In the Bernabéu stadium, in front of Real Madrid's goal, Casillas's tall figure stood there. Since Makelele's era, Real Madrid's defense had always had serious problems. Florentino had focused on improving the defensive problems this season. Unfortunately, it was too late for regrets. The policy of Zidane and Pavin was completely aborted. The strong defensive reinforcements imported from overseas could not take on the big responsibility. Real Madrid's defensive line was shaky in the wind and rain, and only Casillas quietly contributed to the unexpected strength!
Arsenal was not discouraged by the failure of the attack. The formation immediately shrank and firmly implemented the defensive counterattack strategy.
Real Madrid also continued to perform a frenzied offensive. This was a trait that could never be changed in Real Madrid's aristocratic genes. Attack! Not only did they have to win, but they also had to win magnificently and win the admiration of tens of thousands of people!
In the 12th minute of the game, Zidane tried a long shot from outside the penalty area and hit the goal range. Unfortunately, the angle was not tricky enough. Lehmann blocked the ball and gave rise to a crisis.
Ronaldo seemed to have a chance to make a follow-up shot in the penalty area. According to his standard, after the follow-up shot, the defenseless Lehmann would be powerless to reverse the situation. However, at the crucial moment of the explosion, Touré, who was a beat behind, took the initiative to clear the ball out.
Obviously, the 29-year-old Ronaldo was no longer as brave as he was in the past. It could even be said that the Ronaldo who won the World Cup in 2002 was far inferior to the crazy and unstoppable him in Barcelona!
Real Madrid's offense was still very threatening, but it only existed on the periphery. They posed little threat in the penalty area, and Ronaldo's poor condition was the key factor.
Robinho was often at a loss on the left side because of Zidane's left-leaning offensive tendencies. It was a bit similar to the situation where it was difficult for Henry and Zidane to spark passion in the national team.
Arsenal once again staged a threatening counterattack in the 18th minute of the game.
Qin Xiong and Fàbregas broke through Guti's defensive line after a two-versus-one combination in the middle. As Ljungberg on the right could not provide more help for the flank attack, Arsenal's counterattack space was limited by itself.
Qin Xiong faced Gravesen after breaking through Guti's defensive line. At this time, Pires cut into the inside line from the left flank. Qin Xiong also dribbled the ball in the direction of his running position. When he was about to encounter Gravesen, Qin Xiong passed the ball to Pires in the front left, and then he ran behind Pires.
Pires' run brought Cicinho closer to the middle, and Gravesen also switched his defensive target to intercept Pires.
After receiving the ball, Pires stepped on the ball and pulled it behind him.
Gravesen's interception fell short and Cissinho brushed past Qin Xiong. The football also returned to Qin Xiong's feet.
At this time, Qin Xiong took a step forward with the ball, and Ramos actively intercepted him.
Ramos, a new generation of Spanish talent who was originally a full back, came to the Bernabéu stadium with a high price tag. Real Madrid originally needed him to do his job as a full back.
However, after encountering a shortage of players in the center and back, Ramos was forced to play as a center back in this game.
However, the defensive habits of a full back and a center back were different.
The young Ramos was still a little impatient. He always wanted to directly go forward and intercept the ball at the opponent's feet and paid little attention to the joint defense.
At this moment, when he went forward to intercept the ball at Qin Xiong's feet, Qin Xiong directly sidestepped in front of him and changed direction. Ramos rushed too fiercely and was immediately brushed by Qin Xiong!
After Qin Xiong brushed past Ramos, he decisively made a shot at the goal!
He aimed at the lower left corner of the goal and suddenly fired a heavy shot.
Qin Xiong was very confident that the ball would definitely go in!
However, when Casillas calmly moved two steps sideways like a rabbit and pounced out to block the ball with one palm and changed the trajectory of the football, causing the football to brush the goal post and roll out of the end line, Qin Xiong also looked up to the sky and sighed.
Casillas was worthy of being one of the top three world-class goalkeepers in today's football world!
No, he was a goalie!
"Casillas has made a contribution again! Real Madrid's defense is simply terrible. If this situation continues to develop, it looks like Real Madrid has the advantage on the field at home. However, in the most crucial shooting threat, Arsenal's shot is more lethal! Do they have to rely on Casillas every time? "
Arsenal was wary of Real Madrid's offensive speed. Their opponents here were Beckham, a passer who could pass the ball accurately in long and medium passes, and Robinho, a young cyclist who could push forward at an explosive speed from the flank. Therefore, even if it was a corner kick attack, Arsenal's involvement was not very high.
Pires' corner kick was eventually cleared by Woodgate's header. Real Madrid also wanted to instigate a counterattack, but when they turned their heads to look at the front field, they found that Arsenal's overall defensive retreat was not only fast, but their own defensive flaws were almost invisible.
Real Madrid's offense became a little difficult because the previous offense did not play well. The midfield core, Zidane, threatened Arsenal's goal in other ways, but his changes did not allow his teammates to keep up with the pace immediately.
Real Madrid lacked a finisher. With Raúl unable to play, Ronaldo was not in good form. So, who would they rely on to score?
Guti? Beckham? Or Zidane himself? Or Robinho?
It did not sound like a finisher who would have high hopes in a battle at this level.
At least, he was not as intimidating as Arsenal's Henry, a frontline killer.
In the 27th minute of the game, Robinho dribbled the ball on the left side of the front field to cut into the penalty area. He was entangled with Eboue and was successfully tackled by Eboue through physical confrontation.
Eboue almost lost the ball and caused a disaster.
Fortunately, after Fàbregas interfered with Zidane, Zidane was unable to control the ball in the counter-tackle. Silva regained control of the ball on the side and instigated a counterattack.
He passed the ball directly to Qin Xiong. Qin Xiong did not turn around to knock the ball back to the right flank. Flamini passed the ball straight to Pires in front.
Pires drove Beckham to pull to the middle, and then after attracting Guti's pincer attack, he passed the ball diagonally to the front of the left flank. Henry received Pires' pass in that position without anyone marking him.
At this time, Real Madrid's rear defensive line was neat and without pressure. After Henry was pulled to the flank, there was no one in the front line.
But Henry began to dribble forward with his personal ability. He first faced Cissinho, who was called Cafu the Second by the Brazilian media. However, Cissinho was far inferior to Cafu. At least in terms of stability in defense, they were not at the same level at all.
When Henry made a lateral acceleration change to the right in front of him to break through, Cissinho was brushed by Henry as if he was unprepared!
Henry dribbled the ball directly to the middle. He consciously attacked the defensive zone where Gravesen was.
Gravesen looked dignified. He was afraid that Henry would cooperate with Pires, who had drifted to the middle.
But Henry did not want to have any interaction with Pires. After he made sure that Gravesen was completely attracted to him, he directly passed the ball diagonally back to the left flank to cut into the penalty area.
Cissinho chased Henry, but suddenly saw the football roll from his side to behind him. When he turned to look at the football, he was stunned to see a figure rushing up at lightning speed and taking the lead to rush into the rolling path of the football.
Qin Xiong!
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