SWR: Chapter 932/933

Chapter 932: Barcelona's Plan B

"GOALLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!"

"C Ronaldo scored again!"

"That's a brace for him!"

"In the 15th minute, Ronaldo found the net once more for Real Madrid. It's 2-0!"

"My god, Real Madrid has had an explosive start tonight."

"It's not just their rock-solid defense, but also their lightning-fast counterattacks that have left a lasting impression."

"Especially this goal. From Marcelo to Benzema, then to Ronaldo — the entire move was executed with incredible speed, leaving Barcelona's defense with no time to react. They were completely broken through and exposed."

The live broadcast repeatedly showed replays of Ronaldo's goal, switching between different angles to highlight every detail.

Benzema's assist was smart and precise, and Ronaldo's speed was absolutely astonishing.

This burst sprint is the Portuguese superstar's trademark. Back at Manchester United, Ferguson always designed the team's tactics around this strength. After moving to Real Madrid, the entire system has continued to play to this advantage.

And just now, that speed was on full display.

When the camera switched to the sidelines, it showed Ronaldo celebrating the goal surrounded by Real Madrid players. As he walked back, he turned toward the technical area and high-fived Gao Shen in front of the visiting team's dugout. Then he took the initiative to walk over and hugged the Real Madrid head coach.

This moment earned thunderous cheers from the Real Madrid fans in attendance.

"There had been rumors before that Ronaldo and coach Gao Shen didn't get along."

"But now, with a hug after scoring, the Portuguese forward has silenced all those doubters, proving there's no issue between him and Gao Shen."

"This is already his 13th goal in La Liga this season."

"Thirteen goals in just seven league matches — that's a record-breaking start in La Liga history."

"This could be the best version of Cristiano Ronaldo we've ever seen!"

"Gao Shen has also lived up to his preseason promise. He said he'd bring the best football and the best players to Real Madrid. And right now, the Real Madrid under his leadership is doing exactly that."

"Tonight, at Camp Nou, Real Madrid's possession rate is less than 30%, but anyone watching wouldn't call their performance dull. Quite the opposite — the match has been fluid and exciting."

"This season, Real Madrid's defensive system is completely different from the one under Mourinho."

"Gao Shen has turned Real Madrid's defense into a true art form, especially when it comes to defending against Barcelona. It's breathtaking to watch. I believe this will definitely draw worldwide attention from media and fans after the game."

"2-0, Real Madrid is currently in the lead."

"And we have every reason to believe that tonight's clash will be an unforgettable showdown!"

…

But things are rarely that simple.

Just when everyone expected Real Madrid and Barcelona to go head-to-head in an all-out offensive battle, the match instead slipped into a deadlock.

After the restart, Barcelona continued their patient control of possession, while Real Madrid stuck to their defensive counterattacking strategy.

Both teams played with caution.

Barcelona attempted several attacks but failed to break through Real Madrid's defensive wall.

A very obvious signal was that every time Messi got on the ball, he was instantly surrounded by at least two defenders.

Real Madrid's defensive formation remained tight and compact, always ensuring Messi had no space.

Every time Messi got the ball, he was harassed by multiple defenders.

As a result, Barcelona kept passing the ball back, repeatedly recycling it in their own half, moving it between the two center-backs and midfielders.

Real Madrid maintained their shape without even attempting aggressive pressing. Instead, they focused on intercepting and disrupting Barcelona's passing lanes. The players adjusted their positions accordingly.

Barcelona fans at Camp Nou were clearly unhappy with Real Madrid's "passive" style, believing that this kind of football shouldn't be seen in a so-called derby of the century. How could Real Madrid not push forward in a clash between Spain's two giants?

But the Real Madrid fans in the stadium were equally frustrated.

Why should we press high?

The ball's already in your hands. Why are you asking us to come forward?

As a result, two contrasting atmospheres emerged at Camp Nou.

Barcelona calmly kept possession in their midfield and defensive third, as if constantly tempting Real Madrid, saying: "If you've got what it takes, come get it!"

Real Madrid held firm at the back: "We're not stupid. If you really want to play, come into our half!"

If the first 15 or 16 minutes were exciting, the rest of the first half fell into a stalemate.

The match still flowed smoothly, but neither side managed to create many clear chances.

On one hand, Barcelona's attacks were contained. They couldn't find a viable attacking route and didn't want to commit too many players forward.

