Chapter 912 Fatal Blind Spot
The first half ended with Manchester City temporarily leading 2-1.
During the half-time break, both teams made improvements and compensated for the problems exposed in the first half, but overall, there was not much change in tactics, and they still adopted the same style of play as in the first half.
But what no one expected was that after the start of the second half, Barcelona took the lead in launching a wave of high-intensity pressing and oppression.
Especially taking advantage of Manchester City's kick-off opportunity, they pressed forward in large numbers and launched a frantic pressing campaign against Manchester City's midfield and backcourt.
During a pressing attack, Joe Hart was disturbed by Messi. When he passed the ball to Marcelo, the force was not enough and Pedro intercepted it.
Everyone was shocked. Marcelo returned to defense immediately and blocked Pedro, but the Barcelona winger still cut to the ribs and sent a ball behind him. Messi stopped the ball before Pepe, dribbled past Pepe, and shot again with his left foot.
A curved ball went straight into Manchester City's goal, 2-2! The game was tied again!
Joe Hart pounded the grass hard, extremely annoyed.
Just now, under the relentless pressure of Messi, he was trying to pass the ball in a hurry, and did not notice that Pedro was near Marcelo. The result was what happened now, he watched Pedro assist Messi to score.
This low-level mistake made Joe Hart feel somewhat ashamed to face his teammates.
He felt like he was stuck in a vicious circle.
The harder he tried to perform well, the more mistakes he made. The more mistakes he made, the more pressure he felt, and the more he wanted to perform well...
He knew that he was facing the biggest difficulty in his career.
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Joe Hart's pass error caused Manchester City to lose the ball for the second time, and also made Barcelona's start in the second half very effective. Their morale boosted and they continued to press Manchester City fiercely.
For a while, Manchester City was forced into the half.
This situation was difficult to see in the first half, but after the start of the second half, Barcelona played very smoothly.
Shortly after Messi scored, Barcelona created another chance.
After Iniesta and Messi completed a two-pass combination in the middle, he dribbled the ball to the front of the penalty area and made a straight pass.
Villa cut diagonally into the penalty area, received the ball on the left side of the penalty spot, and shot directly.
Due to Kompany's interference, Villa's shot was too straight and was directly confiscated by Joe Hart.
Just four minutes later, Messi made a straight pass that penetrated two defensive players, Busquets and Pepe, and landed on the right side of the penalty area. Pedro quickly inserted and stopped the ball too far.
This time it was Joe Hart who decisively left the goal and attacked, directly catching Pedro's long ball and knocking him to the ground.
The beautiful attack also won Joe Hart a round of applause.
Facts have also proved that the England goalkeeper is not without strength, but some of his characteristics are really too incompatible with Manchester City, especially his passing and receiving, the success rate is too low.
After successively resolving Barcelona's two threatening attacks, Manchester City gradually gained a foothold.
The start of the second half was indeed a bit pathetic, but the draw had to continue.
Mourinho made the first substitution in the 60th minute.
Pedro was replaced by Seydou Keita, and the team returned to a 4-4-2 formation, allowing Messi and Villa to push forward.
The purpose of Barcelona's substitution this time is mainly to adjust the team's midfield, which is a bit of a play for stability.
However, after adjusting to 4-4-2, Yaya Toure became more active in midfield.
Guardiola made the substitution five minutes later than Mourinho, replacing Di Maria with Hazard.
Manchester City continued to play in a 4-3-3 formation and remained unwavering.
Almost immediately after Guardiola made his substitution, Mourinho also made his second substitution, with Fabregas replacing Villa.
Many people have a misunderstanding of Fabregas' position.
The Spanish midfielder plays in the midfield and even as a defender for Arsenal, but in fact, when he was in the Barcelona youth team, Fabregas played as an attacking midfielder and a forward. He is a typical scoring player.
Fabregas was not originally valued by Mourinho, but the Barcelona management needed him to return, especially after so many years of hype, so they finally bought him back, so Mourinho had no choice but to use him.
Arranging Fabregas to play is also to let him play in the central midfield position, which is conducive to running in from behind. Messi's position is more free, and there are almost no restrictions on him, allowing him to play freely.
After two substitutions, it is not difficult to see that Mourinho's strategy is basically to stabilize his own defense and let several technical geniuses in the front play on their own and play in any way that can score goals.
Guardiola's strategy is to continue to consolidate Manchester City's possession of the ball.
Hazard's ball control ability is much stronger than Di Maria's. Letting him play and cooperating with Sudon and Sanchez, two players with extremely strong ball control abilities, can further strengthen Manchester City's frontcourt ball control ability, as well as the midfield.
Guardiola's meaning is very clear, which is to continue to fight for ball possession, suppress Barcelona in ball possession, and create more opportunities.
