Chapter 825 - 66: King’s Cup Final: Smoke of Battle
The lights of Mestana Stadium illuminated, casting long shadows beneath the players on the field.
From the stands, the supporters of both teams shouted fervently, passionately cheering for their beloved sides.
Standing on Barcelona’s half, Messi surveyed the Real Madrid lineup, his gaze ultimately resting on two figures — the fierce Pepe and Real Madrid’s captain, Chen Zhong.
These two would be the greatest obstacles to Barcelona’s victory today.
The whistle signaled the start of the match, the atmosphere charged with tension right from the outset.
Chen Zhong took the center forward position. He leaped, outmaneuvering Pique, effortlessly gaining possession of the ball, and smoothly turned to sprint towards the goal.
As Chen Zhong stepped into the arc of the penalty area, Mascherano executed a sweeping motion, taking Chen Zhong down just outside the penalty zone!
"Boom!"
With a muffled thud, Chen Zhong fell to the ground as he failed to maintain his balance!
The Real Madrid fan section erupted instantly —
"Boo——!!!" The Merengue drowned the stadium in deafening boos, venting their discontent and pressuring the referee to issue a yellow card, or even a red.
Viewers at home, watching through broadcast cameras, saw the replay of the incident: Mascherano looking at Chen Zhong, using an unsporting move to bring him down just outside the penalty area.
The referee blew the whistle and ran over, ignoring protests from other Real Madrid players, and issued only a verbal warning to Mascherano.
Laughs emanated from Barcelona’s bench, and Pique even applauded provocatively at Chen Zhong: "Nice diving skills!"
"If only it were more convincing."
Chen Zhong glared at Pique, miming a couple of slaps mid-air as if to say, "I can’t stand your filthy mouth," then pressing his hands down, suggesting, "Why have you never bested me?"
"Chen?" Cristiano Ronaldo approached Chen Zhong and inquired, "This free kick?"
"You take it." Chen Zhong did not contest the Portuguese for the free kick, as he was the designated first-choice kicker, and Cristiano Ronaldo modestly patted Chen Zhong’s shoulder: "I’ll make sure to avenge you!"
The Portuguese picked up the ball and headed towards the penalty spot, his fingertips pale from gripping with exertion.
His gaze sliced through the Barcelona wall like a knife, with Mascherano, Pique, and Busquets provocatively crowding the front row, while Alves mockingly replicated his trademark stance behind the wall.
"Cristiano, do you have it in you?" Pique shouted: "Not a penalty kick this time!"
"Why don’t you let Chen take it!"
Although friends, there were times Cristiano Ronaldo felt like breaking Pique’s obnoxious mouth.
While entertaining these thoughts, Cristiano Ronaldo took a deep breath and stepped back.
Then it was...
His run-up!
His leg swing!
The ball shot off like a cannonball, but as it neared the wall, it eerily spun upward at speed!
Everyone recognized it as Cristiano Ronaldo’s signature knuckleball, or as he named it, the "tomahawk free kick."
The ball soared over the wall, plummeting towards the goal, the eyes of all fixated on it, yet instead of sinking into the net as Real Madrid fans hoped, it slammed hard against the crossbar, bouncing towards the stands!
Barcelona fans in the stands breathed a sigh of relief, while Real Madrid supporters voiced their disappointment.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s expression held some regret, but Chen Zhong was unfazed, walking over to his Portuguese teammate, and gripping his shoulder: "Stay calm."
"They aim to provoke us!"
"And we must remain composed and win this match."
The broadcast camera swept over the sidelines, Mourinho kicked a water bottle away, while Guardiola pursed his lips, his gaze consistently locked on Chen Zhong.
An air of concern flickered in Guardiola’s eyes, evidently considering Chen Zhong as a formidable adversary.
Barcelona and Real Madrid seemed to polarize; the foul against Chen Zhong barely ceased when they quickly committed an offense against Kaka.
Under countless eyes, Alves charged like a bull from the side, colliding brutally with the accelerating Kaka!
Kaka stumbled off balance, staggered past the sideline, and crashed into the advertising boards, clutching his right leg in visible agony.
At this moment, with this scene, it’s apparent that the Brazilian team is ruthlessly targeting their own.
Real Madrid supporters in the stands voiced their displeasure, while Barcelona fans filled the "silence" with whistles; Guardiola remained expressionless on the sidelines, while Mourinho loudly protested to the referee.
On the field, Chen Zhong was the first to rush forward
"Do you know what you’re doing, you jerk!" Chen Zhong’s sturdy chest almost pressed against Alves’ nose.
Alves dramatically fell backward, as if knocked down by Chen Zhong, prompting a laugh from Chen Zhong: "Coward, you’re such a coward."
The referee blew the whistle and approached, while Chen Zhong’s actions incited further conflict.