NOVEL NEXT chapter 133
133 – El Clásico (2)
133
“It’s still overwhelmingly big.”
Real Madrid’s coach, Raul Harque, looked around Camp Nou and clicked his tongue.
From the moment he first stepped into this stadium in his early 20s to now, at the age of 50, this enormous stadium has always given people a sense of oppression.
But as time has passed, Raul Harque’s reaction has also changed.
As a native of Barcelona and a former player of RCD Espanyol de Barcelona, he felt fear when he first entered Camp Nou in his early 20s, but now, as the coach of Real Madrid, he just smiles.
“It’s old. It’s just big, but old.”
Camp Nou is no longer a source of fear and intimidation for the Espanyol youth coach.
Instead, it’s a nostalgic and bittersweet memory, a reminder of past glory.
Raul Harque walked into the locker room, where his players were chatting.
“Is anyone nervous about the away game at Barcelona?”
“No!”
“Hey, boss! We haven’t lost in El Clásico for two years!”
“There’s Hernan, who goes crazy when he meets Barcelona, so what’s there to worry about? Today is especially going to be a blast.”
In the past two years, there have been six El Clásicos, including league and cup matches, with no losses.
Six matches, four wins, two draws.
Especially Fernando Alvarez, nicknamed Hernan, who is indeed the Barcelona killer, has been overwhelming against Barcelona.
Excluding one game where he was injured, he played in five games, scoring six goals and two assists, showcasing his dominant performance against Barcelona.
Raúl Harque’s reliable face was filled with satisfaction.
“Okay, let’s focus. We’ll do a final check. In a typical Volante tactic, the importance lies in the side defenders. But Barcelona is different. They use Volante, but the centerbacks take on that role. These two players.”
As if waiting, Coach Raúl Harque pointed to the two players at the back on the tactics board.
“Juzi Tai and Madu Murcia.”
The Real Madrid players’ gazes shifted to Fernando Alvarez.
Today’s most anticipated players are clear, even to the Real Madrid players. And although they try not to show it, they know how much Fernando Alvarez is concerned about those players.
“From the outside, it seems like Juzi Tai’s role is more important. That’s true. This centerback is doing the job of a Volante. But what we need to focus on is his partner, Madu Murcia. This seasoned centerback is the unseen core of Barcelona.”
However, the coach’s attention was not on Juzi Tai, but on his partner, Madu Murcia.
“Since Juzi Tai is taking charge of most of the plays, his importance is overshadowed, but Madu Murcia is the key to Barcelona’s buildup. We need to block his ability to receive the ball and create turns.”
No matter how excellent a player is, their vision is limited.
After all, humans only have two eyes.
It’s not like they can monitor the movement of players in real-time like a game, and it’s difficult to constantly track the positions of both teams while under pressure.
To compensate for this, tactics are set, but it’s impossible to always make the right call in a game with countless variables.
Especially for a defender with limited vision, whose single mistake can lead to a fatal opportunity.
That’s why the Volante position is difficult, and it’s even more remarkable that a centerback behind them can take charge of the buildup without mistakes.
It’s not just about seeing a super play on the ball; it’s about the unseen plays that are even more impressive.
Football fans rave about Juzi Tai’s super plays on the ball, but coaches and players who understand the game more deeply appreciate those unseen plays even more.
That’s why they evaluate Juzi Tai as a world-class player despite being a defender.
“Since the two centerbacks are doing the job of a midfielder and defense flawlessly, Barcelona’s offense can’t help but succeed. But we’re different. We’re Real Madrid. Hernan, can you handle Juzi Tai?”
“Of course, boss.”
The coach nodded at Fernando Alvarez’s confident smile.
“Okay. We’ll leave this troublesome task to our ace, and we’ll take care of this old man. We’ll erase these two centerbacks in this game.”
