The turf of the La Roma Reda Stadium gleamed emerald green under the afternoon sun.
The empty stands were silent, with only the whistling of the wind sweeping across the pitch.
This sacred ground, which has carried the century-long glory of Zaragoza, would witness a special showdown today.
"Asian Derby! Chinese New Star vs. Japanese Legend!"
"Lu Chuan vs. Shinji Kagawa, who is the future of Asian football?"
Pre-match media hype had already pushed this game to an unprecedented level.
Major sports media in Spain, and even television stations from Asia, had sent broadcasting teams.
Although the stadium was empty, millions of fans worldwide were watching this contest through their screens.
In the locker room, Paco Jémez was making final adjustments on the tactics board.
"Today we are changing to a 4-3-3 formation," his voice was steady and firm.
"Óscar, you will take over José's position, specifically responsible for midfield interceptions and protection."
Óscar Valentín nodded in response. This experienced midfielder understood his task—to limit Shinji Kagawa's playmaking space.
"Remember, Shinji Kagawa is not an ordinary number 10," Paco continued to analyze.
"He will roam across the entire attacking midfield, looking for passing opportunities. We cannot give him too much comfortable time on the ball."
Lu Chuan listened quietly, replaying Shinji Kagawa's match footage in his mind.
Those exquisite passes, those deadly through balls, and that composure in tight spaces.
"Lu Chuan," Paco turned to him, "your task today is not just to score goals, but also to pressure Kagawa in the attacking midfield.
Use your physical advantage and speed to prevent him from concentrating on organizing."
"Understood," Lu Chuan clenched his fists, feeling the power brought by Iron Body.
In the player tunnel, both teams' players began to line up.
Lu Chuan saw Shinji Kagawa's figure—not tall, but exuding a master's aura in his every move.
Shinji Kagawa seemed to feel Lu Chuan's gaze, turning his head to look.
Their eyes met in the air, without hostility, only mutual respect and anticipation for the upcoming contest.
"Are you ready, young man?" Shinji Kagawa asked softly in English.
"Of course," Lu Chuan replied in English as well, "it's an honor to compete with you."
Shinji Kagawa smiled and nodded, a gesture of goodwill from a senior to a junior, and an acknowledgment from a strong player to another strong player.
The referee's whistle blew, and the match officially began.
Zaragoza kicked off first, the ball quickly passing between their feet.
Shinji Kagawa immediately demonstrated world-class playmaking ability.
He always appeared in the most suitable position, linking up the team's attacks with the most concise passes.
In the 3rd minute, Shinji Kagawa received the ball near the center circle, facing pressure from Comesaña.
He deftly flicked the ball to the right with the outside of his foot, then turned to escape, passing the ball to Raúl Guti on the wing.
The entire sequence was fluid and seamless, without the slightest hesitation.
"This is master-level technique," the commentator couldn't help but exclaim.
"Although Shinji Kagawa is already 30, his technique is still superb."
Rayo Vallecano's midfield began to feel the pressure. Shinji Kagawa's positioning was extremely clever; he always found gaps in the defense, creating passing opportunities for his teammates.
In the 8th minute, Lu Chuan received a pass from Trejo in the attacking third, immediately feeling the close marking from Zaragoza's center-back Jawad El Yamiq.
The Norwegian center-back was tall and aggressive. He stuck close to Lu Chuan, constantly interfering with his body.
"Be careful, Asian boy," El Yamiq whispered in Lu Chuan's ear, "this isn't your playground."
Lu Chuan didn't respond, only focusing on controlling the ball.
When El Yamiq elbowed his back again, the effect of Iron Body became apparent.
Lu Chuan stood firm, while El Yamiq lost his balance due to excessive force.
The referee's whistle blew, and a yellow card was shown to El Yamiq.
"Nice!" Trejo ran over and patted Lu Chuan's shoulder.
"This guy thought you were still that skinny kid from before."
Lu Chuan smiled without speaking, but he was very satisfied with the effect of Iron Body.
This improvement in physical confrontation allowed him to face European players with greater composure.
The match continued, with both sides fiercely contesting the midfield.
Zaragoza's attacking duo, Luis Suárez and Javi Puado, were extremely fast, constantly challenging Rayo Vallecano's defense.
In the 15th minute, Puado broke through Advíncula's defense on the left wing.
His cross was headed clear by Catena, but the ball fell to Shinji Kagawa.
Shinji Kagawa didn't rush to pass the ball, instead gently controlling it with the sole of his foot, observing the situation on the field.
His gaze swept across the entire attacking third, searching for the best passing lane.
Just then, Lu Chuan quickly pressed forward. He knew he couldn't give Shinji Kagawa too much time to think.
Shinji Kagawa noticed Lu Chuan's approach and quickened his footwork.
He used an exquisite drag-back turn, attempting to shake off Lu Chuan's entanglement.
