The morning sun of Madrid streamed through the glass windows of the training base, but Lu Chuan's mood was even brighter than the weather.
After yesterday's team dinner and an in-depth conversation with Paco, the team's atmosphere had undergone a noticeable change.
"Lu Chuan!" Trejo ran over from a distance, holding a newspaper, "Look at this!"
The front-page headline of AS was particularly striking: "segunda división Asian Derby! Chinese New Star VS Japanese Legend!"
Two photos were placed side-by-side on the newspaper: on the left was Lu Chuan celebrating a goal, and on the right was Shinji Kagawa focused on passing during training.
"They're hyping this match up quite a bit," Lu Chuan took the newspaper and read the content carefully.
The media's analysis was quite professional: Lu Chuan was a sharp blade, every attack striking at the vital points; Shinji Kagawa was a precise scalpel, dissecting the opponent's defense with skill and wisdom. Two completely different styles, representing two development directions of Asian football.
"Are you nervous?" Comesaña walked over and asked.
"More excited than nervous," Lu Chuan closed the newspaper, his eyes sparkling with anticipation, "It's a rare opportunity to play against a senior like Shinji Kagawa."
Before training began, Paco gathered the entire team. His expression was much more relaxed than yesterday, clearly having adjusted his mindset after a night of contemplation.
"gentlemen, I know the media is calling this match an 'Asian Derby,'" Paco looked around at every player, "But for us, this is just an ordinary League match. Our goal is simple—three points!"
The players responded in unison, their voices loud and clear.
"However, we do need to make some tactical adjustments," Paco walked to the tactics board, "Zaragoza is not Málaga; they won't sit back and defend. Víctor Fernández is an old fox; he'll go on the offensive with us."
Lu Chuan listened carefully to Paco's analysis. Zaragoza's coach, Víctor Fernández, had previously coached many La Liga teams such AS Valencia and Zaragoza, possessing rich experience and extremely high tactical acumen.
"So we need to be prepared for both," Paco drew on the tactics board, "When attacking, be more patient, don't be impetuous; when defending, be more compact, especially in restricting Shinji Kagawa."
Suárez raised his hand to speak: "Coach, I'll mark Shinji Kagawa."
"No, Mario," Paco shook his head, "Kagawa has a very wide range of activity; marking him with just one person isn't enough. We need zonal defense, to restrict him AS a collective."
During training, Paco specifically arranged targeted tactical drills. He had substitute players simulate Shinji Kagawa's runs and passes, allowing the starting players to familiarize themselves with the countermeasures.
"Kagawa is best at passing and turning in tight spaces," Paco analyzed in detail, "We need to compress his space, not giving him comfortable opportunities to receive the ball."
Lu Chuan was exceptionally serious during training. He knew this match held great significance for him, not just because the opponent was Shinji Kagawa, but also because it was the first tough battle after the team had regrouped.
Just AS training was halfway through, a system prompt suddenly sounded in Lu Chuan's mind.
"Ding! Challenge Mission Released: King of Asia!"
"Mission Objective: In the match against Zaragoza, achieve a higher individual rating than Shinji Kagawa, and score a goal or an assist."
"Mission Reward: 1500LP, Free Kick Expert Experience Card x1"
Lu Chuan's heart rejoiced. The rewards for this mission were quite generous, especially the Free Kick Expert Experience Card, which could play a huge role at a critical moment.
But completing this mission would not be easy. Although Shinji Kagawa was already 30 years old, he was experienced and technically well-rounded. To surpass him in individual rating would require an outstanding performance in the match.
After training, Lu Chuan stayed on the training ground alone, continuing to practice shooting and passing. Sweat soaked his jersey, but his gaze remained focused.
"Still practicing?" Esther's voice came from behind him.
Lu Chuan turned and saw Esther standing on the sidelines, holding a bottle of sports drink.
"Why are you here?" Lu Chuan ran over in surprise.
"Wanted to give you a surprise," Esther handed him the drink, "And I think you need to relax a bit."
The two sat side-by-side on the substitute bench, enjoying a rare moment of tranquility.
"The media is hyping this match up quite a bit," Esther leaned on Lu Chuan's shoulder, "Are you feeling a lot of pressure?"
"It's alright," Lu Chuan took a sip of his drink, "Shinji Kagawa is one of the players I've admired since I was young. I feel very honored to compete against him on the same field."
"So, are you confident you can beat him?" Esther asked playfully.
