I Am Scouted by Real Madrid-Chapter 366 - 36: El Clásico Derby

If it weren’t for Chen Zhong, Barcelona would have had at least two shot attempts.

On the other side, Guardiola’s eyes were also shining brightly. No wonder he set his sights on this man; he has the physicality, can pass the ball, and knows how to position himself. In every aspect, he fits Guardiola’s "fantasy" for the Defensive Midfielder position.

Casillas passed the ball to Pepe, and Pepe handed it to Alonso. Alonso nudged the ball and sent a long pass with great accuracy. Kaka faced Abidal on the wing, first slowing down to force Abidal to slow too, then suddenly sped up, shedding a somewhat prepared but still unguarded Abidal.

He passed Abidal like a roaming dragon and dashed into Barcelona’s penalty area.

The match had just begun for less than three minutes, but both teams were switching between attack and defense quickly, clearly eager to score the first goal in this national Derby.

Busquets and Puyol coordinated with Abidal to encircle Kaka. Kaka heel-kicked the ball to Ramos, coming in from the back row.

"Watch this ball!"

"Beautiful, Kaka’s dribbling."

"Barcelona’s defense is very tight."

"No risk taken, passed to Ramos."

"Look at Ramos."

"Beautiful!"

Ramos took the ball, initially pretending to cut inside, and when Abidal shifted his balance, he turned and chose to go down the line.

Abidal was a bit scrambled, using both hands and feet to avoid falling, but what was the use?

Real Madrid was launching a "thousand arrows" down the middle, with Chen Zhong, Negredo, Baptista, C. Ronaldo, and others surging forward, like hungry lambs waiting for Ramos’s feed.

"Ramos!"

"Going down the line after dribbling!"

"Cross it!"

The ball curved like a white shadow towards Barcelona’s penalty box.

All the fans craned their necks, eagerly awaiting the outcome.

The whites and red-blues mingled as Chen Zhong, shaking off the defenders around him, leaped high and completed a headed goal with two Barcelona players clinging to him.

They knew Real Madrid would target Chen Zhong, but they just couldn’t stop him.

Real Madrid knew Barcelona would focus on defending Chen Zhong, but they believed he could get it!

"Chen Zhong!"

"Leaps high!"

"A lion’s head throw!"

"Headed goal!"

No one could stop him. At Camp Nou, Chen Zhong broke through that "canopy" of red and blue.

The ball drew a white arc, piercing through Valdes’ ten fingers, slamming into Barcelona’s net.

In that instant, the entire stadium went wild, and countless Real Madrid fans around the world raised their arms and shouted, even the commentator’s voice twisted with excitement: "It’s in!!!"

"It’s in!!!!"

"Beautiful! Beautiful!!!"

"Chen Zhong!"

"Lion’s head throw!"

"Nails it in one go!"

"He..."

"(⊙o⊙)..."

"Huh?"

"Huh??"

The commentator’s voice abruptly stopped, a sharp whistle blew, the referee blew his whistle, and he was not pointing to the center circle, but blew for a foul by Chen Zhong.

"A foul for pushing?"

"Chen Zhong committed a pushing foul?"

"Does the referee mean Chen Zhong fouled by pushing?"

The commentator sounded incredulous. He had many things to say in his heart but had to hold back due to his position.

On the field, an excited Chen Zhong who was about to show off his jersey in front of the Barcelona fans also slowed his steps, turned around, and looked at the referee with disbelief.

On the internet, countless fans discussed:

[No, is this goal not valid?]

[Offside or something else?]

[Can someone explain, I was too loud and got scolded. If this goal doesn’t count, wouldn’t I lose out terribly?]

[(⊙o⊙)... Is there a height limit at Camp Nou? I feel that except for Chen Zhong jumping a bit high, there was no issue with this goal.]

[Just came from CCTV to see the silly comments from netizens. The commentator seemed to say that this goal was disallowed due to a pushing foul.]

...

Pellegrini’s face turned dark on the sidelines. He rushed toward the fourth official, gesturing animatedly, reasoning strongly.

"Is this a pushing foul?"

"Barcelona’s players were practically hanging on Chen Zhong’s body."

"Are you saying we committed a pushing foul?"

"Calm down!" The fourth official pressed his hands downwards and said, "Please, remain calm."

"How can I calm down!" Pellegrini was extremely frustrated, but he also knew that this decision was unlikely to be changed. According to these people, a mistaken decision is also a part of football that needs to be maintained for the authority of the referee, damn authority.

Not just Pellegrini, even Guardiola rubbed his bald head, looking at the assistant beside him with a dazed expression: "Was this handled as a pushing foul?"

Due to Messi’s emergence and admiration for Barcelona’s tiki-taka, they indeed gave Messi and Barcelona some "protection," but such a situation was still "rare." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Although Guardiola already had an answer in his heart, he wouldn’t argue with the fourth official over this and insist on counting the goal.

He just secretly vowed that from now on, he would seriously plan his career and join some "competent" clubs.

On the pitch, the emotions of players from both teams were varied, Messi touched his nose with an unreadable expression, and Pique wore a "cheeky" grin, even mimicking a pushing gesture towards Chen Zhong as he walked by.

Seeming to say, yes, that’s right, you did push.

Seeing Chen Zhong seemingly unresponsive, he also made a card-drawing gesture, suggesting that Chen Zhong should have been carded, and it was his luck that he wasn’t.

The string of actions only ceased when C. Ronaldo walked over, Pique reined in his behavior.

The two had been teammates at Manchester United and had a good relationship.

Most Real Madrid players looked at Chen Zhong. Confronted with such a mistaken call, Chen Zhong rapidly calmed down after the initial anger and dispute.

Upon feeling his teammates’ gazes, he pressed his hands downwards, signaling calm.

Then he mouthed to his teammates: "Crush those short Barcelona guys."

After seeing Chen Zhong’s mouth movement, the Real Madrid players instantly understood that Chen Zhong was truly enraged because he usually would not utter such words for personal attacks on opponents.

Though, indeed, Barcelona’s average height was not tall.

Is calling them short an insult? No, it’s a fact.

Barcelona kicked off, and Real Madrid’s actions clearly became more aggressive. That simple interlude made the tension between the two teams escalate instantly.

"Barcelona on the attack."

"Messi carrying the ball in the center."

"Passed to Keita."

"Whoa!"

"Brutal!"

In Barcelona’s formation, Keita did not seem very fluid.

Chen Zhong had already noticed this, and when Keita took possession, he decisively executed a sliding tackle, taking both the man and the ball down.

The referee brought the whistle to his mouth, hesitated for a moment, and did not blow it.

Possibly to balance out the previous call.

Of course, Chen Zhong’s clean action was also a significant reason.

When Keita fell to the ground, he was completely bewildered.

Who am I, where am I, how did I suddenly fly?

And Real Madrid’s counterattack after picking up the ball was lightning quick.

After Chen Zhong suffered the mistaken call, the entire team’s anger level maxed out.

Cristiano Ronaldo even used pedaladas down the left flank, relying purely on speed and physicality to out-muscle Puyol.

"Whoa!"

"A brutal tackle!"

"Cristiano!"

"Just blew past Puyol!"

Cristiano Ronaldo could have easily chosen to cut in and shoot himself, or pass the ball to Kaka at the far end, purely on speed and physique alone. But he didn’t; he passed it back instead to Marcelo.

And this signal made all the players immediately understand.

They all turned their eyes to Chen Zhong.

At this moment!!!