"We seized some opportunities in the first half, but unfortunately, we couldn't finish the game. The opponent's ability to capitalize on chances was stronger. We didn't make too many mistakes and still conceded 3 goals."
"I have to say that Su Luo is indeed a player who can change the course of the game."
"We also have superstars, but today we were a little unlucky."
"In the second leg at the Bernabeu, I believe our luck will return."
Although Zidane didn't explicitly say it, the reporters present knew who he was talking about.
Su Luo's 9.8 rating was the best in the game, while Ronaldo only had 6.9, barely passing.
Many good offensive opportunities were squandered by Ronaldo. In the end, it was the pressure Su Luo put on him. The more anxious Ronaldo was to prove himself, the more mistakes he made.
After the game, various media outlets blamed Ronaldo for Real Madrid's failure.
The French newspaper L'Equipe was ruthless:
"Real Madrid's offensive terminator! Fifteen shots, zero goals!"
The Catalan media "Mundo Deportivo" also didn't forget to ridicule their rivals.
"Su Luo 3:0 Ronaldo! How can such a player compete with Messi for the top spot?"
Even Real Madrid's mouthpiece Marca expressed concerns about Ronaldo.
"Ronaldo, eager to win, tried to help the team in his own way. Unfortunately, several threatening shots were blocked by the opponent's goalkeeper. His attempts on the left also indirectly suppressed the opponent's attack."
"But the second round requires more teamwork. Only when they play as a cohesive unit can they become the true galactic warship."
On the return flight, Zidane had a conversation with Ronaldo alone.
"It was my fault," Ronaldo spoke first upon seeing Zidane.
"No, it's not your fault," Zidane denied.
"Huh?"
"You want to take the failure of the whole team upon yourself. That's a bit arrogant."
"But..."
"It's the whole team that's not performing well, not just you," Zidane said calmly.
"I know, no matter what the media says, you want to win more than anyone else."
"So, forget about those personal honors. If you want to win, you need to focus on the game itself. When we get back to the Bernabeu, I believe you'll find your scoring touch again."
Zidane didn't blame Ronaldo; instead, he empathized with him.
After the talk, Zidane returned to the coaching staff. Marcelo, who had been eavesdropping, sneaked over.
"What did the boss tell you?"
"He said that in stoppage time, you missed someone, and that's why we conceded."
Ronaldo said with a straight face, teasing Marcelo.
"Oh no?" Marcelo held his head, his heart sinking.
Ronaldo's playful teasing helped lift his spirits. He knew that if they were eliminated at the Bernabeu, it would be because Su Luo outperformed him. But Ronaldo was determined to prove he was still the best.
His eyes brightened with anticipation for the Champions League final. Considering that the first leg didn't seal the game, there was still suspense for the second leg. And with a league game still to play, Su Luo didn't take his teammates to the nightclub after the game.
He just went secretly by himself, using the illusion to recover his physical fitness and relieve the exhaustion of the double match week as soon as possible.
But...
When Su Luo showed up at the gate of Berghain with Josephine, he ran into two old acquaintances—Erica and Ma Fanshu.
What the hell, why are they blocking me here?
"Su Luo!"
"You're here!"
One exclaimed, while the other greeted warmly. Then they realized something was off and looked at each other.
"What's the matter? Why don't you go in?"
Josephine also stepped out from behind, equally stunned.
The three looked at each other. Su Luo had managed to avoid drama on the field, but now he was caught off guard.
It's a good thing Taylor isn't here, or they might as well gather a table of mahjong, Su Luo thought, glancing around guiltily in case Taylor really showed up.
Among the three, Josephine knew Erica and Ma Fanshu, but she had only suspected something before. Erica was Su Luo's rumored girlfriend, and when Ma Fanshu walked intimately with Su Luo last time, Josephine followed them for a while.
Erica and Ma Fanshu hadn't known about each other's existence until now, but now they did. One glance was enough to confirm that this tall German woman and this well-dressed Chinese woman both had a special relationship with Su Luo.
Josephine's initial suspicion hadn't disappeared; it had just been buried. Now it resurfaced, though she didn't want to believe it and maintained a last hope—maybe they were just friends.