But Lu Chuan's reaction was faster. He used the Direction Change Acceleration Master skill, instantly changing direction and closely matching Shinji Kagawa's rhythm.
The two engaged in a one-on-one battle in midfield. Shinji Kagawa's technique was refined and elegant; Lu Chuan was physically strong and faster.
Ultimately, Shinji Kagawa chose to pass the ball to a teammate, avoiding a direct confrontation.
But this clash thrilled both the spectators on the sidelines and the fans watching on TV.
"What a fantastic duel!" the commentator shouted excitedly, "This is the Asian Derby we wanted to see!"
In the 28th minute, Lu Chuan received a pass from Álvaro García in the attacking third.
Facing the defense of Zaragoza's defensive midfielder Iñigo Eguaras, he displayed the power of Direction Change Acceleration Master.
Lu Chuan first feinted to the left, and Eguaras immediately shifted his weight to follow.
In that instant, Lu Chuan suddenly changed direction to the right, simultaneously accelerating.
Eguaras was completely faked out, and Lu Chuan gained valuable shooting space.
He didn't hesitate, taking a long-range shot directly. The ball flew with strong spin towards the top right corner of the goal, powerful and with a tricky angle.
Zaragoza goalkeeper Cristian Álvarez reacted with lightning speed, diving to save, his fingertips touching the ball and deflecting this highly threatening shot.
"What a shame!" a sigh of regret came from the Rayo Vallecano bench.
Lu Chuan raised his hands, applauding the goalkeeper's brilliant save. This was respect for his opponent, and confidence in the quality of his own shot.
The match entered a white-hot stage. Both sides traded blows, with extremely fast transitions between attack and defense.
Shinji Kagawa's playmaking in midfield became increasingly composed; every pass was perfectly weighted, making Zaragoza's attack more fluid.
In the 35th minute, Zaragoza had a golden opportunity.
Luis Suárez received a pass inside the box, and facing Dimitrievski, his shot was heroically saved by the goalkeeper.
"Zaragoza's attack is becoming more and more threatening," Paco paced anxiously on the sidelines, "we must strengthen our midfield control."
In the 40th minute, the crucial moment arrived.
Shinji Kagawa received a back pass from a teammate in midfield, with Comesaña pressing him from the front.
The Rayo Vallecano defensive midfielder was tall and aggressive, but Shinji Kagawa showed no fear.
He first used his body to shield the ball, then suddenly feinted to the left.
Comesaña immediately moved to follow, preparing to intercept.
In that instant, Shinji Kagawa's right foot deftly flicked the ball to the right, simultaneously turning his body quickly, completing a perfect escape move.
Comesaña lunged into empty space, only able to watch Shinji Kagawa glide past him.
After shaking off the defense, Shinji Kagawa looked up to assess the situation in the attacking third.
He saw Luis Suárez making a run into the box, while Rayo Vallecano's defensive line had not yet fully recovered.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Shinji Kagawa didn't hesitate, a gentle push with the inside of his right foot sent the ball quickly rolling across the turf into the box.
The power, angle, and timing of this pass were all perfect, completely tearing apart Rayo Vallecano's defense.
Luis Suárez understood instinctively; he accelerated his sprint, successfully beating the offside trap.
Facing the onrushing Dimitrievski, the Colombian striker displayed the composure of a top scorer.
He chose not to shoot powerfully, but instead used the inside of his foot to gently push the ball, which slipped under the goalkeeper's arm and into the net.
1-0! Zaragoza took the lead!
After scoring, Luis Suárez excitedly ran to the sidelines to celebrate, but Shinji Kagawa merely smiled faintly, accepting congratulations from his teammates.
His gaze swept across the pitch, finally resting on Lu Chuan in the distance. His eyes were calm and deep, without provocation, only the composure of a master.
Lu Chuan felt Shinji Kagawa's gaze, and a complex emotion surged within him. This was the strength of a world-class player; one pass could change the course of the game.
"It's okay, we still have time," Trejo ran over to comfort Lu Chuan, "we'll definitely come back in the second half."
Lu Chuan nodded, but his fighting spirit grew even stronger. He knew that to prove himself in this "Asian Derby," he had to perform even better.
The half-time whistle blew, and players gradually walked towards the player tunnel.
Lu Chuan and Shinji Kagawa passed each other again, their eyes meeting once more.
This time, Lu Chuan's eyes held an added firmness and stubborn refusal to admit defeat.
He wanted to let this Japanese master know that the new generation of Asian players could also shine on the European stage.
In the locker room, Paco was drawing adjustment plans on the tactics board.
He knew that if they couldn't find a way to limit Shinji Kagawa in the second half, this match would truly have no suspense.
Meanwhile, in the other locker room, Shinji Kagawa was discussing second-half tactics with his teammates.
His face still held that calm expression, but his eyes sparkled with wisdom.
The first half of this "Asian Derby" was over, but the real contest had just begun.