The London sky remained shrouded in thick clouds, as if even the weather was holding its breath for the second leg of this Champions League semi-final.
Inside Emirates Stadium, the passion of over sixty thousand fans was not diminished by the gloomy weather; a surging tide of red and white interwove in the stands, shouts and cheers deafening, creating a tense and fierce atmosphere for the upcoming first half.
When the Main Referee blew the whistle to start the match, Real Madrid's players quickly sprang into action…
Since Real Madrid's captain Casillas once again won the coin toss and chose possession, Real Madrid immediately took the initiative in attack.
The match officially began with Real Madrid launching the first attack. Cristiano Ronaldo, like a poised cheetah, actively ran in the front field, searching for opportunities to break through Arsenal's defense.
Arsenal's players were on high alert, knowing the Portuguese's threat and daring not to be careless in the slightest.
30th second of the match.
Xavi Alonso wanted to launch a quick attack, and after receiving the ball in the backfield, he made a 60-meter long pass, sending the ball to Real Madrid's left flank.
Cristiano Ronaldo, who had prepared in advance, like a neighing warhorse, crushed Sagna's defense and received Xavi Alonso's long pass.
Then Cristiano Ronaldo dribbled inward, using a backheel flick to pass the ball to Marcelo, who was making a run down the wing.
Marcelo received the ball and made a cross from the wing, the ball flying directly towards the edge of the six-yard box.
Just then, Cristiano Ronaldo, like a fighter jet swooping down, overpowered Varane to complete a header.
"Bang————"
The crisp sound of the goalpost being hit meant that Cristiano Ronaldo's highly threatening header was cleared by the crossbar…
"Damn it, it was so close to going in…"
Cristiano Ronaldo couldn't help but feel a little frustrated seeing that the team's carefully planned early attack did not succeed.
In the 3rd minute of the match, Real Madrid launched a quick counter-attack, and Alonso's long pass from the backfield once again found Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portuguese, relying on his excellent speed and physical strength, shook off Arsenal's defender Sagna and broke into the penalty area.
Facing Varane's defensive support, Cristiano Ronaldo decisively took a shot, and the ball flew towards the goal like a cannonball.
At this critical moment, Arsenal goalkeeper Szczęsny reacted quickly, making a diving save to push the ball out for a corner kick.
Real Madrid earned their first corner kick of the match.
"What a beautiful save! Szczęsny has done well!" Cuck, the commentator for Hanger TV Station, shouted excitedly, "Cristiano Ronaldo's shot was extremely dangerous, but Szczęsny's brilliant performance defused the crisis, and Arsenal has escaped a scare!"
Side character added, "Real Madrid came out very aggressive… Arsenal needs to be careful, or they might just capsize in a ditch."
"After all, they are facing Real Madrid!"
The Arsenal fans in the stands erupted in a burst of enthusiastic cheers, waving their red flags and applauding Szczęsny's heroic save.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid fans let out sighs of regret, then immediately began cheering for their team, hoping to create another opportunity.
At least the scene in the opening few minutes gave them hope for a comeback…
Arsenal was not to be outdone and began to organize counter-attacks.
After all, for the English champions this season, how could they be content to just take hits without fighting back on their home turf?
Fly actively ran in the front field, frequently coordinating with his teammates.
In the 8th minute of the match, Fabregas delivered a precise through ball in midfield. Fly understood perfectly and sprinted forward at high speed, creating a semi-one-on-one situation.
Because Fly's receiving position was a bit off-center from the goal, the angle was too narrow, and a forced shot would likely be saved directly by Casillas.
So Fly chose to pass across the middle, and Van Persie, who was already on high alert in the box, quickly ran towards the ball's trajectory.
