Soccer: I have the attributes of Messi in his Prime

Chapter 491: The Fall of the Giants, Only Arsenal Still Fighting for Top Four!

Since Manchester City drew Atlético Madrid, it meant that the remaining two teams, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, would face each other. Just like Manchester City, Real Madrid was drawn first, meaning they would play the first leg at home and the second leg away.

This was not favorable for Real Madrid either, as Bayern Munich's strength at home was well known. Very few teams could gain an advantage at the Allianz Arena. Even Manchester City had a tough time there last season. Although City progressed on aggregate, they still lost the match at Allianz Arena. Bayern at home feared no opponent, regardless of their status.

For all four teams, the draw was tough. Real Madrid likely didn't want to face Bayern, and Manchester City didn't want to face Atlético. Similarly, Bayern and Atlético were not confident about easily defeating their opponents.

Thus, these semi-finals were filled with suspense, attracting countless fans' discussions.

"Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich, this is like a clash of the titans!"

"Yeah, both teams are top-tier and love attacking. Their match is going to be intense and exciting. I can't wait to watch!"

"Bayern hasn't been in great form lately, but Real Madrid is on fire. I predict Real Madrid will advance to the finals with a 4-3 aggregate score!"

"Real Madrid has a tough schedule, playing the second leg away favors Bayern. Plus, Bayern's key players should recover by the semi-finals. I think Bayern has a slight edge!"

"Both teams have incredibly strong wings. The key to victory will be whose wingers perform better during the matches."

Real Madrid's wings featured the duo of Ronaldo and Bale, while Bayern had the legendary combination of Robben and Ribéry. Additionally, due to the Ballon d'Or controversy, there was a personal rivalry between Ribéry and Ronaldo. This added another layer of intrigue to the already high-stakes match.

After the draw, Ribéry quickly posted on Twitter: "It's time to reclaim what's mine!"

He attached a picture of the Ballon d'Or, making it clear what he was referring to. Those aware of the controversy two years ago understood his message.

"What do you mean? The Ballon d'Or belongs to our CR7!"

"Exactly, Ronaldo won it fair and square. Who do you think you are?"

"Look at your scarred face, you're obviously not a good person. How dare you challenge our Ronaldo?"

R

onaldo's fans quickly flooded Ribéry's post with comments, defending their idol.

"Hypocrites! To rob Ribéry of the Ballon d'Or, they even changed the voting rules. Do you think the world is full of fools?"

"Exactly, some fans are as hypocritical as their idol!"

"Sorry everyone, my dog got loose and started barking here. Apologies!"

Soon, Ribéry's fans and some neutral fans joined the fray, engaging in a fierce online battle with Ronaldo's supporters.

Compared to this, the atmosphere between Atlético Madrid and Manchester City was much calmer. Neither team had a deep history or many past encounters, so there was no lingering animosity. Their fans could peacefully discuss the draw and predict the match outcomes.

"Atlético's defense is excellent. Manchester City might struggle against them."

"True, Simeone knows how to handle possession-based teams very well."

"But Manchester City did beat them in the Champions League final two years ago. That should give them some psychological advantage, right?"

In the Champions League final two years ago, Manchester City defeated Atlético 2-0 to win their first-ever Champions League trophy. However, that result didn't necessarily reflect Atlético's true strength. Their main striker, Diego Costa, was injured and had to leave the game after just nine minutes, severely disrupting Simeone's tactics and reducing Atlético's offensive threat.

"If Diego Costa hadn't been injured, it's hard to say who would have won that match."

"Even though Atlético lost to Manchester City, Simeone has a good record against Guardiola."

Since Simeone started coaching Atlético, he faced Guardiola's teams twice, once in La Liga and once in the Champions League. In La Liga, a newly appointed Simeone's Atlético lost 2-1 at home to Guardiola's peak Barcelona. However, Atlético showed strong potential in that match, with more shots and shots on target than Barcelona, only losing due to a last-minute goal by an unstoppable Messi.

In their Champions League semi-final clash, Simeone's Atlético managed to shut out Guardiola's Bayern Munich over two legs, eliminating the defending champions in a massive upset.

However, things were different now. Guardiola had a new team with sharper attacking weapons. He would surely find a way to break through Atlético's formidable defense.

...

After the draw, Guardiola quickly returned to Manchester with Lin Quan to begin preparing for Atlético Madrid. Atlético's strength lay in their defense. Their backline was one of the toughest in Europe, and few teams could boast of easily breaking through it.

