Chapter 061: Copa del Rey Semifinals

Before Real Madrid's home league game against Granada, Tang Zheng showed off his FIFA Ballon d'Or trophy in front of more than 80,000 Real Madrid fans.

"Whoa—"

The deafening loud cheers quickly swept through the audience.

Tang Zheng enjoyed the feeling, especially when the fans were chanting his name.

This feeling is even stronger than ML.

In the next game, Real Madrid won Granada with Tang Zheng's pass and shot in the second half.

Three days later, Real Madrid once again hosted Espanyol in the second leg of the 2013-2014 La Liga del Rey quarter-finals at the Bernabeu.

The final score was the same as the first leg, 1:0, a very economical score, the only goal of the game was Cristiano Ronaldo, and the assist was Tang Zheng.

The two-legged aggregate score eliminated Espanyol 2:0 and advanced to the semi-finals.

After the second leg of the Copa del Rey quarter-finals, the time came to February, and the first leg of the 2013-2014 season was played away at the end of last month, with six games.

Four league games and two Copa del Rey semi-finals.

The next day, the quarterfinals of the 2013-2014 Copa del Rey season were fully concluded, and La Liga held a semi-final draw.

Two of the four teams that reached the semi-finals were from Madrid, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, while the other two were Barcelona and Real Sociedad.

In addition to Real Sociedad, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona are all favourites to win the league title, and the same is true for the Copa del Rey.

However, the fact that three teams are in the semi-finals also means that at least one of them will be out of contention for the 2013-2014 Copa del Rey title.

The draw for the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey ended quickly, Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid and Barcelona vs Real Sociedad.

In order to make way for the World Cup, the league schedules of major European leagues and domestic cup competitions have been squeezed, and in order to ensure that the three teams in La Liga can go further in the Champions League, La Liga has scheduled the 2013-2014 Copa del Rey semi-finals before the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals.

The dates are scheduled for February 5/6 at 7 p.m. local time in Spain and February 12/13 at 8 p.m. local time.

That is, after the 22nd round of La Liga in the 2013-2014 season, Real Madrid visited the San Mamés Stadium to challenge the Basque Lions Athletic Bilbao.

Considering that next week is the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final at home to Atletico Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid squad has been reserved and has not been staffed with a main force.

After 90 minutes of hard-fought action, Real Madrid, who should have won, came close to a serious thwart at the San Mamés Stadium, and if it weren't for Sergio Ramos' injury-time header in stoppage time, Real Madrid would have lost on the road.

Another game played at the same time was a big upset, Barcelona lost 2-3 to Valencia at the Camp Nou.

The next day, Atletico Madrid hosted Real Sociedad at the Estadio Calderón and won 4-0 in the league.

By the end of all 22 league rounds, Atletico Madrid will enjoy the first place in the league with three points from a home victory, Real Madrid is in second place with a difference of two points, and Barcelona is four points behind Atletico Madrid and two points behind Real Madrid due to the loss in this round.

Therefore, Barcelona, who unexpectedly lost at home in this round, was criticized by the local media in Catalonia, especially the head coach Martino.

The local media in Catalonia felt that his tactics were not at all suitable for the current Barcelona, because he wanted the traditional Barcelona Titi-Taka to be more concise and practical, but the reform was not successful.

It is possible to play against a weaker team, but once you face a strong team, the sudden acceleration of the pace of play can never keep up with the opponent's rhythm.

Barcelona's Tiki-Taka tactic was originally a boiled frog in warm water, and it was obviously unrealistic to change it from first to fifth gear at once, losing 1:2 at home to Real Madrid, drawing 0:0 away to Atletico Madrid, and losing 2:3 at home to Valencia, all of which are the best evidence.

In fact, in the end, it is Xavi's old age that brings trouble, and his role in midfield is so great that Barcelona is not comfortable in the games he is missing.

Alexander Song, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets, Messi have all tried, but the results have not been very satisfactory.

In addition to the local media in Catalonia, Martino's coaching ability was bombarded, and the Madrid media, which supports Real Madrid, also fished in troubled waters, hoping to influence Barcelona.

After all, one less competition is less, and there is one more hope of winning the championship.

Whether it's at the league level, or at the Copa del Rey level.