However, at the crucial moment, Ramos tracked back in time, making a fierce slide tackle to clear the ball out of bounds, and Van Persie was taken down with him…
"Dangerous! That tackle by Ramos was crucial!" Cuck exclaimed, "Van Persie almost scored. Real Madrid's defense is very resilient, and Ramos didn't want to give the opponent a chance, making a very timely and fierce tackle…"
Arsenal fans expressed their dissatisfaction with Ramos's tackle, and boos immediately erupted in the stands.
In their opinion, Van Persie falling in Real Madrid's penalty area meant Ramos had committed a foul.
They didn't care whether Ramos's defense was clean or whether he fouled…
They only knew that Van Persie fell in the opponent's penalty area, and the Main Referee should award Arsenal a penalty kick.
Only then could they be completely at ease…
However, the Main Referee officiating this match, Frank De Bleeckere, signaled that there was no problem and awarded Arsenal a corner kick.
This action caused the boos from Arsenal to escalate even further.
As for giving Arsenal a corner kick?
Please, who wants that stuff?
When choosing between a penalty kick and a corner kick, even a fool would know which one to pick…
After Van Persie got up from the ground, he glared at Ramos, mumbling something.
Ramos, on the other hand, shrugged indifferently, and players from both sides instantly gathered, the atmosphere becoming tense.
Main Referee Frank quickly arrived, immediately giving verbal warnings to Ramos and Van Persie, and separating the players from both sides, which prevented the conflict from escalating further…
"Damn Espanyol, I'm going to make him pay!"
Hearing Van Persie's mumbling, Fly shrugged helplessly.
Dealing with an old foul-committer like Ramos, truly trying to find his flaws is quite difficult…
Especially when the Main Referee might be biased towards Real Madrid, the difficulty increases even more.
After Fabregas took the corner, Fly jumped high, overpowering Ramos who was marking him, and delivered a direct "Lion's Head" header.
The ball flew directly… into the stands, and was more than just a little bit over the crossbar.
One can only say that Fly's jumping ability and aerial dueling skills are invincible; even Ramos, who is a ceiling-level figure in the "defender's header" domain, is not his opponent.
But as for his heading ability… well, that's up to individual interpretation.
"Oh dear, Fly's header, it really was a bit too wide… Haha, compared to his shooting skills, it's like heaven and earth."
Cuck, the commentator for Hanger TV Station, couldn't help but tease, "I feel that if Fly could improve his heading ability, perhaps his goal-scoring efficiency could see a significant increase next season."
Side character, on the side, exaggeratedly said, "Improve further? Good heavens… Fly's average goal-scoring efficiency this season has already exceeded two goals per game, where else do you plan to improve it to?"
"You're really not planning to be human anymore, are you…"
For a moment, the Hanger TV Station studio was filled with laughter.
Fans of East University who were watching the match also expressed their emotions:
[Damn it… if Cuck hadn't brought it up, I would have almost forgotten that my Fly still has this major weakness of heading. The fact that he can still average over two goals per game with a major weakness, if he could head, wouldn't he average three goals per game? Good heavens… he's really playing football like basketball, isn't he?]
[Brother is so amazing… mwah, Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are not even worthy of carrying my brother's shoes.]
[Heh… the one upstairs is getting excited again. Fly can't even head, what right does he have to compete for the title of the world's best player? In my opinion, someone with such a singular attacking style like Fly will be figured out sooner or later, and then he'll just become an ordinary player!]
[Your dad is laughing his ass off… you scum, Fly still averages two goals per game even without heading. Doesn't that just prove your master is useless?]
The match continued, with both sides engaging in fierce midfield battles, and the game momentarily became a stalemate.
Real Madrid surprisingly held the advantage in possession, but Arsenal's defense was very solid, making it difficult for Real Madrid to find effective attacking opportunities.
According to Wenger's pre-match arrangements, Arsenal's main goal for the first half of this match was to ensure they didn't concede any goals.
As for everything else, it all relied on Fly, the main pillar, and Van Persie, the secondary pillar, using their individual abilities in the front field to find opportunities for counter-attacks.
In the 20th minute of the match, Real Madrid once again had a chance.
