When Chen Zhong "watched over" Messi, Messi occasionally found opportunities, but they were still within controllable limits, and the combination of Khedira with Di Maria and the center-back chain didn’t seem to put much pressure on Messi.

This made Mourinho momentarily question whether his choice was problematic.

"The match continues."

"Real Madrid is temporarily trailing Barcelona."

"This match is a back-and-forth affair."

"With less than 60 minutes, there have already been 7 goals scored."

"We believe there will be more goals to come."

"Real Madrid’s kickoff."

"Chen Zhong is controlling the ball up front."

"Opts for the left flank."

"Kaka!"

Kaka gets the ball on the wing, facing the defender, nudges the ball before habitually chipping it towards the center.

There, Cristiano Ronaldo leaps high, but Pique jumps even higher, and the repeated success of the chip passes and headers of the first half is reduced to nothing at this moment.

Cristiano Ronaldo was at a disadvantage in the physical confrontation.

Mourinho’s expression changed, understanding the reason behind it.

When Cristiano Ronaldo was on the wing, due to the selection criteria for full-backs, he could gain a certain physical advantage, but if he plays as a center forward.

The current Cristiano Ronaldo appears somewhat "average" in terms of physical strength.

Facing tall center-backs like Pique, he is not as steady as Negredo.

Of course, this is also due to the players not yet adapting, Kaka’s chip pass being ill-timed.

"Pique intercepts the ball."

"Barcelona’s counterattack."

"Continuous passing."

After Barcelona gets the ball, they quickly move it to the midfield, where it soon reaches Messi’s feet. Messi, seemingly having eyes at the back of his head, as the ball reached his feet, let Khedira make the first move, yet still, in mid-air, changes his ankle position, threading the ball between Khedira’s legs.

A beautiful nutmeg, directly humiliating Khedira.

Khedira turns around and grabs Messi’s shirt hem, knowing he can’t let Messi through easily at this position, but Messi, pulled off balance, still precisely sends the ball out.

"Messi!"

"Beautiful nutmeg."

"Khedira didn’t allow Messi to progress further."

"The main referee doesn’t call a foul."

"Signals advantage in the attack."

"Messi delivers a through ball before falling."

"Villa!"

"On the left flank receiving the ball!"

When Chen Zhong was around Messi, Barcelona’s offensive was like "being stuck," unable to flow smoothly. In certain areas, they always had to slow down, and Messi mostly played the role of a mascot.

But once Chen Zhong left Messi, Messi’s presence intensified immediately.

Khedira simply couldn’t hold Messi, and Messi wasn’t intimidated by Khedira at all.

Villa receives Messi’s pass, directly striking from outside the penalty area with the outside of his foot.

He kicks with great confidence because he already had a view of Chen Zhong’s position before receiving the ball, and he couldn’t reach even with wings.

In the gaze of two Real Madrid players.

Facing the charging Casillas.

Villa’s outside-of-the-foot strike precisely hits between Casillas’ legs, and as Casillas touches the ball, it rebounds into the net.

Camp Nou seemed to experience an earthquake at that moment, with all Barcelona fans raising their arms, singing, and cheering loudly.

5:3

Barcelona leads by two goals, almost securing the victory.

"The ball is in!"

"Villa!"

"Messi!"

"5:3"

"A brace!"

"This is Villa’s 8th league goal of the season."

"Also his 9th goal against Real Madrid."

"With this assist, Messi successfully tops the assist leaderboard in La Liga."

"Mourinho made a wrong adjustment."

"After he let Chen Zhong leave Messi, Messi orchestrated two attacks, resulting in two goals."

"In just a few minutes, Real Madrid’s goal was breached twice by Barcelona."

"Mourinho has to make adjustments now."

Villa scores again, and Barcelona players celebrate wildly, with Messi laughing loudly, looking at Chen Zhong from afar.

Chen Zhong isn’t angry, not complaining, but placing both hands down to calm the players’ emotions, urging them to regain their spirits.

In games, teammates conceding goals repeatedly can be frustrating, let alone in such an intense national derby?

Many players looked to the sidelines at Mourinho, hoping the Portuguese coach could do something; Mourinho sensed the information in the players’ gazes and made his second adjustment of the match.

"Real Madrid uses its second substitution quota."

"Arbeloa!"

"Mourinho substitutes Arbeloa for Marcelo!"

"Alvaro Arbeloa joined Real Madrid from Liverpool in 2009."

"Previously, under his defense, Messi went several matches without scoring."

"Of course, that was in the past."

"Mourinho puts Arbeloa on, hoping this former full-back can limit Messi’s performance."

"But if so, might as well let Chen Zhong go back to Messi’s side for close-marking."

"Unfortunately, the team is two goals behind now, needing more offense."

Marcelo lightly jogs to the sideline to clap hands with Arbeloa. With Kaka moving to the left and Cristiano Ronaldo occupying the middle.

This Brazilian full-back didn’t click with Kaka in cooperation, and his defense was always leaking, contributing nothing.

His side seemed like an open door, allowing Barcelona to romp freely.

Mourinho’s substitution was actually very appropriate, but Real Madrid fans were displeased, booing, clearly dissatisfied with the team’s conservative swapping.

They need offense, they need goals.

Guardiola’s originally-furrowed brows finally relaxed, with a smile appearing on his face as he looked at Mourinho with evident happiness in his eyes.

Meanwhile, Mourinho remained silent, taking out his notebook and scribbling, then tearing off a piece of paper, handing it to the players.

The players quickly passed the paper, which soon reached Chen Zhong’s hands.

Upon seeing the paper, Chen Zhong raised his eyebrows.

Looking at Mourinho.

The paper conspicuously displayed the team’s new formation.

formation

Chen Zhong, C. Ronaldo

Kaka, Khedira, Alonso, Di Maria

Arbeloa, Cavaleiro, Pepe, Ramos

Casillas

In this formation, if using in-game positions, Cristiano Ronaldo is the advanced forward, Chen Zhong is akin to a false nine, or the organizational core in a 4411 position, moving forward during attacks, offering through-balls, and retreating centrally during defense.

Kaka and Di Maria serve as inside forwards, whereas Khedira and Alonso are the defensive midfielders, Arbeloa the defending full-back, while Ramos participates more in the attack.

When Ramos advances, he would make long passes to find Chen Zhong at the far end, allowing Chen Zhong to use his physicality to seek opportunities.

This entire formation revolves around Chen Zhong.

Mourinho stakes everything on Chen Zhong.

The match continues, and trailing by two goals, Real Madrid starts to launch their counterattack.