Chapter 283 Tie with Ronaldo
Some people say that the second Valencia derby this season was a one-on-one match between Su Dong and the entire Villarreal team.
This is indeed a bit exaggerated, but it also reflects the reality in some aspects.
That is, Valencia, which has already won the championship, is not interested in the city derby, but Villarreal, its arch-rival in the same city, is eager to qualify for the UEFA Cup by winning three points in the city derby.
One side is dispensable, while the other side is determined to win. You don't have to think about it to know what the situation of the game will be.
The Valencia Daily even revealed that after the 36th round of the league, Valencia changed the football they used on weekdays to the match ball for the Champions League final - the Logbook - during daily training.
This is the fourth match ball launched by Adidas after the revolutionary Meteor in 2002. It will be used in this year's European Cup in Portugal, but before that, the UEFA Cup final and the Champions League final will be the first to use this new ball, and Valencia will be the first to adapt.
The logbook is manufactured using a new heat-bonded technology from adidas, with no stitching on the surface.
According to official information from Adidas, this new football is more waterproof, and the materials used are one step higher than the Meteor, and the feel on the foot will also be improved. Judging from Valencia's daily training, the new football made with thermal bonding technology feels more solid and slightly heavier.
Of course, this may be a problem of players' adaptation.
Overall, there is not much difference between the two.
But this undoubtedly also represents a signal, that is, Valencia is more focused on preparing for the Champions League final.
…
After the game started, it seemed to confirm the outside world's speculation.
Valencia did not seem excited enough from the beginning and seemed to be intentionally "letting go". After all, the president of Villarreal is the younger brother of the president of Valencia, and it is understandable that the two brothers take care of each other.
Just thirteen minutes into the first half, Sonny Anderson received a pass from Belletti on the right and scored the first goal for Villarreal.
In the 25th minute, in a quick counterattack, Riquelme scored another goal for Villarreal with his outstanding personal ability, expanding the score to 2-0! Scoring two goals in a row made the fans at the Estadio degli Amor del Estadio very excited, and some even shouted that they wanted to defeat the newly crowned La Liga champions.
Everything seems to be as the outside world speculated. Valencia is not interested in this and does not intend to try its best.
What’s interesting is that both goals against Valencia came from Barcelona’s power.
Sonny Anderson and Riquelme are former Barcelona players, there is no need to say more, Riquelme is still a player on loan to Villarreal by Barcelona.
The right-back Belletti who provided the assist has performed very well this season and was hailed as the new Cafu. He was recruited by Barcelona before the end of the season and is considered a quasi-Barcelona player.
…
Although conceding two goals in a row, Valencia's performance still has not improved much.
The Bat Corps didn't try their best at all.
In order to better prepare for the Champions League final, Valencia's first-team players are busy building up their physical strength and adjusting their condition. For this game, most of the main lineup was rotated. Only Sudong, Curro Torres, Albelda and others started, and the rest were substitutes and rotation players.
In fact, if Su Dong hadn't insisted, he would probably have to be substituted.
But the good news is that David Silva has once again qualified for the starting lineup.
In the 35th minute, David Silva and Su Dong made a two-pass combination in front of the penalty area, giving Su Dong a chance to shoot. He shot with his legs, but Villarreal goalkeeper Reina barely lifted the ball over the crossbar.
David Silva took the initiative to run over and ask for the corner kick.
In the penalty area, Su Dong winked at David Silva.
The two of them train together all day long, know each other well, and have practiced free kicks a lot. David Silva is quite familiar with Su Dong, and Su Dong is very confident in David Silva's footwork.
As the two of them understood each other tacitly, David Silva quickly took a corner kick.
In the penalty area, Su Dong cleverly shook off Alvarez and Coloccini, jumped high in front of the penalty area, and headed the ball into the far corner towards the corner kick taken by David Silva.
Reina made a desperate save but was unable to stop the ball from going into the net.
One to two!
"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!"
"In the 35th minute, Su Dong scored again!"
"Thirty-fourth La Liga goal of the season!"
"From Sudong!"
"This 19-year-old has already caught up with his idol Ronaldo. He can be said to have created a miracle!"
"It's incredible!"
After scoring the goal, Su Dong rushed out of the stadium excitedly.
Many Villarreal fans at the Love Song Stadium even stood up and applauded and cheered for him.
They are fans of the Yellow Submarine, Valencia's sworn enemies, but that doesn't stop them from applauding Sudong at this moment.
More and more fans stood up and applauded Su Dong.
