Chapter 622 - 119: The Messi Special! Fierce Battle at the Bernabéu
As Wang Shuo charged forward, Dortmund’s front line surged ahead with him.
Especially Kuba, who was close to Wang Shuo on the right flank.
As Wang Shuo dribbled into the 30-meter zone and faced the approaching Harvey Alonso, he took an explosive touch to knock the ball past him. He used his superior speed to forcefully break through Harvey Alonso’s defensive area.
The Real Madrid defensive midfielder was stunned.
He didn’t even have time to commit a tactical foul before Wang Shuo blew past him.
After breaking past Harvey Alonso, Wang Shuo continued to dribble forward. When he faced Ramos, he used a series of quick feints to confuse his opponent before sending a through ball with the outside of his right foot, directing it to the right side behind the defensive line.
This through ball tore Real Madrid’s backline to shreds, sending the ball to the right side just outside the penalty area for Kuba to chase.
Ramos turned and desperately sprinted back.
On the left, Reus was already making a diagonal run toward the goal at top speed.
Wang Shuo was also surging forward as fast as he could.
At this moment, inside Real Madrid’s penalty box, Alvaro Arbeloa was marking Reus, Pepe was in the center, and Ramos was tracking back near the right side of the box.
Wang Shuo glanced around, then slowed his pace slightly to create some distance from the defenders.
He watched as Kuba caught up to the ball on the right, just outside the box, and then dribbled horizontally from the byline, cutting into the penalty area.
Pepe and Ramos both closed in to double-team him.
"Kuba!"
Wang Shuo suddenly accelerated his run forward, raising his hand to call for the ball.
His sprinting lane was perfectly positioned for a pass back from Kuba.
The man from Poland heard Wang Shuo’s shout and saw him, immediately laying the ball off from near the byline.
Pepe and Ramos were shocked. They completely forgot about Kuba and instantly turned to charge at Wang Shuo.
As Wang Shuo sprinted to meet the incoming pass, he flicked it sideways with the outside of his left foot. He exploded forward, cutting inside and breaking past Pepe’s defense.
The moment he saw a gap open up between him and the goal, he unhesitatingly unleashed a furious shot with his left foot.
The ball flew like a thunderbolt, burying itself in the left side of Real Madrid’s goal in the blink of an eye.
Casillas had been wary of Kuba and was positioned more to the right. How could he possibly save that?
"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!"
"It’s in!!!"
"1-1!"
"In the 38th minute, Dortmund has successfully equalized!"
"A goal from Wang Shuo!"
"This was also an incredibly swift counter-attack! After dropping back to orchestrate the play, Wang Shuo himself finished it off with a goal!"
"He has finally breached Real Madrid’s goal!"
...
Amidst the deafening boos at the Bernabéu Stadium, Real Madrid’s offense surged after conceding the goal.
As the first half neared its end, Real Madrid suddenly launched a wave of attacks.
First, Ronaldo received the ball on the left, suddenly shook off Piszczek and Subotic, cut inside, and unleashed a furious shot that went over the bar.
Then, Di María’s breakthrough on the right wing created a corner kick opportunity. Harvey Alonso took the corner, and Ramos outjumped Hummels for a header, but it was still just wide.
When Real Madrid pressed forward on the attack, the Galaxy Battleship began to dominate the game.
The players’ incredible individual skill allowed them to always find gaps in Dortmund’s defense.
But Klopp had coached Dortmund for two years, and the Bumblebee’s defense was no pushover.
But the most threatening moment came during stoppage time in the first half.
After shaking off Gundogan, Mesut sent a through ball forward.
Ronaldo quickly beat the offside trap, once again finding himself one-on-one with the keeper as he dribbled into the penalty area.
Weidenfeller decisively abandoned his goal and charged out to close down the angle, but Ronaldo calmly slotted the ball past him. It skimmed past Weidenfeller’s fingertips as he dove, cruelly nestling into the far corner of the net.
2-1!
Amidst the roar of the crowd, Ronaldo excitedly sprinted toward the corner flag. He leaped high into the air, spun around, and spread his arms wide, striking his signature goal celebration pose.
The entire Bernabéu Stadium erupted!
The cheers of over 70,000 fans sounded as if they were about to tear the Madrid night sky apart.
Wang Shuo stood in the center circle, watching the distant corner flag where the man in the white number 7 jersey was mobbed by his teammates. He felt a storm of mixed emotions.
’Real Madrid is still Real Madrid, after all!’
’Every single player who can play for Real Madrid is one of the best in the world today.’
’A Galaxy Battleship made up of players like that is naturally one of the strongest teams in the world!’
Klopp had been completely right before the match.
’Real Madrid really doesn’t play as a cohesive unit. They’re even a bit loose.’
’In plain terms, they tend to play as individuals, relying on their personal skill to cover up their lack of teamwork.’
’But give Real Madrid one chance, and they can change the entire game!’
This reminded Wang Shuo of the 5-0 loss two years ago.
Real Madrid was the same back then. They played loosely, but by relying on the individual skill of their stars and their combinations, they were able to easily demolish Dortmund.
And it was 5-0!
Just thinking about that match, and then thinking about tonight’s battle, a fire ignited in Wang Shuo’s heart.
He refused to accept this!
...
Coach Klopp was just as unwilling to accept it.
During halftime, back in the locker room, Klopp slammed his palm on the tactics board. It was as if he wanted to smash the unfortunate board to pieces with a single strike.
"Our midfield was a complete mess!"
When the bearded boxer swept his furious gaze across the room, everyone fell deathly silent.
Especially the midfielders, who bore the brunt of his anger.
Then he started calling them out one by one.
Götze, Sven Bender, Reus, Kuba...