Chapter 206: Chapter 76: Steadying the Troops in Adversity

Santiago Bernabeu Stadium

In the stands, Real Madrid fans were relatively relaxed, because they held the advantage of an away goal. If the current score stood, then Real Madrid would advance.

Some fans with “foresight” had already started discussing Manchester United as the next opponent.

As for Roma fans, they were somewhat worried, but believed that Spalletti had his own plans, and Rome indeed made substitutions at the start of the second half.

Spalletti brought on his secret weapon, Vucinic from Montenegro, replacing the younger Pazzini.

“Real Madrid is on the attack.”

“Roma still maintains their first-half strategy, looking to counterattack.”

“Oh…”

“Chen Zhong, Baptista, Chen Zhong.”

“Another shot.”

“Baptista curls the shot.”

“It’s blocked.”

“Roma’s counterattack.”

“Totti!”

Francesco Totti, the wolf king of Rome, referred to as “the light” by Spalletti, the dual Golden Boot winner last season (Serie A, Europe), facing Chen Zhong, feeling somewhat annoyed.

It’s not the first time Chen Zhong thwarted his plans.

After Chen Zhong passed the ball out, Roma made a fierce slide tackle, sending the ball out of bounds, and at this moment, he acted as if he just noticed the fallen Totti, extending his hand to pull up this wolf king of Rome.

“Make sure you keep a close eye on me!”

The wolf king Totti looked at Chen Zhong, this Roma legend who debuted in the Serie A first team at 16 years, 6 months, and 1 day in 1993, his eyes seemingly carrying some malice.

Chen Zhong sharply sensed this, but didn’t quite understand what he meant by such words now.

Could it be just to mess with his mentality?

“Am I not watching you closely enough?”

“Alright…” Totti took a deep glance at Chen Zhong. He had to admit Chen Zhong’s “pithy” answer did affect his mentality a bit.

This guy, clearly only 16, how could he be so calm in the game.

He is really adept at using his body.

That kind of rough, crushing defense is exemplary in overpowering style.

However…

Our coach’s trump card isn’t me!

As the match reached the 61st minute, Roma began to grow impatient, Cicinho was very active in this match, creating chaos on the right flank, and in the 63rd minute, even completed a beautiful breakthrough.

He stopped abruptly on the flank to shake off the nearby defensive players, then passed the ball to the center.

Chen Zhong had already blocked the passing lane, Totti moving from behind Chen Zhong, switching left and right, but always tightly marked, unable to get around, legs not long enough, having to stop and bounce in place, then exasperatedly throwing up his hands.

“Hahaha.”

“Chen Zhong’s marking.”

“Totti is struggling to hold on!”

Real Madrid fans in the stands laughed, but soon they couldn’t laugh.

First Sergado was substituted by Torres due to injury in a physical confrontation, followed by Roma suddenly changing pace, not giving the ball to Totti, but picking it out to Vucinic.

The Montenegrin striker took the ball and quickly cut inside, Pepe reached out and pulled Vucinic down in the penalty area.

“Red card and penalty!”

“Pepe!”

“Real Madrid has been sentenced with the ultimate punishment!”

In the stands, Real Madrid fans expressed their displeasure for the decision with boos after a brief silence, but the referee was unmoved, still firmly pointing to the penalty spot.

Spalletti forcefully waved his fist on the sidelines, so excited that his face turned red from the rush of blood.

Pepe kept his head down, quickly walking to the sidelines, only Chen Zhong ran over to pat his shoulder offering comfort.

Now they can only rely on Casillas.

In front of the goal, Casillas was warming up his body, while Totti stood at the penalty spot.

The wolf king looked deeply at Chen Zhong before taking the penalty shot; if this ball went in, the score would turn into 2:3, and Roma would advance directly to the next round with the aggregate score advantage.

“Totti is at the penalty spot.”

“Can Casillas keep the goal unbreached?”

“Totti!”

“The ball is in!”

“Casillas judged the direction correctly.”

“But Totti’s ball speed was very fast.”

“0:1”

After completing the goal, Totti was very excited, ran towards the corner flag, and his teammates followed tightly, Roma players crazily celebrating at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Roma fans raised high hands at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

They shouted, “Champions League 16, Champions League 16, Champions League 16!”

They jumped and bounced in the stands as if already holding the qualification spot in their hands.

Schuster cursed a few words on the sidelines and quickly made lineup adjustments; he subbed off Raul, who had a poor performance and missed several good chances in this match, replacing him with Marcelo.

Torres moved more centrally, transitioning from a full-back to a center-back.

“Real Madrid utilized their second substitution.”

“Raul has been substituted.”

“The captain’s armband is now on the arm of vice-captain Guti.”

“Marcelo returned to the field.”

“Since being overpowered to concede 2 goals last time, Marcelo hasn’t returned to the field in a long time.”

The Brazilian seemed somewhat excited upon being pointed out by Schuster, while Soldado on the field was also exceptionally excited to hear he became the lone striker.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep