<h4>Chapter 670: Battle for Honor</h4>


    As the dust settled on the UEFA Champions League quarter-final matchups, the Spanish Football Association decided to adjust the timing of the Copa del Rey final because both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid were highly likely to advance to the Champions League semi-finals.


    Originally scheduled for Saturday, April 19th, the domestic cup final was moved up to Wednesday, April 17th, considering that the first legs of the Champions League semi-finals would take ce on the 22nd and 23rd, allowing approximately a week of rest.


    Meanwhile, both teams'' 34th round league matches for that week would be rescheduled to May 7th. In summary, everything was geared towards achieving better results in the Champions League.


    Currently, Real Madrid had no interest in considering these matters. They were about to face the El Clásico in the 29th round of La Liga, hosting Barcelona at home.


    Although winning this match didn''t hold significant title implications for the Catns, the more they needed victory to justify themselves to the fans and club executives.


    ording to media reports, newly appointed Barcelona president Bartomeu had issued a stern order to head coach Martino: they must win the game!


    Different from Laporta or Rosell''s hidden agendas, Bartomeu showed a more assertive stance. Since taking charge of the club, he had acted decisively on many fronts, including the overhaul of the youth academy and the nning of transfers.


    In response, the recently retired AC Mn legend and former Barcelona coach Rijkaard expressed sympathy, "Sitting in the Barcelona hot seat right now feels like dancing on a knife''s edge. I understand Gerardo''s feelings very well."


    The Dutchman achieved many sesses as a yer and led the Nethends to the semifinals during his coaching debut, showing great vigor.


    Taking over Barcelona brought him to the peak of his coaching career. He won La Liga titles in 2004 and 2005, and in 2006, he even reached the Champions League final, only to meet Inter Mn led by Wang Feng.


    Since then, the Chinese superstar became his lifelong nightmare, almost single-handedly destroying Barcelona''s "Dream Team," and Rijkaard''s coaching career came to an end.


    Afterward, he bounced around Gtasaray and the Saudi national team, both of which he was fired from due to poor performance, never matching his earlier miraculous achievements.


    At his retirement press conference, Rijkaard admitted that he had once harbored resentment towards Wang Feng andined about his unfair fate, but now he had let go.


    "Wang''s greatness surpasses everything. Even as opponents and losers, we can still make our mark in history. Looking at it this way, my coaching career wasn''t in vain."


    The Barcelona contingent, staying in a hotel near the Bernabéu, had mixed feelings. The noisy distractions from home fans seemed to be a thing of the past.


    The quiet environment didn''t calm their minds but instead felt like silent mockery, ridiculing their inability to defeat their arch-rivals without resorting to off-field tactics.


    The yers tossed and turned, while the coaching staff held overnight discussions on tactical arrangements, debating whether to stick to their possession-based style or adopt a more direct approach. Martino found it difficult to decide; he knew the abyss was right in front of him, and one misstep could be irreparable.


    "We can''t afford to y slow possession football anymore!"ined the assistant coach. "The outside world always thinks we''ve abandoned tradition andpletely transformed Barcelona, but have they ever considered that Xavi and Iniesta are aging, and their form is declining day by day?"


    The Argentine coach closed his eyes in pain. "No, they haven''t. They''re consciously ignoring the fact that Barcelona is in decline. And the Spain national team, built on this foundation, still maintains a strong stance, with the glory of winning the European Championship still lingering."


    "Perhaps everyone will only realize it after this year''s World Cup. I''m certain Spain won''t go far!"


    Martino knew that change was imperative, but the biggest problem was Messi''s difort with long passes, direct attacks, and sprints. He preferred the slow buildup and pration.


    After discussing for a long time withouting up with a good solution, Martino decided to ce the Argentine superstar in his mostfortable central position, with Suárez and Neymar acting as wingers.


    This setup not only increased Messi''s space to operate but also strengthened the team''s wing pration and offensive firepower, serving as a transitional tactic between possession and depth.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, the highly anticipated El Clásico is unfolding at the Bernabéu. Real Madrid has defeated Barcelona twice this season, iming the Spanish Super Cup and the top spot in the league."


    "If they win this match again, they will achieve a clean sweep for the season,pletely overshadowing their arch-rivals. This is something Barcelona fans absolutely do not want to see, so we can expect an exciting and intense match."


    "After the start of the match, the away team quickly controlled possession, as if they had returned to the era ofplete dominance, while the home team intensified their pressing."


    "Real Madrid''s tactical strategy is not just to sit back and defend, but rather, it appears more proactive. They engage in partial pressing in the midfield and forward areas, aiming to restrict the opponent by reducing their space."


    "This puts the Barcelona yers'' ball handling and passing abilities to the test. Oh? Look at this attack!"


    Mascherano passes from the back to Busquets, who, under pressure from Iguain and Wang Feng, urately delivers the ball to Iniesta, the Spanish midfielder flicks the ball with his heel to Neymar, who''s making a run down the nk.


    The Brazilian forward, inbination with Messi, breaks through to the edge of the penalty area, then chips the ball to the back post, where Suárez, following up, leaps and heads the ball into the top left corner.


    "Goal! Just seven minutes into the game, the Uruguayan forward opens the scoring for Barcelona!"


    "A brilliant passingbination and pration. In the end, Neymar finds Suárez, who heads the ball home from close range with speed and precision. Casis can only make a desperate save attempt but fails to stop the ball from entering the!"


    "Starting from the back, the away team has threatened multiple times with their passing, which is a hidden danger brought about by Real Madrid''s aggressive pressing tactics. Intercepting prating passes bes much more difficult."


    "Suárez''s awareness and physicality in the box are excellent, firmly holding off Ramos and heading the ball perfectly into the."


    "After scoring, the Uruguayan forward quickly runs towards the stands, roaring at the Bernabéu fans. Although he hasn''t been with the Catn club for long, he keenly feels the immense pressure brought by Real Madrid."


    "His actions naturally provoke the home fans'' dissatisfaction, with many responding with boos, and many others chanting Wang Feng''s name."


    "Conceding a goal this early may have caught the fans off guard, but over the years, they''ve be quite patient. The yers won''t give up until the final moment, so they have no reason to lose heart so early."


    Therefore, Suárez''s attempt to dete the home team''s spirits didn''t seed; instead, it further ignited their indomitable will, with cheers and encouragement bing even more intense.


    The Bernabéu will never surrender!