Chapter 209, the second leg of the Champions League semi-final (Author...)
Before the second leg of the Champions League semi-final, the 34th round of La Liga will begin.
In this round of league matches, both Real Madrid and Barcelona opted for significant squad rotations to conserve energy for the second leg of the Champions League semi-final three days later.
Real Madrid's opponent is Zaragoza.
As this was Real Madrid's first home game after the Copa del Rey final, Real Madrid's captain and vice-captain Casillas and Ramos displayed the Copa del Rey trophy to the fans before the match started.
Real Madrid played conservatively in this match and ultimately won 1-0 against Zaragoza, with Benzema scoring the only goal of the game.
Barcelona's opponent is Real Sociedad.
Real Sociedad capitalized on Barcelona's depleted squad, defeating them 2-1 at home and keeping the three points at the Anoeta Stadium.
After the 34th round of the league, Real Madrid sits atop the La Liga standings with 91 points, four points ahead of Barcelona with 87 points.
In the remaining four league matches this season, Real Madrid will face Sevilla and Villarreal, two formidable teams that have consistently occupied the European qualification spots, while Barcelona's four opponents are all hovering in the lower half of the standings. Therefore, the La Liga title is far from over.
UEFA appointed Belgian Frank de Bricli as the referee for the second leg of the Champions League semi-final, an all-Spanish affair. This referee had previously officiated the second leg of the 2009/10 Champions League semi-final between Barcelona and Inter Milan—the match where Busquets famously covered his face while peeking at the goal. Because of Busquets's actions, Inter Milan's midfielder Motta was sent off with a red card by de Bricli, leading to Mourinho's numerous post-match criticisms of the referee.
The referee in the first leg claimed to be a Messi fan and sent Pepe off with a red card. The referee in the second leg is Mourinho's old nemesis. Real Madrid is in an uproar and is protesting! Protesting immediately!
Real Madrid's protests were to no avail, and it was already a foregone conclusion that de Bricli would officiate the second leg at Camp Nou. Left with no other option, Real Madrid pinned a video clip of Busquets covering his face while secretly watching the game and deceiving the referee on their official website and social media, as a reminder to de Bricli not to be fooled by Busquets again.
Despite the unsightly incident off the field, the executives of both clubs still endured their disgust and dined together as is their tradition before the second leg of the Champions League semi-final.
This gave Fino a new understanding of the complex relationships between clubs.
Unlike the purely competitive spirit instilled in fans, the club wants to destroy its derby rivals, but is also afraid that the derby rivals will actually be defeated. The club needs derby rivals to keep the players' fighting spirit, enhance club cohesion, purify the fan base, and stimulate revenue.
On the surface, they seem like they're locked in a life-or-death struggle, but behind the scenes, they're pulling and tugging at each other's sides.
Football is simple, but the world of football is complex.
...
On May 3, the final match of the 18-day, 4-game series between Real Madrid and Barcelona, the second leg of the Champions League semi-final, kicked off at Barcelona's home ground, Camp Nou.
The final and most important match will determine which team will advance to the Champions League final this season.
Around 4,000 Real Madrid fans traveled to Camp Nou to watch the game and cheer for their beloved team. In Camp Nou, which has a capacity of nearly 100,000 people, this splash of white could only fill a narrow corner, but it was like a lightning bolt that broke through the blue ocean reflecting the red sunset clouds.
This is Fino's third visit to Camp Nou since his transfer to Real Madrid. The previous two visits were in La Liga, both ending in Real Madrid's defeat. This time, he wants to win!
Barcelona's starting lineup for this match was largely the same as in the first leg, with the only change being the return of Iniesta from injury, replacing Keita. Valdes remained in goal, with Alves, Mascherano, Pique, and Puyol forming the four defenses. The two midfielders besides Iniesta were Xavi and Busquets, and the three forwards remained Pedro, Messi, and Villa.
The biggest changes for Real Madrid are in their defense. Ramos and Pepe are suspended, while Carvalho and Albiol, returning from suspension, partner at center-back, with Arbeloa and Marcelo at full-back. Khedira is still injured, Lass Diarra continues to partner Fino and Alonso in the three defensive midfielders, with Ronaldo and Kaká as the two attacking midfielders, and Higuain as the lone striker. Casillas, wearing the captain's armband, remains at the back of the goal.
