Chapter 711 King of the Cup

Some people say that Real Madrid and Liverpool are the two most brilliant teams in the Champions League.

In the past eleven years, these two teams have won six Champions League titles, with Real Madrid winning three in five years during the turn of the century, and Liverpool winning two in the past four years. Also on the way to the five-year triple crown.

In history, Real Madrid has won nine Champions League titles in total, and Liverpool has six. These two teams are the top two teams that have won the most championships in the history of the Champions League. Only AC Milan's six championships can be compared with Liverpool. Keep pace.

Real Madrid is going to make an impact towards the tenth Champions League, and Liverpool is also going to make an impact towards the five-year treble.

In the league, Liverpool is the leader of the Premier League. Almost from the beginning of the season, they have been leading the Premier League standings all the way, but behind them are the Red Devils Manchester United. But in La Liga, it is Guardiola's Barcelona who play the role of Liverpool. Real Madrid is playing the role of the chaser of the Red Devils Manchester United.

Juan de Ramos's team has won nine consecutive victories recently, and the gap between Real Madrid and Barcelona has rapidly narrowed from 12 points to seven points, which makes the Madrid people once again see the hope of winning the league.

At the same time, Real Madrid also hopes to make a breakthrough in the Champions League knockout.

It can be said that the two most prosperous traditional giants in the Champions League are looking at this game with the determination to win.

...

Juande Ramos and Benitez are both known as the kings of the cup.

The former led Sevilla to win the UEFA Cup twice and performed well in the cup competition. When coaching Tottenham Hotspur, he also led the team to the League Cup final, but lost to Liverpool.

But it is precisely because of this that Ramos is very familiar with Liverpool's tactical style of play, so this game once again returned to the four-four-two formation adopted in this wave of nine-game winning streaks, resolutely playing on both wings.

Goalkeeper Casillas, Heinze, Cannavaro, Pepe and Ramos in the back line, Marcelo, Gago, Lars Diarra and Robben in midfield from left to right, The two strikers are Raul and Higuain.

Dutch center Huntelaar is unable to play in the Champions League for Real Madrid due to registration reasons.

Marcelo and Higuain are the top players in Real Madrid's recent two-round victories over Sporting Gijon and Real Betis. They are in good shape. Juande Ramos arranged for them to start, obviously hoping to strengthen the team's side attack.

Play Liverpool, Real Madrid do their best to win at home!

...

From the beginning of the game, Real Madrid played with full attack power.

Real Madrid, which has the advantage of passing and controlling the ball, played a fast break from the first minute of the game at its own home.

Just five minutes into the game, Real Madrid created a very good scoring opportunity on the right. Robben took the ball on the right, and when facing Aurelio, he suddenly cut inside and made a pass with his left foot.

Raul's off-ball movement was like a ghost, Skrtel failed to keep up, made a mistake, and was grabbed by the Real Madrid captain to the most powerful position, allowing Raul to take the lead in receiving this straight pass from Robben and hit it directly. Door.

Fortunately, Liverpool goalkeeper Reina responded quickly and judged the position very accurately. He stopped in time and Raul's shot directly hit Reina's arms and failed to break the goal.

But Real Madrid's attack made Liverpool break out in a cold sweat.

Anyone could see that Juande Ramos wanted to hold Liverpool down from the start and get a head start.

...

Juande Ramos' targeted tactics are indeed powerful, but Benitez is also not a fuel-efficient lamp.

Playing pass control, Liverpool can't keep up with Real Madrid, but Liverpool is characterized by overall pressing and pressing.

More importantly, Benitez's formation tonight surprised everyone.

The goalkeeper is Reina, the back line is Aurelio, Skrtel, Carragher and Abeloa, the midfielder is Gareth Bale, Gareth Barry, Mascherano, Xavi Alonso and Kuyt, Yang Yang is at the forefront of the striker.

From the start, Liverpool's formation looked like a four-five-one, with Gareth Bale and Kuyt both dropping deep.

Benitez's strategy is very clear, that is to let Gareth Bale and Aurelio, plus Gareth Barry on the left side of the middle, the three form a defensive triangle, restricting Robben on the right side of Real Madrid. .

Aurelio, in particular, basically gave up offense and devoted himself to defense. He must limit Robben to the flanks and do everything to cut off any chance for Robben to cut into the front of the penalty area and hit the goal.

Gareth Barry, Mascherano and Xavi Alonso made up the three midfielders on standby to make up defenses at any time to ensure that the frontier of the penalty area is foolproof and does not give Real Madrid any chance.

In Benitez's tactics, as long as Robben is cut off, then Liverpool will be sure to press the defense forward, lead the battle to Real Madrid's half, and force the opponent to make mistakes through the strategy of pressing step by step.

Facts have proved that Benitez's tactics are effective.

Except in the fifth minute of the opening, Robben gave a direct pass that created a threat, Liverpool's subsequent defense was rock solid.

Although Real Madrid has the advantage of passing the ball, it has never been able to create a threat.

Even in the tenth minute, Robben failed to cut in from the right, forced a breakthrough, and created a corner kick. Ramos and Pepe took consecutive kicks, but failed to create a threat, and the ball was easily obtained by Reina.

