Real Madrid had a chance for a corner kick.
Beckham stood at the penalty spot.
He held up three fingers. This meant that he was going to go forward.
Then, the referee's whistle sounded. Beckham ran up and with a beautiful arc, he hooked the football into the penalty area.
Samuel, who was originally in the middle, suddenly rushed to the front. Then, he jumped in front of Dorado and attacked the door from behind.
"Samuel!"
Clang!
The football hit the crossbar hard and then bounced back.
This caused chaos in Sporting de Gijón's penalty area. Sporting de Gijón's players wanted to clear the football out of the danger zone, while Real Madrid's side wanted to complete a second attack.
Pepe won the aerial battle with Raúl. He successfully headed the football out, but it did not go far. The football fell in the empty area in front of the penalty area. Real Madrid and Sporting de Gijón's players had a chance to get the ball.
Figo rushed up.
Carlos also rushed up.
Figo arrived in front of Carlos. He was one step ahead of him to draw the football.
Carlos was prepared for this. He used his chest to block the powerful shot that was close at hand.
After a muffled sound, the football bounced high.
Carlos, who was hit by the powerful shot, swayed and then bent down. If the camera zoomed in, the young man's facial muscles could be seen twitching in pain.
However, Carlos seemed to be fine. He rushed forward again and headed the football out before Figo, who was ready to continue the attack.
The football flew up, and then Grosso rushed out and headed the football forward again. The tall Italian defender was good at headers. He headed the ball directly to Ribéry on the flank.
Ribéry ran over and stopped the football before Helguera. However, he was entangled by Guti. Ribéry knew the importance of counterattack speed. This time, he did not turn around to dribble the ball. Instead, he passed the football to Albertini in the middle. The latter did not let the football stay, but transferred the football to the right flank. The goal was in front of Mata's feet, who was running on the flank.
*****
"Beautiful! Continuous pass! "
"This is Sporting de Gijón's counterattack! Their counterattack is coming again! "
Mata caught up with the football and began to dribble the ball. Guti, who was guarding the midfield, quickly rushed to Mata. He knew that he must not let the kid speed up.
The two bodies were entangled in the running. Mata had a good chance to control the ball at his feet. He was getting closer and closer to the penalty area.
Suddenly, Mata dribbled the ball and cut inside.
Guti knew that he could not hesitate any longer. He saw a gap in Mata's adjustment when he knocked the ball and suddenly tackled with his foot. However, he did not expect that Mata's adjustment this time was to do a long shot. At this time, Mata just pulled the ball from the inside of the arch of his foot and gathered the football over. As a result, Guti's tackle foot firmly stomped on the side of Mata's ankle.
Mata, who was originally as agile as a rabbit, looked as if he had been shot by a rifle at close range. He rolled and fell to the ground.
The referee's sharp whistle immediately rang out.
"Mata is still dribbling the ball! Guti is following him! Foul! ... God, that kick is not light! "
Guti's flying shovel was very fierce. After Mata fell to the ground, he continued to roll on the turf and let out a shrill scream. Then, he finally stopped rolling. The poor little guy tried to sit up and check his ankle, but his nerves were stimulated by the huge pain. He screamed and rolled on the ground.
Guti, who had fouled, did not pay attention to the screaming Mata. He quickly waved his arms to the referee, who was running over, to indicate that he did not do it on purpose.
Carlos, who was closest, had already rushed up with red eyes. He wanted to teach the perpetrator a lesson.
"Calm down!" Fortunately, Albertini reacted quickly enough. He hugged Carlos and pulled him back. Otherwise, regardless of whether Carlos made a move or not, he would definitely attract a yellow card if he rushed over like that. He already had a yellow card on him.
Carlos was hugged by Albertini. Then, Sporting de Gijón's vice-captain, Carlos, handed him over to Dorado to keep an eye on the kid.
Then, Albertini returned to the scene of the incident. The players from both sides were gathered together and were confronting each other. The Real Madrid players were explaining that it was not a deliberate foul, but the Sporting de Gijón players obviously did not accept this explanation. They all looked fierce.
*****
When Mata was put on the ground, Li Ang jumped up from the technical area. Mata had just recovered from his injury and returned to the game. If he was injured again, Li Ang would have the intention to kill.
"Red card!" Li Ang roared. "Deliberate foul!"
However, then he saw the referee of the game, Marunke, pull out a yellow card from his pocket.
"F * ck you!" He waved his fist and roared at the referee, cursing in Mandarin.
Assistant manager Banderas glanced at Li Ang. Although he did not understand the meaning of Li Ang's Mandarin, he thought that it was not something good. Then he looked nervously at the referee and the fourth official. It seemed that Li Ang's Mandarin did not attract attention. He was relieved.
The captain, Hierro, was negotiating with the captain of Real Madrid, Raúl. Both sides were red in the face and neck, and there was no sign of friendship between them.
Albertini made a gesture to the side of the field to ask the team doctor to come in.
The referee also waved to the side of the field.
The team doctor, Marotta, hurried over with a medical kit.
Marotta squatted down and took a look at Mata's injury. Then he asked a few questions, and his expression became serious. Then Marotta immediately made a gesture to the side of the field!
The gesture for a substitute!
"F * ck your sister!" Seeing this gesture, Li Ang was so depressed that he cursed.
Then he looked at the substitutes' bench. His gaze wandered between Modric and Javier Blanco, and finally stopped on Javier Blanco.
Compared to Modric, Blanco was faster. In this game, Li Ang focused on playing on the flanks, and he needed to play with speed. Moreover, Blanco was promoted from the B Team by Li Ang last season. Although he was reduced to a substitute this season and did not play much, his training attitude was excellent, and his training condition was also very good. This young man was very hardworking and smart. He used this kind of quiet training to show his attitude: he was always ready!
*****
Chapter 351: Victory
"Javier," Li Ang shouted. "Go warm up! Hurry up! "
When Blanco heard the call, he stood up happily and followed the assistant manager to warm up. Modric, whose name was not called, was a little disappointed. He also wanted to play in the game against Real Madrid!
The referee, Malenko, only showed a yellow card to Guti, which caused great dissatisfaction among the Sporting de Gijón players.
They surrounded the referee and the perpetrator, Guti, and the Real Madrid players were not to be outdone. The two sides were still confronting each other, and some people began to make moves.
"The referee only showed a yellow card to Guti, who committed the foul. This is the biggest reason for the dissatisfaction of the Sporting de Gijón players. Obviously, they think Guti's behavior is absolutely worthy of a red card!" Dagestino said. "The red card is the best red card!
"The red card is the most appropriate penalty. Guti's foul was very bad. It looks like Mata's injury is serious. Poor little guy. He just recovered from his injury this game. According to the Gihon media, Mata worked hard to recover and train in time for the game against Real Madrid. He made it in time for the game, but now he is injured again." González criticized and questioned Guti's decision. "If we use Carlos's defense against Zidane not long after the game started as a criterion for punishment, Guti's action this time is definitely a red card action! The referee's standard of punishment is obviously not acceptable to the public … "
*****
"Do you know what you were doing just now?" Hierro roared at Guti.
Gudi kept a straight face. Given his personality, he did not intend to explain himself. However, due to the uniqueness of the person who shouted at him, he eventually explained himself. "I was going for the ball. It was just an accident!"
"Accident my ass!" Pepe roared angrily.
Guti did not even look at Pepe. He was too lazy to pay attention to the Brazilian kid. In the entire Sporting de Gijón team, only the old captain, Hierro, could make him pay attention and think highly of him.
To be honest, Guti did not mean to hurt him. He did not expect Mata to adjust his supporting leg and then directly shovel his ankle.
When he shoveled Mata, Guti was afraid. He was worried about getting a red card. However, when he saw that Mata only showed him a yellow card, he immediately relaxed.
"Mr. Referee, this is definitely a red card action!" Sporting de Gijón's vice president, Albertini, complained to the referee. "Our player is seriously injured. Is a yellow card enough?"
The referee was unmoved. With a serious expression, he waved his hand and motioned for the Sporting de Gijón players to disperse.
*****
Mata held his ankle as he lay on the ground in pain. To suffer such an injury in such a crucial match … Although the specific examination results were not out yet, Mata's intuition told him that the injury was not light. He estimated that he would be out for more than a month. This was a big blow to the young man. He had just recovered from his injury, but he was immediately injured again. There was nothing more painful and sad than this.
"Mr. Marotta, how is my injury?" Mata asked.
