"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!"
"Zidane! Zidane scored!"
"After a wonderful chest trol, he volleyed directly into the . Although Atletiadrid's goalkeeper Franao touch it, it was already too te. Zidane missed a ce just moments ago, but this time he found the back of the ."
"Two-nil!"
"This is the superstar! This is Real Madrid!"
"Tonight, Real Madrid has dispyed an impressive level, particurly as a cohesive team, whether in attack or defe's a stark trast to the disjointed performances we've seen i years under coaches like Lusenberg and Carlo."
"Despite Florentino implementing the Zidane-Gacticos policy, there hasn't been a standout pyer i years. Is it possible that Real Madrid cks talent?"
"Clearly not. It's astonishing that a talent like Eto'o couldn't find his p Real Madrid."
"Tonight's Real Madrid is a shining example. Not only have they shown tactical discipline, but the young pyers have also demonstrated high levels of skill. Eveeran Woodgate, returning from injury, has had his most stable game since joining Real Madrid."
"I wonder what Florentino is thinking right now as he watches from the VIP box?"
---
---
How Florentino feels, I don't know, and I won't specute.
All he knows is that he's in a good mood now, but under siderable pressure.
Zidane's goal cluded the first half, with pyers leaving the pitch to appuse from the Bernabeu faithful.
Meanwhile, Gao Shen was ready with Lucas in the locker room.
Upon their return, he immediately began the halftime debrief.
The team performed well, but that doesn't mean there are no issues. Whether it's the initial fusion or subsequent mistakes, Real Madrid o minimize them.
From the workpce to the stadium, no team is fwless. They're stantly evolving through trial and error, improvement and refi. It's in this spiral cycle that teams grow and improve.
Overall, the first-half performance was impressive, with the score as testament.
"I believe by now you trust me!" Gao Shen finally had the fideo address the group of superstars before him, the talented young rookies he had silently harbored doubts about.
Without tangible results, who would believe in you?
Raul and the other pyers exged nods of agreement.
Football is a realm that respects strength. Demonstrating your prowess earns you respect.
"In the sed half, we 't push forward recklessly. We o remain posed, ensure our defeays solid, and free ourselves up for terattacks." The first-half results bolstered Gao Shen's fidence, prompting him to outline his ambitious pns.
"Atletiadrid is a formidable oppo. They won't accept losing this match lying down, so expect them to fight tooth and nail. This will give us an opportunity to test our defensive resolve because, after this, tougher oppos await week."
Gao Shen's words left the locker room stunned, eyes wide with disbelief, fixed upon him.
Preparing for the Arsenal matext Wednesday already?
Unbelievable!
While they were still fretting over the weekend derby, Gao Shen was thinking ahead to the Champions League knockout week.
"Of course, that's still a ways off. For now, our focus is on pying well in the sed half."
Having said enough and dangling the carrot before them, Gao Shen quickly refocused their minds.
"I'll set you a task for the sed half: score anoal and keep a sheet!"
Real Madrid performed admirably in the first half. Despite fluctuations, they ended with a anding lead, their morale s.
Gao Shen's task wasn't daunting. Maintaining a sheet was a natural extension of their first-half performance, while sg anoal was well within Real Madrid's capabilities.
This was also the goal Gao Shen wao achieve.
If the task had been too difficult, the pyers might have resisted or eveed it. For the current Real Madrid squad, however, the task was merely a matter of diligend achievement—a sourotivation.
Dahe carrot before the donkey, giving it the illusion that it reach forward, and it will tinue moving.
Pyers aren't donkeys, but the principle remains.
---
---
At the start of the sed half, Atletiadrid unched a fierce assault.
Real Madrid used their right to kick off and patiently trolled possession in midfield and defeletiadrid pressed aggressively, applying high pressure on Real Madrid's midfield and defense.
Their i was clear: disrupt Real Madrid's rhythm, increase pressure on the bae, s defense for offense, and sow chaos in Real Madrid's half in hopes of turning the tide.
