Regardless of how good Pepe was as a teacher, it seemed that Vermaelen's performance was not as tense as when he first came on.
The game time continued to pass. Seeing that the first half of the game was about to end, the score on the field was still 1-1. Li Ang was quite satisfied with this.
Li Ang withdrew his gaze and turned to ask Banderas, "What's the score over there?"
At the same time as Sporting de Gijón's away game against Sevilla, there was another heavyweight game: Atlético Madrid's home game against Real Madrid. It was the Madrid Derby.
Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid were direct competitors for Sporting de Gijón's top four spots in the league. Li Ang naturally paid attention to the results of that game. Now, the first half of the game on his side was about to end, so he casually asked about the situation over there.
"It's still 0-0," Banderas said.
Li Ang pursed his lips. It seemed that the game over there was boring enough.
Although the game was 0-0, Li Ang guessed wrong. At this moment, the Madrid Derby had entered a white-hot stage.
The Madrid Derby between Atlético Madrid and Real Madrid was interrupted with Atlético Madrid's relegation. After Atlético Madrid returned to La Liga, the hatred between the two sides not only did not resolve, but intensified.
*****
This match was filled with the smell of gunpowder from the very beginning.
First, a player from Atlético Madrid put Real Madrid's captain Raúl to the ground with a flying tackle and received a yellow card.
Then, Real Madrid's Helguera retaliated by kicking down Atlético Madrid's captain Torres, but it was only a verbal warning, which immediately aroused the dissatisfaction of the home team's players.
The referee's punishment was different, which foreshadowed the chaos of the game.
Following that, both sides continued to use underhanded tricks, tripping, and other small tricks. By the time the referee on duty realized that something was wrong, it was already too late. Due to the anger of both sides and the atmosphere of the derby, the match was almost out of control. The referee had no choice but to whistle again and again. All he could do was to take out his cards again and again.
In the 41st minute of the game, Real Madrid had an opportunity to attack. Owen was ready to receive a pass from his teammate. Pablo Ibañez came up to defend. He directly fell to the ground for a flying tackle. After the football was shoveled out, the favorite player of Atlético Madrid's manager, Ferrando, did not retract his leg. He and Owen collided fiercely.
This was lively.
Owen was lying on the ground was in pain. And Pablo did not even was apologizing, he got up..
He was immediately surrounded by the angry Real Madrid players. Seeing that their teammate was going to suffer, the Atlético Madrid players also swarmed over. The two sides collided and a fierce physical conflict broke out.
The referee's whistle could no longer calm them down. He could only use the cards to calm the agitated players down.
*****
The referee directly showed a red card to Pablo Ibañez and a second yellow card to the veteran Simeone, who was suspected of attacking others. Atlético Madrid's two players were sent off with red cards.
On the Real Madrid side, Guti was also sent off with a red card because of his actions.
This decision naturally made Atlético Madrid's manager, Ferrando, very unhappy. How could he play the game when two of his players were sent off at once? In addition, in the next round of the league tournament, they were going to face Sporting de Gijón in an away game. What about that game?
Simeone, who was sent off with a red card, was furious. He was reluctant to leave the field and roared angrily, accusing the referee of being unfair. If his teammates had not quickly "dragged" him to the sidelines, the Argentine veteran might have attacked the referee. He was famous for his bad temper. Even when he later became a coach, his temper was still the same.
Real Madrid's manager, Luxemburgo, was also angry. He thought that his team was the victim through and through. Why was one more player sent off? What's more, Owen might be injured now.
*****
Banderas told Li Ang about the conflict that happened at the Calderón Stadium. When he learned that Pablo and Simeone were sent off with red cards, Li Ang touched his chin. There was such a good thing. In the next game, Atlético Madrid's defensive ability could be said to have suffered a major blow. Sporting de Gijón would be facing a somewhat lame Atlético Madrid. Was he basking in Real Madrid's glory?!
Li Ang did not pay attention to what happened in Madrid and focused on his own side.
At this time, the fourth official on the sidelines raised the electronic signboard for the one-minute interval in the first half of the game.
Sporting de Gijón had just gotten a chance to fight back. Ribéry dribbled the ball along the left side of the road and then crossed. Di Natale had just received the ball when he was knocked to the ground. They got a place kick about 35 meters away from the goal.
Li Ang was energized. He walked to the sidelines and waved his hand, asking the team's defenders who were good at fighting for headers to go up.
The 190cm tall Grosso rushed into Sevilla's penalty area. Although Ivanovic was good at headers, he stayed in the backfield to prevent Sevilla's counterattack.
Pepe also wanted to go up, but the captain, Albertini, shouted, indicating that Pepe should stay in the backfield and let Vermaelen go up.
"You stay behind. You have more experience than the Belgian boy." Albertini suppressed Pepe's dissatisfaction with one sentence.
*****
Pepe's heart itched as he watched Vermaelen run into Sevilla's penalty area and get ready to participate in the attack. He was very happy to be a senior in front of Vermaelen, a peer of the same age, and he wanted to continue to be in the limelight.
Pep looked in front of him and quietly moved his position forward. He was already past the center circle.
Carlos glanced at Pepe and cracked a smile. He did not say anything, but he raised his vigilance. If this guy pressed too hard and the opponent counterattacked, he could only step forward.
Pepe winked at Carlos and gave him a thumbs up to express his gratitude.
Albertini kicked the corner kick out.
Diego Milito headed the ball at the front and brushed it back. Grosso was still in the air at this time. He was about to smash the football over, but he did not head anything. The football brushed past his scalp. At the back, Vermaelen was clearly unprepared for the appearance of the football. His header was awkward and only brushed the ball slightly.
Sevilla's goalkeeper, Esteban, subconsciously hit the football out.
Castedo rushed in front of Di Natale and cleared the football out of the penalty area.
Renato continued to kick the football forward.
At this time, a figure rushed up.
*****
It was Pepe!
This guy still could not hold back and rushed up directly.
Just as he caught up with the football, Pepe was entangled by Alves. Pepe pushed Alves with one hand to prevent him from coming up and stretched out his right foot to receive the ball.
But the ball was not stopped well. The football was not stopped at his feet obediently, but more than a meter away from Pepe.
The Sevilla fans in the stands laughed and booed. Pepe's poor stoppage of the ball gave them a reason to laugh, and they used this method to attack their opponents.
In the midst of the laughter, Pepe was like a bull. He squeezed out of Alves' entanglement and rushed out. His left leg exerted force and his body sprang forward. At the same time, he swung his right foot and whipped the football that he did not stop well.
The football that was whipped suddenly sprang up and swept wildly toward the goal.
The young Pepe's expression was ferocious. His gaze was fixed on the football that he kicked out. In his eyes, the white light was like a golden light that tore apart the rolling dark clouds. It pressed forward —
Forward!
Forward!
Forward!
Past the forest of people in the penalty area!
Past the hands of the Sevilla goalkeeper!
Under the desperate gaze of the opponent:
Sent the net flying!
Rolled up a stormy sea!
Raised a thousand feet of light!
PS: First update, asking for a guaranteed monthly ticket. Thank you, everyone.
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