Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari
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Victory for the Commoners! Atlético eliminate Real Madrid 4-2 to reach the final! Lance delivers an MVP-level performance!
Real Madrid bids farewell to the Copa del Rey contention! Zidane: We will seriously review the match and strive for the league and Champions League.
Three reasons explaining Atlético Madrid's away victory over Real Madrid, where is Lance stronger than Cristiano Ronaldo?
Barcelona eliminate Sevilla, setting up a Copa del Rey final clash with Atlético Madrid! Messi: We are confident we can win the championship.
Spanish media were not overly surprised.
By now, European football has reached a consensus: the period from 2013 until now has consistently been the dominant era of La Liga.
Although the Champions League title was stolen by Juventus last year, Spanish media still held a grudge.
The dominant position of Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atlético Madrid is undeniable.
Last season, Atlético Madrid was not quite qualified, but Lance's addition this season strengthened their "star power," elevating Atlético Madrid to a T0-level giant.
When the banners of these three powerhouses are displayed, teams from other leagues in Europe have to avoid their sharp edges.
Therefore, in the internal conflicts between the three giants, it is normal for anyone to win or lose.
The odds for each team to win the Copa del Rey were nearly identical, making it hard to predict the winner.
Relying on the efforts of "Mystical Master Qi," the first leg ended in a 2-2 draw.
Anyone with eyes could see that Lance's Atlético Madrid was slightly, subtly stronger.
The 2-0 victory over Real Madrid at the Bernabéu in the second leg proved this point exactly.
Spanish media were generally reporting the match in a normal tone.
At most, the Catalonia media, Mundo Deportivo, enjoyed making a couple of sarcastic remarks about Real Madrid.
On Twitter, everyone was also lamenting, perhaps Cristiano Ronaldo's momentum has reached its end?
"The facts prove, Lance > Cristiano Ronaldo."
"What championships does Lance have?"
"He doesn't even have a Ballon d'Or, how can he compare with Ronaldo?"
"If you mean Ronaldo from Brazil, he is indeed very strong, but what is Ronaldo from Portugal?"
"Just for clarification, his birth name is not Ronaldo; the only true Ronaldo is the one from Brazil."
"Lance and Luo's fans are fighting, why are Messi fans stirring up trouble?"
"Who told you I was a Messi fan?"
"Amigo! Your homepage is too obvious!"
"Stop talking, let's wait a few more years and see if Messi and Ronaldo can still win the Ballon d'Or."
"What the person above said makes sense; let time prove Lance's worth."
"At least in today's match, Lance's performance was perfect."
Since Lance's cheat code was banned by the system, his individual breakthroughs and memorable moments have decreased.
He was once accused of having "exhausted his talent" by fans of unknown origin.
His bold performance in today's match left the haters speechless.
Even Real Madrid legend Roberto Carlos admitted on Twitter after the match:
"Lance's dribbling and breakthrough is art; he is indeed one of the best players in the world."
It doesn't matter that his off-the-ball movement, physical confrontation ability, and passing organisation skills are weak.
His magnificent technique and powerful scoring ability are already enough to secure him a position at the top of the world.
In Roberto Carlos's view, Lance's only shortcoming is a lack of accumulated honours.
The top championships and Ballon d'Or awards that Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo accumulated over the past few years allow them to still compete for the world's number one and number two spots.
But looking ahead a few years, Roberto Carlos knew well that the future definitely belongs to this Asian young man.
Roberto Carlos might have been relatively reserved, but former Manchester United legend Park Ji-sung openly stated on Twitter:
"Lance is the world number one! The peak of football used to belong to white and black people, but now we finally have a person of colour."
Domestic netizens saw Park Ji-sung's comment and couldn't help but tag Lance to come and see it.
After the Copa del Rey second leg, they were given half a day off.
Lance, after his routine workout early in the morning, was scrolling through his phone whilst drinking water, dazzled by 99+ private messages and notification alerts.
He casually clicked on a few, which redirected him to Park Ji-sung's Twitter.
Lance was a little puzzled.
"I don't think I have any relationship with Park Ji-sung."
Whilst he was scratching his head, Son Heung-min called to congratulate him.
"Congrats, Lance, you made it to the Copa del Rey final."
"Congrats to you too, you beat Manchester City. Did Kevin cry?"
"Hahahaha, I was just about to tell you, Kevin was so depressed last night. You should have seen his expression, it was truly hilarious."
Son Heung-min couldn't stop laughing.
