Ultimate Demon Sword

Chapter 226 Champions League quarter-final first leg

Although Atletico Madrid, which has won [-] consecutive victories, ranks second, it has received no less attention than Barcelona. After three seasons, Atletico Madrid has a real chance to hit the championship again. It is not like the previous seasons. In name, it is a tri-wild hegemony. In fact, Atletico Madrid is also the most powerful spoiler, a champion judge in a sense.

Real Madrid is gradually falling behind this season, and it is Atletico Madrid's mission to keep the championship in Madrid.Except for the diehard Real Madrid fans, most Madrid fans are still happy with this result.

Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid fans are naturally disliked, but in the fight against Barcelona, ​​the two sides have a rare consistency.

The No.20 La Liga round is over, and most teams can get a short respite.But for the top teams in La Liga, there is a more difficult task of knocking out the Champions League.Compared with Real Madrid's top 100 opponent Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona's opponent Porto (Note: There is a difference between this and the actual situation, Atletico Madrid has qualified and Chelsea has been eliminated), Atletico Madrid obviously has the lowest degree of difficulty.Simeone has long studied Basel very carefully, although he warned everyone in training that this is a knockout match of top competitions and must be [-]% invested.But it can be seen from his usual behavior that this is definitely the most relaxed state of mind before he faced the Champions League knockout round.

The interval between the league and the Champions League is only four days, and they have to go to Switzerland for an away game. Simeone still gave the team a day of free time. There are still three days before the game, and Atletico Madrid set off for the away game in a hurry.

When Atletico Madrid arrived, many local media were waiting at the airport, and the cameras were aimed at the passing Atletico Madrid players. There were hundreds of fans wearing Basel jerseys, waving Basel flags and booing the visiting team.

On the way from the airport to the competition venue, Wen Zhihao saw a lot of promotional posters for this competition. At least it could be seen that Basel attached great importance to this competition.Being able to enter the top [-] of the Champions League for the second time has already tied the best record in team history.Atletico Madrid feel very relaxed with them, and they have no pressure.It doesn't matter if you win or lose. Teams in a small league like this will lean towards the league at the end of the season.Currently in the Swiss Super League standings, Basel is two points behind Young Boys Bern, and the prospect of defending the title is worrying.The Madrid media is quite optimistic. Atletico Madrid just ran into a point-giving machine. Basel should only resist symbolically. It should not be too difficult to win the away game with a big score.

For Basel fans, losing the Champions League round of [-] against Atletico Madrid should be acceptable, but the failure to defend the league title is absolutely unforgivable. Any head coach knows how to choose.

It is human nature, and most media have this kind of thinking.

On the other hand, the preparation atmosphere in Basel is loose on the outside and tight on the inside. The young coach Vicky, who just turned 40 this year, took the initiative to compliment Atletico Madrid as a Champions League champion team.

On the surface, it sounds like a low profile that focuses on learning, but some fanciful local media have keenly captured the mystery behind it.

Treat it like a friendly match?
From another perspective, starting from a positive aspect, there is another meaning behind this statement.

Winning or losing is bearish, just do it if you don't accept it!
The home team’s statement quickly spread to Atlético Madrid’s ears. Wen Zhihao reassured everyone in the interview with the Chinese reporter: “Everyone else has said so. For friendly matches, friendly matches come first and second. Of course, you can’t be too shameless. Winning three or four games is just so-so.”

The Chinese reporters all showed a smile, but the Swiss reporter next to him had a black line on his forehead.

Winning three or four is still a face-saving, is it okay to be so-so?
Nima!How much more are you going to win?

……

In the locker room before the game, Basel coach Vicky encouraged everyone's fighting spirit: "Although they are very strong, this is our home court! They will never be allowed to wreak havoc in front of our fans."

Fan Xiaolang watched the head coach draw Wen Zhihao's name twice, and explained to everyone: "This Chinese is their playmaker in the midfield. The priority of the midfield is to guard against him!"

When he heard such words, he felt even more indescribable.He very much hoped to compete with Wen Zhihao in this kind of competition, but he also understood his dilemma.The state fluctuated severely in the middle of the season. The head coach no longer trusts himself as much as he did at the beginning. Even in the league, the three-forward formation has no place of its own.It is even less likely to play in such a game.

In only half a year, he is already the core of Atletico Madrid's midfielder!It was even more astonishing than my original estimate.Looking at myself, he was also from the Eredivisie champion team. In terms of statistics, he was more eye-catching than Wen Zhihao at the time, but now, Wen Zhihao has made it difficult for him to catch up.

……

Basel's home stadium, St. Jacobs Park, can accommodate [-] spectators after expansion.The game was packed to the brim. If it weren't for security needs, it is estimated that more local fans would enter the stadium, even if they were standing, they would have to watch the entire game.

Most of them are fans of the home team, with great enthusiasm, fantasizing about miracles.There are also some neutral fans who come to watch the stars of Atletico Madrid.Hold the Atletico Madrid flag and sit in the visiting team's fan area to watch the game.This is the appeal of the giants, even in the opponent's territory, it is not difficult to find supporters for the team.

In the neutral area of ​​the stand, there is actually a group of low-key fans, holding the five-star red flag in their hands. Although the local Chinese students are studying abroad and their financial conditions are not ample, it is the first time that a Chinese player has come here to compete in the Champions League knockout round. They have expressed their attitude with practical actions.

At [-]:[-] p.m. Western European time, the Dutch referee Keibosi officially blew the opening whistle of the game, and the home fans cheered for the game with huge cheers.

No one expected that Basel actually formed a 4-3-3 formation.The three midfielders stand in parallel, more like three midfielders, obviously preparing for Atletico Madrid's midfield.At the very beginning, Basel took advantage of the opportunity to take the lead in controlling the ball and sent a long pass from the backcourt directly to Atletico Madrid's penalty area. Godin did not expect Basel to be so proactive. Fortunately, Juan Franca was in place in time and protected the ball out of the baseline.

Basel's game strategy has actually been shown clearly.Minimize midfield transitions, rely on wingers on both sides, and focus on offensive efficiency.

CCTV He Wei commented: "Basel has shown the courage to face a strong team, but it is a good thing for Atletico Madrid. The opponent dares to attack, and the game becomes easier."

Basel did not put iron barrels in front of the penalty area to defend intensively, but dared to take the initiative to attack.For Atletico Madrid, this is a wishful thing.

(End of this chapter)