Chapter 1245: Barça Can't Hold On and Lu Yang Returns! (Part 2)

Only mediocre players would have blind faith in Mateo’s strength to the point of being unable to distinguish stages.

In Mebarak’s heart, Mateo is indeed invincible, even outshining Mr. Golden Ball Moreira in some aspects.

However, Ortiz and Hernandez, including Mateo himself, can feel that Mateo still has room for improvement; he has not yet fully mastered the divine skill.

Forcing someone to emerge before their time will only harm Mateo.

Premature babies are often malnourished.

Barça spent a lot of money to find a wet nurse for Mateo.

Yet here you are insisting on creating a topic of opposition between the two.

With Mebarak’s comments, fans who previously thought Barça didn’t need Lu Yang jumped out again.

Yes, if Barça can win, who needs Lu Yang?

But they haven’t noticed that including the Champions League, Mateo hasn’t scored in three matches.

This is a very rare situation for Mateo within the Barça system.

Mateo is experiencing the first significant goal drought of his career!

On September 21, in the fifth round of La Liga.

San Remo is challenging the traditional La Liga powerhouse Valencia.

In this match, Mateo was determined to break his goal drought, with thirteen shots and eight on target throughout the game, he finally scored one goal!

However, the result was Barça losing 1-2 to Valencia, suffering their first league defeat.

Mateo scores, the team loses.

Mateo doesn’t score, the team wins.

Mateo doesn’t know since when he became a burden to the team.

This scenario, this situation, is very similar to Moreira’s last season!

Why is Barça supporting Mateo and thereby driving Moreira away?

Age is only one factor.

Efficiency is the second factor.

Background and composition are the third factor.

But actually, their impact on the team’s victory or defeat is also a factor.

Last season, in the matches where Mateo scored, Barça mostly won.

And in the matches where Barça lost, Moreira scored more.

Based on this data, some people came to the absurd conclusion that Moreira’s goals hurt the team.

This claim was not first made by La Liga media, but by Serie A media.

Because it was initially used by Serie A media to criticize Lu Yang for scoring too much at San Remo.

At that time San Remo had almost only Lu Yang who could score, so they said Lu Yang’s goals hurt the team.

But La Liga media didn’t notice that when Barça loses, Mateo mostly doesn’t score?

Moreira scoring showed he was strong in adverse situations and unstoppable.

But the winning probability in adverse situations is already very small, it’s normal to not win even if you score.

Meanwhile, Mateo rarely scores in adverse situations, indicating he hasn’t reached the level to turn things around in tough times.

He still needs another year in a favorable environment to grow.

…

On September 25, La Liga fans experienced their first collective excitement.

Because a grand battle was about to commence.

The legendary strongest team of La Liga, Atletico Madrid, visits Camp Nou to challenge Barcelona, who ranked just below them last season!

Ahem!

Why call Atletico Madrid the strongest in La Liga?

Because Real Madrid and Barça are jokingly referred to as Super League teams.

Meaning there is a significant strength gap between them and the other La Liga teams, they are not on the same level.

But Atletico Madrid is closest in strength to the two.

Especially in recent years, Atletico Madrid has almost been the third Super League team.

They won the league championship within three years and beat Real Madrid.

Last year, they were also second in the league, ahead of Barça.

This team is definitely a touchstone-like existence.

Is there really a problem with Barça?

Without Moreira, can Mateo shoulder the heavy burden?

This match would clearly reveal the answer to everyone!

“Mateo attempts a lateral dribble, but there’s no opportunity, Atletico’s defense is too sharp, almost ten men in the penalty area!”

“Vidal! Vidal completed the tackle! Mateo gets up and angrily shouts at the main referee, he thinks this tackle was a foul, but the main referee ignores Mateo.”

“Counterattack! Atletico Madrid’s counterattack emerges again! Kolar advances with the ball! Due to Mateo’s complaints, Barça’s forwards couldn’t press in time.”

“Ortiz and Hernandez’s pressing lacks strength, and they are short-handed… Burgos has also come up, he… oh! Kolar passes the ball out, Candreva holds the ball!”

“Candreva directly long pass without stopping the ball!”

“Manzuyovich uses his run to block Clement’s route, delaying his return run.”

“Fernando Dominguez is too fast! He is like a golden arrow, Mebarak can’t even see his taillights! Receiving the ball, the stop is beautiful!”

“Kahn comes out! Dominguez shoots… no, it’s a feint… Dominguez rounds Kahn, pushes and scores! 1-0! Atletico scored the first goal of the game in the 87th minute!”

“Time is running out for Barça! Given Atletico’s defensive level, this goal could very well be a decider!”

“Saint Baby Dominguez has made a contribution! His state this season is very vigorous, on par with the Alien Lima!”

“Alright! The main referee’s three whistles have ended the match! 1-0, Atletico at Camp Nou, forcibly taking three points in the most Atleti style!”

“Barcelona’s possession rate was as high as 71% throughout the match, yet they failed to break Atletico’s goal; their performance wasn’t as powerful as the possession rate suggested, they didn’t truly threaten Atletico.”