Di María, after breaking through on the wing, crossed the ball into the penalty area.
Cristiano Ronaldo ran into the penalty area from the wing, jumped high, and overpowered Sagna to complete a header, with the ball grazing the crossbar and flying out of bounds.
"What a shame, Cristiano Ronaldo's header was once again just inches off, it seems fate is not on the Portuguese's side today…" Cuck said with considerable regret.
Although he leaned more towards Arsenal winning because of Fly, he still tried to comment from a "neutral and objective" perspective.
"This wave of attacks from Real Madrid was very threatening, Arsenal's defense is under immense pressure. If the current rhythm continues, Arsenal might concede first…"
Side character also offered his insights.
The Real Madrid fans in the stadium stood up, applauding Cristiano Ronaldo's attack, hoping their team would score soon.
At least the current pace of the game was in their hands, and everything was developing positively…
Meanwhile, Arsenal fans breathed a sigh of relief and continued to cheer for their team.
For Arsenal right now, as long as they don't concede, there's nothing to worry about…
Being suppressed on the field is fine; after all, the team still leads by two aggregate goals.
Real Madrid should be the one feeling the pressure, not them.
Arsenal also launched several threatening attacks in the subsequent match.
In the 25th minute of the match, Fly received a pass from Wilshere outside the box. He made a slight adjustment and suddenly took a long-range shot, the ball flying straight towards the bottom corner of the goal.
Casillas reacted quickly, making a diving save to push the ball out, and Arsenal once again earned a corner kick.
"Tsk tsk… Damn, Saint Casillas really has something. My shot was already very good, but he still saved it, damn it!!!"
Seeing his certain long-range shot saved by Casillas, Fly couldn't help but curse under his breath.
"Wow! Frey Adams's long-range shot was spectacular, and Casillas made a world-class save!"
In the Sky Sports studio, the famous Fly supporter Martin Tyler shouted excitedly, "Both goalkeepers have been outstanding today, this match is truly amazing!"
Arsenal fans cheered for Fly's brilliant shot, shouting "Fly" in hopes that he would continue to open the scoring for the team, just as he had done countless times before.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid fans gave a warm round of applause for Casillas's save, knowing that with such an excellent goalkeeper, the team had an extra layer of security.
It can be said that Casillas is always Real Madrid's last line of defense and assurance.
As the match progressed, the confrontation between the two sides became more intense.
In the 33rd minute of the match, during a midfield challenge, Real Madrid player Higuain and Arsenal player Blaise Matuidi collided, both falling to the ground.
Higuain lay on the ground, clutching his calf, his expression pained.
Blaise Matuidi quickly got up and gestured to the Main Referee that he had not fouled.
Players from both sides once again gathered, arguing incessantly.
"Fxxk… that damned Frenchman fouled, he kicked Gonzalo (Higuain) down fiercely, I swear!"
"Kicked your NMB, I didn't say anything when that dog Ramos tackled Robin (Van Persie) in the box just now. Logically, we should be leading you 1-0 by now, you know, don't TM take advantage and then act innocent…"
After a brief consideration, Main Referee Frank still ruled that Blaise Matuidi had not fouled and signaled for the game to continue.
This decision drew dissatisfaction from Real Madrid players; Cristiano Ronaldo and Ramos walked up and protested loudly to the Main Referee.
But the Main Referee was unmoved and stuck to his decision.
This scene left Fly bewildered.
"What's going on? Did UEFA not give the Main Referee any tasks for this match?"
"Something's not right… given Platini's old dog nature, he would absolutely not want to see us and Manchester United meet in the final…"
"If they're not messing with our match, are they going to waste effort on Manchester United's match, which has no suspense?"
For a moment, Fly was also a bit confused…
He stated that he didn't quite understand the Main Referee's actions. Why didn't he take the opportunity to legitimately give an Arsenal defensive midfielder a yellow card?
"Could UEFA have some conspiracy?"
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