I Am Scouted by Real Madrid

Chapter 804: Chapter 56: Nobody Cares

No one at Camp Nou is focusing on Athletic Bilbao, nor on Tottenham.

After Athletic Bilbao was eliminated, no one cares about their match process, and after Tottenham’s defeat in the first match, no one is concerned about whether they will advance. All eyes are on the two soon-to-start clashes between Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Cristiano Ronaldo VS Messi, Chen Zhong PK Xavi + Iniesta.

Ahead of the potential four national derbies between Real Madrid and Barcelona in 18 days, reports projecting the duel between Europe’s two most goal-crazy players are clearly increasing.

Meanwhile, comparisons between Chen Zhong and Iniesta + Xavi are also noticeably on the rise.

These four battles will determine the achievements of the two clubs this season.

Marca states that the four national derbies are right in front of us, and the role of the superstars will decide the outcome of the matches.

Currently, Messi’s total goals in all competitions amount to 47 (in 45 matches), while C. Ronaldo has 40 (in 44 matches); in terms of goal efficiency, Messi is higher.

However, in midfield competitions, Chen Zhong’s stats are clearly above those of Iniesta + Xavi.

Many details will decide the upcoming four national derbies, and the clash between the two giants can be split into many small matches, with Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Messi being one of them.

Chen Zhong and Iniesta + Xavi are another.

Diario AS believes that although statistically Messi is more stable than the Portuguese.

However, in terms of midfield, Chen Zhong is evidently more threatening than Iniesta and Xavi.

Countless fans are anticipating this upcoming football feast.

Some have even "counted," expecting no surprises, starting this weekend, in a short half month, Real Madrid and Barcelona’s two giants will face each other four times in succession, the Spanish "national derby" will relentlessly sprint through fans’ nerves.

With the battle imminent, last weekend’s La Liga, although both teams held back, there was still a smell of gunpowder, both Mourinho and Guardiola made reserves, with the common goal of having a sustained strong burst in the next half month.

After beating Bilbao, even the captain on the field, Casillas, admitted, "The starting lineup was unexpected even for me."

Because Mourinho fielded a very unusual lineup, most players were not regulars among the starting 11, many were even placed in unfamiliar positions.

The most unexpected, without doubt, was Pepe’s position. The Portuguese played as defensive midfielder for the first time, even though he performed well in this unfamiliar role, he couldn’t stop himself from marveling after the game, never expecting the coach would let him play as a defensive midfielder.

Mourinho’s assistant Kalanca, however, was nonchalant about it, "Mourinho knows him well, he understands Pepe’s technical characteristics, thus, after comprehensive consideration of multiple factors, we decided to place him in this position. Facts have proven it to be a correct decision, he played very well today, providing strong protection and support to the defensive line."

Obviously, Mourinho is conserving energy for the national derby.

However, many believe that perhaps the current league is not Barcelona’s top priority, if Guardiola can lead Barcelona to beat opponents in both major cups, even if they are double-downed by Real Madrid in the league, it doesn’t matter.

Mourinho’s players are ready, the unusual starting 11 still couldn’t prevent them from taking 3 points at San Mames.

Bilbao’s home ground was once hell for Real Madrid, this was Real Madrid’s 100th venture at San Mames, previously their wins here were few, losses many, but Mourinho easily took 3 points with the substitute lineup, unlike Barcelona who trailed at one point on another field, giving a sense of leisurely stroll.

In another match at Camp Nou, Barcelona has also started planning for the national derby

. In the first half of the league season, Guardiola’s team once routed Almeria 8-0 away, but returning home, it was the opponent who opened the scoring.

The entire first half they were unable to open their scoring, even losing the substitute forward Bojan.

Guardiola may not admit it, but his team indeed seemed somewhat absent-minded, like the large rotation with Real Madrid, Barcelona also fielded many substitutes, the frontline was the unfamiliar Messi, Iniesta, and Bojan combination, the middle and back notably reshuffled, second goalkeeper Pinto, G. Milito, Maxwell, Thiago, and Bojan all started anew.

Like Real Madrid, Barcelona also made reservations in a match expected to be of ordinary difficulty.

Reality proved that conceding first was just a small episode, Guardiola’s team quickly regained control, though the process was somewhat tough, but within just 10 minutes, Messi assisted and scored, allowing Barcelona to come back, and before the end, Messi again sealed the victory for the team.

Guardiola also admitted after the match, the victory over Almeria was very important because they almost made an error.

How to handle the league’s national derby, perhaps Guardiola’s feelings are as complex as Mourinho’s, admitting this to be the least important of the future four national derbies, yet difficult to completely forsake, as "as long as we are defeated by Real Madrid, the league is almost prematurely ended."

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