Football giants

Chapter 727 The Only Hope

This world-renowned focus match held at the Bernabéu Stadium ended with a score of [-]-[-] between the two sides.

In the away game, Southampton relied on goals from Suarez and Sanchez to help the Saints retreat from the Bernabeu.

But after the game, there was a huge reaction in the media throughout Europe, especially in the UK and Spain.

First, the Spanish newspaper Marca couldn't help exclaiming that everyone thought that Real Madrid's game was a surefire game, but it ended with such an astonishing score. Southampton, a newcomer to the Champions League, showed amazing strength!
"If it is said that Southampton did not lose to Real Madrid at the Bernabeu Stadium, I believe everyone will be surprised, but they will not deny this point of view, because the Saints are not inferior in terms of statistics or scores."

"We saw that Southampton is a very young but full of competitiveness team, and they are very united and have a great spirit of sacrifice, which makes them stronger."

"What impresses the reporter is that Ibrahimovic did not score a goal in this game. This may disappoint the fans of the Swedish center, because with Cristiano Ronaldo's goal, in the Champions League scorer list, the Swedish center is already one goal behind the Royal superstar."

"But from the reporter's point of view, I saw the other side, that is Zlatan Ibrahimovic who didn't score!"

"The first goal, Kaka's breakthrough with the ball is amazing, and Suarez's dexterity in the penalty area is also amazing, but not far from them, Ibrahimovic restrained Real Madrid's central defender for them. Isn't this also a silent contribution?"

"Also, for the second goal, Sanchez's goal, a large part of the credit came from Zlatan Ibrahimovic's assist. Without the Swedish center to suppress Pepe and then pass the ball, it is hard to imagine how Southampton's offense will continue this time, and even score a goal."

"Yes, in this game, Ibrahimovic did not score, but his contribution to the team is still great."

"Perhaps, as he mentioned in an interview with the media a few months ago, in his career, he has won almost all the honors, but the most important Champions League champion has always been close to him."

"There have always been rumors from the outside world that this season will be Ibrahimovic's last season in Southampton. If this is true, then we may also say that if he does not win another Champions League this season, then Ibrahimovic will always have this regret in his career!"

"Perhaps because of this, the Swedish center did not play well in the Premier League this season. Instead, he performed quite eye-catchingly in the Champions League. This game is just a continuation of his excellent state."

"Not just Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but also other players, they all showed the extreme desire for the championship, for the glory, they were like a bunch of hungry and crazy guys rushed into the food hall."

"On the contrary, this kind of hunger is not obvious in Real Madrid."

Compared with the neutral remarks of the Marca newspaper, the comments of another Spanish newspaper, Aspen, are more concerned with the face of Real Madrid and the emotions of Real Madrid fans.

"A score of two to two is acceptable to both sides."

"The Saints took away two away goals from the Bernabeu Stadium, but Real Madrid also got a rare draw when the team was not in good form. This is not unacceptable."

"The second round, the match at St. Mary's Stadium, will determine the outcome of this knockout match!"

"This game is worthy of Ancelotti and his players to observe and be vigilant. Southampton is not weak. On the contrary, what we saw at the Bernabéu Stadium is a strong team that is comparable to Real Madrid. Those who think that the strength of the Saints is only enough to abuse them should admit this."

"A draw is certainly a pity, but it is also an opportunity for everyone to see the strength of the Saints more clearly, and then make more adequate preparations for the second round of the game."

"Judging from this battle at the Bernabeu, the match at the St. Mary's Stadium a week later will be a life-and-death battle. It will be very cruel and difficult. Everyone must be fully mentally prepared. Real Madrid can only bring back a victory from the St. Mary's Stadium if they play at their best!"

"Let's bless Real Madrid!"

Unlike Marca and Aspen, the Daily Sports newspaper, which is biased towards Barcelona, ​​started to make some reports, thinking that Real Madrid performed quite badly at their home court, and Southampton deserved to win.

British newspapers also praised Southampton's performance, thinking that it greatly exceeded everyone's expectations.

The Times said, "When most people believed before the game that Southampton would face a Waterloo at the Bernabéu, Bielsa's team silenced everyone!"

"Two to two, no matter in terms of score or in the process of the game, Southampton faced such a powerful Real Madrid, and they did not lose at all. Even for a long time, the Saints firmly controlled the situation of the game."

"This game gives us absolutely reason to look forward to it. Southampton has the hope to go further in the Champions League!"

The Sun newspaper also published a column commentary by chief reporter Steven Howard on the front page, believing that Southampton's performance has won glory for the entire Premier League. At the moment when the Premier League teams are weak in the European war, the Saints independently supported the Premier League.

It's no wonder that in another quarter-final knockout match at the same time, Manchester United sat at Old Trafford and drew [-]-[-] with Bayern Munich.

