Capítulo 256: Chapter 256: Defeating Barça and Advancing to the Semifinals!
Chapter 256: Defeating Barça and Advancing to the Semifinals!
In the away team's locker room, Barcelona's physiotherapists were massaging and relaxing Messi and other players. The head coach, Martino, was holding his tactical board and passionately explaining the strategy for the second half.
"In the second half, we need to keep controlling the ball, reduce mistakes, and not give Manchester City any chances to counterattack. If we can find just one chance to deliver a fatal blow to City, then the ticket to the Champions League semifinals will be ours!"
Barcelona was only one goal away from the Champions League semifinals. Victory was within sight, and the players felt both nervous and excited.
In recent years, with Barça's declining strength, their journey through the Champions League had been tough. Last year, they faced a team similar to Manchester City—Paris Saint-Germain. Those two knockout games were incredibly hard-fought. Barça had taken an early lead away from home but were pegged back in the dying stages of the match.
In the last minute of regulation time, Xavi's goal gave Barça a glimpse of victory. However, a last-minute winner in stoppage time for the opponents turned their victory into ashes. Back at home, PSG scored first, putting Barça on the brink of elimination. It was Pedro's goal that narrowly secured Barça's place in the semifinals on away goals.
Then they were crushed 7-0 by Bayern in the semifinals...
This season, Barça's biggest desire was to avenge their defeat against Bayern.
"I just got word that Bayern is leading Manchester United 2-0 at home. They have essentially secured their place in the semifinals! If we eliminate Manchester City here, we'll have a great chance to avenge Bayern. Tell me, do you want to avenge Bayern?"
The mention of Bayern's name turned the eyes of Barça players red with determination. Since the Dream Team III era, Barça had never experienced such a humiliating Champions League record. They dreamed of taking revenge on Bayern!
"Good, if that's the case, let's go!"
"Defeat Manchester City and avenge Bayern!"
"Show the world that the greatest team in the universe is back!"
Martino's words fired up the players, making them eager to rush onto the pitch and tear Manchester City, who stood in their way of revenge, to pieces.
...
In the home team's locker room, Pellegrini didn't stir up his players as Martino did. He calmly explained his second-half tactics and then sought out David Silva, Negredo, and Lin Quan.
"David, Alvaro, Lin, how much energy do you have left? Can you last the second half?"
Apart from Lin Quan, Silva and Negredo honestly shook their heads. Their relentless attacks on Barça's goal in the first half had sapped their energy. If they kept up that intensity, their stamina would only last until the 60th minute!
This was after a 15-minute halftime break. Without it, they might have run out of energy by the 50th minute.
"Good, I understand. I will substitute you after 60 minutes to let you rest. But until then, I need you to use up all your remaining energy."
The two nodded firmly. Pellegrini then turned to Lin Quan: "Lin, in the second half, I need you to position yourself here..."
...
Halftime ended quickly, and the second half began. Both teams kept their starting lineups, continuing their first-half tactics. Barça kept possession, and City looked for counterattacks. The match's pace seemed unchanged, making Real Madrid's assistant coach Clement a bit puzzled.
Wasn't Carlo saying the decisive battle would be in the second half? Why didn't it feel like it at all? He turned to look at Ancelotti for an explanation.
"Be patient!"
Feeling Clement's gaze, Ancelotti remained calm. "The decisive battle starts when City makes their substitutions!"
"Really? When will they make the changes?"
"If it were me, I'd substitute at the 65th minute."
Clement remembered this time. "Alright, let's see what tricks City has up their sleeves!"
City's substitutions came earlier than Ancelotti expected. In the 60th minute, City made their adjustments. David Silva and Negredo were replaced by Aguero and Navas.
Here we go!
Clement perked up, noting City's substitutions. The timing seemed earlier than Carlo predicted. Ancelotti also noticed, frowning in thought. On the sidelines, Barça saw City's changes too. An assistant coach worriedly asked Martino:
"Coach, City has changed their forwards. Should we make substitutions too?"
Martino looked at Barça's bench and shook his head. "Let's wait and see!"
He wasn't sure how City would play with these changes. It looked like a direct swap, possibly due to the previous players' fatigue.
However, not everyone on Barça thought the same. Seeing his friend Aguero on the field, Messi immediately sensed danger. Knowing Aguero's attacking prowess, Messi warned his teammates to stay alert.
Barça players took Messi's words seriously. Yet, even with mental preparation, their physical stamina might not support them. After the substitutions, City's tactics changed quickly. Their pressing intensified, targeting all of Barça's players, not just their midfielders.
This systematic high pressing soon unsettled Barça's defenders. Their energy was drained after repeatedly sprinting against City's forwards in the first half. By the 60th minute, Barça's defenders started to struggle with their stamina.
On the other hand, City's fresh substitutes, full of energy and fighting spirit, were too much for the exhausted Barça defenders.
In the 67th minute, City's pressing paid off. When Mascherano had the ball, Aguero swiftly closed in on his national team teammate. Not daring to hold onto the ball too long, Mascherano quickly passed it away. Before passing, he had checked his teammates' positions. Barta was being marked by City's number ten, Lin Quan, who seemed tireless even after 60 minutes.
Busquets, Mascherano, and Bartra were desperately defending, but after playing for eighty minutes, they were exhausted. Navas, having been on the field for only 20 minutes, was still full of energy.
He burst into the penalty area ahead of Barcelona's defenders and, after a quick glance at the goalkeeper, decided to shoot immediately.
Not everyone has Lin Quan's extraordinary skills. Navas didn't feel confident dribbling past the goalkeeper and didn't want to waste time adjusting his shot, so shooting immediately was the safest choice!
Pinto, the Barcelona goalkeeper, cursed under his breath, seeing the opponent's rushed shot. He dove to make the save but was also unprepared.
The flying Barcelona goalkeeper couldn't reach the ball, but the ball didn't find the net either.
With a loud bang, the ball struck the crossbar and bounced back.
Unfortunately for Barcelona, the rebounded ball hit the retreating Mascherano.
The Argentinean couldn't stop in time, and the ball bounced off his body and headed back towards the goal.
Pinto, who had just landed on the ground, had no time to react and could only watch as the ball rolled into the net.
2-1!
Manchester City had turned the game around at home, making the aggregate score 5-3!
With only 10 minutes left, Barcelona needed two goals to tie and three to advance to the finals!
This was almost an impossible task!
In the final moments, Martino brought on Pedro and Sanchez in a last-ditch effort.
However, their midfield and defense had long lost control, and piling on attackers in the front was of no use.
On the contrary, Manchester City launched several threatening counter-attacks in the final stages of the game.
In the 89th minute, Lin Quan assisted Aguero in scoring another goal, changing the score to 3-1, making the aggregate 6-3!
Now, Barcelona had no hope left!
In the last few minutes, Barcelona's players finally gave up, letting Manchester City's players pass the ball around to waste time.
When stoppage time ended, the referee blew the final whistle.
Manchester City had turned the game around at home with a 3-1 victory over Barcelona, defeating them both home and away.
For the first time in the club's history, they had reached the Champions League semifinals!
Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder