Chapter 83: Chapter 6: Pushing Forward

Stadio Olimpico

The blue in the stands undulated like a deep sea.

Lazio fans cheered loudly for their team, and amidst the cheers, Lazio seemed to be on fire, launching fast attacks continuously, bringing great pressure in front of Real Madrid’s goal.

“Damn it!” Schuster stood on the sideline, a trace of annoyance flashing in his eyes: “Our midfield, we lack a player who can fight and press the opponent.”

“Lazio’s counterattacks all start from midfield interceptions now,” Francisco added, “If we can reduce the number of interceptions in midfield, then Pandev and Rocky won’t pose a threat to us.”

“We can’t be in such a passive position throughout the game.”

“I know! I know!” Schuster responded, he now had the team use more short passes to control the ball in midfield, and asked Raul to drop back to provide another passing option, but it was still insufficient against Lazio’s aggressive pressing.

Real Madrid’s “midfield disadvantage” had become very obvious, and this situation had happened to Real Madrid many times this season.

“Move the defensive line forward,” Schuster looked at Francisco: “We need to narrow the gap between our midfield and defense to reduce their space for sprints.”

“But the space behind the players will increase,” Francisco offered a different opinion: “This is a very risky choice.”

“Do you have any better damn idea?”

“Now I can only hope that Chen can give me some surprises!”

Francisco watched the somewhat frantic Schuster, frowning slightly, pinning all hopes on Chen Zhong was really not a rational choice.

On the commentary booth, Capello shook his head while looking at the situation on the field: “The situation is very clear now, Lazio has found Real Madrid’s weakness, but Schuster has no solution for this.”

“If I were Real Madrid’s coach, I would switch to a double defensive midfielder, stabilize the one-goal lead, and secure the three points smoothly.”

“Pushing the defensive line forward is honestly not a good choice.”

Real Madrid hoped to disrupt the opponent with short passes in midfield, but Schuster ignored the fact that the team lacked depth and it’s hard to truly threaten the opponent’s goal.

And moving the defensive line forward was a hope to enhance the team’s interception ability.

Schuster hoped Chen Zhong could engage in more active fights, then quickly pass the ball after an interception to gain opportunities for a quick counterattack.

“Lazio’s lateral pass.”

“Rocky, oh, Chen!”

“This is a very crucial tackle.”

“Rocky was brought down to the ground by Chen again.”

“This is already the third tackle Chen has made on Rocky.”

Rocky punched the turf hard, glaring at Chen Zhong, seemingly wanting to remember this yellow-skinned kid in his heart. Chen Zhong didn’t mind and quickly passed the ball to Marcelo.

Marcelo crossed from the left, to Van Nistelrooy, who headed the ball down to Raul, but Raul’s shot was blocked by a Lazio defender.

“Good, good boy!” Schuster laughed loudly, “I knew this kid could do it.”

Before Schuster’s words even faded!

After winning the ball, Lazio made a long pass to the backfield.

Lazio fans in the stands gasped in surprise, Pandev, after taking the ball in the backfield, did not choose to pass to the better-positioned Rocky, but directly cut diagonally into the penalty area.

This was somewhat beyond Chen Zhong’s expectations, but he wasn’t panicking because Cannavaro was there, yet Cannavaro kept retreating in front of Pandev and was finally easily bypassed.

Chen Zhong’s eyes widened in disbelief, is this for real?

“Goran Pandev!”

“His speed is extremely fast.”

“Cannavaro, got tricked.”

“Pandev!”

“Raises his foot for a shot.”

“Brilliant, a perfect save by Casillas.”

Casillas caught the ball securely, and before Lazio fans could lament the missed golden opportunity, their hearts were in their throats again.

They saw Casillas quickly throw the ball to Chen Zhong after taking it, Chen Zhong controlled it with his chest, and when Rocky pressed, he cushioned the ball to Marcelo.

Marcelo grabbed the ball and charged past the first defender, but was tackled by the second defender.

The stands were filled with gasps of surprise, as Lazio, who got the ball, had clear and definite passing routes, adopting consecutive one-touch passes, leaving Chen Zhong scrambling like an ant on a hot pan, worried and anxious but helpless.

“Continuous, fast passing.”

“Mauri sent the ball straight through to Rocky from the side.”

“Right behind Chen Zhong.”