"You are all Su Luo's friends, stop standing here and go in together," Josephine said, displaying her "big woman" aura.
She hugged the two beauties intimately and walked in, but not before turning her head to glare at Su Luo.
After 10 minutes, Su Luo entered the dance floor to "rest" as usual. The three women tentatively chatted, but on the surface, their relationship seemed closer.
Ma Fanshu and Erica weren't stupid; they didn't reveal their connections with Su Luo in front of Josephine. They acted as if they were just friends who happened to be at the nightclub alone.
Josephine didn't let her guard down completely, but she breathed a sigh of relief. The three chatted about fashion and football, and the atmosphere quickly became harmonious.
In his illusion, Su Luo lay on the green field, quietly looking up at the night sky. Ronaldo, Haaland, and the others were still playing the game of grabbing the ring. Jiuye Inzaghi sat quietly beside Su Luo at some point.
The NPC couldn't speak; he was just there to support Su Luo in his own way.
"Soldiers come to block, water comes to cover. Let nature take its course..."
Before Su Luo reached his goal, he thought, "I still want to focus on football."
As for other problems, he intended to follow his own feelings, without restraint and without restrictions. If they want to stay, they stay; if they want to leave, they leave. How can there be regrets in living a new life? Have fun, and let the moderator moderate.
Soon, Su Luo felt relieved. He straightened up and turned to look at the card! About 95%—still not fully unlocked. Real Madrid's first round only increased by 5%, and the threshold for the second round dropped, so the growth might be less than 5%.
The good news is that Su Luo could be sure that if he reached the semi-finals, the first round would be 100% unlocked without any surprises. The bad news is that in the second round at the Bernabeu, he could only eliminate Real Madrid with his current ability.
Ronaldo, Haaland, Giroud, De Bruyne, Modric, Inzaghi—these players are very strong, but they only helped Su Luo evolve from an ordinary star to a top star in the world. However, this wasn't invincibility; Su Luo was often targeted by the opponent's defensive players. He had to use both his wits and physicality to find several opportunities through constant effort.
At the Bernabéu, Real Madrid's combat power increased by 150% to 200%. If there was a home whistle, their advantage would be even greater. And the state of the Union Berlin teammates could maintain at most 75% to 90%.
"Forget it, I'm not afraid. Isn't it the Bernabéu? Let's do this!"
At that moment, the football in the lap game happened to be at Su Luo's feet. He raised his foot and kicked it, and the ball re-entered the net next to him. He had conquered Allianz Stadium, Emirates Stadium, Allianz Turin, Etihad, Westfalen... Next, it was the Bernabéu's turn!
Union Berlin hosted Darmstadt in the 29th round of the Bundesliga. Considering the recent intensive schedule, Union Berlin rotated their lineup. The main midfielders and defenders rested to prepare for Real Madrid, and Su Luo also sat on the bench.
Darmstadt took the opportunity to attack and used a counterattack in the first half to lead 1:0. In the second half, Quinine stepped up, broke through from the right to open the gap, swept the middle of the penalty area, and assisted Silvio to score. 1:1!
After 75 minutes, Neuhaus finally sent Su Luo in to find his game rhythm. Su Luo only played for 5 minutes before he found an opportunity in the penalty area, received Quining's cross, and shoveled the ball into the net.
The slow-motion replay showed that before Quining caught the ball, Su Luo had already tried to move left and right. When Quining received the ball and broke through, Su Luo rushed forward, drawing away the opponent's midfielder and central defender. At the same time, Silvio also outflanked the goal to attract the goalkeeper's attention. As a result, when Su Luo ran near the penalty spot, he suddenly switched to the back post!
Quining's low-level ball was urgent and fast, slipping between the goalkeeper and the defender. No one dared to stretch their feet. Su Luo shoveled from behind and kicked the ball into the net! His 49th Bundesliga goal!
There are still 5 rounds in the league, and breaking through 60 goals might be difficult. But with Su Luo's 30+ assists, it was also a unique achievement in the world.
With this victory, after the Union Berlin game, he only took half a day off and then flew to Madrid. There were still 2 and a half days left for the second round at the Bernabeu!.
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