It can be said that the two substitutions basically reflect the coaching philosophies of the two head coaches.
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Gradually, after a series of substitutions, as the game progressed, Manchester City's ball possession rate gradually gained the advantage.
Especially after entering the 70th minute, the physical fitness of both sides declined. After Hazard came on the court, Manchester City's midfield passing and ball control advantage gradually became obvious, subtly suppressing Barcelona.
After coming on as a substitute, Hazard was also very active on the left side.
Manchester City's attack also began to lean towards this side, bringing out Hazard's dribbling threat.
On the defensive end, Kompany, Pepe and Busquets kept a tight lock on Messi and Fabregas.
This style of play allowed Manchester City to barely control the situation, and they began to try to dribble through the front of Barcelona's penalty area, striving to create some opportunities and trying to break through Barcelona's defense.
But it has to be said that Mourinho may not be good at coaching offense and ball control, but he is really good at defense.
When he really wants to defend, Barcelona's defense becomes very solid.
The two lines of defense were very layered and kept close together, making it difficult for Manchester City to break through.
However, the price is also obvious, that is, the team's passing and ball control are sacrificed.
Su Dong patiently roamed around the front of the penalty area, especially around the top of the arc.
He often ran over to find Hazard and Sanchez, or cooperated with David Silva who was dribbling the ball, just to try to create some opportunities, or to cause some fouls by getting more ball.
Su Dong's free kick skills are extraordinary. As long as the shot is within range, he can make it.
But Mourinho obviously knows this clearly, so Barcelona committed very few fouls outside the penalty area tonight, and none in the middle. Basically, the fouls were concentrated on the sides, or they were decisively committed outside the shooting range.
The tactics adopted by Manchester City, especially the tactics of Hazard, David Silva and Sanchez frequently dribbling and breaking through, were seen by Barcelona as somewhat of an attempt to draw a foul.
But even so, Barcelona will not easily give Manchester City such an opportunity.
It was not until the 79th minute that Sudong received a cross pass from Hazard after cutting in from the left. He stopped and dribbled past Yaya Toure, trying to get rid of the ball and face the goal directly. The Ivorian turned around and hastily tackled Sudong outside the penalty area.
This made Mourinho on the sidelines so angry that he roared.
Obviously, under high pressure, Mourinho was quite dissatisfied with the team giving Manchester City a free kick opportunity in the frontcourt at such a critical moment, because it was too dangerous.
…
Amid the roar of the stadium, Barcelona began to set up a human wall.
This time, the entire Barcelona team retreated, without even leaving any players in the frontcourt, and all retreated into the penalty area.
Five players formed a human wall and stood in a row to the left of the penalty spot.
There were two other players standing on the right side of the penalty spot, some distance away from the five players.
Manchester City had Marcelo and David Silva stand in the middle of Barcelona's two rows of players, leaving a gap in the middle that was just big enough for one person to stand.
Su Dong stood at the penalty spot and through the gap, he could just see goalkeeper Valdes in front of the goal.
This is Valdés' arrangement.
If Su Dong takes a chance, there will be no chance at all.
Valdes was standing on the right side, so a five-man wall was arranged on the left side of the penalty spot. It can be said that all angles were protected, unless Su Dong's penalty kick could bypass the wall's heads and fall back into the goal range.
With the strength of Barcelona goalkeeper, even if Su Dong did it, unless he was close to the left post, he would still be sure to save the ball. His reaction and movement speed were very fast, and his saves were also very agile.
"Are you sure you don't need cover?" Toni Kroos asked with concern.
Su Dong shook his head and pointed to the right side of the arc. "Stand a little closer and don't hinder me."
Toni Kroos shook his head with a smile, but obediently walked to the other side.
In fact, he also realized that Valdes knew that it would be Su Dong who would come to attack, so it really didn't make any sense whether he provided cover or not.
This is the duel between Su Dong and Valdés! After the human wall was set up, the referee Capers retreated outside the penalty area, and after a final check, he blew the whistle to signal that the penalty kick could be taken.
Su Dong looked straight at Valdes in front of him, and the Barcelona goalkeeper also stared at Su Dong as if he was facing a formidable enemy.
After taking a deep breath, Su Dong jumped out quickly, took three steps, and then kicked a curved ball with his right foot.
The ball climbed up, passed over the heads of the wall of people jumping high, then fell quickly, and finally drew a beautiful arc, just brushing the left post and going into Barcelona's goal.
"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!"
"A clean and direct free kick!!!"
"A wonderful direct free kick from Su Dong!"
"Fatal blind spot!!"
"Valdes didn't have time to react before the ball hit the post and went into the goal!"
"Three to two! Manchester City takes the lead again!"
(End of this chapter)
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