That evening, a torrential downpour swept through Barcelona, but as the start of the match drew near, the rain gradually stopped. Fino glanced at the sky—a good omen.
The suspended Mourinho did not appear at Camp Nou. Instead, he chose to stay in his hotel in Barcelona and direct the game via electronic devices. Although this was somewhat inconvenient, it allowed him to avoid interference from fans and UEFA staff.
Real Madrid remained committed to a defensive counter-attacking strategy in this match, utilizing Fino and Alonso's long passes and the speed of Ronaldo, Kaká, and Higuaín to launch quick counter-attacks while maintaining a solid defense.
When the time is right, the 4321 formation will change to 4231, with Fino moving forward to play as an attacking midfielder.
Puyol won the coin toss, and Barcelona kicked off the first half.
Having already played three matches in 18 days, both sides quickly got into the game without any hesitation or probing. Real Madrid established a solid midfield defense, while Barcelona immediately passed the ball to their own backfield.
After a few passes in their own half, Barcelona suddenly launched a long diagonal pass to Pedro, who was running down the right flank towards Real Madrid's backfield.
Marcelo immediately closed in on Pedro, vying for the ball's trajectory. In the ensuing struggle, Pedro deflected the ball out of bounds.
Marcelo took the throw-in from the nearest point and tossed the ball to Fino.
The moment Fino received the ball, Xavi, Pique, Busquets, and Iniesta surrounded him completely from all sides.
Fino: = =T
The Barcelona fans are really giving us a lot of face!
Fino didn't panic despite being surrounded by four players. He took a small step back with the ball, then used a shoulder drop to change direction and came out from between Iniesta and Pique. He quickly dribbled a few steps laterally towards the center and then passed the ball to Kaká inside the center circle. Kaká then dribbled the ball at high speed towards Barcelona's half.
After passing the ball, Fino also sprinted towards Barcelona's half, cutting diagonally to the right flank as he ran, creating opportunities for Kaká in the middle with Ronaldo on the left. Marcelo also moved up from the left, with Lass Diarra and Alonso following behind Kaká.
After Kaká dribbled past the onrushing Mascherano, he passed the ball to Fino on the right wing. Fino was already at the edge of Barcelona's penalty area and was not offside. Fino received the ball and immediately took a shot, which was saved by Valdes. Marcelo got to the loose ball and took a follow-up shot, but it went over the crossbar.
Barcelona's attacking desire is even stronger now that they are back at home. On the one hand, they have the advantage of playing at home, and on the other hand, due to the away goals rule, Guardiola is eager to gain an absolute advantage in the number of goals.
Real Madrid, on the other hand, were more composed. Under Fino's command, Real Madrid's defense was rock-solid, making it difficult for Barcelona to penetrate into their own half. On the counter-attack, they were lightning fast, and after a failed attack, they quickly retreated to solidify their defense and wait for Barcelona's next attack.
In the first ten minutes or so of the match, both sides spent most of their time entangled back and forth between their two halves, resulting in very few shots on goal.
In the 12th minute, Barcelona launched a quick attack from their own half. Busquets passed the ball to Xavi on the right wing, who then chipped a long pass over the top, aiming at Messi, who was positioned on the right flank in Real Madrid's half.
After receiving the ball, Messi cut inside while moving forward. After getting past Alonso, he was tripped by Carvalho, who received a yellow card for the foul.
This yellow card has a significant impact on Real Madrid's defense. Only a dozen minutes into the game, their key center-back received a yellow card, which will inevitably restrict Carvalho's defensive actions and movements.
In the next 20 minutes or so, Barcelona launched attacks from both flanks, bypassing Real Madrid's midfield defense through the two flanks, taking advantage of Real Madrid's absence of Ramos and Pepe, as well as Carvalho's yellow card.
Fino, naturally unwilling to let Barcelona succeed, immediately directed the midfield defense to retreat and tighten up after discovering Barcelona's intentions, trying to keep the danger out of Real Madrid's penalty area as much as possible.
Meanwhile, Casillas made several brilliant saves against Barcelona's shots.
The sighs at Camp Nou were constant, and the sighs of the home fans were the best reward for the away team.
In the 38th minute, Villa crossed from the byline, and Messi's low shot inside the penalty area was once again saved by Casillas, and Real Madrid's counter-attack began again.