However, the rest of the fixtures will not be good for Real Madrid, who will face Villarreal at home and away in addition to the Copa del Rey semi-finals against Atletico Madrid.

The next two opponents are Getafe and Elche.

Then he started the first leg of this season's Champions League 1/8 finals, away to challenge Gelsenkirchen's representative team Schalke 04, that is, Tang Zheng's Ruhr derby rival during his time at Dortmund.

After that, it's the Madrid derby.

According to the fixtures, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will meet three times in just one month.

In other words, winning or losing three games this season will have a direct impact on the Copa del Rey and league titles.

When the Copa del Rey reaches the semi-finals, it is difficult for any team to ignore, so whether it is Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid, they will send their main players to fight for glory.

Leaving aside the Copa del Rey semi-finals, the Madrid derby is a must-play for both sides, especially since Atletico Madrid is no longer the Amon.

The current Atletico Madrid, under Simeone's tutelage, can wrestle with Real Madrid and Barcelona.

In the seventh round of La Liga this season, Atletico Madrid took home a win at the Bernabeu Stadium.

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At 7 p.m. local time on February 5, Spain, Real Madrid sat at the Bernabeu Stadium to face Atletico Madrid, the first leg of the Copa del Rey semifinals.

With Atletico Madrid winning away from home in the seventh round of the league this season, Carlo Ancelotti has made some changes to his squad at home.

Considering Atletico Madrid's full-court pressing, Real Madrid's midfield configuration is inclined to transmission, that is, midfielders who are good at their foot skills.

Xavi Alonso, Luka Modric, Tang Zheng and Isco are in midfield, while Diego López is used in the domestic league in goal, and Marcelo, Ramos, Pepe and Carvajal are still in defence.

Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo were at the front of the attack.

Although the official formation is 442, it is unknown whether it is a 442 formation in the end.

The 81,000-capacity Bernabeu Stadium is packed, with Real Madrid fans in white jerseys and Atletico Madrid fans in red and white striped shirts at a glance.

Of course, there are many more Real Madrid fans at home than Atletico Madrid.

From the first second of the game, the visiting Atletico Madrid used their magic weapon to defeat La Liga in the past two seasons - full-court pressing!

Xavi Alonso and Luka Modric partnered in the back two, Tang Zheng played in the middle of the midfield, and they formed an iron triangle of tacit running, passing with one kick, and Atletico's full-court pressure had little impact on them.

However, in order to keep the football from being robbed, Real Madrid players do not pass much forward, but more in the midfield and midfield.

Several waves of rushing failed to touch the football, and Atletico's pressing slowed down.

Obviously, it's Plan B.

Real Madrid's response was expected by Simeone in front of the visiting team's dugout, so Atletico's operation was not affected in any way.

Anyway, the way they are good at playing is to counterattack quickly, and it is easier to maintain the stability of the formation when they retreat to the half-court defense, and they get twice the result with half the effort.

So Real Madrid's attack seems to be fluid, but it rarely threatens Courtois's goal.

The young Belgian goalkeeper, who joined Atletico Madrid on loan at the age of 19, has been consistent and has been particularly impressive this season.

Atletico Madrid's ability to concede the fewest goals in La Liga so far is directly related to his consistent and experienced performances.

Tang Zheng was also closely guarded by Atletico's midfield quartet in attack, keeping him isolated from other attacking Real Madrid attacking players, especially his links with Isco and Cristiano Ronaldo.

It is not difficult to see that Tang Zheng's mentor Simeone spent a lot of energy studying his proudest disciple so far before the game.

Xavi Alonso and Modric both have strong offensive organization skills, but Atletico Madrid retreated to the half, choosing to almost give up the attack, leaving Real Madrid with extremely limited attacking space, so Xavi Alonso and Modric can only play a role in diversifying the attacking points of Real Madrid's attack.

Coupled with Ancelotti's concern about Atletico Madrid's quick counterattack, he asked the players on the field not to be too unscrupulous in attacking, especially several players with defensive functions, and they must not go up, otherwise it is very likely that there will be no goal in front and the goal will be conceded first.

It was not until the 20th minute that both sides contributed a direct threat to the goal.

