Chapter 101 The Flame of San Siro
With the Champions League final just around the corner, major media outlets have begun to hype it up.
"Battle of San Siro! Let's revisit the top ten classic battles that took place at the San Siro stadium!"
Marca: Real Madrid are ready to take on the Champions League title and reclaim their place at the top of European football!
The Sun: The Madrid derby is going to be a third match – who will emerge victorious?
Benitez vs. Simeone: The final battle between two great managers!
Breaking News! Fernando Torres may sign with AC Milan after the Champions League season!
……
Match day.
Two distinctly different groups of people suddenly appeared throughout Milan.
On one side were Real Madrid fans dressed in white, their white jerseys forming a sea of white, their flags waving, and the chant of "HALA MADRID" echoing from the streets all the way to the San Siro entrance, creating a magnificent spectacle.
On the other side were Atletico Madrid fans dressed in red and white striped shirts, whose shouts were more rugged and resolute, as if they wanted to vent all the resentment they had felt over the years of losing to Real Madrid today.
Fans from both teams could be seen brushing past each other on the streets, their eyes sparking with excitement, yet a delicate balance was maintained thanks to the security personnel.
In bars, squares, and subways, half the audience is filled with anticipation for Real Madrid to reclaim the Champions League glory, while the other half firmly believes in Atletico Madrid's iron-fisted comeback.
……
Pre-match press conference.
The media room at San Siro Stadium.
The room was packed with cameras and microphones from various media outlets, and the shutters were clicking away.
"Mr. Benitez, if we win tonight, Real Madrid will lift their 11th Champions League trophy after two years. What does that mean to you?"
Benitez sat on the stage, his face unusually calm.
"It means we are the best team in all of Europe, nothing more."
"This is Real Madrid's 11th Champions League title!"
"We've always been the best team in Europe; this Champions League trophy is just a bonus."
At this moment, the reporter turned the camera to Jiang Yan and Cristiano Ronaldo sitting next to Benitez.
"Jiang, there are so many transfer rumors about you lately. Are you really going to Bayern Munich?"
Jiang Yan smiled and said, "I've told my team that I just want to focus on the competition right now, and we'll make a decision after everything settles down."
"Cristiano, what's your opinion on the rumors that you and Jiang Yan are Real Madrid's two core players?"
Cristiano Ronaldo shook his head: "I'm happy that Jiang Yan has become the core of Real Madrid's midfield, but I will also prove to the outside world in this game who is the true king of the Bernabéu."
It's not just the match between the two teams; the duel between the players is also something that fans are incredibly excited about.
Jiang Yan's discussion with Ronaldo had been going on for more than just a day or two. It wasn't until today that Ronaldo finally responded to the reporter's question. Jiang Yan couldn't help but glance at Ronaldo. This man was far more complex than he had imagined.
The conversation we just had was Cristiano Ronaldo's challenge to Jiang Yan!
......
Half an hour later, Simone sat in the same spot.
Simone looked serious.
"You know, we're only afraid of Ronaldo. Jiang Yan? Never heard of him. Real Madrid? They'll be our defeated opponent soon."
......
At that moment, all the lights at the San Siro seemed to converge on the entrance to the players' tunnel.
The players from both sides lined up, and the camera panned across each player's face.
The players from Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid did not communicate with each other and waited for the referee's instructions. Although they are both La Liga teams, the relationship between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid has long been one of bitter rivalry.
Even without verbal communication, an invisible tension permeated the players' tunnel.
......
"Zhuangdianertai! Zhuangdianertai! Good evening, everyone!"
Welcome to the 2015-2016 UEFA Champions League Final!
"The two teams facing off are Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid. A Spanish derby will be played in the Champions League final – La Liga fans' spring has arrived!"
A deafening roar of cheers instantly swept across the entire San Siro stadium.
The white ocean and the red and white waves blended perfectly at this moment, yet were filled with opposing tension.
The camera pans to the players' tunnel, where Baresi and Zanetti lift the Champions League trophy together and walk toward the center of the pitch. The entire San Siro stadium is covered in blue Champions League flags, with Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid flags each occupying one side.
As Alicia Keys and Andrea Pochettino finished their performance, the Champions League flag was slowly removed from the stadium.
Each player, accompanied by a caddie, walked out of the players' tunnel under the guidance of the referee.
"This year's Champions League final will once again feature a Madrid derby."
"The refereeing team consisted of Mark Clattenburg, an English referee who was known by fans as the 'blind whistle' in FA Cup matches."
Laughter from Zhan Jun and He Wei could be heard from the studio.
The camera pans across the Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid players lined up on the pitch.
After the Champions League theme song ends, the match is about to begin.
"Next, let us introduce the lineups of both teams. For Real Madrid, the attacking line features the BBC trio: Benzema, Bale, and Ronaldo. The midfield boasts three key players: Modric, Kroos, and the young Chinese player, Jiang Yan! In defense, Ramos will partner Pepe at center-back, Carvajal at right-back, Marcelo at left-back, and Navas in goal!"
"This year's referee team members are Clattenburg, and the two assistant referees are Baker and Jack Collin."
The captains of both teams walked up to the referee team and shook hands amicably.
"The captains for the two teams are Gabi and Ramos, respectively."
"Before the match, the two teams chose their sides."
As the referee tossed the coin.
