I Am Scouted by Real Madrid-Chapter 469 - 85: Pushed Up to the Frontline

The intensifying match was also increasing the physical exertion of both teams’ players.

Shortly after Barcelona kicked off, Real Madrid quickly launched a counterattack by winning the ball back from Xavi through a high press.

The ball went to Negredo, who played it back to Chen Zhong. Without a moment’s hesitation, Chen Zhong lofted a pass over Barcelona’s defense.

C. Ronaldo was still entangled with Pique, but Kaka successfully got hold of the ball.

However, Barcelona’s defense was also very tight. After receiving the ball, Kaka took two steps sideways and then passed it into the middle of the penalty area.

"70th minute of the match."

"Real Madrid gained an opportunity through a press in the front court."

"The ball is with Kaka, and Kaka plays it across the center."

"Ziglinsky."

"Chen Zhong."

One of the reasons Guardiola values Ziglinsky is his excellent positioning in defense; he always appears where the team needs him most.

But if Ziglinsky had the choice, he would rather not be here right now.

Chen Zhong charged from the side ferociously.

Seeing Chen Zhong, Ziglinsky’s legs went weak, and he dramatically lost his balance after a collision, stumbling and falling embarrassingly to the ground.

This completely removed any chance for him to get back up and continue the scramble.

At this position, with the ball in Chen Zhong’s possession!

Barcelona’s players felt like they couldn’t breathe, their hearts seemed ready to leap from their throats.

Busquets quickly retreated, while Pique and Alves closed in from the sides. Chen Zhong skillfully pushed the ball forward, just squeezing it through the gap between them to an open space.

"Brilliant pass!"

"Open space!"

"C. Ronaldo!"

Cristiano Ronaldo burst into the left side of the penalty box, with a clear one-on-one chance.

Facing goalkeeper Valdes, C. Ronaldo unleashed a powerful, angled shot. The ball shot out, everyone craning their necks awaiting the outcome.

A leg blocked the ball’s path.

Valdes used his leg to deflect the ball out.

"Valdes!"

"A perfect save!"

"He blocked the ball with his shin!"

The Real Madrid fans in the stands voiced their disappointment, while on the sideline, Guardiola breathed a sigh of relief. At this moment, Pellegrini made a bold decision.

"Real Madrid used their second substitution of the match."

"Pellegrini replaced Negredo with Pirlo."

"What does this mean? Is he pushing C. Ronaldo to the front line?"

"Wait, it seems like Chen Zhong is being pushed to the front line."

"Really?"

The commentator was a bit surprised, and on the pitch, the Real Madrid players were also taken aback.

In this match, Pique, the "old friend," restricted C. Ronaldo, and Kaka, due to a three-month injury absence, was not in form.

If they were in better form today, the team might have equalized or even taken the lead by now.

But to push Chen Zhong to the front line?

In fact, Chen Zhong often advanced from the back to play the role of a "center forward" to compete for headers and scoring chances, but his impact in the midfield should not be underestimated.

Now Chen Zhong is being used as the main "offensive method."

Real Madrid’s formation now becomes:

C. Ronaldo, Chen Zhong, Kaka

Baptista, Pirlo, Alonso

Alvaro, Pepe, Albiol, Ramos

Casillas

And the match proceeded as predicted, with Alvaro bearing the heavy responsibility of marking Messi.

After all, this player has performed well against Messi for various clubs before.

Guardiola on the sideline saw Pellegrini’s formation change, his eyes full of regret. He couldn’t understand how a "versatile talent" like Chen Zhong could be wasted in a forward position as a mere target man.

This is squandering Chen Zhong’s talent.

He most disliked that kind of technically effortless "standing post."

And online, there was much discussion about this adjustment.

[Isn’t this just desperate measures?]

[Can Chen Zhong play as a center forward? Isn’t he a bit slow for that position?]

[Pellegrini has gone mad, not everything can rely on Chen! They have C. Ronaldo, Kaka, Benzema, Iguain on the bench. They’d be more useful in that position than Chen Zhong, wouldn’t they?]

...

At this moment, no one realized how Chen Zhong’s anticipation of ball routes and his active pressing and running would trouble Barcelona.

"Barcelona takes the ball out."

"Aggressive pressing in the front court."

"Now Real Madrid is starting the press and pressure right from the forwards."

"This certainly troubled Barcelona."

"Wow, look at that!"

Barcelona’s backfield pass made a mistake, and the problem arose between Ziglinsky and Iniesta this time.

Under Real Madrid’s pressing, the ball came to Ziglinsky. Feeling immense pressure from Chen Zhong’s pressing, and because he wasn’t originally from Barcelona’s youth academy, his backfield passing was lacking.

When the ball came to Iniesta, C. Ronaldo also closed in from the side, directly intercepting the ball from him.

Iniesta’s frail physique clearly couldn’t withstand the muscular C. Ronaldo.