Just as the first half was about to end, Villarreal finally broke the deadlock, scoring the first goal of the entire match!
At that moment, the atmosphere in the stadium instantly reached a climax. After relentless effort and exquisite teamwork, Villarreal's players finally tore through FC Zürich's defense.
Mexican winger Dos Santos received the ball on the wing, skillfully dribbled past a defender, and then delivered a precise inswinging cross. The ball, as if it had eyes, accurately found Pato in the penalty area.
Pato instantly accelerated, charging towards the ball like a leopard. His movements were swift and decisive, giving FC Zürich's defenders no time to react. He met the ball and kicked it with all his might towards the goal.
The ball traced a beautiful arc in the air, then slammed fiercely against the crossbar and rebounded into the net. Goal! Villarreal took the lead!
At this moment, the entire stadium erupted. Villarreal's fans cheered, waving flags and singing the team anthem loudly. Villarreal's players embraced in celebration, their faces beaming with joy and excitement.
Shortly after Pato's goal, the whistle blew, signaling the end of the first half. Both teams' players quickly retreated to their respective halves. Villarreal's players celebrated excitedly, while FC Zürich's players appeared somewhat dejected.
Lin Feng stood at the center circle, high-fiving his teammates in celebration, his face radiating confidence and joy. He knew that this goal was not just an affirmation of his defensive work, but also an affirmation of the entire team's effort and tactics.
Just as Lin Feng was about to enter the players' tunnel, applause and cheers erupted from the stands. He looked up and saw fans standing to applaud and praise him and Pato. Their faces were filled with excitement and joy, as if sharing in the victory with the players.
Lin Feng felt this enthusiasm and trust, and his heart was filled with gratitude and pride. He knew that this was the fans' support and encouragement for him and the entire team, and also their recognition of their strength and performance.
In the locker room, Head Coach Escribá first walked up to Pato, patted him on the shoulder, his eyes full of approval.
"Pato, that was a beautiful goal. Your skill and awareness are outstanding," Escribá said.
Pato smiled and replied, "Thank you, Head Coach. The whole team played very well. Without their cooperation, I couldn't have scored that goal."
Then, Escribá turned to Lin Feng, his eyes gleaming with affirmation and encouragement.
"Lin Feng, you performed exceptionally well on the defensive line today. The results of your previous training in Miami were fully realized," Escribá praised.
Lin Feng nodded gratefully, "Thank you for your affirmation, Head Coach. I will continue to work hard and contribute my strength to the team's victory."
Subsequently, the locker room fell silent. Several physiotherapists were busy moving among the players, giving them relaxing massages. A faint scent of lavender permeated the air, helping to relieve muscle tension.
The physiotherapists expertly massaged the players' muscles, and with the gentle sounds of massage, the locker room became exceptionally quiet. The players closed their eyes, resting, enjoying this moment of peace.
At this moment, Head Coach Escribá walked in with a tactics board. He looked around, saw the players were relaxed, and knew it was a good time to explain tactics.
He walked to the tactics board, drew on it with a pen, and began to explain the tactics for the second half.
"The opponent will definitely push forward in the second half to equalize the score," Escribá analyzed. "We need to defend well and at the same time look for opportunities to counterattack."
He emphasized, "Don't give the opponent any chances. We need to stay calm and seize the moment."
"Lin Feng, in the second half, you continue to mark Sadiku," Escribá said firmly. "This striker is quite capable, but you have excellent defensive skills and judgment. I believe you can handle him."
Lin Feng straightened his body and responded, "Understood, Head Coach. I will do my best and not give Sadiku any chances."
Escribá nodded with satisfaction, then asked with concern, "How is your physical condition? Is there anything uncomfortable?"
Lin Feng felt the Head Coach's concern and his heart warmed. "Thank you for your concern, Head Coach. I feel good right now and am capable of handling the defensive task."
"Good, remember not to let your guard down," Escribá reminded him. "The opponent might launch even more fierce attacks in the second half, so we need to be prepared defensively."
The locker room bell rang, signaling the end of halftime, and both teams would face off in the second half.
The players all walked out of the locker room. The first half had gone well, and they hoped to win the match by the end of the second half.
Back on the field, Lin Feng once again faced Sadiku. Compared to the first half, Sadiku's eyes showed less arrogance and more caution. Perhaps Lin Feng's excellent performance in the first half had frustrated Sadiku, or perhaps the tactical arrangements during halftime made him realize the difficulty of this match.
Lin Feng kept a close eye on Sadiku, taking in every movement and every expression. He knew that the key to this match was to mark Sadiku closely and not give him any opportunity.
After the second half began, Lin Feng adjusted his defensive strategy. He no longer just followed behind Sadiku, but instead chose to run ahead of him, actively intercepting and blocking the opponent's passes.
Whenever Sadiku tried to receive the ball, Lin Feng would quickly challenge, using his strong body and accurate judgment to clear the ball. This defensive approach greatly troubled Sadiku, making it difficult for him to find opportunities to break through Lin Feng's defense.
In the 60th minute of the second half, Sadiku was finally substituted by the exasperated FC Zürich Head Coach. For two-thirds of the match, he had little chance to display his attacking talent, practically disappearing at Estadio de la Cerámica. He was more like a fan watching the match up close.
Seeing Sadiku substituted, Escribá was very happy. This meant that Lin Feng had perfectly completed his task as a man-marking center-back in this match, which filled him with infinite imagination for Lin Feng's future development.
Perhaps this kid could truly become Villarreal's defensive stalwart. Paired with Pau Torres, the defensive line they formed could very well shine in La Liga.
The more Escribá thought about it, the more excited he became. After all, offense wins scores, but defense wins matches. If the team's defense could truly reach another level, then his idea of competing for Champions League qualification would no longer be an empty talk.
In La Liga, besides the traditional 'big three' powerhouses (Barcelona, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid), there are also strong teams like Sevilla, Valencia, and Real Sociedad. This makes La Liga, with only four Champions League qualification spots, fiercely competitive.
Although Villarreal has created many Champions League miracles in its club history, in the current La Liga, no one can guarantee that Villarreal will secure a coveted Champions League ticket amidst the rising powerhouses of La Liga.