At the same time that Atlético Madrid defeated Real Madrid 2-0 away, the Premier League match was played last night: Manchester City 1-2 Tottenham.
Manchester City forward Agüero received a brilliant pass from De Bruyne and scored the opening goal.
But subsequently, Harry Kane, Son Heung-min, Eriksen, and the "Great English Star" Dele Alli, Tottenham's midfield and attack were a luxurious configuration; all of them were T0-level stars in the Premier League during their peak.
It was normal that Manchester City couldn't withstand such firepower.
Furthermore, Manchester City manager Pellègrini was heavily criticised this season and was constantly on the verge of being sacked, whilst the Mansour family was cosying up to Guardiola.
Tottenham ultimately succeeded in turning the tide. Son Heung-min provided one crucial assist and helped Alli and Harry Kane score. Brother Son's performance was quite impressive.
Lance also watched some match highlights yesterday and couldn't help but give Brother Son a thumbs up.
After arriving at Tottenham, he gradually hit his stride after a period of adjustment, becoming the most successful Asian player in the Premier League after Sun Jihai and Park Ji-sung.
Shinji Kagawa doesn't count; the Japanese player wasted the talent of his peak years during two years of struggle at Manchester United.
In short, Son Heung-min spent a long time with De Bruyne after the match, comforting him for quite a whilst.
It is said that Kevin was genuinely depressed; Manchester City's tactics were disorganised, and although everyone clearly had the ability, their coordination was lacking. How could they win if their hearts weren't united?
De Bruyne had the desire to win but lacked the power to turn the tide. Many brilliant passes he was proud of were ultimately wasted because teammates stood still and failed to make runs.
The England media even used this to criticise De Bruyne, saying he wasted opportunities with multiple erroneous passes.
The more Kevin thought about it, the more wronged he felt.
Damn it, I want to play poorly too, I want to pass the ball to feet too.
If my teammates don't run, what can I do?
At this point, Son Heung-min couldn't help but gloat again.
"Although it's not very loyal of me, it really is funny. Oh right, Senior Park called yesterday to praise you; we talked for a long time last night."
"No wonder, I was wondering why he posted about me on Twitter."
"But Lance, I suggest you don't look at the comments section. Netizens in our country are a bit unfriendly... I can't really explain their mentality, but you understand. Ah, aishiba..."
Son Heung-min was speechless.
He played football in Germany for a long time since childhood, and now he has come to the Premier League.
Through exposure to multicultural environments, he has realised the gap between Asian football and high-level world football.
Especially East Asian football, catching up will require a long period of hard work.
But on the other hand, Son Heung-min clearly understood his country's characteristics and its unique "sportsmanship."
He deeply felt the deep-seated inferiority complex of the kimchi nation, masked by an outer layer of arrogance.
Only people who have nothing, people who are empty inside, will seize the slightest opportunity to show off and even resort to unscrupulous means to prove themselves.
The 2002 World Cup semi-final, and the disgraceful incidents in various global sporting events... Son Heung-min was well aware of all these things.
If Lance had not appeared, perhaps he himself would have looked down on the football of neighbouring China and despised their fans.
But after close contact with Lance, he finally understood the meaning of "there is always someone better."
The mentality of worshipping the strong made Son Heung-min gradually put aside his contempt.
Even though their national team was still laughable, it was undeniable that a country with over a billion people couldn't possibly lack talent.
They simply lacked the right environment.
"Oh, that? I've seen too much of it. They are just a bunch of clowns."
"Lance, were you secretly cursing me?"
"Are you a clown?"
"I... I am not."
"Then that settles it. Don't take offence, unless you want to take offence."
"Siba! I'm not talking to you anymore!"
Son Heung-min hung up the phone in embarrassment and anger.
His last shred of superiority complex simply couldn't manifest in front of Lance.
If it weren't for Lance, I would be the number one in Asia!
Damn it!
Son Heung-min was quite unwilling, yet helpless.
...
In La Liga Round 26, Atlético Madrid, fresh off eliminating Real Madrid, was in high spirits.
Their rotated lineup easily defeated Real Sociedad 3-0, continuing their pursuit of Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Next week, after the second leg of the Champions League knockout stage, Atlético Madrid will face their old friends again.
La Liga Round 27, Sunday night, March 4th, Real Madrid vs Atlético Madrid.
Following their Copa del Rey encounter, it is another "Madrid Derby" in the league.
Three clashes within one month!
This time, regardless of Barcelona's result, at least one of Real Madrid or Atlético Madrid will have to drop out of the league title race.