“This is quite unfavorable.”

“Rocky got a one-on-one chance.”

“Casillas decisively chose to attack.”

“Casillas saved the ball.”

“Pandev with the follow-up shot.”

“The ball is in!”

“1:1”

“Pandev has equalized for Lazio!”

The series of attacks finally bore fruit, and Pandev ran towards the corner flag smiling, listening to the cheers of the fans, his eyes full of joy.

Capello in the commentary booth shook his head at this moment: “For this conceded goal, Chen should take most of the responsibility. His tackle wasn’t effective, leaving a large gap behind him. It’s impossible for him to outrun the ball.”

Capello didn’t appreciate players like Chen Zhong. In the center-back position, if one performs exceptionally, they’re like a god, intercepting time and again, then quickly launching counterattacks. If not, every reckless advance is a great opportunity for the opponent.

Just as Capello finished speaking, Lazio, through a passing dispatch, played another ball behind Chen Zhong, and Rocky broke into the box and aimed for the far post.

Casillas made a diving save to knock the ball out, Pandev rushed forward attempting to make a follow-up shot, but Chen Zhong blocked him, directly clearing the ball with a kick.

“You kid,” Casillas said, getting up from the ground, hitting Chen Zhong twice, “Be careful!”

“Phew~” Chen Zhong exhaled deeply, his heart racing. The continuous matches made his legs feel a bit weak now, his endurance stat was only 72, and endurance was equivalent to a player’s stamina cap and recovery speed: “I will be careful.”

Chen Zhong took deep breaths continuously, trying to give his body energy, but as his ’activity level’ decreased, Lazio’s attack became more frantic.

In the 40th minute of the match, Lazio’s Zauri crossed from the right. Lazio seemed focused on Chen Zhong’s position, with players taking turns physically confronting him. Guilermo Stendardo, a burly man, collided with Chen Zhong, and the ball rolled into an unguarded space during their tussle.

Pandev burst out from the side, took the ball, flicked it over Cannavaro’s sliding tackle, and then volleyed it left-footed inside the box.

“Boom”

The ball went straight for the goal, appearing powerful.

Casillas’ fingers touched the ball but couldn’t stop it from entering the net.

The entire stadium fell silent until a “beep!” sounded.

The referee blew the whistle, then pointed to the center circle, indicating that the goal was legitimate and valid, making the entire Stadio Olimpico erupt. Lazio fans shouted Pandev’s name; he was their hero and football king.

Since joining Lazio in 2004, this player from the small nation of North Macedonia has become Lazio’s main striker. He ran to the corner flag, performing a fervent sliding celebration.

Seeing this scene, Capello felt quite moved: “Goran Pandev, he’s a memorable genius.”

“Previously, when Cannavaro was at Juventus, Pandev single-handedly completed a memorable goal, receiving a header from a teammate, storming forward, using a feint that made Cannavaro lose his balance and fall on the turf, then facing Buffon.”

“In a nearly angle-less situation, calmly breached Buffon’s goal.”

“2:1”

“Pandev helped the team take the lead.”

“Let’s see what Schuster can come up with!”

After Lazio took the lead, their morale soared. Real Madrid made a passing error in midfield when facing Lazio’s pressing, Lazio intercepted in the frontcourt, sending a direct pass to Rocky. Chen Zhong quickly closed in and brought Rocky to the ground, but the ball already reached Pandev.

The referee whistled but didn’t blow, indicating an advantage for the attack.

Chen Zhong got up and raced back to defense, but no matter how he ran, he couldn’t outrun the ball.

Pandev took the ball and cut in from the flank. Cannavaro lowered his center of gravity, trying to intercept Pandev. Pandev feigned a shot, tricking Cannavaro into falling on the turf. Then, facing the onrushing Casillas, he shot low, hitting the far post and bouncing into the net, scoring again.

3:1

Pandev completed a hat-trick.

This was his first hat-trick in the Champions League. He ran to the corner flag, placing his hands by his ears as if listening to the cheers. He smiled, while in the stands, Lazio fans waved their arms, loudly chanting Pandev’s name.

Cannavaro pounded the turf hard; that young man’s strikes were getting sharper, while his own age was increasing!

The whistle blew for halftime, signaling the break. On the stands, Lazio fans sang loudly, knowing that if they won this game, they’d rise to the top of the group.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep