Chapter Ninety-Seven: Penalties

Lazio's away game against Barcelona was intense from the first minute.

Barcelona took advantage of their home advantage and tried to force Lazio's penalty area and score as soon as possible.

After all, they are only one goal away from Lazio and as long as they can equalise on aggregate, they are in a good position to take advantage of their away goal advantage.

Then they relied on their home advantage to take the initiative firmly in their own hands.

Lazio will be powerless even if they want to resist at that time.

This is Pep Guardiola's strategic thinking.

Barcelona's home advantage is strong and they tend to play well on their home turf.

It would be a shame not to put it to good use.

If, as usual, you think that there is only one goal missing, so there is no need to worry, you should first defend solidly, do not let Lazio continue to score, and then wait for the opportunity to equalize. That's wrong.

Pep Guardiola has opted for a different approach than usual, and only in this way can he maximise home advantage.

At home, that's very important, at home the team will be better than usual.

Lazio has skyrocketed on their home turf and Barcelona has done the same on their home turf.

Pep Guardiola will be hoping to use the onslaught to break down Lazio's goal.

Chang Sheng is well prepared for this, he knows what Barcelona will do at home, it must be attacking. Barcelona are not good at playing defensive counter-attacks, attacking is what they are best at, not attacking, what do they choose?

In the face of Barcelona, which is strong in attack, Lazio chose to defend and counterattack.

There is nothing to say about the tactics chosen by the managers of both sides, it is a very ordinary, very normal choice.

You have to look at the tactical choices to see the level of the two managers. That's really hard.

A good manager can't always choose new tactics, that's not what a good manager does.

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In the first 25 minutes, the game was normal, nothing more than Lazio shrinking their defense and waiting for an opportunity to counterattack, while Barcelona bombarded Lazio's half, hoping to score as soon as possible.

Such a scene fits well with the tactics chosen by both teams.

Both sides had some chances, with Barcelona as it was mainly attacking. So there were more chances, but Lazio's defensive counterattack was also sharp, so Barcelona didn't dare to attack with all their might.

Twenty-five minutes later, however, the situation on the pitch gradually changed.

Barcelona gradually gained the upper hand.

With the collective cheers of 80,000 Barcelona fans, the Barcelona team became more and more courageous. Lazio was compressed into a thirty-meter area by them.

However, there were some controversial scenes in the game.

For example, Lazio showed their hardness in defence, and as a result, the referee awarded Lazio a foul.

As long as there is physical contact between the players of both sides and the Barcelona player falls to the ground, then there is a good chance that the Lazio player will foul it.

Chang Sheng was very dissatisfied with this, he stood on the sidelines, and protested to the referee on duty again and again with open arms.

But the protests were ineffective.

No one paid any attention to him at all.

It wasn't until the 33rd minute that Neymar fell to the ground in the Lazio penalty area. The referee decisively blew for a penalty!

"Penalty! Penalty kick! Unbelievable! Oh, my God! Barcelona got a penalty! ”

This is the statement of the neutral commentator, and it is clear that there is skepticism about the penalty - it is very surprising.

After Neymar dribbled the ball in, and Jose. Passarella had a physical contact, and then he threw himself forward and fell to the ground. Jose. Passarella raised his hands in the air to remind the referee of his innocence.

But it didn't work, the referee still decisively blew a penalty!

"Hell! It's not a penalty! Neymar is a fake fall! 100% fake fall! The Italian commentators couldn't help but burst into foul language.

And the Catalan commentator raised his arms and shouted: "Beautiful! Neymar's breakthrough was beautiful! In front of him, José. Passarella is clumsy like a wooden stake! Only a foul can stop him! ”

It was at this time. The TV cut to a slow-motion replay.

In slow motion, Neymar is clearly actively leaning towards Jose. Passarella's body. Jose. Passarella saw through his plan at a glance, so he didn't reach out in time.

Neymar crashed into the whole body and then fell to the ground.

So it's a fake fall, no doubt about it!

The other commentators were condemning Neymar's fake fall, and the Catalan commentator racked his brains to wash the floor of Neymar's fake fall.

What rules are okay, what can be judged or not, what Neymar is out of self-protection...... Anyway, this penalty is no problem.

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When Chang Sheng saw the referee blow the whistle and point to the penalty spot on the sidelines, he burst into a rage.

This is a naked shady scene!

Draw lots or something, I can't hack Lao Tzu, just play this set?

UEFA, Lao Tzu fucked your mother for eighteen sides to have such a son of you!

Chang Sheng roared to the fourth official: "Are you sure it's a penalty? Is this really a penalty!? ”

The fourth official understands Chang Sheng's temper, and the more you ignore him, the more energetic you become, so no matter what he says, ignore him. If he goes too far, just call the referee over and invite him directly to the stands.

Chang Sheng saw that the fourth official looked fearless, and suddenly reacted - UEFA is waiting for him to make a mistake...... I can't give them a grip!

So he calmed down instantly, and stopped pestering the fourth official.

Useless.

The penalty has already been awarded and they are not going to change it......

So it's useless to say anything!

Chang Sheng gritted his teeth and thought in his heart, when the aggregate score was equalized by Barcelona, how would he adjust to score another goal in the fastest time......

He crouched down on the sidelines.

People who are familiar with Chang Sheng will know it when they see his action - Chang Sheng is serious!

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Lazio's players were furious when they saw that a penalty was suddenly awarded.

Their captain Jose. Passarella also ran to the referee for the first time.

He signaled that he didn't kick Neymar, that Neymar had bumped into him himself.

But it didn't work, the referee stood at the penalty spot and insisted on it.

This time. The Barcelona players were celebrating, and someone went up to pick up Neymar, who hugged them and high-fived them, with a smile on his face.

The approach of the Barcelona players irritated the Lazio players even more, and they continued to besiege the referee.

But to do that, it's obviously not good for Lazio, because the referee can show them cards, if everybody has cards. How can this game continue?

It was at this moment that Handanovic walked to the edge of the crowd and pulled his teammates out of the crowd one by one.

Then repeat the phrase to them: "Don't make trouble, it's useless." ”

And just like that, he will be the last man. The captain of the team, Jose. Passarella pulled back.

He didn't say anything to the captain, just patted him on the shoulder.

Jose. Passarella looked back at his old teammate and saw confidence in his expression.

When Lazio was at its most brilliant, stood him José. The man behind Passarella was Handanovic.

With him, everyone will feel at ease.

This is a world-class goalkeeper.

But he's old now......

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Jose. Passarella eventually let the referee go.

Barcelona finally took the penalty.

Neymar personally carried the football to the penalty spot.

Then he leaned over and placed the football on the penalty spot very seriously.

When he straightened up, he saw the goalkeeper of Lazio.

A thirty-seven-year-old goalkeeper with a slightly fat body.

How can such a person be his own opponent?

Neymar snorted inwardly.

Then he stepped out of the way, ready to run.

And when Neymar sets up the football. Handanovic stood on the goal line from start to finish, watching Neymar intently.

In the end, he also made eye contact with Neymar.

He saw contempt in Neymar's eyes.

As a player at his peak, he seems to have good reason to despise himself.

He was so old and fat that he couldn't even jump.

So how could he save the penalty?

But he. Handanovic, there is a reason why he must save this penalty.

You must not concede a ball, I promised the boss!

If he loses the ball, he's a real sinner!

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Handanovic had already set up a pounce.

Neymar also retreated to the right position. Just wait for the referee's whistle to blow.

Barcelona fans are waiting with anticipation.

Lazio fans, on the other hand, stared nervously at their goal.

Will this moment change the fate of both parties?

A whistle blows!

There was a sudden silence.

Neymar starts running. Three steps later, he rushed to the ball and shot with his foot!

The ball rolled against the turf and quickly to the bottom left corner of the goal!

That's a dead end!

If you want to save the ball, it will definitely be too late to see the football kick and then pounce.

There's only one way, and that's to anticipate in advance!

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Almost as soon as Neymar hit the ball, Handanovic had already made his choice, he chose to pounce on his right side, which is the left side of the goal!

And it's down!

When the football came out, he was on the right track!

When Neymar saw that the direction in which the football was going was exactly the same as the direction in which Handanovic pounced, his face changed!

Immediately after, that is, in a split second, Handanovic's slap pounced on the football!

The football was blocked by him!

An arc was drawn in the air, and then it flew directly around the goalpost and flew out of the bottom line......

"Samir. Handanovic - Handanovic!! He saved Neymar's top ball! The football flew directly out of the bottom line, and even the Barcelona players rushed in and didn't give the opportunity to make up the shot!! ”

The Italian commentator raised his arms and shouted!