Arsenal had a strategic plan for the second leg of the UEFA Champions League 18 final.
Combined with the fact that the team was fighting on three fronts and could only rely on the main lineup to maximize their chances of winning, the Arsenal could not afford to lose a game!
There were nine rounds left in the league and they were two points behind Chelsea. If they lost a league game, they would have no chance of defending their title!
Although the FA Cup could be replayed if it was a draw, Arsenal did not want to face the exhaustion of a rematch. They had to win every game!
The first leg of the UEFA Champions League 18 final had laid a good foundation for advancement. Wenger, who did not want to overexert himself in this game, hoped that the team would play steadily in the first half. As long as they did not give Bayern Munich a goal, Bayern Munich would not be as calm as Arsenal in the second half because they had to score at least two goals to advance. At that time, Arsenal would surprise Bayern Munich. Wenger was very confident that they could get past Bayern Munich.
It looked like they were going to hold on in the first half and achieve their strategic goal, but Campbell's injury made Wenger's heart ache. The price was too high!
The other Arsenal players were also well aware of this fact. Campbell's injury added more uncertainty to the game and could also bring hidden dangers to Arsenal in the final sprint.
The core of the defensive line was definitely important.
After Senderos came on, Arsenal still played according to the pre-match plan. They successfully held on in the first half.
Bayern Munich were not happy.
They needed at least two goals to reverse the situation, but 45 minutes had passed and they still had not scored a goal.
Arsenal was also not happy. If they looked at the long term, would Campbell miss a lot of games? The games in the future were going to be more difficult than the previous one!
Wenger's expression was grave as he rearranged the tactics during the halftime break. A slight change in one part would affect the whole situation. Arsenal had originally launched an unexpected offensive in the second half, but now Wenger had to let Ashley Cole pay more attention to the defense in order to make up for Senderos's position and assist in the defense.
In the second half, the two teams changed sides and fought again.
Bayern Munich's morale was not low. The only thing they could be thankful for in the first half was that Campbell had left the field. In the second half, they had a main offensive target: Senderos!
After the restart of the ball, Qin Xiong continued to be surrounded by Ballack Schweinsteiger Demichelis in the middle of the midfield. Qin Xiong, who shone brilliantly in the last match, seemed to have lost his magic under such defensive pressure.
Qin Xiong was also thinking of a countermeasure. He had tried to break through the opponent's blockade, but Bayern Munich's midfield combination was extremely stable. In addition, each player was tall and strong. Even if the football could pass, Qin Xiong's men would definitely not be able to pass!
In the 55th minute of the game, Pizarro and Ma Kai took turns to try to break through Senderos. In the end, the two men did not succeed in a one-on-one. Instead, they cooperated to break through Senderos's defense. Fortunately, Ashley Cole was there to assist in the defense and did not let Pizarro shoot in the dangerous area of the penalty area.
Vieira tried to go forward to provide some support to Qin Xiong, but Vieira had to ensure the team's defense. It was difficult for him to make delicate coordination with Qin Xiong in the narrow space. After all, Bayern Munich's midfield position was a diamond position that compressed the space to the limit!
Henry, who saw Qin Xiong alone on the frontline, looked at him from afar. Qin Xiong also looked at him. The King of Highbury nodded at Qin Xiong with a persistent gaze.
What did the nod mean?
Outsiders naturally didn't know, but Qin Xiong also nodded at him for some reason.
The European football world's crazy king of assists and the king of goalscorers formed a tacit understanding that others could not understand.
Sometimes football was improvisation. On the basis of not needing to design and communicate, they reached a tacit understanding of each other.
In the 61st minute of the game, Qin Xiong dribbled the ball just after crossing the halfway line and kicked the ball back to the back with his heel. Vieira came forward from behind to receive.
Qin Xiong immediately ran to the right side.
Schweinsteiger saw the direction Qin Xiong ran in and decisively followed.
Lizarazu looked at Qin Xiong running to his side in front and thought to himself, Here he comes!
As a senior in the world, Lizarazu had stood at the peak. He had seen too many sights and met too many faces. He admired Qin Xiong for showing such strength at such a young age, but he would never lose confidence just because he was beaten by Qin Xiong in the last game. Time and tide were unforgiving. After all, the world was the world of young people!
These old guys were waiting for the younger generation to come and snatch the most dazzling halo, but they would certainly not give it away!
Lizarazu was prepared to wait for Qin Xiong's impact.
Schweinsteiger was the best player in Bayern Munich's youth training system at this time. He followed Margate's tactical arrangement: Keep an eye on Qin Xiong. If he moved to the side, follow him!
After all, the space in the middle was narrow. Qin Xiong's speed could not be released at all because even if he used speed to shake off Ballack or Schweinsteiger, he would still immediately encounter the defensive midfielder, Demichelis.
But when he moved to the side, Schweinsteiger found that he was losing control of Qin Xiong step by step because he could not keep up with Qin Xiong's speed!
When Qin Xiong ran to the right side, Vieira kicked the ball to the left side.
Pires dribbled the ball forward on the left side, and Ballack immediately helped to defend this side.
Just when Ballack thought he could contain Pires in the sideline position, Pires kicked the ball forward.
Ballack was stunned. Ashley Cole did not come up, and Qin Xiong went to the right side. Who else would be nearby to support Pires? Could it be?
When he looked back, he saw the scene as expected: Henry had retreated to the winger position!
After the ball, Pires immediately ran forward along the side. He attracted Sagnol's attention and forced the opponent to guard against his cutting inside to maximize the space in the middle for Henry.
Henry dribbled the football like an assassin to the left side of the middle in Bayern Munich's defensive zone.
When Demichelis and Lucio formed a blockade to press forward, Henry did not break through. He decisively sent out a half-high ball diagonally.
Just as Henry dribbled the ball, Lizarazu and Schweinsteiger were shocked at the same time!
Qin Xiong moved forward along the right side. He did not go all the way, but cut from the side to the middle!
This kind of movement was strange.
Because he should have wasted his stamina.
He went around in a circle, pulled the side from the middle, and cut from the side!
But it was this kind of movement that allowed him to shake off Schweinsteiger. Schweinsteiger lost the opportunity to defend against Qin Xiong, and he had to guard against Yongbeili, who began to approach the middle to play a miraculous role.
Lizarazu was prepared, but he did not expect Qin Xiong to not think about breaking into his zone.
Even the running position of the cut inside was not an empty space in the ribs!
It was an empty space in front of and behind Lucio and Kovacs.
When Henry's half-high ball was sent over, Qin Xiong moved like the wind in front of Kovacs and swept past Lucio's back. He deftly used the outer instep of his left foot to deflect the ball as if he was using the "cornering" technique of kicking a shuttlecock. At the same time, he made the ball bounce in front of his running position!
He did not show Bergkamp's superb skill of sticking the half-high ball directly to the top of his foot, because that was not timely.
Now he was actually combining stopping the ball and adjusting to prepare to shoot into one!
Countless Highbury fans got up to look and stared at Qin Xiong. Every gunner was looking forward to ending Bayern Munich!
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