Chapter 145: The First Battle Against Real Madrid

Chapter 145: The First Battle Against Real Madrid

As soon as the match started, Real Madrid's players launched a furious attack on Udinese, creating numerous dangerous moments. Udinese's goalkeeper, Karnezis, became the busiest player on the defense line. However, with Allan, Kanté, and Bruno anchoring in front of the Udinese penalty area, Real Madrid had to resort to long shots to pose a threat. Although Udinese's defense line and Karnezis did not make any mistakes, it still felt like they were barely holding on against the storm.

In one instance, during an attack from Real Madrid on the left flank, Bale lobbed the ball into the penalty area. Karnezis quickly left his line to intercept the ball, catching it mid-air before Benzema could reach it, causing a collective gasp from the spectators.

After that, without any time to think, Karnezis kicked the ball forward in a rush. He intended to find Bruno with his clearance, but at that moment, Bruno was still in his own half and couldn't catch up. The ball went out of play, giving Real Madrid a throw-in. This was a mistake from Udinese! Despite not leading to a goal, it was a blunder that resulted in a loss of possession.

Karnezis raised his left hand high, apologizing to his teammates. Bruno clapped vigorously, encouraging his team not to get discouraged and to hold on through this phase to stabilize the game. Everyone in Udinese was mentally prepared for such scenarios, as coach Guidolin had predicted that Real Madrid would likely start with an intense attack. This phase could last ten minutes, maybe fifteen, or even twenty.

Coach Ancelotti was on his feet from the start of the match. When he saw Karnezis' clearance going out of bounds, he couldn't help but applaud and shout in approval. "That's great! Keep putting pressure on them!" Ancelotti exclaimed before turning back to his bench.

This was the game plan he had devised—to disrupt Udinese's rhythm right from the start. "Guidolin must have guessed we would start aggressively, so they are quite stable," his assistant coach, Hierro, remarked while noting down various observations. "The midfield controlled by Allan, Kanté, and Bruno is really solid, certainly on par with Europe's best, and could rival Juventus."

Ancelotti nodded, having also noticed how robust Udinese's midfield was. "Then we have to try from the wings and then cut back to the center," he decided.

"Exactly," Hierro agreed.

"Paul!" Ancelotti called to another assistant, Paul Clement, Real Madrid's fitness coach, whose training was crucial to their performance. "It's been nearly ten minutes, can we keep this up?"

"I think we can push like this for at least another five, maybe ten minutes," Clement advised.

Turning back to the field, Ancelotti was determined. The focus of his tactical setup before the game had been on neutralizing Udinese's most threatening players, Di Natale and Bruno. Di Natale, despite not being very tall, was an excellent striker with no apparent weaknesses and had a growing understanding with Bruno on the pitch.

Bruno, undoubtedly, was the most dangerous forward for Udinese, a rising terror in European football with exceptional individual skills and versatility, capable of creating lethal opportunities from any position.

Although Ancelotti had publicly stated he would not devise specific defensive tactics against Bruno, in reality, it was obvious they could not afford to not focus on him. How could they stop Udinese's offense without containing Bruno?

Modric, Kroos, and the left-back Coentrão were key in Ancelotti's strategy to limit Bruno, and so far, they were executing their roles effectively, not allowing Bruno any space to operate.

"Keep playing like this, and victory will surely be ours!" Ancelotti said confidently.

Under pressure, Udinese's gameplay appeared somewhat disorganized. Bruno had to drop deep to link play and even assist in defense. During one defensive sequence, after Bruno intercepted a pass intended for the fast-paced Bale on the wing, he quickly moved the ball towards the center, evading Bale's attempt to recover it.

Kroos was quick to close down on him, but Bruno, who had been practicing rapid reaction drills, effortlessly sidestepped Kroos and continued his drive towards goal. However, as he advanced, Real Madrid's other midfielder Modric, along with the central defender Pepe and the just-evaded Kroos, quickly closed him down, circling him tightly in the middle.

Finding himself almost trapped, Bruno managed to spot a passing lane and sent the ball back towards the left flank, but unfortunately, Di Natale failed to anticipate his intention to widen the play.

Carvajal quickly moved in to clear the ball with a strong kick. Although this offensive attempt by Udinese did not create a clear threat, Bruno's continuous dribbling and breakthroughs earned a round of applause from the stands, pleasing the Udinese fans with his performance.

Exhausted from the continuous sprints and direction changes, Bruno felt a mix of frustration as he jogged back. He knew he was being heavily marked by Real Madrid's players. The targeted defensive tactics orchestrated by the Italian coach were indeed frustrating, especially when they effectively neutralized his attempts to break through.

After evading Bale and seeing Kroos's timely challenge, Bruno realized that if he had been just a second slower, he would have had the opportunity to change direction completely, opting for a diagonal forward run instead of cutting inward.

The difference between moving laterally and diagonally could significantly alter the outcome, and after cutting inward, he had to change direction again to push forward.

Despite Ancelotti's apparent satisfaction, seeing his team thwart an Udinese attack, Bruno couldn't help but think, "Is he pleased with how effectively they're containing me?" It was clear that Real Madrid's defensive focus was not just on him but also on Di Natale, and they were succeeding in keeping Udinese's attack at bay.

What to do? If this pattern continued and Real Madrid scored first, Udinese would be in a difficult position. Bruno knew they needed to find a way to break through their defense.

Soon, Real Madrid launched another wave of attacks, with Ronaldo unleashing a powerful long shot that narrowly missed the post, startling all Udinese supporters. It was a close call!

Bruno then quickly found an opportunity during a midfield encounter. Seizing the ball on the left side, he surged forward, sending a precise through pass to Di Natale before Kroos could intercept. However, as Di Natale prepared to shoot, he was crowded by Pepe and Modric, misfiring significantly.

Frustrated, Di Natale glanced at Bruno, who had retreated slightly to assist in midfield. This positioning left Udinese thin in forward areas during counter-attacks, reducing their threat. If Bruno or Allan could push up quickly and utilize their long-range shooting skills...

With this thought, Di Natale gestured to Bruno as they returned to their half, hinting at a tactical adjustment. Having collaborated for over a year, the duo had developed a strong understanding. Di Natale's subtle signal was enough for Bruno to grasp the strategy, and he nodded in agreement.

Ancelotti's team was indeed efficient in their coordinated attacks and rapid transitions. Bale's ability to regain his defensive position quickly was a key reason he started. As Udinese regained possession and counter-attacked, Bruno, facing a compact defense including Bale and Carvajal, decided to draw attention. He drove directly at Bale, forcing the Real Madrid defense to retreat.

At about thirty meters from goal, Bruno feigned a breakthrough but instead cut inward, drawing Kroos towards him. Anticipating this, Bruno swiftly passed the ball to the center, catching the German midfielder off guard.

Kroos realized too late he had been outmaneuvered, thinking, "Damn! Tricked again!"

(End of Chapter)