[The first half has been completely dominated by Real Madrid. The players' strengths are clearly on display.]
[No doubt about it. Ho-young has already covered 5 kilometers, showing exceptional work rate. Cristiano Ronaldo, who has run 4.6 kilometers, is also proving vital for the team. More than anything, the synergy between the two has been surprisingly solid. Xabi Alonso's build-up play has also been impressive.]
Everything was going according to plan.
Even if the team chemistry wasn't perfect, it was far from being criticized.
In fact, considering the squad was rebuilt in such a short time, it was quite impressive.
The link-up plays starting from Xabi Alonso's passes and being transformed creatively by Ho-young stood out the most.
But it was still too early to be surprised.
As the first half neared its end, Raúl came off and Benzema was subbed in.
"Ooh!"
"Benzema is coming on!"
"Karim Benzema!"
"Let's see a debut goal!"
Some fans in the stands erupted in cheers upon seeing Benzema take the field.
It was an unbelievable scene, considering the team captain was being subbed off for a new signing.
But then again, a segment of Real Madrid fans had already fallen for Benzema's explosive and powerful style.
It might have been a natural shift.
Just think of the strikers Real Madrid had in recent years.
Raúl, Ronaldo, Robinho, Higuaín, van Nistelrooy, Antonio Cassano.
Except for Cassano, most had a reserved, quiet image.
Then came Benzema, a brash, straightforward striker, and fans were instantly drawn to him like candy.
That's right. The people want me. Real Madrid needs a striker like me.
Taking the field as the lone striker, Benzema was fired up.
I didn't come here to play support for Ho-young or Ronaldo.
His childhood dream had been to wear Real Madrid's white kit.
He had even turned down Manchester United's incredible offer for this.
That's how deep his ambition ran.
I'll change everything about Real Madrid.
Real Madrid.
He wanted the Santiago Bernabéu at his feet.
The timing was perfect.
Die-hard fans had grown disappointed with Pérez, and were even more disillusioned when he left.
Moreover, the team was fractured due to the recent rebuild.
In the midst of it all, Benzema wanted to unite the squad and become Real Madrid's hero.
Through sheer ability.
I will make it happen.
Benzema stared down at Ho-young standing below him, reaffirming his goal.
At that very moment, a strange tension surged between them.
Ho-young's eyes narrowed sharply.
[Karim Benzema]
[Possessed Talents: Artistic Link-Up Play (S-), Outstanding Positioning (S-), Clever Space Penetration (A+3), Precise First Touch (A+2), Burning Desire to Win (A+2), Reckless Boldness (A-), (More...)]
(Upon meeting conditions, one talent may be acquired.)
(S-grade or higher requires unlocking hidden conditions.)
(Condition 1: Win the match)
(Condition 2: Each record 1 attacking point)
(Hidden Condition: Unlock upon acquiring at least one talent)
Karim Benzema.
Though he didn't yet possess any U-grade talents, starting with A-grade talents related to ball control, he looked capable of mastering up to S-grade talents.
Artistic Link-Up Play... must be a movement-based talent.
Whether or not that was true, one thing was clear. He had a lot to offer.
The match resumed.
Tap.
[Ho-young receives the goal kick with his chest and lays it off to Xabi Alonso.]
[Benzema sprints up the pitch at full speed.]
The flow had changed.
Gone were the days of the veterans' experience. The pitch was now charged with youthful energy.
Whenever Deportivo took the ball, Madrid immediately applied intense pressure to win it back.
It resembled Guardiola's six-second rule, but this was Scolari's own tactical spin.
The idea of immediate pressing was the same, but it was paired with significantly increased mobility from the midfield.
[It's clear Real Madrid is trying to maximize counter-attacking efficiency by utilizing the strengths of the 4-2-3-1 formation.]
[Absolutely. Their high pressing is intense, almost reminiscent of Barcelona's tactics.]
[It's suffocating. Deportivo players are struggling to move the ball out of their half.]
Then the momentum shifted once more.
When the opposition tried to waste time by passing around in the back line, Madrid would ease their press and lure them out.
This was Scolari's method for facing weaker teams.
Let them feel safe, then cut them off and strike again.
[A clean tackle from Mahamadou Diarra! The loose ball rolls to Xabi Alonso.]
Xabi, upon retrieving the ball, quickly looked back.
There was no room to go forward immediately.
He passed it back to Mertesacker.
Tap!
Per Mertesacker.
Despite standing close to 2 meters tall, he was a cerebral, commander-type defender.
He had solid fundamentals in passing and vision, making him capable of contributing to build-up play from the back.
And in moments like these, his instincts told him exactly where to play the ball.
There.
Someone appeared in Mertesacker's vision.
It was Ho-young, charging from the center toward the second line.
Mertesacker made a decisive call.
He can handle it.
Having played with Ho-young over the past month, he trusted him completely.
He went for a direct pass.
Boom!
[Mertesacker's long ball lands in the second line. Ho-young is sprinting toward it.]
[Juan Rodríguez is closing in as well.]
Rodríguez, having positioned himself early, reached the ball just a fraction sooner than Ho-young.
But that was the only advantage he had.
He was smaller than Ho-young. A clear disadvantage.
Thud!
"...What the?!"
Rodríguez leapt but didn't even get to tilt his head before he was overpowered in the air.
[Ho-young bullies Rodríguez in the air!]
[Incredible physicality. To dominate a fully grown 27-year-old like that... perhaps Rodríguez would've been better off staying on the ground and blocking the pass.]
Ronaldo was surging down the left flank, Robben down the right.
Ho-young felt like he had a full army at his side.
If his previous squad had been a first-grade destroyer, this one was an aircraft carrier.
And he was the helmsman on the bridge.
Focus.
Ho-young's mind shifted into overdrive.
In an instant, the optimal attacking route flashed in his head.
Forward.
Instead of heading the ball, he cushioned it with his chest and played a short pass forward.
To where Benzema was standing.
Thud!
[Benzema receives the pass with his back to goal!]
[At the same time, Ho-young makes a run into the box!]
Everything was unfolding as Ho-young had envisioned.
Robben was dragging defenders wide from the right, Ronaldo was surging inside from the left, clearing out the box.
Perfect setup.
All that was left was for Benzema to return the ball to Ho-young.
But instead.
Tap.
Benzema spun away and turned his back.
[Benzema turns and takes a shot!]
The sudden shot caused slight confusion in the Deportivo defense, but the angle was too narrow.
[Alberto Lopo blocks the shot with his leg!]
Shot denied.
It would've been fine if that was the end of it, but greed often brings consequences.
The ball deflected off Lopo's thigh and landed at the feet of right-back Filipe Luís.
Deportivo wasted no time launching the counter.
[Filipe Luís bursts forward with speed! Deportivo players are surging up!]
Deportivo were dangerous on the counter.
They focused on solid defending and utilized Adrian López's free movement up front for sharp transitions.
And at the heart of it was Filipe Luís's overlapping runs.
This was one of those moments.
[Robben tries to stop him but it's no use! Luís powers through!]
[Real Madrid needs to stay alert! A late equalizer before halftime could be disastrous!]
Filipe Luís had already crossed the halfway line.
Benzema's face turned pale.
I screwed up.
Conceding here would be a nightmare.
A literal worst-case debut.
If he had just passed to Ho-young, none of this would've happened.
But it was too late to regret now.
Just as despair crept onto Benzema's face—
"...!!"
[Ho-young! He's chasing back with unreal pace!]
[An incredible display of instincts and drive!]
Despite being up top moments ago, Ho-young had sprinted 50 meters back to the halfway line.
It was hard to believe.
"Luís! Behind you!"
"He's coming!"
Filipe Luís glanced sideways as he dribbled.
Not a chance.
All he had to do was get the ball to Adrian López.
But the moment he released the pass forward—
Thud!
"...!!"
[Ho-young with a sliding tackle!]
[He intercepts Luís's pass! An unbelievable display of grit and timing!]
Unreal.
Ho-young, who had come sprinting from behind, cut off the pass cleanly.
Filipe Luís was stunned.
He read that?
More than that, something else was hard to accept.
Wasn't he just up there?
Yes. Ho-young had been far behind.
It should've been an easy situation for Luís.
But Ho-young's speed was beyond expectation.
His anticipation and positional awareness sealed the play.
This was not something one expects from an attacking midfielder.
The stadium was now chanting a single name.
Even those who had cheered for Benzema were now screaming for Ho-young.
It was as if they had forgotten who Benzema even was.
All eyes were on Ho-young.
And it didn't stop there.
The intercepted ball rolled toward Xabi Alonso, who calmly trapped it.
Ho-young bounced right back to his feet like a spring and planted his foot into the turf.
Then shouted.
"Go!"
From opportunity to crisis, then from crisis to opportunity again.
A full cycle, led by one player.
(To be continued.)
◇◇◇
◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)