I Am Scouted by Real Madrid

Chapter 898: Chapter 9: National Derby, Veteran’s Roar (Part 2)

In the league and other matches, because there was no performance in the FIFA Club World Cup, in official games, Chen Zhong was more often used as a substitute, and even then as a replacement for Tchouameni, helping the team solidify their defense.

This time in the National Derby, Alonso also considered the issue of public opinion, so he posed a question to Chen Zhong.

The National Derby has always been one of the highest-rated matches globally each season. Last season, the suspense for the La Liga champion remained until the second leg of the National Derby, when it began to unravel.

This made the matchup at the Barcelona Olympic Stadium on Beijing time (May 11th) at 22:15 one of the most weighty confrontations in recent years.

When these two giants meet, they are the only remaining contenders for the 2024-25 La Liga championship.

For stars like Yamal and Mbappe, winning the championship is incentive enough, but the consequence of letting their arch-rival lift the trophy is unimaginable.

By this time, Barcelona had long lost Messi, but Real Madrid still had players like Chen Zhong, however...

Barcelona has held the upper hand in every encounter with Real Madrid this season, and Chen Zhong has always missed the National Derby due to injuries.

If Barcelona couldn’t turn a four-point lead into a championship trophy in this match last season, it would have been a brutal end to Coach Flick’s first season, especially after being epically knocked out by Inter Milan in the midweek Champions League semi-final.

For Real Madrid, a trophyless season would be a disaster, precisely the scenario legendary coach Ancelotti might face, possibly his farewell season at the Bernabeu.

In the end, everyone knows the outcome.

Why this is the most important National Derby in recent years.

Because Chen Zhong missed every game, and people are eager to know if Real Madrid can beat Barcelona without Chen Zhong.

A National Derby held this late is rare, let alone when the championship is at stake.

La Liga usually schedules the National Derby in March and April, when the title race is tight, to avoid this high-profile match from becoming irrelevant.

In the past 30 years, there was only one National Derby held as late as this: on May 27, 1995, when Barcelona defeated Real Madrid 1-0, but the latter still won the title with a nine-point lead. Now, after 35 La Liga rounds, the championship suspense still exists: Barcelona leads by four points, on the verge of a double crown; Real Madrid faces a do-or-die situation, needing a win and hoping for a Barcelona collapse in the final three rounds.

When the schedule was announced, there were concerns that this National Derby might lose significance due to its late timing, but now those worries are completely dispelled as this showdown comes at the perfect moment in the twists and turns of the title race.

Throughout the season, there were multiple points where one team seemed poised to break away from the rest, with Atletico Madrid also causing disruption, but Barcelona has led the standings most of the time since their form dipped at the end of 2024.

After a 4-0 away thrashing of Real Madrid last October, Barcelona extended their lead to six points, with Atletico ten points behind. However, Barcelona then managed only one win in seven games (including a loss to Atletico), allowing Los Colchoneros to take the top spot, but Atletico then won only two of their next six, returning control to Real Madrid.

After a big win over Valladolid this January, Real Madrid led Atletico by four points and Barcelona by seven, holding a massive advantage, seemingly making the championship a sure thing?

But injury issues, especially Chen Zhong’s frequent injuries, cast a doubt over everything.

From February 1st to March 1st, without an injured Chen Zhong, Real Madrid won just one of five league matches, while Barcelona rediscovered their early-season form. By March, after an away victory over Atletico, La Liga briefly appeared to have a three-way battle for the title, but by April, the title suspense focused on the National Derby rivals.

Barcelona won 13 and drew 2 of their 15 league matches in 2024, turning a seven-point deficit into a four-point lead, and in the Spanish Super Cup final and the King’s Cup final, they beat Real Madrid 5-2 and 3-2, respectively. If they remain undefeated in this match, Barcelona could lift the trophy twice within three years; if they lose, this season’s drama may reach its conclusion.

First, we must acknowledge that Barcelona has already overachieved this season. For a young team that won nothing last season, winning the Spanish Super Cup, the King’s Cup, and reaching the Champions League semi-final for the first time since 2019 is already a perfect answer.

But now, the standard has changed. Despite everyone knowing Yamal is exceptionally talented, this under-18 supernova has quickly joined the ranks of the world’s elite.

Raphinha’s explosive stats, 37-year-old Lewandowski having his best season since joining, and Pedri staying healthy to finally become the midfield core, all exceeded expectations.

Under Flick, the players thrive. It’s well-known that the German coach’s system emphasizes high intensity, a high defensive line, and is highly entertaining, but it also has fatal flaws, as evidenced by the Champions League reversal by Inter.

Barcelona stopped the bleeding from the Champions League exit by defeating Real Madrid for the fourth time this season and clinched the championship trophy.

Last season, that pivotal battle was all about keeping title hopes alive with a victory or declaring the season a complete failure with a loss.

And this season, this National Derby is also extremely important; it’s a battle to cleanse shame and an important proving ground for Alonso.

Before the match, La Liga released a poster: The Duel of the Century.

Barcelona also refused to be outdone, launching their own poster, and Real Madrid revealed their lineup, with Mbappe, Bellingham, Valverde, and Chen Zhong all making appearances.

However, as the match approached, Alonso hesitated somewhat, partly due to his own considerations and partly not wanting to tarnish Chen Zhong’s ending.

If Chen Zhong played in this National Derby, but the team ultimately lost.

Then who knows how the post-match public opinion would turn out.

However, Chen Zhong insisted on playing, and Alonso compromised.

...

Spain, National Derby.

The score on the field, 2:4

At Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Real Madrid fans looked somewhat despondently at the scene before them, as Barcelona’s offensive continued to rain down, almost like a replay of last season’s final showdown.

Facing young genius Yamal, Real Madrid’s defense was vulnerable.

As Barcelona’s fans laughed and awaited victory, Alonso turned his gaze to Chen Zhong on the bench.

”It’s already the 72nd minute of the match!”

”Real Madrid is trailing by 2 goals.”

”There isn’t much time left for them.”

”Now, Real Madrid still has one substitution left.”

”What will Alonso do?”

”Will he bring on Chen Zhong?”

In this match, Chen Zhong was on Real Madrid’s team sheet, but he didn’t start, and at such a crucial moment, Alonso was a bit troubled.

If Chen Zhong was under 30, he would unhesitatingly substitute him in, believing he could bring victory to the team.

But now?

Chen Zhong seemed to sense Alonso’s hesitation. He stood up, walked to Alonso in front of countless eyes.

”Let me play!”

”Chen!” Alonso was startled, looking at Chen Zhong. Not letting Chen Zhong play was due to various factors, including an assessment of his ability.

He didn’t believe Chen Zhong still possessed the ability to change the game.

”Otherwise, who else can go up?”

”They’ve already started to get restless.”

”Records are meant to be broken.”

”Let me go up,” Chen Zhong said slowly to Alonso, who glanced at the bench. Indeed, at this point, it seemed that whoever went up would make little difference.

If Chen Zhong goes on, perhaps?

There might be a different result, you never know!

”Real Madrid used their last substitution.”

”Number 10, Chen Zhong!”

”It’s Chen Zhong!”

”He’s coming on when the team is two goals behind.”

”It seems like he even volunteered to come on.”

”Does he have that kind of confidence?”