Murcia's strategy redictable. If they didn't want to lose the derby, this was their natural recourse.
Both Gao Shen and Real Madrid were prepared. As Atletiadrid surged forward, Real Madrid tactically retreated, drawing them in.
Real Madrid might not match Bara in passing and ball trol, but against Atletiadrid, they hahemselves with posure.
Seeing Atletico's iions from the sidelines, Gao Sheured instrus to Beckham, who was nearby after the break, as well as to Zidane, Gravesen, and others. He then sigo Felipe Luis on the left.
With all arras made, Gao Shen waited.
---
---
Minutes passed.
Atletiadrid's high press sted about ten minutes, during which Real Madrid weathered the storm adeptly. Woodgate and Elgra were solid in defense, ensuring no risks, save for oack where Casils plucked a high ball from Ke?man out of the air.
After an initial flurry, Atletiadrid's attack gradually lost steam.
Once Real Madrid found their footing, they began to assert themselves. On each turhey swiftly shifted py to the right.
Beckham articurly menag in this game. Both first-half goals came from Beckham assists, and many other threats inated from his crosses, keeping Atletiadrid ooes.
The English midfielder didn't press blindly but hugged the midliig to the right fnk for ball reception.
De La Reid, Zidane, and Negredo responded promptly, drawing Atletico's defense leftward. Antonio Lopez frequently vacated his position to pressure Beckham.
As a result, Atletiadrid's formation tilted leftward.
However, in the fifty-seventh minute, Beckham spotted an opening. Receiving a pass from De La Reid, he adjusted his stand delivered a right-footed cross.
The ball swiftly transitioned from the crowded right to the ope.
Real Madrid left-back Felipe Luis surged forward, hugging the toue, sed for Beckham's cross, trolled it calmly on his chest, and accelerated with the ball.
"A beautiful switch of py!"
"Real Madrid's switch was exquisite this time. Watch their attafold."
Atletiadrid's right-back Besco rushed to intercept, but Felipe Luis maintained his pace, advang directly into the box. Despite Besco's challenge, Felipe Luis delivered a precise left-footed cross.
The ball returo Atletiadrid's penalty area.
There, Negredo darted toward the far post, meeting Felipe Luis's cross with a header that forced Perea into a desperate clearance.
Although Atletiadrid's goalkeeper Franao block the ball with his foot, a white-cd figure pounced on the rebound ahead of Pablo Ibanez, slotting it into the unguarded !
The pyer celebrating the goal sprioward the sidelines.
Although the crowd couldn't see his face, they caught sight of his jersey number.
Number seven!
Raul!!
"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!"
The entire Bernabeu erupted once more.
Real Madrid fans surged from their seats, ting Raul's h fervor.
Raul sprinted off the pit jubition, rushing to the sidelines, r to release the pent-up excitement and joy within.
He felt an unparalleled euphoria!
A brace!
Even more satisfying, he felt utterly at ease on the field!
---
"Yeah!!"
Excitedly witnessing Raul's goal, Gao She up, pumping his fists toward the sky.
Three-nil!
The game was effectively sealed!
Sihe sed half's outset, he had been waiting for this precise opportunity for ten long minutes.
Ten tense minutes—if Real Madrid had faltered during that time, if Atletiadrid had scored, everything could have ged.
Thankfully, Real Madrid withstood Atletiadrid's onsught.
Once again, this firmed that Gao Shen's decision was sound, and his tactical approach was the perfect fit for Real Madrid.
Raul exged high-fives with teammates flooding the sidelio celebrate the goal. Upourning to the pitch, he even jogged over to the home team's coag bench, high-fiving Gao Shen and embrag him.
This was the captain's signal from Real Madrid!
Mission aplished!
Despite pying just och, Raul had already begun to believe in Gao Shen's vision.
Now, the 75,00 crowd at the Bernabeu had mixed feelings.
Initially, they had jeered and insulted vociferously, but now, they felt regret.
Especially witnessing their team leader, Raul, high-fives and hugs to Gao Shen, they realized their misjudgment, their grievous mistake.