"For Real Madrid, Ramos guessed the coin correctly, Real Madrid will choose sides first."
"So, for Atletico Madrid, the starting lineup today is as follows: in goal, Slovenian goalkeeper Oblak, who is also the best goalkeeper in La Liga this season; in center-back, Godin will partner with Savic; on the left-back is Luiz; on the right-back is Juan Frata; in midfield, there are Koke, Gabi, Augusto, and Saul; and up front, Torres will be the lone striker, with Griezmann behind him."
"In this match, Ronaldo is also striving to become the first player in history to score in three Champions League finals."
"This is also the first time that Chinese players have reached the Champions League final stage. Regardless of the outcome, this is a match that fans will remember!"
The live stream chat was flooded with comments:
[Make history! Go Jiang Yan!]
What else is there to say? I'm going to buy all the big balls!
[Jiang Shen is awesome! Did you watch the pre-match press conference? Ronaldo actually subtly criticized our Jiang Shen! This is outrageous!]
[Go for it! Kick off already! I can't wait to see Jiang Yan slap Ronaldo and Simeone in the face!]
......
As the players from both sides entered the field, the entire San Siro stadium erupted in cheers once again.
The camera focused on Jiang Yan and Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as Simeone on the sidelines.
Everyone still vividly remembers what happened at the pre-match press conference, and the director naturally knows who the focus of this match is.
From an overhead view, Torres and Griezmann stand at the kickoff point.
Jiang Yan stood in the attacking midfield position, looking towards the kickoff point, where he met Cristiano Ronaldo's gaze as he looked back at the moon.
The referee glanced at the watch on his hand.
Beep——!!!
With a clear whistle, the competition officially began.
Torres passed the ball to Griezmann, who then passed it back to Augusto in the backfield.
Benzema, playing as the lone striker, immediately ran towards Augusto, who had received the ball, while the rest of Real Madrid began to retreat, preparing to meet Atletico Madrid's attack.
......
Although everyone made grand pronouncements before the match, both teams were quite cautious when they actually got on the field.
Neither side made the first move; instead, they kept probing each other.
For the entire ten minutes, both teams played very cautiously.
After gaining possession, Atletico Madrid did not launch a long pass behind Real Madrid's defense as many expected. Instead, they continuously passed the ball around, keeping it under their control.
Koke passed the ball to Torres, and Griezmann made a decisive forward run, but before he could get into position, Pepe and Ramos blocked his receiving routes, and even Torres himself was marked by Modric and Kroos.
He had no choice but to send the data back.
After all, Real Madrid's counter-attacking speed is among the best in Europe, and if they lose possession in this position, the consequences would be unimaginable.
......
Inside the live stream room.
He Wei hadn't expected the two teams to play so cautiously.
Zhan Jun saw through He Wei's thoughts: "The more familiar you are with a team, the more cautious you need to be. Atletico Madrid knows very well the intensity of Real Madrid's counter-attacks, so naturally they don't want to concede a goal easily."
[Simone's all talk is empty rhetoric; let's go for the attack!]
[It seems Atletico Madrid has been intimidated by Real Madrid; they suddenly passed the ball back just before it reached the penalty area!]
【Kart1, huh? I'll just watch you guys put on a show!】
[Real Madrid is the same; they're pressing Benzema like an old man, not putting in any real effort!]
To put it bluntly, it's all Benzema's fault!
……
Just when the barrage of comments was full of complaints and the audience thought the game was going to continue like a frog being slowly boiled in water, the rhythm of the game suddenly changed.
After receiving the ball in midfield, Koke did not choose to pass it back safely. Instead, he observed the forward runs and suddenly sent out a long, low diagonal pass!
The ball precisely bypassed the midfield battle between Modric and Kroos, finding Felipe Luis making a high-speed run down the left flank.
"Atletico Madrid's attack is on! This is their first threatening run of the game!" Zhan Jun's voice immediately became tense.
Without stopping the ball to adjust, Luis launched a low cross into the center of the penalty area. Torres, like a beast that had been waiting for a long time, shook off Pepe's entanglement and lunged forward to head the ball!
"Here it comes! Torres! Header!"
Navas made a diving save, barely tipping the ball over the crossbar with his fingertips. The San Siro stadium erupted in deafening cheers from Atletico Madrid fans, while Real Madrid fans gasped in shock.
Atletico Madrid's sudden acceleration caught Real Madrid off guard, but fortunately Navas was in good form and made a diving save to deny the header.
"Real Madrid's entire team is in a daze, which gave Atletico Madrid such a good opportunity. Hopefully, Real Madrid can wake up soon."
Atletico Madrid were awarded a corner kick.
After a run-up, Koke precisely lobbed the ball towards the far post of the penalty area, where Godin, having shaken off Ramos's defense, leaped high into the air.
"Godin...is here!"
"Another header?"
"No! Godin headed the ball across! The real hunter is..."
"It's him!"
Godin headed the ball into the center of the penalty area.
Griezmann, lurking near the penalty spot, unleashed a powerful volley that sent the ball hurtling towards the near corner of the goal!
boom!
"Here it comes! Griezmann's powerful shot!"
At this critical moment, Jiang Yan suddenly rushed out and used his body to block the shot, shutting the ball out of the penalty area!
After blocking the goal, Jiang Yan stood up and shouted to his teammates:
"Don't let your guard down! We have to win! We are Real Madrid!"