onrushing Iraizoz.

The match on the field had a tendency to turn into a wrestling match.

This also led to Real Madrid players becoming agitated, especially after missing several chances. Higuain had a look of frustration, and Di Maria, who had provided several great passes to Higuain, was speechless.

On one occasion, Di Maria was fouled but managed to pass the ball to Higuain, who successfully beat the offside trap and broke into the penalty area.

Most people would have thought this perfect chance was a sure thing.

As a result, Higuain directly kicked the ball into the goalkeeper’s arms.

Then, in the 27th minute, the opposing goalkeeper rushed out, Di Maria passed to Higuain, who shot wide at an open goal.

This made the Real Madrid fans, who were chanting Higuain’s name from the stands, fall into silence.

No, who is this? Is this Higuain?

Then on several occasions, Athletic Bilbao launched attacks. If it weren’t for Casillas’ heroic performance, Real Madrid could very well have been trailing by halftime.

Mourinho had a small fit during halftime. The captain’s armband for this match was worn by Casillas, but it turned out that although both were products of the youth system, Chen Zhong was more of a leader than Casillas.

Chen Zhong would rally the players with actions and shouts on the field, whereas Casillas did not have Chen Zhong’s ability.

As the second half began, Mourinho several times looked towards Chen Zhong. After Bilbao once again completed a long-range shot, which was then saved by Casillas, in the 47th minute.

Mourinho eventually chose to replace the underperforming Callejon with Chen Zhong, while moving Granero to the wing.

This substitution had an immediate effect, and soon, Real Madrid took the lead.

It was a through ball from Chen Zhong, Di Maria charged into the penalty area, Bilbao then took Di Maria down, and the referee awarded a penalty.

Chen Zhong calmly placed the ball on the penalty spot and scored easily.

1:0

A few minutes later, again, it was an attack initiated by Chen Zhong.

After Di Maria took the ball and broke into the penalty area, he twisted the opposing player, but the opposing player stretched out both hands and pushed Di Maria down inside the penalty area.

Penalty, another penalty.

Chen Zhong stood on the penalty spot again, and once again, without a hitch, scored the penalty.

2:0

Mourinho stood on the sidelines, his face beaming with smiles. He started giving hand signals, indicating for players to waste time as much as possible, and on the sidelines, Cristiano Ronaldo was anxious seeing Chen Zhong score repeatedly.

In the 64th minute of the match, Mourinho replaced the repeatedly chanceless Higuain with Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese player got a chance at the center forward position.

Once on the left side of the penalty area, he completed a close-angle stab, and another time outside the penalty area, he launched a direct shot, trying to blast open the opponent’s goal, but unfortunately failed.

In the 78th minute of the game, Real Madrid scored again.