Casillas launched a long ball into Barcelona's backfield. Ronaldo won the header against Alves, but was then pulled down from behind by Pique. The referee blew the whistle for a foul on Pique, but did not issue a card; instead, he awarded Real Madrid a free kick.
The free kick was taken from the left flank, about 42 meters from the Barcelona goal. Alonso took the free kick.
The moment Alonso took the shot, a wall of Real Madrid and Barcelona players quickly moved from near the penalty area line into the box, with Barcelona players blocking Real Madrid players one by one from the goal.
After the ball was lofted into the penalty area, it was headed out by Pique. Marcelo then knocked aside Iniesta, who was also vying for the ball, and headed it across to the left side of the penalty area. Fino, who was lurking there, took a shot, and the ball grazed the left post and went into the goal.
At that moment, the Barcelona penalty area was crowded with people, and Valdes, whose vision was obstructed, did not notice the shot at all. By the time he heard the sound of the ball cutting through the air, it was too late, and he could only watch helplessly as the ball hit the net.
"Gooooal! In the 40th minute, Cabrini scored Real Madrid's first goal of the match, giving them the lead at Camp Nou. The scales of victory are tipping slightly in Real Madrid's favor. According to the Champions League's away goals rule, Barcelona needs to score one more goal than Real Madrid to advance to the Champions League final. If Barcelona only manages to pull back one goal, then Real Madrid, with the away goals rule, can still advance!"
After scoring, Fino ran towards the small group of Real Madrid fans who had come with the team, amidst the boos and objects thrown from the ceiling of Camp Nou. The cheers of the Real Madrid fans were indistinct in the midst of the boos, but Fino felt as if he could hear them with his heart. He waved to that pure white figure, then smiled and made a heart shape with his hands.
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A note from the author: Teachers, after reading the feedback in the comments section these past few days, I'd like to offer some explanations:
1. Regarding the change of location
The change in position wasn't to give up an award for Ronaldo or to make room for Kaká; it was because of the formation. This season, Real Madrid's commonly used formations are 4-2-3-1 and three defensive midfielders (4-3-3 or 4-3-2-1), especially when playing against Guardiola's Barcelona. Their tactics are inevitably based on counter-attacking. Personally, I think the center forward position (the famous scapegoat Benzema position) is not as effective as the defensive midfield position (the Pirlo + Gattuso combined position).
Moreover, the groundwork was actually laid as early as the World Cup. Fino likes the feeling of being in control of everything as a midfield maestro, so he is willing to move to the midfield, take on more responsibility, and make greater contributions.
As for the Ballon d'Or, this article won't cover the next one. Even if there is another, I don't believe Fino, playing in a more defensive role, will lose. The Ballon d'Or isn't just about position. In reality, Messi and Ronaldo both play in attack, so everyone habitually assumes forwards have an advantage when it comes to the Ballon d'Or. But actually, it's Messi and Ronaldo who are stronger, not the forward position. Before the two superstars, the Ballon d'Or was a diverse field. Even during their heyday, other brilliant forwards didn't win it. I think a comment from a teacher in the previous chapter makes a lot of sense: Real Madrid and Barcelona "each want to promote a new king of football" within their respective systems. Under these circumstances, considering national team performance, contributions to their teams, current Ballon d'Or tally, and personal influence, Fino is in no way inferior to Ronaldo. Real Madrid has no reason not to promote him, especially since he has an author as a mother.
2. Regarding the excessive emphasis on secondary characters, Ronaldo, and Kaka.
I have no intention of writing any secondary couples. The couples that appear in the story, other than the main characters, are mostly mentioned in forum posts, media reports, or in their daily interactions. They are only briefly mentioned in a few sentences and are not given much attention. They are just used as jokes to make people laugh.
After the transfer, Kaká's storyline mainly revolves around two phases: his injury around the World Cup and his recovery and regaining form. Both phases depict the friendship and sense of redemption between Kaká and Fino, and also highlight Fino's personal charm. Kaká is Fino's best friend and was the first person in the Milan dressing room to show Fino kindness. When Kaká was in trouble, it was impossible for Fino not to lend a hand. Fino is kind to his teammates, let alone Kaká.
