I Am Scouted by Real Madrid

Chapter 814: Chapter 61: Core, Core, Core

Real Madrid and Barcelona are each playing this match around the core players within their teams.

Barcelona is playing around Messi, while Real Madrid is centered on Chen Zhong, competing against Barcelona. Initially, the two teams maintained a delicate balance, but after Real Madrid scored, Barcelona’s rhythm got a bit chaotic, and this performance showed on Barcelona’s players.

Pique’s yellow card exposed their eagerness.

The yellow card was taken very unnecessarily, Guardiola even repeatedly slapped his forehead, casting an odd look at Pique.

In such a game where losing isn’t an option, just under 30 minutes in, you gave me a yellow card; are you trying to make things difficult for me?

Mourinho saw Barcelona’s slightly embarrassed appearance, and he couldn’t hide the smile on his face.

In Mourinho’s view, the advantage is mine now; as long as I play steadily, in Barcelona’s eagerness, chances will keep appearing.

In fact, Mourinho’s prediction wasn’t entirely wrong.

”30 minutes into the match!”

”Real Madrid’s offense!”

”Chen Zhong has the ball!”

”Outside the penalty area, back towards the opponent!”

Chen Zhong received the ball inside the penalty box, reminiscent of the day he first joined Real Madrid’s first team. That time, it was Van Nistelrooy who received the ball, then turned and scored under his defense!

And now...

Chen Zhong recalled everything Van Nistelrooy did, and his current physical fitness was enough to replicate what Van Nistelrooy did back then.

”Boom!”

The ball flew toward the goal like a cannonball.

Valdes was very focused and directly blocked the ball with his face.

”That must’ve hurt Valdes.”

”You can clearly see it in the footage.”

”He’s got a bloody nose.”

”How did he dare do that!”

”Luckily, Chen Zhong didn’t fully power this shot.”

”Otherwise...”

Valdes’s actions motivated Barcelona’s players; they were deeply moved by Valdes’s fearless demeanor.

In the subsequent corner kick, Barcelona’s players also fearlessly cleared the ball.

The ball quickly came to Busquets’s feet, and Khedira suddenly advanced, directly intercepting the ball from the slow-turning Busquets, then quickly passed it to Kaka, who accelerated rapidly, broke into the penalty area, and managed to shoot despite being tackled by two defenders.

Valdes dove, but didn’t touch the ball.

When he looked towards the goal, he saw the ball slide past the post and out the sideline.

”Barcelona dodged a bullet!”

”Kaka was interfered with.”

”The shooting motion was a bit off.”

Valdes breathed a sigh of relief, and the Barcelona fans in the stands also breathed easier.

On the sideline, Guardiola smiled while stroking his bald head, whereas Mourinho shook his head helplessly, looking at Guardiola as if to say, ”You’re lucky!”

The match continued, Real Madrid wasn’t affected; rather, Barcelona struggled to find their rhythm.

Busquets had been intercepted several times already, and now Barcelona feared being counter-attacked by Real Madrid.

”34 minutes into the match.”

”Real Madrid’s offense.”

”Marcelo has the ball on the flank!”

”Move, move!”

”Through pass!”

”Chen Zhong has the ball!”

”Marseille Turn!”

Marcelo controlled the ball, made a through pass, Chen Zhong slightly withdrew, received the ball, and executed a Marseille Turn.

Busquets fell to the ground during the physical confrontation, Pique rushed forward to intercept, but Chen Zhong didn’t stick to the ball, instead passing it horizontally to a hungry Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Portuguese took the ball and broke directly into the penalty area.

His eyes burned towards Barcelona’s goal, yet Adriano from the side executed a slide tackle, destroying his dream of scoring.

”Very timely slide tackle!”

”Adriano!”

”If at this angle, C. Ronaldo managed to shoot!”

”There’s a high probability it would’ve been a goal!”

Mourinho felt regret seeing this; he knows the skills of this compatriot well, and shooting from such an angle almost guarantees a goal.

Guardiola couldn’t help but cheer for Adriano’s tackle after seeing this.

Adriano’s sliding tackle also inspired his teammates’ fighting spirit, and Barcelona’s actions in defense grew bolder, often fearlessly blocking.

For instance, Real Madrid’s next attack: Chen Zhong had the ball centrally and passed it to his teammate, Kaka, who attempted a chipped shot from outside the penalty area, trying to curl it into the goal.

But Valdes reacted swiftly, diving aside and punched the ball away.

The ball landed at Chen Zhong’s feet; just before he could kick, Puyol fearlessly blocked the ball away, and it flew towards goalkeeper Valdes again.

Valdes easily caught the ball.

Barcelona kept trying to adjust the pace to their style, but Real Madrid never gave them the opportunity to achieve it.

”Barcelona’s attack!”

”Xavi has the ball!”

”Got rid of the opponent’s entanglement!”

”Villa!”