But even though it was a draw, the process was completely different.

If it is said that Southampton relied on the hard power of the team itself to play on par with Real Madrid at the Bernabéu, and it would be regrettable to get a draw, then Manchester United's win was quite a fluke and hard work.

This can be seen from Bayern Munich's possession rate of 70.00%, which is more than three times that of Manchester United.

There is no doubt that Manchester United is at the lowest point in history. With such a broken formation, they can draw with the mighty Bayern Munich at home. Manchester United deserves respect.

But such an astonishing gap in strength between the two sides has to make people feel emotional, the former Red Devils are no longer good!
Under such circumstances, Southampton's two-to-two away draw with Real Madrid undoubtedly gave people a ray of hope.

Not only the Times and The Sun, but also the Guardian, Mirror, and even the Daily Mail and other newspapers that are usually not in harmony with Southampton, this time it is very rare to give the Saints a very high evaluation.

I believe that Southampton has undoubtedly become the only hope for the Premier League team to return to the semi-finals when it is difficult for Manchester United to overthrow the giant ship Bayern Munich in an away game.

After all, in the [-]-[-] season, after Manchester United reached the Champions League final, no Premier League team has ever reached the Champions League semi-finals. This is undoubtedly unacceptable for the Premier League, which bears the title of the world's number one league.

Therefore, under such circumstances, almost the whole of England is looking forward to Southampton's successful counterattack, defeating Real Madrid at home, and successfully advancing to the semi-finals of the Champions League, eliminating the embarrassment of having no semi-finals in the Premier League in the past two years.

Amidst the overwhelming noise from the media, Yang Huan did not return to England with Southampton, but went to Barcelona the night after the game.

At noon the next day, I had dinner with Barcelona's Russell, Bartomeu and other management.

In the afternoon, he appeared at the hotel where Atlético de Madrid was staying, met all the players of the Sheets Corps, cheered for them in the evening game, and personally promised that as long as the team performed well in the Champions League, he would definitely be rewarded!
But in this game, Atletico Madrid's situation is not optimistic.

That is the absence of the team's top center Diego Costa due to injury, which is undoubtedly a big loss for Atletico Madrid.

In contrast to Barcelona, ​​it can be said that they are strong and strong, recharging their energy and recharging their energy. Luis Enrique is also ambitious and wants to use a Champions League to defend his position as coach.

Ever since, in the Nou Camp battle, the two sides could be said to be head-to-head, and the fight was very tragic.

Simeone is a very pragmatic head coach. Regardless of Atletico Madrid's current strength, apart from Barcelona and Real Madrid, there are almost no opponents in La Liga.

But when facing Barcelona, ​​especially when he was a guest at Camp Nou, Simeone's attitude was very correct.

That is to guard, strictly guard against sticking to it!
It certainly wasn't a great game, as Barcelona played the style of possession they are good at, constantly using back and forth to kill the game time.

Atletico Madrid, on the other hand, used a full-court pressing and oppression that surpassed Barcelona, ​​and even surpassed anyone's imagination, to ensure that their goals were not lost.

For most of the game, it was a stalemate in this kind of possession and defense.

Until the second half, Atletico Madrid, who played away, suddenly broke the deadlock on the field.

With Diego Costa out, Isco was relocated to a wide position.

This season, Simeone has placed high hopes on him, and he has performed quite brilliantly. He was selected as a supernova in the Spanish national team. Facing Barcelona in this game, he did not have the slightest fear.

At the critical moment of the second half, under the double-teaming of four Barcelona players, in an extremely narrow space, he used his skillful ball sense, dazzling dribbling movements, and sudden rhythm changes to forcibly cut a gap in Barcelona's defense.

After that, when he faced Valdes, he calmly scored the ball into the goal and opened the scoring for Atletico Madrid!

This wonderful goal even made the entire Nou Camp stadium exclaim!

This talented Spanish midfielder has found his position perfectly in Simeone's tactical system. This wonderful goal is just the epitome of his outstanding performance in the past season.

But it was this goal that completely broke the deadlock on the field.

Barcelona went all out and launched a counterattack desperately.

Atletico Madrid's players were infected by the goal. To a certain extent, they could no longer bear their temper, performed Simeone's task of strictly guarding against death, and made a mistake in the No. 801 minute.

Centre-back Miranda missed someone while defending, and Neymar pushed into the far corner from the left side of the penalty area to equalize the score for Barcelona.

In the end, the duel between the two teams ended with a score of one to one. Simeone's team took away an away goal and a draw from the Nou Camp.

But in the face of a team like Barcelona, ​​even if they return to the Calderon Stadium, Atletico Madrid dare not say how much advantage they have in winning.

However, with the outstanding performance of the players in the team, Atletico Madrid undoubtedly let everyone see the rise of this sheet army and their future potential!
(End of this chapter)