I Am Scouted by Real Madrid-Chapter 407 - 55: Uprising 2.0

Azpilicueta, Juan Fran, Nacho Monreal, and other defensive players were interviewed after the match. During the interview, they all mentioned Chen Zhong and expressed surprise at the outcome of the match.

"We all know what kind of team Real Madrid is."

"Chen is a player of high caliber. Although we were at home, we had no guarantee of victory."

"In fact, they almost broke through our defense, but clearly, we were in better form."

Compared to Real Madrid, Osasuna’s players were evidently in better form. They held onto the draw in this match, preventing the points gap between Barcelona and Real Madrid from widening further.

Real Madrid made some simple adjustments after the winter transfer window opened, with some players being loaned to other clubs for development, and others joining the first team’s training.

The arrival of Marco Alonso and Jose Rodriguez also gave Chen Zhong more influence in the dressing room.

After becoming Real Madrid’s "key player," Chen Zhong began to face more public scrutiny, which is something any "key player" must bear.

If the team wins and receives trophies, the "key player" will receive the most praise. Conversely, if the team loses, the "key player" will face the majority of the criticism.

Both Barcelona and Real Madrid ended their first matches of the 2010 league with draws, surprising many fans who even exclaimed "Mosquito meat is really poisonous!"

Ultimately, things move on, and three days later, it’s the King’s Cup Round of 16 match against Santander Athletic. To ensure the team’s advancement and to help players regain their form, Pellegrini decided to field the full starting lineup.

The team lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Negredo

C. Ronaldo, Baptista, Callejon

Chen Zhong, Alonso

Marcelo, Pepe, Albiol, Ramos

Casillas

This lineup caught Santander Athletic off guard. After all, Real Madrid has traditionally not prioritized the King’s Cup, yet this match at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium saw them crush Santander Athletic 9-0 on the ground.

Although there is a second leg, Santander Athletic clearly has little hope left.

In contrast to Real Madrid’s big win in the King’s Cup, Barcelona unexpectedly lost 1:2 to Sevilla in the King’s Cup, leaving many new fans bewildered—especially considering this was the "six-time champion" Barcelona!

Losing to Real Madrid is understandable, as that’s Real Madrid after all, but how did they draw one match and then lose in the King’s Cup?

Just look at the neighbors, Real Madrid smashed Santander Athletic 9-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium!

Yet you got defeated by Sevilla at the Camp Nou...

The rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona extends beyond the pitch, existing within the news media of both regions. The double draw in the last league match allowed both teams’ narratives to seem evenly matched, but now in the King’s Cup, one party’s big win and the other’s narrow loss, especially on their respective home grounds, presented a clearly one-sided momentum.

Some neutral netizens even sarcastically remarked when they saw Barcelona’s media being stubborn: "Real Madrid’s 9:0 can’t hide their decline, while Barcelona’s 1:2 displays majestic temperament!"

Of course, Barcelona fans had their own say too!

Just look at our opponents this time! Yellow Submarine, Villarreal, and the Cup King, Sevilla.

And who were your opponents? Some nobodies, like Osasuna and Santander Athletic...

An amusing incident happened in this round of the King’s Cup, with Osasuna meeting Hercules from the second division in the King’s Cup.

Osasuna, who had just fought hard to draw with Real Madrid in the league, was favored by many facing a team like Hercules.

However, Osasuna seemed to have expended all their energy in the last league match, and against Hercules, they appeared to struggle, eventually losing 2:1 at home, shocking many.

Three days after the King’s Cup Round of 16, in the 17th round of the La Liga, Barcelona had an away 5-0 victory over Tenerife, while Real Madrid maintained steady performances with a 3-0 win over Mallorca.

Then, in the second leg of the King’s Cup Round of 16, Barcelona, facing the cup king Sevilla’s defense, only managed to score one goal, ultimately being eliminated by Sevilla with an away goal advantage.

This left countless fans who hoped to see Barcelona defend the Triple Crown or even the Six Crowns in shock, with many unable to believe the Cosmic Team actually got eliminated by Sevilla in the King’s Cup.

Of course, some also marveled at Sevilla, truly worthy of the title "Cup King."

Compared to Barcelona’s difficulties, Real Madrid had a smooth journey. They easily defeated Santander Athletic on the road. Facing Real Madrid, who had scored 9 goals against them in the first leg, Santander Athletic obviously had no spirit, losing 5-0 at home, allowing Real Madrid to effortlessly advance to the King’s Cup quarterfinals.