On the other hand, Real Madrid stayed cautious, sticking to their plan, never overcommitting, and playing steadily.

Time ticked on, and the score remained 2-0.

According to international convention, the home team is listed first, so it's Barcelona 0, Real Madrid 2.

But the scoreline only tells part of the story. The real insights lie in the data.

In terms of possession and passing, Barcelona had a whopping 73% of the ball, meaning Real Madrid only had 27%. Essentially, Barcelona had control for the majority of the match.

Even more telling, Barcelona had a pass completion rate of 92%.

What does this mean?

It means that Real Madrid barely tried to win the ball back.

But the real issue is that despite such a high possession and passing accuracy, Barcelona only managed two shots.

That's unbelievable. Their efficiency was simply too low.

And what about Real Madrid?

They had six shots — three times that of Barcelona and four of them were on target. Highly efficient. It showed just how threatening Real Madrid's attacks were. And they scored twice.

So what does this all mean?

According to the real-time data from Gao Shen and the Real Madrid coaching staff, Barcelona's possession and passing were as impressive as ever. But the passing map and heatmap clearly showed that most of their passes happened in the midfield and defensive third.

Piqué and Puyol had the most passes in the match. Who would believe that?

Sánchez and Pedro up front barely saw the ball.

This exposed a major problem for Barcelona: they couldn't effectively move the ball into the final third.

…

At halftime, in the Real Madrid dressing room, Gao Shen was very satisfied with the team's first-half performance. But he still pointed out several problems, most of them in defense.

He didn't consider Real Madrid's tactics conservative or negative.

With the current strength of the squad, they could try to go head-to-head with Barcelona in terms of possession, but their chances of success wouldn't be high.

Barcelona's dominance might be declining, but they haven't dropped to the level where they can be easily beaten.

Real Madrid does have the potential to suppress Barcelona — but not yet.

The team is newly reorganized and hasn't built enough chemistry. Going into a direct confrontation with Barcelona at this stage would be unwise.

If given a choice, Gao Shen would love a proper duel with Barcelona. But reality demands pragmatism.

So during the break, he continued to reassure the players.

Before the match, he had already done the mental prep with the team. Now he emphasized again that the team must continue to defend steadily and counterattack in the second half.

"We did a great job in the first half. We only allowed Barcelona two shots. That's an achievement to be proud of. But there's still the second half to play, and we can't afford to lose focus."

Gao Shen broke down the team's first-half performance and analyzed what to expect in the second half. He was confident that Barcelona would go on the offensive.

"This is Camp Nou. No one in Barcelona will accept us leaving with a two-goal win. In the second half, they'll throw everything at us. It's going to be tough."

But Gao Shen didn't believe that Barcelona had any surprises left.

This has always been a problem with Barcelona: they lack a Plan B.

Simply put, they're too predictable.

They excel at one style of play — possession. One rhythm — slow and methodical. One attacking method — intricate passing...

That's why Barcelona matches always have the same rhythm and style.

Long balls? Wing crosses?

Not part of their game.

They don't even have the players for that, so how could they play that way?

So after shutting down Barcelona in the first half, Gao Shen repeatedly expressed his confidence in the team to keep them out in the second half.

The key was for everyone to maintain the same level of focus and discipline.

"Again, don't chase the ball. Don't lose concentration. Once we lose focus, there will be breakdowns in execution, and Barcelona's passing game will punish us."

"So I need every one of you to stay 200 percent locked in during the second half!"

Gao Shen was very confident that Barcelona would push forward. And as the clock ticked, they would grow more anxious.

When you're in a hurry, it's easy to make mistakes!

In fact, there's always been a paradox in Barcelona's style — scoring first is vital.

Many say Barcelona doesn't play well from behind. That's normal.

Their patience is built on strength and a lead. But how many teams stay patient when they're trailing?

So Barcelona often needs to score first.

Once they're ahead, the opponent has to push forward, which gives Barcelona more space and attacking chances.

But if they fall behind, they become passive.

Especially when time is against them, patience becomes harder to maintain. Once they lose composure, errors creep in. And when that happens, the opponent can strike on the counter or even score again.

Now, Real Madrid holds a two-goal lead. All they need to do is focus and wait for Barcelona to come at them.

"Trust me, we don't just want two goals tonight. We want more!"

