The Champions League defeat inevitably broke some fans' hearts.
Today's match was Real Madrid hosting Sevilla.
Sevilla and Barcelona have a good relationship, so naturally, they became mortal enemies with Real Madrid.
Therefore, today's match was filled with tension.
Before the match, Queiroz announced Real Madrid's starting eleven:
Su Hang
Solari, Raúl, Zidane
Beckham, Guti
Carlos, Bravo, Helguera, Salgado
Casillas
This was a 4-2-3-1 formation; Figo was suspended for this round.
Su Hang, as the team's only forward, started as a lone striker for the first time.
His goal-scoring task was heavy.
This formation arrangement was actually not scientific.
Those in the know could already tell that Queiroz was setting Su Hang up for failure.
If it were a two-striker or three-striker formation, if they didn't score, at least two or three people would share the blame.
But with Su Hang as a lone striker, wouldn't he be the only one to blame if Real Madrid didn't score?
Queiroz explained this by saying, "The team needs to strengthen its defense" and "Only by defending well can we win the match."
As time passed, players from both sides began to enter the field.
And Su Hang, this new face, naturally attracted attention.
Not all fans knew him.
"Who is that East Asian? Where is Ronaldo?"
"Ronaldo is still injured and hasn't returned."
"Why isn't Postiga playing? Postiga is stronger than this player, right? I've never even seen this person!"
"Brother, you must have been too busy to read the newspapers lately, right? This is Su Hang, Real Madrid's number one contributor to winning the Copa del Rey!"
"This is Real Madrid's own talented youth academy player! He is a big-hearted striker!"
With some insiders providing information, more and more people recognized Su Hang.
But there probably weren't many who truly acknowledged him.
After all, Real Madrid fans have always been the most demanding.
An ordinary striker simply couldn't win their favor.
Too many stars have left here in disappointment.
Every one of them had a higher status than Su Hang!
On the field.
Before the match began, Zidane was explaining some key points to Su Hang: "They are in a 4-4-2 formation today, with Silva and Baptista as the two strikers."
"Among them, Baptista is very threatening. His nickname is 'The Beast'; he plays from defensive midfield to attacking midfield and even striker."
"So if he defends you, don't be surprised; he is a player who can cover the entire field."
"Their right-back, Alves, is fast and good at passing, strong in attack but weak in defense. If you want to move to the wing to support, you can focus on his side and use your physicality to gain an advantage."
Su Hang nodded.
Zidane's guidance was very important.
As the world's number one midfielder, he could always spot the opponent's fatal weaknesses.
Beep!
With a whistle, the match officially began.
The Real Madrid fans in the stadium immediately cheered, creating momentum for the home team.
1st minute.
Su Hang dropped back from the forward position, and Raúl seized the opportunity to make a run forward.
Guti spotted an opening and attempted a through ball to connect with Raúl.
Unfortunately, it was intercepted by Sevilla's defensive midfielder, Casquero.
5th minute.
Su Hang dropped back again, drawing out the opposing center-back.
Raúl started another run forward, forcing the other opposing center-back to cover.
Sevilla's defensive formation was in disarray.
Bang!
Zidane passed horizontally to Su Hang.
Su Hang made a back pass to Beckham's feet.
Whether it was the control of distance, or the power and spin, this pass was impeccable.
Bang!
Beckham met the ball with a direct long pass, lofting the ball to the left side of the penalty area.
Solari made an off-ball run infield, received the ball on the left side of the penalty area, dribbled one more step forward... and unleashed a powerful shot!
The ball went into the net.
One-nil!
"GOAL! Solari! Well done!"
"Beckham directly linked up with Solari; Real Madrid's attack was very layered, directly breaking through Sevilla's defense!"
"Of course, Su Hang, Raúl, and Zidane also played an indispensable role in this goal."
"Especially Su Hang, his pulling and back pass were just right!"
The commentator understood football.
He saw Su Hang's role in that goal.
On the sideline, Queiroz, however, couldn't be happy.
Su Hang had such good luck.
Although he had no goals or assists, he actually managed to get a tiny bit of credit... "Ah! Su Hang was in an offside position, what a pity!"
"Zidane wanted to make a through pass, but Su Hang was again in an offside position, so he couldn't pass."
"Raúl held the ball; he looked at Su Hang, but Su Hang was offside..."
For the next ten minutes or so, Real Madrid fans were extremely anxious.
Why was that Su Hang always offside?
On the field, Su Hang constantly wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Not because he was tired, but because he was scared.
Scared that his teammates would pass to him.
Why was he always offside?
Because he was doing it on purpose!
Only this way could he avoid his teammates passing to him.
Otherwise, once he received the ball too much, his terrible trapping and dribbling skills would be exposed.
Queiroz would then have a reason to kick him out of the first team.
In fact, this was a very clever move.
Su Hang both avoided his teammates passing to him and created the illusion of constantly trying to break through the opponent's defense.
No one would criticize a hardworking player, right?
But Zidane had another interpretation of Su Hang's movement.
Could Su Hang not understand positioning?
Absolutely not!
So what was the reason for his frequent offsides?
Paralysis!
He was paralyzing Sevilla's defenders!
Through frequent offsides, he was making the opponent's sensitive nerves gradually dull, and then in one of his runs, he would truly create a killing opportunity!
Su Hang was indeed no ordinary player!
This kind of long-term operational thinking is what many not-so-smart strikers lack the most.
This cunning little fox!
19th minute.
Sevilla striker Baptista dribbled through, drawing a foul from Guti.
Guti received a yellow card.
26th minute.
Su Hang dropped back again, but this time Casquero didn't give him a chance to make a play, directly raising his foot from behind, attempting to be the first to touch the ball.
However, Su Hang had a positional advantage; he kicked the ball away first, and then was kicked by Casquero.
The Main Referee immediately blew his whistle and showed Casquero a yellow card.
The Real Madrid fans in the stadium applauded.
"Well done, Su Hang!"
"Not bad, this player is at least very diligent. Attacking the opponent's defense, dropping back to help midfielders organize, he's willing to do what other strikers aren't."
"Speaking of which, his playing style is somewhat similar to Morientes."
"Don't mention him, I still don't know how to face Morientes."
"I certainly don't want Su Hang to become a traitor like Morientes!"
43rd minute.
After hiding for so long, Su Hang finally couldn't outlast Zidane.
Just because he ran a little slower and wasn't in an offside position.
Zidane made a diagonal pass, accurately sending the ball not far in front of Su Hang.
Su Hang could only grit his teeth and rush towards the ball.
Damn!
Damn Zidane!
Why did he pass it, for crying out loud!