Numancia's home ground, Los Pajaritos Stadium, looked somewhat worn under the afternoon sun.
A few thousand fans sat sparsely in the stands, waving red scarves and cheering for their team, which was fighting to avoid relegation.
"Rayo Vallecano! Rayo Vallecano!" shouts came from the away fans' section.
Although not many in number, their voices were exceptionally loud.
In the locker room, Paco Jémez checked the tactics board for the last time. His gaze was much firmer than in the previous match.
"Remember what we talked about yesterday," the coach said, looking around at each player.
"Football is a game of eleven. Today, I want to see the real Rayo Vallecano!"
The players gathered in a circle, stacking their hands together. This simple action felt particularly powerful after the psychological counseling.
"For the team!" Trejo shouted loudly.
"For each other!" the others responded in unison.
The moment Lu Chuan walked out of the player tunnel, he felt a long-lost sense of ease.
The Perpetual Motion skill surged within him; every cell was full of vitality.
As the match began, Rayo Vallecano immediately displayed a completely different spirit than in the previous two games.
Álvaro García broke through on the left wing but was fouled by the opposing full-back.
The moment he fell, he didn't complain; instead, he quickly got up and brushed off the grass clippings.
"It's nothing, keep going!" he gave his teammates a thumbs-up.
This positive attitude infected the entire team. The players ran more actively, passed more decisively, and after every mistake, a teammate was there to encourage them immediately.
In the 8th minute, Lu Chuan received the ball in the attacking third. Usually, he would choose to dribble himself, but this time he gently nudged the ball to Isi Palazón, who was in a better position.
The winger cut inside after receiving the ball, and his shot went just wide of the post.
"Good shot!" Lu Chuan was the first to run over and high-five him, "That angle was tricky!"
Paco, watching from the sidelines, saw this and a slight smile played on his lips. This was the change he wanted to see.
Suárez's return significantly improved the team's midfield defensive solidity.
The experienced veteran directed his teammates' positioning on the field, using his experience to compensate for the shortcomings of the younger players.
In the 15th minute, Numancia launched a counter-attack. Forward Higinio Marín dribbled towards the penalty area but was dispossessed by Suárez with a perfect tackle.
"Beautiful!" Trejo clapped, praising him, "The old man is still so steady!"
Suárez stood up, gently brushing off the grass, the wisdom of a veteran shining in his eyes.
As the match progressed, Rayo Vallecano established an overwhelming advantage over Numancia. Their passing and control were more fluid, their positioning more reasonable, and their coordination more telepathic.
Lu Chuan utilized his Full Field Vision to frequently deliver dangerous passes.
His running covered the entire attacking third, and he even tracked back into his own half multiple times to participate in defense.
In the 22nd minute, Lu Chuan received a pass from Trejo at the top of the penalty area.
He didn't choose to shoot; instead, he executed a exquisite backheel, laying the ball off for Comesaña, who was making a late run.
The defensive midfielder's shot was spectacularly saved by goalkeeper Dani Barrio.
"What a shame!" the commentator exclaimed, "That combination play was textbook brilliant!"
In the 28th minute, Álvaro García crossed from the left, and Lu Chuan headed the ball in the six-yard box.
The ball flew straight towards the top corner, but Barrio miraculously tipped it out for a corner with his fingertips.
"An incredible save!" the live commentator's voice trembled slightly, "Barrio is in phenomenal form today!"
In the 35th minute, Trejo unleashed a long-range shot from 25 meters out.
The ball curved, seemingly destined for the top corner, but Barrio once again made a world-class save.
At halftime, the shot statistics showed Rayo Vallecano leading 10-1, but the score remained 0-0.
In the locker room, the players' faces were filled with frustration.
"We played very well," Paco walked into the locker room, his voice calm, "Keep up this pace, and the goals will come eventually."
"That goalkeeper is playing like he's cheating today," Isi Palazón wiped sweat from his forehead, "I've never seen saves like that."
"Don't get impatient," Lu Chuan looked around at his teammates, "Our coordination is so much better than last game. Keep this up, and victory will surely be ours."
The second half began, and Rayo Vallecano continued to dominate. Their attacks came in waves, but Barrio remained heroic.