It was not Real Madrid at home who were threatening, but Atletico Madrid as Diego Costa burst up from near the arc of the centre circle to steal the ball from Ramos to Xavi Alonso's feet and then drove straight in.

Thankfully, Ramos, who made the mistake, was able to move his foot and touch it with Diego Costa's shot, and the ball hit the right post of the goal with goalkeeper Diego López surrendering, and was kicked off the line by Pepe, who was back on the defending.

With this dangerous situation, Real Madrid's attack became more cautious.

Without the support of Luka Modric and Xavi Alonso, Tang Zheng appeared isolated, and his connection to Isco and Cristiano Ronaldo was severed, except for the threat of his individual ability.

But football is a team sport, especially in this kind of top-level competition, it is difficult to rely on individual ability to play a decisive role.

However, nothing is a certainty, and many of the decisive goals in key games come from the brilliance of the stars.

Real Madrid has never lacked stars, it's just that the sparkle of stars is not common.

Even Cristiano Ronaldo and Tang Zheng, who are in full swing, are difficult to shine often.

Therefore, when the whistle blew at the end of the first half, the score was still 0:0.

In the second half, the two sides did not make personnel adjustments, and the game was still played according to the starting lineup in the first half.

Atletico Madrid, who were guests, kept a low profile and gave up the initiative.

In this case, Real Madrid can only choose to attack 'passively' and look for holes in Atletico's defense.

However, the midfield of Turan, Gabi, Thiago and Koke is very hard, and everyone has strong coverage, full of energy and a tough style of play, Real Madrid players still seem to be relatively easy to keep the ball near the midfield, but once they enter the 35-meter area of Atletico's defense, they will be toughly defended.

Diego Costa not only helped Atletico in scoring goals, but also played a role in stirring up the emotions of the opposing players during the game.

Even La Liga old fritters Ramos and Pepe were fooled to varying degrees and received a yellow card each.

And the provocateur, Diego Costa, has no.

Simeone, the head coach of the visiting team, stood on the sidelines and watched the scene with a faint smile, not that he instructed Diego Costa to do this, but that Diego Costa's behavior was very enthusiastic and motivating the team's morale.

Captain Gabi, Turkish midfielder Turan, and Portuguese internationals Thiago and Koke are all invisibly inspired by Diego Costa.

In the words of the commentator of the Spanish national television channel 5 - the current Atletico Madrid is different, full of blood and boiling.

In terms of spirit, the Atletico players perfectly suppressed Real Madrid.

Perhaps many of Atletico's players are not as technically as good as Real Madrid's players, but their attitude and tactical execution are impeccable.

Defence is not about ability, but more about the position of each other.

It's very simple, one or two chopsticks are easy to break, but ten are difficult.

Tang Zheng was more active in the second half, but he didn't run anywhere to find that the famous Atletico Madrid player defended himself very tightly.

It's fine to get the ball out on one foot, but if you hold the ball too much, you will have at least three Atletico players around him in less than two seconds, blocking all his passing space.

Even if Tang Zheng's footwork is outstanding, it is difficult to protect the football.

The only good thing is that Tang Zheng is huge, and it is difficult for Atletico defenders to successfully break the ball, unless they are fouled.

The referee on duty, Alehand, had very sharp eyes and was discerning, and frequently blew the whistle to signal that the Atletico players had committed fouls.

Since the fouls were not significant, the referee did not give a card.

However, Atletico Madrid coach Simeone was a little dissatisfied, and he chatted with the fourth official from time to time to put a little pressure on the referee on duty.

From a micro point of view, this small action has played a huge role, so that the Atletico Madrid defenders can avoid eating Real Madrid in defense, and even in the action that tends to foul, they are not whistled for fouls.

The game continued, and although Tang Zheng tried his best, there was no way to help Real Madrid pose a threat to the Atletico goal.

The same can be said of Cristiano Ronaldo, who can only kill with a long-range shot after a breakthrough.

But Courtois's form was so good that he was denied any goal that hit the range of the goal......

Tang Zheng also tried to shoot with two long shots, but the effect was not ideal, so he chose to make the ball for his teammates instead of seeking the so-called world wave.

In the last twenty minutes, the two sides began to deploy troops, but unfortunately neither of them could knock on the other side's door.

The score of 0:0 continued until the end of the game.