As for Cristiano Ronaldo, I personally didn't feel I should write about his highlights. Aside from contesting free throws, he didn't have any significant storylines. Some teachers might think Ronaldo appears too frequently. After some thought, I realized that, firstly, there are a lot of memes surrounding Ronaldo, and secondly, I tend to focus on a few relatively famous players who serve as background figures, such as Ronaldo, Casillas, Ramos, and Marcelo.
There's a reason for this. Some readers simply enjoy reading the stories and don't watch much football. I've been through that phase myself, and I personally think that having too many unfamiliar names appearing when a player is playing a background role artificially increases reading difficulty. So unless the player is not famous but has a famous meme, or is suited to certain roles (like Arbeloa returning from the Premier League, so he's suitable for running betting operations), the background role should be filled by a more well-known player.
This leads to another problem: some readers might be indifferent to a particular player or couple, and get annoyed by their repeated appearance (even just as background characters), requesting advance warnings to avoid them. Honestly, everyone's personal triggers are different, and it's impossible to avoid them all. Besides, for example, if I genuinely avoid the warning "This chapter features a certain couple," and a reader who likes that pairing excitedly clicks in only to find three lines of description, isn't that another form of deception? [laughing and crying with facepalm]
3. His career was uneventful after transferring to Real Madrid.
This feedback has been around for quite a while and has bothered me for a long time. I couldn't find the reason myself, so my efforts (such as incorporating jokes into matches and adding more everyday moments) didn't have much effect. Recently, the proportion of this feedback has increased sharply. Last night, I spent the whole night reviewing the situation, and when I thought about the feedback above, I suddenly had a clue. Why didn't the readers feel that the teammates were highlighted as much, even though there was more group portrayal during Fino's time at Milan? It's because Fino's emotional intensity towards Milan and Real Madrid was different.
When I was outlining the story, during his time at AC Milan, I focused on portraying the family atmosphere (team camaraderie) and Fino's growth. Although Fino himself considered himself particularly mature and stable, his teammates still treated him like a child. At Real Madrid, he was away from home working. Fino had grown a few years older, and his personality had changed somewhat. The focus at Real Madrid was on his leadership role at work and how he helped the team defeat Barcelona. By this time, Fino was a true star player. His teammates weren't that much older than him, and the bond wasn't as strong; they genuinely treated him like a father figure, and the touching camaraderie of his Milan days was lost.
This is my problem. I wrote from Fino's perspective, feeling that once you leave home for work, no matter how well you get along with your colleagues, they're not family. But I neglected the readers' feelings. From the readers' perspective, the harmonious family atmosphere suddenly disappeared, and the work-related vibe emerged. Another reason is that at this point, Fino and Alonso were almost ready to confess their feelings, so during their Real Madrid phase, I only focused on developing Fino's romantic relationship with Alonso and his friendship with Kaká. The other teammates were somewhat relegated to background roles, which made the story feel rather bland to the readers.
I'm not sure if my reasoning is correct, because sometimes when I write about competitions, even chapters I consider dramatic and engaging still get comments from teachers that they're bland [laughing and crying emoji]. But whatever the reason, it's definitely a problem with my writing skills, which has given everyone a poor reading experience, and I'm very sorry. Since this book is only two competitions away from completion, stopping now for major revisions is unrealistic and would easily lead to incoherence. Therefore, I can only continue writing it as it is now, and I apologize again.
There's one more thing I want to say. Perhaps my writing skills are lacking, or my approach to the story is not good enough, which has led some readers to feel that "changing positions was to give Ronaldo the Ballon d'Or," "writing a secondary couple," "the supporting characters having too much screen time to overshadow the protagonist's highlights," "the protagonist being like a camera or a blood bag," "the protagonist being like a mannequin," or "the author not loving the protagonist." But I have never had such thoughts.
This is my explanation and reflection. Some teachers may disagree with my explanation or have other ideas, which is perfectly normal. Readers have the right to express their feelings, and subscribing means you have offered support and love. As long as the feedback and criticism are rational, I understand and accept them. [Heart]
Finally, this is my first novel, and it certainly has many shortcomings. I can see quite a few problems myself, and there are others I'm not even aware of. Thank you all for your support and understanding. After finishing this one, I will reflect on and summarize it carefully, and I will also study other authors' storytelling abilities. I'll take some time to mature before starting my next book, striving to improve upon this one. [Heart emoji]
Thank you again for your support and understanding. I hope every reader enjoys reading this story. [pat on the head]
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