* * *
＜ 34/35 LaLiga 5th Round ＞
Barcelona: Real Madrid
Spotify Camp Nou
[Barcelona 4-1-2-3]
FW: Mark Guigu / Iker Rodriguez / Jose Marsa
CM: Pablo Lopez / Arnau Pradas
DM: Diego Almeida
DF: Alexis Olmedo / Juzi Tai / Madu Murcia / Pau Berges
GK: Hector Fort
[Real Madrid 4-3-3]
FW: Aitor Casoza / Fernando Alvarez / Michal Zuk
MF: Francisco Hento / Carlos Sanchez / Federico Munoz
DF: Luciano Castel / Jose Antonio Ramon / Bernd Schuster / Andrezinho
GK: Georges Montbert
[The players take their positions, and the Barcelona anthem echoes throughout the Camp Nou stadium. It’s a majestic sight.]
After undergoing renovations in 2023 and completing them in 2026, the massive stadium, packed with over 100,000 spectators, was electric as they awaited the El Clásico match against their arch-rivals, Real Madrid. The Cant Del Barça echoed through the stadium.
As Joo Jitae waited for the game to start, he scanned the stadium.
The sheer energy of the crowd, with over 100,000 fans cheering, sent shivers down his spine. Even Joo Jitae, with 20 years of professional experience, felt overwhelmed.
“Alright, let’s do this.”
The referee’s whistle blew, and the game began.
The home team, Barcelona, started with an attack, as Iker Rodriguez passed the ball to Mark Guigu. Real Madrid’s three-top formation immediately charged into Barcelona’s territory.
“Easy does it, easy does it! No need to rush! Stay calm! Hey, Arnau, over here!”
As Joo Jitae reflexively raised his voice, he observed Real Madrid’s formation and quickly grasped their strategy.
“I’m Fernando Alvarez… He’s marking me tightly, just like in Murcia. This is expected.”
Barcelona’s tactics had not been exposed in the first two games, and their opponents had focused on building up their defense. However, it was already the fifth round of the league.
Joo Jitae had anticipated the pressure, but not to this extent.
“Wow, they’ve analyzed us well.”
But accurate analysis doesn’t always guarantee victory.
Theory is just theory.
Joo Jitae received the ball, shaking off Fernando Alvarez’s pressure.
As he received the ball, he quickly changed direction with his first touch, but Fernando Alvarez followed closely, as if expecting it. Joo Jitae swiftly turned around, but Fernando Alvarez recovered his balance and blocked his path.
A brief confrontation.
Joo Jitae opted for a simple yet efficient way to break free.
A 2:1 pass with center-back duo, Madu Murcia.
“No! This is dangerous!”
However, Madu Murcia was being marked by two Real Madrid players.
“Aitor Casoza and… Francisco Hento? A midfielder is pressuring the center-back?”
Joo Jitae quickly scanned Real Madrid’s formation and sensed something was off.
“The flank is open! The full-back… is entering the defense?”
Upon closer inspection, the gap was too narrow.
Joo Jitae’s mind was racing. Fernando Alvarez suddenly stretched out his leg, but Joo Jitae dodged it easily and countered with a dribble.
However, Fernando Alvarez’s reaction was swift.
He quickly regained his balance and pursued Joo Jitae with incredible agility.
“Ah, can’t you just give me some space? You’re being too persistent.”
Joo Jitae’s direction changed, like a circus act, and Fernando Alvarez followed closely, like a mirror image.
No matter how skilled Fernando Alvarez was, Joo Jitae was the ultimate winner.
With his superior physical abilities, speed, agility, and reaction time, Joo Jitae could outmaneuver any defender. While Fernando Alvarez could pressure him, he couldn’t stop him.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid had perfectly controlled the space.
Joo Jitae had no choice but to send a long pass to the open flank, and Mark Guigu, the flank attacker, could receive the ball and make a high run. However, the center was already densely packed with defenders.
Mark Guigu, who failed to dribble past, struggled to make a cross, but it was a futile attempt.
And around that time, Joo Ji-tae realized something.
“Is this… Simeone?”
The strategy concept of this Real Madrid game.