"Don't worry. You will be back on the field soon." Marotta patted Mata's shoulder and comforted him. Although he heard the team doctor's words, Mata was still very depressed when he saw Marotta frown.
Li Ang was on the sidelines. His face was gloomy as he called Javier Blanco, who was still warming up, back.
"Javier, after you go on the field, if you have the chance, go to Tuguti's point and attract him to defend you!" Li Ang said. "He has cards on him. He may have some scruples when defending. This will help you break through. Of course, if he doesn't give up, find a way to make him get another card and get him off the field!"
"Tell the others to try their best to go to Tuguti's point!" Li Ang paused for a moment and added.
"Boss, I understand!" Javier Blanco nodded. He even had an illusion that between the two scenarios mentioned by his boss, his boss seemed to want to see the latter more: Let Guti get another card and be beaten down by accumulating yellow cards!
Mata's right ankle was injured. With the help of the team doctor, Marotta, he hopped off the field with his left foot.
The Bernabéu stands were filled with boos. The Real Madrid fans were still unfriendly to Mata under such circumstances. They still remembered that Mata had scored for Sporting de Gijón in the Copa del Rey final last season. He was the main reason why Real Madrid lost the title.
Li Ang hugged Mata and patted Mata's shoulder. "Well done!"
Mata's eyes were red. He held back his tears and suddenly said, "Boss, I don't want to go back to the locker room now. I want to watch the game from the substitutes' bench."
For example, when a player suffered a serious injury, he would not continue to stay on the substitutes' bench. He would go straight to the locker room or even the hospital.
Li Ang glanced at Mata and nodded. "Go!"
He knew what this kid was thinking. He wanted to sit on the substitutes' bench and watch his teammates fight to win the game!
*****
Sporting de Gijón made a substitution.
Javier Blanco came on and replaced the injured Juan Mata.
After the fourth official checked Blanco's studs, he allowed him to come on.
After Blanco came on, he quickly conveyed manager Li Ang's tactical instructions to the whole team: the whole team aimed at Guti's point to break through!
Hearing the manager's tactical instructions, the players, who had been holding their breaths because of the referee's decision, were very happy and satisfied. They were very unhappy. Li Ang's tactical adjustment was to their liking!
If the referee did not act, they would do it themselves!
Although no one said it out loud, everyone had the same idea, and that was to find a way to make Guti get a card and get him out!
Mata left the field with an injury. He also won a good position for Sporting de Gijón to take a free kick.
He was Sporting de Gijón's number one free kick taker!
He carefully placed the ball on the turf, then took two steps back and waited for the opponent to line up.
*****
Albertini raised his head and looked at the stands. The white shirts were fluttering in the wind. He glanced at today's opponents again. Zidane, Figo, and Raúl were all his old opponents. He was wearing a red and black jersey. He had fought against these people countless times. But now, he lowered his head and looked at his red and white jersey. It was no longer the red and black striped jersey!
The San Siro that he had always yearned for only existed in his dreams.
He knew that this was the last time of his career. Maybe he really had to retire from Sporting de Gijón.
However, this was also good. He felt good here. There was a feeling of finding the joy of football … It should be!
Bernabéu!
Old opponents!
Then now, he would use this arc to draw a beautiful rainbow for the twilight of his career.
Real Madrid's human wall was lined up!
The referee, Malenko, stepped back. When he stepped back to a place where he would not interfere with the flight of the ball, he blew the whistle in his mouth.
"Beep!"
Albertini ran up. One step, two steps, three steps. His left foot stepped on the side of the ball, and his right foot quickly whipped the lower part of the ball. At the same time, he stretched out his hands and kept his upper body straight.
The football flew out, bringing along a piece of grass at the same time.
A very, very clear arc, like a rainbow on the horizon, crossed the human wall that jumped up to block and drilled straight into the upper left corner of the goal.
Real Madrid's goalkeeper, Casillas, had just made a diving motion when he felt something was wrong. He watched helplessly and even in horror. The football suddenly dropped as it approached the goal. It stuck to the crossbar and drilled into the goal, hitting the net!
A fallen leaf ball!
Albertini opened his arms and looked at the goal. He looked at the Bernabéu stands behind the goal as if to say hello, old friends!
PS: Happy Christmas Eve, everyone.
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