It wasn't that Atlético's defenders and midfielders were extraordinarily skilled individually. Many teams had more talented defensive players. But Simeone's tactics maximized their defensive capabilities, making it very difficult for opponents to succeed.

How did Simeone achieve this? One word: running!

In both La Liga and the Champions League, Atlético was known for their incredible work rate. They consistently implemented a strategy of pressing and high pressing, with players running tirelessly all over the pitch, constantly double-teaming and pressuring the ball carrier.

Through relentless running, their eleven players seemed like more, always outnumbering the opponents in key areas. This made it very challenging for the opposing team to mount effective attacks, often leading to turnovers and quick counterattacks by Atlético.

In La Liga, Atlético Madrid tops the league with 20 clean sheets and has conceded the fewest goals so far. Their defensive ability has been proven in matches. Even top teams like Real Madrid and Barcelona struggle to score against Atlético. Guardiola is troubled by this and repeatedly watches videos of Atlético's matches this season, focusing on the games they lost, trying to find a solution.

While Guardiola studies Atlético, Atlético's coach Simeone is also studying Manchester City. "Manchester City's wing threats are immense, especially Lin Quan. This guy is even scarier than Messi was in 2012. I really don't know how to stop this monster!" Simeone still remembers losing to Manchester City at the Estádio da Luz two years ago. It was Lin Quan's goal that broke the deadlock, leading to Atlético's defensive strategy falling apart and their eventual 0-2 defeat.

Compared to two years ago, Lin Quan has become even more versatile and experienced, making him harder to deal with on the field. "How do we limit him?" Atlético's defense is excellent against ordinary players, but for someone like Lin Quan, typical tactics might not work. Such extraordinary players can change the course of a match with a moment of brilliance. Therefore, defending against him requires utmost caution to ensure he gets no opportunities.

Guardiola sees Atlético's defense as impenetrable, while Simeone worries about the threat posed by Lin Quan. Both sides are wary of each other, and the suspense will be resolved in ten days.

On April 17, the 34th round of the Premier League kicked off. As the season nears its end, the title race and relegation battles are becoming clear. Manchester City leads with 81 points, nine points ahead of second-placed Leicester City. With only five rounds left, this lead is substantial.

The relegation situation is also clear. Aston Villa, at the bottom, has already been relegated. Newcastle, second from the bottom with 26 points, is also likely to be relegated. Sunderland and Norwich are close, with 30 and 31 points respectively, and the third relegation spot will likely be between them. Everton, Watford, and Crystal Palace, in 14th to 16th place, are not entirely safe and could still face relegation if they perform poorly in the final rounds.

While the title race and relegation battles lack suspense, the fight for Champions League spots is fierce. Besides the top two teams, five other teams are competing for the remaining two spots. Tottenham, currently with 65 points, has a clear advantage and is close to securing a spot. Arsenal, the perennial fourth-placers, are in fourth place with 62 points, six points ahead of fifth-placed Manchester United.

Manchester United, with 56 points, has slim hopes of securing a Champions League spot. West Ham with 55 points and Liverpool with 52 points have only a theoretical chance. Chelsea, meanwhile, lost their chance to qualify for the Champions League early in the season.

This season has been a dismal one for the Premier League's traditional giants. Besides Arsenal, the others—Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea—have struggled. They have been overshadowed by Manchester City and even outperformed by Leicester and Tottenham.

"Premier League's traditional powers are truly falling!"

"Yeah, since Manchester City's rise, the other giants seem to have lost their luck and declined rapidly."

"If this continues, the Premier League might become another Bundesliga, with Manchester City as the Bayern Munich of England."

"I don't think so. The traditional giants still have their history and could make a comeback."

"Look at Liverpool. Despite their poor performance this season, they are gradually getting stronger. Given more time, they could return to glory."

"Right, Manchester City's next match is against Chelsea. Playing at Stamford Bridge, Chelsea shouldn't let City win easily, right?"

Though Chelsea has had a poor season, they are still a formidable team, especially at home. Many fans silently hoped Chelsea would put up a fight against City. However, just five minutes into the match, those hopes were shattered.

In the fifth minute, Lin Quan and Agüero combined, with Agüero scoring easily from Lin Quan's pass, making it 1-0. Just 10 minutes later, in almost the same position, Lin Quan assisted Agüero again, who scored his second goal.

It wasn't over. In the 29th minute, Lin Quan scored a free-kick by shooting under the jumping wall, making it 3-0. Stamford Bridge fell silent, and the usually vocal Chelsea fans were stunned into silence. They began to wonder: Are we really at Stamford Bridge and not the Etihad?

Merry Christmas friends, here the author wishes you a prosperous new year

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