In the 55th minute, Lu Chuan received a cross in the box, turned, and shot, but it was again saved by Barrio.
In the 60th minute, Advíncula crossed from the right, and Trejo headed the ball, which grazed the crossbar and went out.
As time passed, the players' mentality began to grow a bit impatient. A goal seemed within reach, yet unattainable.
In the 65th minute, an unexpected incident occurred on the field.
Numancia took a corner, and the ball created a scramble in the penalty area.
The central defender and key player, Alejandro Catena, leaped high, fiercely contesting a header with opposing forward Higinio Marín.
The two collided in mid-air, and Barrio also rushed out. The three got tangled and fell heavily to the ground.
"Ah!" Catena let out a painful cry.
His right foot was twisted at an unnatural angle, and his face instantly lost all color.
Large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, and his hands gripped the turf tightly.
"Medic! Medic!" Trejo was the first to rush over, anxiously waving his hands.
Lu Chuan knelt beside Catena, gently stroking his teammate's forehead. "Hold on, brother. Everything will be alright."
Catena tried to force a smile, but the pain in his eyes was undeniable. "I… I might be out for a while."
The team doctor rushed onto the field, checked him, and shook his head. "Severe ankle sprain, he must come off immediately."
A stretcher was brought on. Catena was carried off the field amidst his teammates' encouragement, and the entire stadium applauded him in tribute.
"Damn it!" Paco angrily kicked the turf, "Injured at a time like this!"
He looked around the bench, finally settling his gaze on the young Martín Pascual. The 22-year-old center-back lacked experience, but there was no other choice at this moment.
"Pascual!" Paco waved him on, "Remember what we practiced, stay focused!"
The young center-back took off his training top, his face etched with nervousness. This was his first appearance in such a crucial match.
Numancia's coach, Luis Carrión, keenly seized this opportunity. He immediately walked towards the bench, a cunning glint in his eyes.
"Guillermo!" he shouted, "It's your turn!"
The tall striker Guillermo stood up; this player, nearly 1.9 meters tall, was Numancia's aerial threat.
Carrión walked to the touchline and gestured to the players on the field. His tactical intention was clear—to specifically target the newly introduced Pascual.
The match restarted, and Numancia's tactics underwent a significant change.
They no longer tried to compete with Rayo Vallecano's ground play but instead resorted to simply and crudely lofting high balls into the penalty area.
In the 70th minute, Numancia crossed from the right. Guillermo leaped high in front of Pascual, and his header went just wide.
The young center-back was clearly at a disadvantage in the aerial duel; his height and experience were insufficient to cope with such an impact.
"Focus!" Savić loudly reminded him from nearby, "Hold your position!"
In the 75th minute, Numancia again sent in a high ball. This time, Guillermo successfully overpowered Pascual, heading the ball towards the goal.
Fortunately, Dimitrievski reacted in time, making a diving save to push the ball away.
Paco paced anxiously on the sidelines. He knew this was dangerous, but there were no other options now.
"Lu Chuan!" he shouted, "Get back and help defend!"
Lu Chuan nodded, using the abundant stamina provided by Perpetual Motion to frequently track back and participate in defense.
But facing the opponent's targeted aerial bombardment, his impact was limited.
In the 78th minute, Numancia earned a free-kick opportunity in the attacking third.
Carrión excitedly pumped his fists on the sidelines. This was an excellent opportunity, only 25 meters from the goal, perfectly suited for a high ball.
Guillermo stood in the penalty area, closely marking Pascual.
Sweat was already beading on the young center-back's forehead; he could feel the opponent's physical strength.
Numancia's central midfielder, Álvaro Iglesias, stood over the ball, adjusting his breathing.
His target was clear—to find Guillermo in the penalty area.
The referee's whistle blew, and the free-kick was about to be taken.
Rayo Vallecano's players were on high alert in the penalty area, but a hint of unease lingered in everyone's hearts.
Without Catena's height and experience, their aerial dominance was clearly lacking.
Iglesias took a run-up and struck the ball fiercely with his right foot. The ball arced high into Rayo Vallecano's penalty area.
Time seemed to stand still at this moment. v