In the locker room of the Leganés training base, the air was suffocatingly still.
Lu Chuan sat in the corner, his hands clasped tightly around his knees.
His gaze swept over the faces of his teammates, each one etched with tension and awe.
"Real Madrid Castilla." Just uttering the name made the air in the locker room feel several shades heavier.
Luis Pereya meticulously adjusted his shin guards, his movements precise and deliberate.
Miguel, though not on the main roster, sat on the bench, his face pale.
Even Pablo Sanchez, usually the most jovial, just kept his head down, repeatedly wiping his boots without a word.
"Listen up, guys."
Chema Rico pushed open the locker room door, a tactics board in his hand.
His voice tried to remain calm, but Lu Chuan could hear the underlying tension.
"Real Madrid Castilla is indeed very strong, but they are also human, not gods."
Chema drew arrows and circles on the tactics board, each stroke exceptionally firm.
"Our strategy is simple—defensive counter-attack."
"Luis, you need to mark their number 10 tightly, don't give him any chance to turn."
"Lu Chuan, you need to drop back more on the left wing to help Sergio."
"Remember, we are not here for a sparring session; we are here to fight."
Lu Chuan nodded, but his heartbeat thundered in his ears.
This was his first official League start of his professional career.
And the opponent was Real Madrid's youth academy.
The pressure was like a mountain, almost suffocating him.
"Give me ten minutes."
Lu Chuan stood up and walked towards the restroom.
He needed to calm down, to adjust.
In the restroom, Lu Chuan took deep breaths in front of the mirror.
The face in the mirror was young yet resolute.
"System."
He muttered in his mind.
A blue, translucent interface instantly appeared.
The [training space] option glowed.
With a mental touch, Lu Chuan's consciousness instantly entered the virtual training ground.
The flow of time was slowed, and he began to simulate the upcoming match.
Real Madrid Castilla's formation, their passing routes, their pressing style.
He rehearsed again and again, searching for weaknesses over and over.
"Their right-back likes to push forward, which will leave a gap."
"The number 6 in midfield passes accurately, but his turning speed isn't fast enough."
"The cooperation of their front line is excellent, but they tend to attack down the right wing."
Every detail was etched into his mind.
When he returned to the locker room, his eyes had become resolute.
In the player tunnel, the two teams stood side by side.
Lu Chuan could feel the confidence emanating from the Real Madrid players beside him.
Their equipment was superior, their movements more composed.
As if this were just an ordinary training match.
"Don't be nervous, Chinese."
A Real Madrid player said softly in English, his tone dismissive.
Lu Chuan didn't respond, just gazed silently ahead.
His fists slowly clenched at his sides.
The Butarque Stadium pitch sparkled in the sunlight.
A few hundred spectators sat sparsely in the stands.
Most were Real Madrid fans, their voices already cheering for the away team.
"¡Hala Madrid!"
Deafening shouts came from the away fans' stand.
In contrast, Leganés fans seemed a bit lacking in confidence.
The referee checked the armbands of both captains.
Lu Chuan, as Leganés's captain, shook hands with the Real Madrid captain.
The opponent's hand was broad and strong, and he clearly put force into the handshake.
This was a silent declaration of war.
The whistle blew.
The match officially began.
From the moment of kickoff, Real Madrid Castilla displayed overwhelming technical superiority.
Their passing flowed like water, each pass precise and accurate.
Their control of the midfield left Leganés players scrambling.
Lu Chuan tried to find opportunities on the left wing.
But Real Madrid's right-back stuck close to him, never leaving his side.
Whenever Lu Chuan got the ball, at least two players would immediately swarm him.
Their defensive awareness was frighteningly strong.
"Damn it."
Lu Chuan cursed inwardly.
He tried to use his speed to shake off the defense, but the opponent's recovery speed was equally astonishing.
He tried to dribble past players with skill, but the opponent's physical confrontation was even tougher.
Several breakthroughs were cleanly thwarted.
By the 15th minute, Real Madrid had completely controlled the rhythm of the game.
Their passing success rate was shockingly high.
Leganés players could only passively chase the ball.
"Push up! Push up!"
Chema Rico shouted loudly from the sideline.
But his voice was insignificant amidst the cheers of the Real Madrid fans.
Lu Chuan could feel his teammates' frustration.
Luis Pereya's tackles were decreasing.
Sergio's passes began to go astray.
Even goalkeeper Alberto seemed nervous.
By the 25th minute, the balance on the field was broken.
Real Madrid's midfield maestro received the ball at the top of the arc.
He didn't rush to shoot, but patiently observed Leganés's defensive line.
Suddenly, he delivered a brilliant through ball.
The ball threaded through the gaps between three defenders.
Real Madrid's striker successfully beat the offside trap and easily tapped it into the net inside the box.
0 to 1.
Butarque Stadium instantly erupted.
The roar of Real Madrid fans was deafening.
Leganés players hung their heads, their morale hitting rock bottom.
Lu Chuan stood in the center circle, hands on his hips.
His chest heaved violently.
Was this the strength of a top youth academy?
Was this the legacy of Real Madrid?
But he didn't despair.
On the contrary, his gaze became even more focused.
The simulation in the [training space] began to take effect.
He noticed that Real Madrid's defensive line would loosen at a specific moment.
When their right-back pushed forward, the center-back would cover the flank.
This would leave a brief gap in the middle.
"The opportunity is there."
Lu Chuan muttered to himself.
He began to adjust his positioning.
No longer sticking strictly to the left wing, but moving more towards the center.
Searching for that fleeting chance.
In the last ten minutes of the first half, Real Madrid's offensive intensified.
They seemed eager to score another goal before halftime.
Leganés's defense was in peril.
Lu Chuan had to frequently drop back to participate in defense.
His physical exertion was immense, but he gritted his teeth and persevered.
The final whistle blew.
Halftime, Leganés trailed 0 to 1.
The players walked with heavy steps towards the player tunnel.
The home fans in the stands let out disappointed sighs.
In the locker room, only heavy breathing and the sound of sweat dripping remained.
No one spoke.
Everyone had their heads down, breathing heavily.
Lu Chuan sat in the corner, closing his eyes.
But his brain didn't stop working.
The [training space] activated again.
He replayed every detail of the first half in his mind.
Searching for possibilities to turn the tide.
"Second half, it's our turn."
He secretly vowed in his heart.