March 8, 2020
Segunda División, Matchday 31
Rayo Vallecano vs. Elche
Stadium: Vallecas Stadium (Home)
Rayo Vallecano
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Goalkeeper: Stole Dimitrievski
Defenders: Luis Advíncula, Alejandro Catena, Esteban Savić, Antonio Luna
Defensive Midfielders: Santi Comesaña, Mario Suárez
Midfielders: Isi Palazón, Óscar Trejo, Álvaro García
Forward: Lu Chuan
Elche
Formation: 4-4-2
Goalkeeper: Edgar Badia
Defenders: Óscar Gil, Gonzalo Verdú, Dani Calvo, Juan Cruz
Midfielders: Iván Sánchez, Gonzalo Villar, Ramón Folch, Fidel Chaves
Forwards: Pere Milla, Nino (Captain)
The turf of Vallecas Stadium glowed emerald green in the afternoon sun.
Red and white flags fluttered in the stands, and the fans' songs had been echoing for a full hour.
"Damn it, what formation are they playing?" Álvaro García complained to his teammates during warm-ups, "It looks like a solid block."
Óscar patted his shoulder: "Don't worry, we'll find out what they're up to soon enough."
The whistle for the start of the match blew. Elche's players immediately retreated to their own half, with four midfielders lined up horizontally, maintaining almost perfect distances. The gap between the two defensive lines was so small that not even a piece of paper could pass through.
Pacheta stood on the sidelines with his arms crossed, a triumphant smile on his lips.
His 4-4-2 formation was like an impenetrable wall; any ball attempting to pass through would be mercilessly bounced back.
"I've studied this Chinese kid for a long time," Pacheta whispered to his assistant coach, "Give him enough space, and he's certainly a threat. But if he can't even get the ball..."
The first time Lu Chuan touched the ball, Gonzalo Verdú immediately closed in on him.
The tall center-back used his body to constrict Lu Chuan's movement, constantly making small fouls with his hands.
"Don't think you'll get past easily, kid," Verdú whispered mockingly in Lu Chuan's ear, "This isn't your backyard."
Lu Chuan tried to turn, but Dani Calvo had already blocked him from the other side.
Two defenders clamped him like pincers, preventing him from completing his turn.
"Pass! Pass!" Óscar shouted from behind.
Lu Chuan could only pass the ball back to his teammate. As soon as he passed, he tried to run forward, but defensive midfielder Gonzalo Villar immediately followed, blocking all his potential running lanes.
In the vip box, Esther nervously gripped the armrest of her seat.
She had never observed the subtlety and ruthlessness of football tactics so closely. Whenever Lu Chuan got the ball, two or three players would immediately surround him, giving him no space to operate.
"Is this the charm of football?" Esther murmured to herself, "It looks more like a hunt."
The situation on the field became increasingly deadlocked. Rayo Vallecano held 70% of the possession, but every time they advanced into the attacking third, they encountered Elche's dense defensive block.
The ball was passed back and forth in midfield, but they could never find an opportunity to break through the defense.
Paco paced back and forth on the sidelines, his tactical board creaking in his grip: "Damn it, are they playing football or setting up a maze?"
"Coach, should we try a different approach?" the assistant coach asked tentatively.
"Wait a bit longer, let them adapt first." Paco narrowed his eyes, "There will always be an opportunity."
On the other side, Pacheta remained calm, occasionally gesturing towards the field to adjust his team's positioning.
His players executed flawlessly, each person acting strictly according to the pre-match deployment.
In the commentary box, veteran commentator Juan Carlos shook his head: "Pacheta has successfully posed a difficult problem for Rayo Vallecano. He has completely 'frozen' Lu Chuan with extreme discipline. Now, it's a test of the wisdom of Paco Jémez and his disciples."
His co-commentator chimed in: "Indeed, this defensive strategy, while not pretty, is very effective. Elche is using this method to wear down Rayo Vallecano's momentum."
In the 28th minute, 40-year-old Nino completed a brilliant tackle in the attacking third.
The veteran's experience was fully on display; he accurately anticipated Savić's passing route, winning the ball and immediately distributing it to a teammate on the wing.
"The old ones are still the best!" Elche fans in the stands erupted in cheers.
Nino raised a finger towards Rayo Vallecano's defense, winking triumphantly at his opponents. That expression, "I've seen right through you," was more provocative than any words.
Savić slapped his forehead in annoyance: "How did that old guy read me?"
Comesaña ran over to comfort his teammate: "Don't worry, take your time. They can't keep running like this forever."
The first half ticked away minute by minute. The atmosphere at Vallecas Stadium became somewhat oppressive, and the fans' songs were not as loud as at the start.
Óscar attempted a long-range shot in the 35th minute, but the ball flew directly into the stands. Goalkeeper Edgar Badia didn't even move, merely glancing dismissively.
"Is that all you've got?" Badia spread his hands towards Óscar, "My grandma shoots better than you!"
The home fans began to jeer in dissatisfaction. They paid for tickets not to watch such a dull match.
"Attack! Attack!" the hardcore fans in the South Stand chanted in unison, trying to inject energy into the team with their voices.
Lu Chuan ran anxiously in the attacking third, but every time he tried to receive the ball, two defenders were always shadowing him. He began to realize that pure individual ability seemed powerless against such a compact defense.
Lu Chuan looked down at the team emblem on his jersey, his chest rising and falling, his anxious emotions gradually subsiding.
The Full Field Vision skill quietly activated, and the entire stadium transformed into a three-dimensional tactical map in his eyes.
Elche's defensive system was indeed tight, but no tactic could be perfectly flawless.
He stopped looking at the ball and instead focused on the opponents' movements, searching for that fleeting gap.
Left-back Juan Cruz, a veteran in his early thirties, seemed to have stamina as his weakness.
After every attack, his defensive recovery speed was noticeably half a beat slower. Moreover, his attention was more focused on Álvaro García, leaving the right flank relatively vulnerable.
Lu Chuan's pupils contracted slightly; he had found the breakthrough.
In the 42nd minute, an opportunity for a throw-in arose.
Lu Chuan quickly ran to right winger Isi Palazón, covering his mouth with his hand, and whispered rapidly in his ear: "Later, create more threats on the right wing to draw Juan Cruz out. I'll look for an opportunity to cut in behind him."
Isi Palazón immediately understood, giving Lu Chuan an "OK" gesture.
Their secret discussion was observed by Elche's players, but they didn't know the specific content.
Gonzalo Villar alertly shouted to his teammates: "Watch out for their combinations!"
During first-half injury time, Rayo Vallecano got one last chance.
Advíncula delivered a cross from the right wing, and Lu Chuan leaped high in the penalty area, but he was sandwiched between two center-backs and couldn't generate any power. His header weakly drifted wide of the goal.
The referee blew the whistle for the end of the first half. The 0-0 score disappointed the home fans, and scattered boos came from the stands.
"What the hell kind of football is this!" a fan angrily threw his popcorn into the air.
"Don't rush, there'll definitely be a good show in the second half," his friend consoled him, but his voice also carried uncertainty.
During halftime, the atmosphere in Rayo Vallecano's locker room was heavy. Players sat or stood, anxiety etched on their faces.
Lu Chuan voluntarily approached Paco: "Coach, I've found a weakness."
Paco immediately turned around, his eyes gleaming with hope: "Tell me."
"Juan Cruz has stamina issues, and his attention is mainly on the left wing." Lu Chuan pointed at the tactical board, "If we focus our attack on the right in the second half, letting Isi create threats, I can look for opportunities to cut in behind him."
Paco's eyes lit up, and he immediately drew new attacking routes on the tactical board: "Yes! That's it! Advíncula also needs to push forward actively to provide more support on the right wing!"
Óscar clapped his hands: "Brothers, the chance has come! Let's show them what we've got in the second half!"
The atmosphere in the locker room instantly became lively. The players reignited their fighting spirit, ready to launch a counterattack in the second half.
"Remember, be patient," Paco emphasized at the end, "There's only one chance, and we must seize it."
The second half restarted, and Rayo Vallecano's tactical focus indeed shifted.
Advíncula frequently pushed forward, forming a double threat with Isi Palazón on the right wing.
In the 52nd minute, Isi successfully broke through on the right, delivering a dangerous cross. Although the goalkeeper dealt with it, Elche's defense clearly began to struggle.
Juan Cruz, panting, shouted to the center-backs: "Damn it, they keep attacking our side!"
"Hold on!" Gonzalo Verdú shouted back, "Don't lose your formation!"
Pacheta frowned on the sidelines. He realized that his opponents had found the weak link in his tactics and were beginning to attack it specifically.
In the 67th minute, another attack was launched from the right.
This time, Advíncula and Isi Palazón executed a brilliant one-two, completely tearing open Elche's left flank defense.
Juan Cruz desperately chased, but his stamina disadvantage was exposed at this moment. His steps were noticeably heavier, and he fell further and further behind Isi Palazón.
Rayo Vallecano fans in the stands rekindled their hope, and their songs once again echoed throughout the stadium.
In the 77th minute of the match, the crucial moment finally arrived.
Isi Palazón received a pass from Advíncula on the right wing, and facing the already exhausted Juan Cruz, he chose to cut inside.
This movement immediately drew the attention of center-back Dani Calvo, who had to come over to assist in the defense.
Just as everyone's attention was focused on the attack on the right, Lu Chuan quietly made his move.
He was like a viper that had been dormant for a long time, suddenly darting out from the crowd, cutting diagonally into that fleeting gap behind Juan Cruz.
The timing was perfect.
As Isi Palazón faced the double-team of two defenders, his peripheral vision caught Lu Chuan's run.
Without the slightest hesitation, he delivered a precise through ball with the outside of his foot.
The ball rolled rapidly along the turf towards Elche's penalty area, its trajectory perfectly tricky.