"A very touching scene took place at the Love Song Stadium!"
"Su Dong has indeed performed amazingly this season. We can't even describe his performance this season. We can only say that he has inspired fans all over the world and shocked the whole world!"
"Thirty-four goals, Su Dong successfully tied Ronaldo."
"The biggest suspense now is whether Su Dong can score another goal?"
"Tonight, or in the next round, as long as Su Dong scores another goal, he will break Ronaldo's goal record!"
…
Su Dong was full of desire for this.
Ronaldo is his idol and the goal he strives to catch up with.
As he said before the game, the best way for him to pay tribute to Ronaldo is to surpass him! Ronaldo also called him to encourage him, hoping that he would keep up the good work and believed that he would be able to score two goals in the last two rounds and surpass his 34 goals.
But only Su Dong himself knew that he actually only had one round.
This is an exception made by head coach Benitez for him!
According to Valencia's preparation plan, all players, including Su Dong, will rest in this round. In the next game against Albacete, the team will even play with an all-substitute lineup.
The reason is very simple. There are only three days from the last round of La Liga to the Champions League final. If the players play the game, it will be very disadvantageous for the upcoming Champions League final. Therefore, Benítez does not agree to let the main players play in the final game of La Liga.
Su Dong was not originally on the list for the match against Villarreal, but he took the initiative to find Benítez. He hoped to be able to participate in this game. He was eager to score goals and surpass his idol Ronaldo.
Benítez did not agree at first. He thought that this kind of empty reputation had no real meaning, but he could not convince Su Dong, so he could only make an agreement with Su Dong, that is, to only play in the derby and must rest in the last round.
From the perspective of opponents and goals alone, it is definitely more certain to play against Albacete at home.
But there was no way, the 38th round was too close to the Champions League final, and even Su Dong felt that he had no reason to ask for a chance to play.
However, against Villarreal, which was an away game and the team did not try their best, it was not easy for Su Dong to score a goal.
After scoring from a corner kick, neither team was able to create any more chances.
Villarreal had the advantage, frequently organizing and planning attacks, but failed to create any threats.
Valencia is not in very good shape, and the players are mainly rotated and substituted. Players like Sanchez and Canobbio have been absent from the game for a long time. How can their shape be good?
In this situation, no matter how hard Su Dong tried, he would be powerless.
But he still didn't give up!
…
Time fast-forwarded from the first half to the second half.
After the two teams changed sides, the situation remained unchanged.
After Villarreal took the lead, they were not in a hurry to attack. Valencia was in poor form and it was difficult for them to organize and create threats.
Su Dong ran and covered the front court very hard, but he was alone and had difficulty getting opportunities.
Time passed by bit by bit, but Su Dong was still running at full speed.
"In fact, even if Su Dong doesn't score any more goals, with his current efficiency, he has really surpassed Ronaldo back then. You know, in the 1996-1997 season, there were 22 teams and 42 rounds of matches in La Liga, but now there are only 20 teams and 38 rounds, which is four rounds less."
"Although Ronaldo only played 37 games, it was easier to score goals in the league back then than it is now. So although both of them scored 34 goals, Su Dong was better than Ronaldo back then. This is a fact that Ronaldo himself admits."
The problem is that many media and fans still do not agree.
Perhaps because Ronaldo's status is too high, or Su Dong is too young, or Su Dong does not play for a top club, or even for some other reason, they still insist that Su Dong must score more than Ronaldo's 34 goals to surpass their idol.
Su Dong competed hard and ran at all costs, just to prove to all those doubters and critics that he could do it!
Who makes him a plain and boring Virgo man?
He really has some inexplicable cleanliness when it comes to this kind of thing! And he is always full of confidence and believes that he can do it.
As long as the game is not over and the whistle has not sounded, he still has a chance.
With such confidence, Su Dong kept persevering.
…
On the sidelines, Benítez stood silently.
Deep down, he admired Su Dong's persistence and enterprising spirit, and he was even happy to help him.
But as the team's head coach, his calmness and rationality told him that this was not a good idea.
With the decisive battle approaching, what Valencia needs to do most is to prepare for the battle rather than fight for false fame.
Even during the game, he tried to replace Su Dong many times, but gave up the idea again and again.
Because he saw Su Dong's persistence on the court.
Perhaps, this is why he has come this far and created unexpected surprises for everyone!
Benítez thought to himself.
He was also silently praying for Su Dong, hoping that Su Dong would succeed! Thinking of this, Benítez turned his head and looked at the bench.
(End of this chapter)
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