Gao Shen roared at the Real Madrid players through gritted teeth.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 933: Can Real Madrid Show Some Spirit of a Strong Team?

From the moment he took over coaching Real Madrid, Gao Shen had to face a common dilemma for any head coach.

When you decide to play a defensive counterattack, what should you do at the start?

This is a problem every manager inevitably has to consider.

Many choose to push forward in the opening minutes.

The benefit of doing this is that it can disrupt the opponent's rhythm and might even create an early scoring chance.

And attacking happens to be what Gao Shen is best at.

He has always been very familiar with Barcelona, and he knows well that their opening phase is rarely sharp. They often need time to settle in and take control of the tempo.

It's like a car. It takes a moment to accelerate from zero to one hundred.

This window gives the opponent a chance to strike.

In the first half, Gao Shen didn't instruct his team to press or attack. Considering they were playing at Camp Nou, and many Real Madrid players lacked match rhythm or were experiencing their first El Clásico, he opted for a cautious and stable defensive approach from the beginning.

But the second half was different.

Gao Shen clearly sensed the desire of his players to score again. At the same time, he wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to disrupt Barcelona's tempo and lift his team's morale.

At the very least, he wanted the players to know that Real Madrid still had the ability to fight back.

So he arranged for the team to launch a direct offensive right after the second half began.

But he also made it clear: regardless of the result of the first wave, they would immediately fall back afterward.

…

As expected, at the start of the second half, Barcelona tried to steady their rhythm and maintain control of possession.

But unlike the first half, Real Madrid launched an aggressive attack right away, especially down the left flank.

Marcelo and Ronaldo worked seamlessly together on that side, which had always been Real Madrid's primary attacking route. With Benzema and Toni Kroos involved as well, the left-side attack was particularly effective.

After just over a minute, they forced multiple throw-ins on the left wing.

Each time, the ball advanced closer to Barcelona's penalty area.

At 1 minute and 34 seconds, Real Madrid earned a throw-in in Barcelona's 30-meter zone.

This made Barcelona feel as if they were under siege.

Marcelo stood on the sideline, rubbed the ball with his already-dirty jersey, then waved to Benzema, signaling him to come over.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Toni Kroos were heavily marked, as was Xabi Alonso.

Only Gao Shen, his coaching staff, and the Real Madrid players truly knew that they were setting up a tactical routine on the left flank through this throw-in.

Barcelona's defense was also focused on that side, tightly marking several Real Madrid players.

Most of the players on the pitch were drawn to the left, leaving the center somewhat open and the right completely unguarded.

Gao Shen, though standing far from the throw-in area, kept his eyes glued to the ball.

Zidane, Hierro, Carlo, and the others also noticed something different about this setup.

This group of players had rehearsed this kind of routine in training, but no one knew exactly how it would play out.

As soon as the referee blew the whistle, Marcelo quickly threw the ball toward Benzema.

Just as expected!

Barcelona's defenders shifted, closing in as the Real Madrid players moved.

Benzema faced Piqué, but instead of battling the center-back, he broke forward.

Marcelo's throw landed just ahead of him, and Benzema took two quick steps to head it back toward the left.

Ronaldo, who had drifted back from the end line, turned sideways, chested down Benzema's header, then swung his right leg and lofted a cross.

From Marcelo's throw to Benzema's header to Ronaldo's chest control and pass, the entire sequence was fluid and seamless. The ball never touched the ground, giving Barcelona's defense no time to react.

Because it was rehearsed in advance, Ronaldo's lob was perfectly placed and dropped into the left arc of the penalty area. Modrić arrived just in time and headed the ball into the box, getting in front of Xavi near the left side of the penalty spot.

The ball bounced for the first time inside the penalty area.

Then, a white-shirted figure arrived, cutting across and striking it on the volley before it could rise again.

The shot redirected the ball at incredible speed toward the left corner of the goal.

Valdés reacted quickly and instinctively reached for the ball, but it just brushed past the post and flew into the left side of the net.

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!"

"Di María!!!"

"Real Madrid! Real Madrid scores again!"

"3-0!"

"That was a brilliantly executed throw-in routine from Real Madrid. The ball only hit the ground once before Di María's strike. The three players before him kept it in the air the whole time."

"What an absolutely stunning sequence!"

