Chapter 212: If Not Pressured by "Xia Qi," Who Would Willingly Make Themselves So Talented?
In the following play, Arsenal's players on the field indeed felt the pressure from Real Madrid.
The greatest source of pressure for them was Cristiano Ronaldo, who was in outstanding form tonight.
Cristiano Ronaldo not only produced a hat-trick, he also provided cover for his teammates—this was even more infuriating than his goals!
For example, Cristiano Ronaldo's third goal was the result of a brilliant flick; only after Benzema had a shooting opportunity did Cristiano score the rebound.
That flick made Arsenal's defenders look a bit foolish, but Cristiano Ronaldo's threat level is high. When Cristiano decides to act as a decoy, defenders have no choice but to fall for it!
In the rest of the match, Cristiano Ronaldo provided three assists—directly or indirectly creating dangerous situations for Arsenal's goal.
After receiving passes from Cristiano or teammates, Álvaro Morata got three chances to shoot.
Thanks to his double-footedness, people prematurely tasted the joy of an Inter Milan "hidden dragon and crouching phoenix."
Arsenal fans took bitter pleasure, while Real Madrid fans smiled with a faint bitterness at the corner of their mouths.
Any one of those three chances, if taken, could easily have been the winning goal that sealed the victory!
Carlo Ancelotti's face was a bitter melon: if he had known, would he have brought on the "youngster"? Ah, a sigh!
After their laughter, Arsenal fans felt a chill down their backs. With fear returning, they began to call Xia Qi's name.
...
...
"...still Cristiano Ronaldo..."
The ball came to Cristiano Ronaldo's feet, and Xia Qi quickly shifted sideways and blocked him like a mountain.
In an instant, the stadium's atmosphere tightened to the extreme.
Seeing Xia Qi comply so readily, Arsenal fans wanted to give a massive cheer—but they immediately clamped their hands over their mouths.
They were afraid of affecting Xia Qi.
On the field,
Xia Qi's gaze burned bright as he locked tightly onto Cristiano Ronaldo.
Cristiano controlled the ball deftly with his feet. His moves weren't as flashy as "Flair-Ronaldo," but his dribbling speed was as swift as a cheetah.
Xia Qi dared not relax for a moment. He lowered his center of gravity, a fortress indestructible, guarding his defensive line.
At such a crucial moment, neither set of fans dared take a deep breath, let alone cheer or boo.
In full view,
Cristiano Ronaldo suddenly accelerated, driving in a straight line trying to use his speed to beat Xia Qi's defense.
Xia Qi reacted quickly, precisely cutting off the angle so Cristiano had no room to move.
Although Xia Qi's defending was beautiful, it was within Cristiano's expectation. Cristiano suddenly changed direction and moved sideways in an "L" shape; it was clearly a set of moves intended to use the L-shaped pivot to dribble past Xia Qi.
But Xia Qi followed like his shadow, not only preventing Cristiano from beating him but taking the opportunity to step even closer, closing the distance between them. He pressed up against Cristiano like a close-quarters dance, using his body to pin Cristiano so he couldn't escape.
The two engaged in fierce combat in a tiny space. Every action was a clash of strength and skill.
During Cristiano's sideways dribbling, he tried several times to use feints to shake Xia Qi loose and find a way through.
Xia Qi didn't fall for any of them; with synchronized footwork he stuck to Cristiano and foiled him time and again.
The fans watched, tense to near suffocation; the two on the field struck sparks.
Thomas Vermaelen and Luka Modrić thought about coming to help, but the pair waved them off: don't come.
Vermaelen and Modrić exchanged a glance and smiled faintly.
The duel between Ye Gucheng and Ximen Chuixue needs only spectators, no helpers.
Cristiano saw that Xia Qi was always keeping a very appropriate distance. He couldn't shoot straight on target, nor could he dribble past.
A reverse triangle pass was the only option, but he had just refused Modrić's offer, which left him a little embarrassed.
He hesitated!
Suddenly Xia Qi lunged forward like an arrow and extended his leg!
Cristiano felt: not good!
Cristiano hurriedly pulled the ball back, turned, and went...
In the rush, the thought of face? Hah...
Although the ball ended up at Modrić's feet,
the cheers of Arsenal fans rang throughout the stadium. In that brilliant duel, the reverse triangle version of Cristiano Ronaldo was, of course, Ye Gucheng.
Xia Qi pointed at Modrić with his finger, then looked toward his teammate Gustavo.
Gustavo made an apologetic gesture—he had been too engrossed in watching the duel; it was his turn to come and mark Modrić.
Seeing Gustavo fulfill his duty, Xia Qi faced Real Madrid's goal and made a signal behind his back for the defenders to spread out, "each to their own mother."
"Xia Qi is directing his teammates' runs—getting more and more like a captain..."
Modrić tried to drive forward with the ball but encountered Gustavo's tenacious defense.
After passing, Cristiano Ronaldo quickly retreated. His original intention had been to draw out Arsenal's strongest—Xia Qi.
Unexpectedly, Xia Qi didn't take the bait and instead stepped forward to combine with Gustavo to double-team Modrić.
Caught off guard, Modrić was nearly robbed by Xia Qi, but fortunately his reflexes were quick enough to flick the ball back with his heel.
Cristiano Ronaldo received the ball.
Real Madrid fans exploded in cheers.
Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the finest players in world football, and tonight he was in top form.
Real Madrid fans treated him like Batman saving the world.
This time Xia Qi didn't immediately snatch in; he still held his position.
He simply stared at Cristiano Ronaldo with eyes aflame, watching to see what he would do.
Will he pass or drive?
Cristiano didn't agonize; he dribbled at Xia Qi.
Xia Qi was unafraid, charging at "Ronaldo." Amid applause, the two tangled again.
Cristiano's footwork was as swift as a gale. Just as Xia Qi closed in, Cristiano nudged the ball to the left, attempting an outside-channel dribble.
Would Xia Qi let him succeed easily?
Quickly side-stepping and sliding to shift position, like a rock he blocked Cristiano's path.
But Cristiano immediately shifted the ball to the right.
Xia Qi spun and lunged again, once more cutting off Cristiano's route.
This time, however, Cristiano concealed a needle in cotton: hidden in the rightward drive was a follow-through.
As Xia Qi's body landed, Cristiano's toe lightly stabbed—the ball threaded perfectly between Xia Qi's legs...
AI was actually outwitted by a human!
Xia Qi narrates for the AI: humans are terrifying!
The AI's adaptation was rapid; it didn't "turn the aircraft carrier around," but instead kept diving toward Cristiano.
At this moment, Cristiano did not want to be the "hard man" colliding with Xia Qi. With a lightning-quick feint he dodged Xia Qi's lunge and went around the already off-balance Xia Qi from the other side.
In an instant,
Real Madrid fans leaped from their seats, wildly pumping fists, waving flags and scarves...
"Oh, oh, oh... The King of the Champions League Cristiano Ronaldo toyed with Xia Qi—Xia Qi has been nutmegged..."
"At match point, both sides need a hero. Cristiano's little universe exploded and he took a one-on-one to break through the seemingly impregnable Xia Qi..."
Cristiano Ronaldo's voiceover: If not pressured by "Xia Qi," who would willingly make themselves so talented?
On the pitch, Xia Qi recovered his center of gravity and spun to chase after Cristiano Ronaldo.
(End of Chapter.)