"Football is not a solo show," Lu Chuan replied seriously, "I just hope to help the team win."
Esther nodded in satisfaction. This was one of the reasons she fell in love with Lu Chuan—he never forgot the team's interests for personal glory.
AS night fell, Lu Chuan returned to his apartment and opened the system panel. Looking at his current LP balance, he fell into deep thought.
Facing the upcoming tough battle, he needed to be fully prepared. Zaragoza's strength should not be underestimated, especially their attacking line. In addition to Shinji Kagawa, they also had Colombian striker Luis Suárez and Spanish striker Javi Puado.
After careful consideration, Lu Chuan made a decision. He spent 2500LP to exchange for the permanent skill [Iron Body].
"Ding! Consumed 2500LP, successfully exchanged for permanent skill: Iron Body!"
"Effect: Significantly enhances physical confrontation ability and injury resistance, making it less likely to fall in intense physical confrontations, and enabling faster recovery from fatigue and minor injuries."
A powerful force instantly spread throughout his body. Lu Chuan felt his muscles become firmer and his bones harder. This feeling greatly boosted his confidence.
The next day's training was even more intense. Paco arranged high-intensity confrontation training to allow the players to adapt to the rhythm of the match in advance.
"Remember, Zaragoza's players are all physically strong," Paco shouted from the sidelines, "We cannot be at a disadvantage in physical confrontations!"
Lu Chuan demonstrated the power of [Iron Body] during training.
Whether it was competing for headers with Catena or engaging in physical confrontations with Suárez, he held a clear advantage.
"Lu Chuan is in great form today," Álvaro García observed from the sidelines, "It feels like his physical confrontation ability has improved again."
"Perhaps the pressure has stimulated his potential," Trejo responded with a smile.
After training, the team held its final tactical meeting before the match.
Paco analyzed every Zaragoza player in detail, especially Shinji Kagawa's technical characteristics.
"Kagawa's passing success rate is over 90%; he rarely makes mistakes."
Paco pointed to the data on the tactics board, "But his physical confrontation ability is relatively weak; this is a point we can exploit."
Lu Chuan meticulously noted every detail. AS the core of the team, he needed to bear more responsibility in the match.
"One more important point," Paco's tone became serious, "Zaragoza is currently ranked second, and their emphasis on this match will be no less than ours. This will be a truly tough battle."
After the meeting, Trejo stood up and looked around at all his teammates.
"Last game, we lost like a bunch of wimps."
His voice was full of anger, "This game, at Zaragoza's home ground, we will act like men and win back the dignity we lost!"
"That's right!" Suárez was the first to respond, "Let them see the true strength of Rayo Vallecano!"
Other players also expressed their determination, and the atmosphere in the locker room was instantly ignited.
On match day, the entire Rayo Vallecano team traveled to Zaragoza by bus.
The scenery outside the bus window flashed by quickly, but the players' thoughts were all on the upcoming match.
"Nervous?" Isi Palazón, sitting next to Lu Chuan, whispered.
"A little," Lu Chuan answered honestly, "But more excited."
The bus slowly drove into La Romareda Stadium.
Although this stadium, capable of holding 34,000 people, was empty due to the pandemic, it still exuded an imposing aura.
In the player tunnel, players from both teams began to appear. Lu Chuan saw Shinji Kagawa's figure from afar.
This Japanese midfield maestro was not tall, but his every gesture revealed a calm and unhurried demeanor.
He was talking to his teammates, a faint smile on his face.
Just then, Shinji Kagawa seemed to feel Lu Chuan's gaze and turned to look.
Their eyes met in the air, and time seemed to stand still for a moment.
Shinji Kagawa smiled and nodded at Lu Chuan, a gesture of goodwill from a senior to a junior.
Lu Chuan responded in the same way, his eyes sparkling with respect and challenge.
No words were exchanged, but the showdown between the two top Asian players had already begun.
This was not just a clash of techniques, but also a collision of two football philosophies.
"Ready?" Trejo patted Lu Chuan's shoulder.
"Of course," Lu Chuan took a deep breath, his gaze becoming resolute.
The lights of the player tunnel shone on them, casting long shadows.
This match, dubbed the "Asian Derby" by the media, was about to begin, and Lu Chuan was ready to meet the challenge.
Regardless of the outcome, this would be an important milestone in his professional career.
Facing a legendary player like Shinji Kagawa, he would prove in his own way that the new generation of Asian players could also shine on the European stage.