Football: The Strongest Hexagon Warrior

Calderon Stadium, press conference hall, visiting team's regular press conference.

Arsenal head coach Wenger and player Sanchez were relatively low-key when interviewed by the media. When asked about their goals for the visit to the Calderon Stadium, they had the same goals.

First of all, I would like to praise Atletico Madrid for its solid defensive system. It is the sharpest defensive team in Europe and even the world. Its counterattack efficiency is among the top five in Europe. Therefore, the goal in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals is to draw with Atletico Madrid as much as possible like Manchester City's draw with Real Madrid. .

When the local media in Madrid heard Wenger and Sanchez show weakness, their tails were almost raised to the sky.

Head coach Simeone was not fooled. He knew that Wenger's team had performed very well this season, especially the top star Martin, who was in excellent condition. With four rounds of the league left, he could still achieve the miracle that Messi created that year.

Even more cautious because of Wenger's deliberate show of weakness.

At the regular pre-match press conference of the home team, Simeone also made a show of his actions, praising Wenger and Arsenal in various ways.

The two head coaches' weak performance directly caused the fans on both sides of the game to become friendly, and there was no such tense situation at all.

Time flies, and in a blink of an eye, we arrive at the second match day of the Champions League in midweek.

While Bayern's extreme fans were condemned by the world, Atletico Madrid's extreme fans were warned in advance by Atletico Madrid, so Arsenal's preparations were carried out strictly in accordance with the pre-match plans.

Considering the experience in Munich, the club also formulated a plan B, but there was no chance to implement it.

At around six o'clock in the afternoon, the outer square of the Calderon Stadium was already overcrowded, and there were Atletico Madrid fans wearing red and white stripes everywhere.

More than two thousand Arsenal fans traveling with the team and Arsenal fans from all over the world were waiting to enter the stadium under the protection of security personnel.

Compared with the friendly situation on social networks, the outside of the stadium on the eve of the war became a large-scale scene of mutual fighting.

Fans from both sides greeted each other, and the Atletico Madrid fans at home had an absolute numerical advantage, so much so that the Arsenal fans were so angry.

When the Arsenal team took the bus to the main road outside the Calderon Stadium, the long-awaited Atletico Madrid fans booed wildly.

Martin is Arsenal's top star and the absolute core of both offense and defense, so he naturally becomes the first target of attack.

The incessant curses continued to flow into the interior of the bus, and you could hear them clearly even if you were listening to music with headphones on.

Although Martin, who has the characteristic [Calm and Calm], keeps his inner calm, he gets irritated when he hears too many barks, so he wants to take action on their owner!

About an hour before the game, UEFA's official website announced the starting list submitted by both sides of the game.

The major media formats put the roster together based on Simeone's usual formations and tactics.

The home team Atletico Madrid’s 442 formation.

Goalkeeper: Oblak

Defenders: Felipe, Savic, Jimenez, Juanfran

Midfielder: Koke, Gabi, Thomas Partey, Saul

Forwards: Griezmann, Torres

……

Arsenal still uses the usual 4231 formation.

Goalkeeper: Petr Cech

Defenders: Monreal, Koscielny, Gabriel, Bellerin

Midfielder: Coquelin, Martin

Midfielder: Sanchez, Ramsey, Walcott

Forward: Giroud

……

"Beep~"

Turkish referee Cakir blew his whistle.

"CCTV 5, CCTV 5, the game we are broadcasting for you now is the live broadcast of the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-finals between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal in the 2015-2016 season..."

Central 5 commentator He Wei blurted out the standard opening remarks.

"aoaoaoooooo——"

Torres kicked the ball to Griezmann, and the home fans at the Calderon Stadium subconsciously let out a huge roar to cheer for the player who organized the offense.

Atletico Madrid, which has the advantage of being at home, attacked cautiously, but the initial attack still followed the ribs that they were good at in the past to see if they could create absolute scoring opportunities.

The result is obvious. Arsenal pays special attention to the protection of the middle and the two ribs.

Atletico Madrid's tentative attack was soon severely attacked and was forced to implement offensive plan B.

That is... playing two wings!

It's just that Torres, who has passed his thirties, is no longer the peak T9 he was when he played for Liverpool, and his impact has dropped significantly.

Griezmann's heading ability is indeed outstanding, and his judgment of the landing point is also very keen, but his height is a flaw.

Premier League teams are never afraid of crosses.

Considering that Arsenal may have a quick counterattack from defense to attack, Simeone's team does not invest many people in the attack, and the two full-backs have to take turns to participate in the attack.

After multiple passes, the football was given to Juanfran who crossed the right sideline at high speed.

Without waiting for Monreal to defend, he passed directly with his right foot.

Gabriel, who was in front of the small penalty area, jumped high but did not make a clearance, and the football flew over.

"Falling out!"

Griezmann, who was ambushing behind Gabriel, seemed to have expected it and he took off.

At this moment, a golden figure suddenly flashed in front of Griezmann, twisted his waist and swung his abdomen, and pushed the ball out of the baseline.

Griezmann looked at Martin, who pushed the ball out of the baseline and almost rushed into the goal due to inertia, with his mouth half open.

He remembered his observation before scrambling for the landing spot and saw that Martin was still at the top of the penalty area. How could he reach the small penalty area in the blink of an eye?

Damn it, too fast?

Standing in the home team coach's technical area, Simeone felt a little headache. Just now he thought Griezmann had given the team a lightning lead, but he didn't expect Martin to run up to Griezmann like a ghost and complete a very timely clearance.

"This guy is more difficult than imagined."

Not far away, Wenger, who was directing the technical area of ​​the visiting team's coach, let out a long breath and roared loudly at Gabriel. If Martin hadn't been in place to defend, Griezmann's header skills in front of the goal would have probably resulted in a loss. .

If Atletico Madrid scores first, the next game will become particularly difficult.

The reckless Gabriel felt tremendous pressure coming on his face, and his heartbeat accelerated unnaturally.

"Paulista, it's understandable that you were a little nervous at the beginning of the game. Stay highly focused. I believe you can do it."

At the critical moment, a big hand rested on his right shoulder.

He turned around and saw that it was Martin.

"I……"

"If you're a man, don't be coy and defend yourself."

Martin patted his chest again.

"it is good!"

In an instant, Gabriel Paulista felt infinite power surging from his body.

In the next corner kick defense, he defeated Torres with a header to clear the ball.

Felipe, who was ambushing outside the penalty area, had no choice when facing Ramsey who was attacking him. He just came and volleyed the ball without stopping.

In order to prevent the football from hitting the defensive player and switching from offense to defense, the height of the volley is directed above the head.

If you are lucky, you will score the goal, but if you are not lucky, you will not leave Arsenal a chance to counterattack quickly.