As the clock ticked to the 70th minute of the match, the entire stadium's focus instantly converged on the sidelines. The fourth official held up the substitution board, as if brandishing a blood-stirring battle flag, announcing that a new round of battle was about to begin.
At this moment, Pato leapt onto the field like a leopard, replacing Sansone; his eyes gleamed with a sharp light, as if to pierce through the opponent's defense. And Castillejo rushed onto the field like a gust of wind, replacing N'Diaye; his steps were firm and swift, as if carrying the team's hope and expectation.
This substitution seemed to ignite the fighting spirit of the entire Villarreal team. The players seemed to be injected with new vitality; their eyes burned with fierce battle fire, and boiling blood flowed through their bodies. They high-fived each other in encouragement, and their tacit understanding and trust reached a peak at this moment.
The spectators were also infected by this passionate atmosphere; they stood up, waved the flags in their hands, and shouted the team's name. The entire stadium seemed to turn into a boiling ocean, with cheers, shouts, and roars of encouragement rising and falling, shaking everyone's hearts.
And in this fervent atmosphere, Villarreal's counterattack finally began!
Seeing the team preparing to launch a counterattack, Lin Feng's eyes became exceptionally firm. He knew the heavy responsibility of being the defensive core, and there could be no mistakes at this moment. He turned to Pau Torres and Ruiz beside him, reminding them in a serious and firm tone, "Brothers, this is a critical moment. We are the fortress of the defense and cannot make even the slightest mistake!"
Pau Torres and Ruiz nodded heavily upon hearing this, and their eyes also gleamed with firm light. They understood Lin Feng's meaning and also knew their responsibilities. At this critical moment, they had to maintain a high degree of focus and stability to ensure the team's defense was impregnable.
Lin Feng continued, "We must believe in our strength and experience, keep a cool head, and no matter what happens, stick to our positions and make correct judgments. Only in this way can we provide a solid guarantee for the team's counterattack."
Pau Torres and Ruiz nodded again, clenching their fists, ready to go all out.
Just as Villarreal's defenders were reminding and encouraging each other, Real Madrid also made corresponding tactical adjustments. At this moment, the atmosphere of the entire stadium seemed to freeze, and everyone's eyes were focused on the substitution area.
Spain's tall center forward, Morata, stood in the substitution area; he was tall and imposing, like a moving iron tower. Morata's entry undoubtedly added more threat to Real Madrid's attack. His height and strength advantage put Villarreal's defense under immense pressure.
At the same time, Benzema walked off the field with some annoyance. Although his team was leading, he was clearly not satisfied with his own performance. Benzema, as the attacking core of Real Madrid, has always been known for his excellent technique and keen insight. However, in this match, he seemed to be strictly limited by the opponent and failed to perform at his best.
This change undoubtedly brought new variables and challenges to the match. Villarreal's players realized this, and they knew that the upcoming match would be even more difficult. But even so, they did not back down; instead, their eyes became even more determined with the will to fight.
Seeing Morata walk onto the field, Ruiz's brows furrowed slightly. He quickly turned to Lin Feng and Pau Torres beside him, saying in a low and firm voice, "Morata is on. He's a master at finding opportunities in the box, and his heading ability is also excellent. We can't underestimate him; we must restrict Real Madrid's crosses from the flanks!"
Lin Feng and Pau Torres immediately nodded in agreement. They were aware of Morata's abilities and understood Ruiz's concerns. Morata's arrival would undoubtedly bring a greater threat to Real Madrid's attack, and they had to take effective measures to limit his performance.
Lin Feng said in a deep voice, "We can strengthen the defense on the flanks, trying not to give Real Madrid a chance to cross. At the same time, we must also be vigilant to prevent Morata from seizing opportunities in the penalty area."
Pau Torres added, "Yes, we need to maintain a tight defensive formation, leaving no gaps for Morata. And we also need to be prepared to deal with his headers; we can't let him score easily."
After reaching a consensus, the three quickly adjusted their defensive strategy. They knew that the upcoming match would be even more difficult, but they were fully prepared and determined to contribute their strength to the team's victory!
"Ruiz, Pau Torres, you two are responsible for restricting the defense on the flanks. I'll mark Morata," Lin Feng said calmly and firmly. His voice was full of confidence and determination, instantly making his teammates feel his leadership qualities.
The reason Lin Feng was so confident was because he possessed a skill called "Powerful Header." This skill could maximize his aerial ability, giving him an absolute advantage in aerial duels. Lin Feng knew that this was the best time to use this skill.
As the match progressed to the 75th minute, the tension on the field grew thicker. J-Rod, the Colombian midfielder, suddenly unleashed a long-range shot from the half-space; the ball whistled through the air with fierce momentum. However, the ball unexpectedly hit Pau Torres and bounced back to J-Rod's feet. This sudden turn of events made everyone's heart beat a little faster.
Facing this sudden situation, J-Rod demonstrated his keen insight and flexible adaptability. He quickly adjusted his attacking strategy, choosing not to attempt another long-range shot, but opting for a more secure 45° angle cross. The ball arced gracefully through the air, accurately seeking its target in the penalty area—Morata.
As Morata in the penalty area prepared to chest the ball down and shoot, Lin Feng's intuition told him that this was the best time to prevent the opponent from scoring. He quickly observed the trajectory of the ball, judged its landing spot, and then suddenly leapt high into the air.
In that instant, Lin Feng's "Powerful Header" skill was activated. He felt as if his body was propelled by a force, and his jumping ability reached its peak. At the same time, his brain made an extremely precise judgment of the ball's landing spot, as if a pair of eyes were helping him see everything clearly.
Just as Morata was about to make contact with the ball, Lin Feng used all his strength to head the ball fiercely away. The ball arced sharply through the air, flying directly out of the penalty area, instantly thwarting Real Madrid's attacking plan.
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T/N: Although I'm an inexperienced Editor, I do have a Patreon account! Although it seems like I don't have many supporters right now, my webnovel will be released in full every day, and the advanced chapters will be uploaded to Patreon.
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