Three minutes later, Raul couldn't get a chance in the frontcourt and passed it to Marcelo. The Brazilian shot directly from a long distance, but also failed to create a threat and was easily obtained by Reina.

But defense is only part of the game. On the offensive end, Liverpool closely revolved around Yang Yang in the frontcourt.

If the first 15 minutes of the game belonged to Real Madrid, then as Liverpool stabilized the rhythm and the overall defense and formation moved forward, Yang Yang began to exert his strength and devoted himself to the attack and organizational planning.

…………

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"Liverpool midfielder with the ball, bigfoot moved to the left and wanted to give Gareth Bale..."

"Ramos moved forward quickly, headed back to the middle, Pepe took the ball..."

"Yang Yang stepped forward to press, Pepe wanted to dribble the ball..."

"The ball was broken, Yang Yang intercepted the ball and moved to the right..."

"Kuyt stepped in, unguarded, and hit the door directly!"

"Is Casillas flew to the ball, Kuyt's shot failed to hit the force."

"I'm in a hurry!"

...

The Dutch striker didn't hit the shot well, the angle was aimed at the goal, but the force was not up, which made Kuyt shook his head in distress and gave Yang Yang a thumbs up, indicating that it was his own responsibility.

Yang Yang raised his hand, responded with an indifferent smile, turned around and ran back quickly.

This is Liverpool's first shot of the game, and also the first opportunity. If Kuyt could hold the ball at that time and organize it, whether it was a pass back to Yang Yang, or a diagonal pass to Gareth Bale, or When Gareth Barry and Xavi Alonso come in, they will be more threatening.

But sometimes, the game is like this, all decisions are made in an instant, and there is no regret.

Yang Yang's mission in this game is very clear. He is a free agent in the frontcourt. The team's offense revolves around him. Gareth Bell and Kuyt's wings will step in to help when they attack. But when defending, it will fall back.

Benitez's move is very smart, because Real Madrid is obviously closely marking Yang Yang.

And Yang Yang took this opportunity to use his body as bait to attract Real Madrid's attention and create opportunities for his teammates.

...

Only three minutes have passed since the attack just now, and after Yang Yang retreated to the middle to get the ball, a two-to-one with Xavi Alonso made Yang Yang take the ball from his back and turn it into a direct impact with the ball.

As soon as Yang Yang got the ball, he started immediately, dribbled the ball to Gago, dashed past Argentina's back waist with the ball, and after attracting Real Madrid's defensive attention, he suddenly crossed to the left in front of the top of the penalty area.

Gareth Barry plugged in a direct long-range shot, which was again saved by Casillas.

Perhaps feeling the weakness of the frontcourt offense, Sergio Ramos on the right began to actively participate in the frontcourt offense.

After Robben forcibly broke through on the right and failed, he took it back and passed it diagonally to Las Diarra. He ran into the penalty area and attracted Aurelio, and then Las Diarra scored the ball to the right. road.

After Ramos got the ball on the right side of the penalty area, facing Gareth Bale who was back in place, he made a quick stop and accelerated, got rid of the Welshman, and crossed into the penalty area.

Higuain and Skrtel competed for the top at the same time, but the ball was a little close to the goal, and Reina decisively abandoned the goal and picked it off in mid-air.

Real Madrid threatened, and Liverpool quickly responded.

In the 21st minute, Reina quickly took a big foot. Yang Yang grabbed the most powerful landing spot and stopped the ball in his chest. Just as he was about to turn around, he was tripped to the ground by Pepe's foot and gave Liverpool a three-time A free kick opportunity from ten meters away, but interrupted a quick counterattack by the Red Army.

Real Madrid's defensive formation quickly returned to position, and Liverpool's subsequent attack was cleared by Real Madrid.

Real Madrid's defence has improved markedly since Juande Ramos took over during the winter break.

When walking back, Yang Yang was panting while observing Real Madrid's offense. He noticed that Real Madrid's right defender Ramos began to actively participate in the previous offense, obviously to relieve Robben and release Robben in the attack. Attack power on the side.

But in this way, Real Madrid's own right is also exposed.

Seeing this, Yang Yang started to run back quickly and gestured towards Gareth Belby on the left.

He has confidence in Liverpool's midfield defence.

Sure enough, the Red Army quickly managed to steal the ball, and Gareth Barry quickly sent the ball to Yang Yang's feet.

Lass Diarra was like an enemy behind him, he didn't dare to stare at Yang Yang carelessly for a moment, while Yang Yang blocked Lass Diarra with his back, and at the moment of catching the ball, he moved to the left. Turning around, when he tricked Delas Diarra to focus on the left side, he suddenly dunked the ball back. The whole person quickly took two steps to the middle, and quickly kicked a pass behind him.

The ball quickly passed over Pepe's head behind him, bounced off the front of Real Madrid's penalty area, and slid to the penalty area.

Gareth Bale on the left was as fast as a flash of lightning. When Ramos failed to return to his position in time, he easily slanted behind Pepe and caught up with Yang Yang's pass before everyone else. The ball, formed a single pole!