On the sidelines, Gao Shen clenched his fists and shouted in celebration, applauding the players for such a brilliant goal.

The rest of the coaching staff also leapt from their seats and applauded.

This goal was truly a beauty!

More importantly, it caught Barcelona completely off guard!

Who would have expected Real Madrid to use a throw-in to produce such a fluid and lethal sequence?

All the Real Madrid players sprinted toward the corner flag to celebrate the goal.

Inside Camp Nou, a deafening wave of boos rang out from Barcelona fans.

A hundred thousand people booing at once — what a sight!

…

If Barcelona president Sandro Rosell still believed the first goal was a fluke or a stroke of luck, then the second goal and their long stretches of stagnation during the first half had already revealed Vilanova's helplessness.

He simply had no answer for this powerful Real Madrid side.

To concede from a throw-in right at the start of the second half completely shattered any remaining hope for Barcelona. The scoreline was practically out of reach.

Especially given that Barcelona had enjoyed a significant advantage in possession and passing in the first half but still couldn't break through Real Madrid's defense — the result of this match was already set.

The only remaining suspense was whether Barcelona could at least score a goal.

Last season at the Bernabéu, Barcelona had beaten Real Madrid 3-1.

But even then, Real Madrid managed to get on the scoreboard.

Now, that's all anyone expects from Barcelona.

At least save some face, right?

"These kinds of unusual goals are really a matter of luck," said Florentino, who was sitting next to Rosell. His smile was calm, like a serene Buddha. But to every Barcelona fan in the box, his words sounded sarcastic and biting.

It's 3-0, and you're calling it luck?

Is that a dig at Real Madrid?

Or just salt in Barcelona's wounds?

Yet looking at Florentino's face, there was no trace of malice. Rosell couldn't even find a reason to get angry.

"Tonight, the goddess of luck just wasn't with Barcelona," Florentino said with a nod and smile.

Rosell forced a bitter smile. What could he say?

Admit they were unlucky?

Even if he had the thickest skin, he couldn't say that right after conceding a third goal.

But to say their team wasn't good enough...

How could he accept that?

After all, this Barcelona team had played together for years. In terms of chemistry and strength, they were arguably stronger than Real Madrid.

Just take the midfield — can Toni Kroos and Modrić really compare with Xavi and Iniesta?

But in this moment, Rosell had nothing to say.

Florentino didn't rub salt in the wound.

Back on the pitch, the game restarted.

Real Madrid continued to attack for a few more minutes. But once they realized Barcelona had adjusted and closed the gaps, Gao Shen waved his hand and ordered the team to fall back and defend again.

So, after scoring, Real Madrid returned to their previous posture.

The 100,000 Barcelona fans inside Camp Nou booed in frustration.

Seriously? Can't you show some spirit of a strong team?

Why not press forward and go head-to-head?

But Real Madrid didn't say a word. Just two: No way!

Every time Real Madrid got on the ball, they were met with another round of boos. But Barcelona could do nothing to crack Real Madrid's defensive setup.

"It's already October. With the international break coming up, your technical department should sit down with Gao Shen and discuss whether we need any winter signings. Our bench still lacks depth," Florentino leaned over and said quietly in Valdano's ear.

Real Madrid's technical director nodded. "We're monitoring it. Right now, the thinner spots are in midfield and on the wings. We're drafting a shortlist. But at the moment, it doesn't look like Gao Shen is planning to make any moves in the winter window."

The team is in great shape. Especially after tonight's win over Barcelona, the points gap has narrowed to just one.

The only downside is that La Liga will now go on a break, followed by two weeks of international matches — always a nerve-wracking period.

Every head coach prays that the national teams will be careful with their players and not return them injured.

Florentino also knows that winter transfers are rarely ideal. It's hard to bring in top-quality players mid-season.

As the saying goes, winter signings are rarely successful. If there's no urgent need, most clubs avoid it. Gao Shen, too, doesn't seem inclined toward winter spending.

But Florentino wasn't bothered.

From a 1-3 loss at home last season to a 3-0 win away this season, he was already more than satisfied.

His greatest hope now was for the team to hold the scoreline — or better yet, extend it.

If they could maintain the 3-0 result, both he and Real Madrid would be immensely proud.

Years of frustration could finally be wiped away.

At that moment, Real Madrid would truly step out of Barcelona's shadow!

(To be continued.)