"Real Madrid attacked from the right. Modrić received the pass from Carvajal and carried it across the middle."
"The diagonal ball went to Benzema, but it was headed away."
"But the ball was still with Real Madrid and came back to Modrić."
"Then switched to the left."
"Di María had already moved to the left wing, close to the touchline, took it down, glanced into the box, then swung in a cross."
As Di María's cross dropped in front of Barcelona's six-yard box, Benzema and Ronaldo burst in at high speed at the same time, one at the near post and the other central, forming double coverage and both attacking the best spot.
In the end, it was Benzema at the near post who overpowered Thiago Motta and headed it.
Benzema's header flew straight into the right side of Barcelona's goal.
"Goallllllllllllllll!!!!!!!!!"
"3-0!!!"
"Benzema!!!"
"My God, Real Madrid have scored three in under half an hour."
"It's only the 26th minute of the first half and Real Madrid already lead by three."
"Let's look at the slow-motion replay. Benzema and Ronaldo formed a double-ghost finishing pattern."
"It was a high ball against Barcelona and Alves did not close down Di María immediately, which was fatal."
"You have to know Di María is not Ronaldo. You cannot defend Di María the same way you defend Ronaldo."
"Of course, we also know Di María is very difficult to deal with."
"If you get too tight, he is agile enough to shake free and use his speed to force the breakthrough. If you stand off a little, like just now, he will seize the chance to deliver."
"If Di María on the right is a world-class inverted-winger, then Di María on the left is also world-class."
"3-0!"
"The situation is very unfavorable for Barcelona."
…
"Barcelona kick off again."
"We can see Real Madrid have changed their tactical approach again."
"Just now, they pushed the whole block up, pressed like crazy, and created goals one after another to build a three-goal lead."
"Now that they have the advantage, Gao Shen is clearly asking the team to play steady and cautious."
"This is a world-class coach. He makes the adjustment before you even react."
"Real Madrid have returned to their signature approach, focusing on the midline. Benzema is rarely pressing the back line, instead he is focused on pinning Busquets. This is already Real Madrid's old tactic against Barcelona."
"Barcelona do not really have a good or effective solution to this."
"Just as other teams find it difficult to contain Barcelona's passing-and-possession."
"But we can see Di María is still on the left, while Ronaldo is on the right."
"It is obvious that Real Madrid's main attacking point tonight is Benzema. Both Ronaldo and Di María are stretching for Benzema."
"Look now, Pepe steps in for the ball, great tackle."
"Then plays it right to find Ronaldo, who returns it to Modrić."
"Modrić switches it across to Pogba."
"Pogba carries it forward and Barcelona's defense drops off."
"Let's see how Real Madrid handle it."
"Pogba pauses, waits for Marcelo to overlap, finds Di María, no opening, so back it goes."
"Real Madrid have created a three-on-three on the left."
"Then it is played across to Marcelo."
"Marcelo drives forward down the left and forces the issue, but Alves and Xavi are in position. Look now."
"A straight pass to the byline, Di María cutting in from the half-space."
"A beautiful give-and-go from Real Madrid."
"Di María drives to the byline and cuts it back toward the six-yard box."
"Benzema is free here!!!"
"Thiago Motta missed the header, Benzema chests it down, hits it again!!!"
"The ball is in again!!!"
"4-0!!!"
"Real Madrid lead 4-0!!"
"Benzema at the double!"
"It's really a Benzer Tyrannosaurus Rex!"
"In less than three minutes, Benzema has scored twice."
"Barcelona's entire defense has been ripped apart."
"Thiago Motta failed to win the header at the key moment and clearly misread the flight."
"That is Barcelona's problem."
"Barcelona really have a big problem defending high balls."
…
"Barça restart."
"Real Madrid are still playing it safe."
"Barça look a bit anxious."
"But the most important thing now is to control their emotions."
"Here comes a Barcelona free kick in the attacking third."
"Cristiano Ronaldo has already dropped back to defend."
"Barcelona's shot hits the wall, Real Madrid break quickly."
"Ronaldo is driving along the left touchline and this time Di María is ahead of him."
"Di María receives from Ronaldo and continues toward the byline along the left."
"He stops sharply, cuts back, then bursts to the byline. Di María forces past Alves and clips to the far post."
"Benzema again!!!"
"No one around him!!"
"Oh my God, chest it down and right-foot shot..."
"It's in again!!!"
"Hat trick!!!"
"Benzema!!!!"
"5-0!"
"Real Madrid score five in the first half, with Benzema completing a hat trick."
"My God, Real Madrid have scored three goals in less than ten minutes."
"From Benzema's first to his third, it took only eight minutes."
"This should be one of the fastest hat tricks in La Liga!"
"Real Madrid win no matter how they play, Barcelona lose no matter how they play."
"Defense, defense!"
…
The moment Benzema scored, Gao Shen leapt from the technical area and roared with joy.
He was immediately grabbed in a hug by Zidane, Hierro and the others rushing from behind.
On the bench, Real Madrid's players piled together, celebrating wildly.
No one expected Real Madrid to play with such insane momentum in the first half.
It was obvious that in the last few minutes, Barcelona's mentality had completely shifted, leaving them rattled.
Martino failed to adjust in time, which let Real Madrid hit them precisely.
Especially Di María's positional switch.
Alves never figured out how to mark Di María.
In other words, facing Di María, Alves was overwhelmed and could not judge the distance.
"The sudden high press right after the start was decisive." Zidane, even in excitement, summed it up clearly.
Everyone thought about it and nodded.
In fact, from kickoff, Gao Shen's in-game command was decisive and his sense for the game was sharp.
For example, he reminded Carvajal to watch the left.
Sure enough, Barcelona struck from that side.
If Iniesta's shot had gone in, the whole picture would have flipped.
After reading Barcelona's tactics and intentions, Gao Shen made a decisive shift, telling the team to push up aggressively, press high, and go head-on.
As a result, they scored in quick succession, with head and foot.
After a spell of pressure and taking control, Real Madrid dropped off and played steady. Barcelona exposed their own issues, which Real Madrid kept exploiting on the counter for more goals.
Especially later, Di María's move to the left was brilliant.
All three of Benzema's goals were assisted by Di María. Amazing.
This is the value of in-game command.
It can truly turn a match on its head.
And Gao Shen is definitely the best at it.
In Sacchi's words, sophisticated in-game command is an art.
…
After Real Madrid's three quick goals and Benzema's hat trick, the team did not continue to push recklessly, but managed the game. Barcelona, wounded, also became conservative.
The tempo slowed, but that did not mean Real Madrid had no chances.
On the contrary, through compact defending and counterattacks, Real Madrid repeatedly carved out opportunities. Ronaldo, Pogba and Benzema all had shots.
Especially Benzema. In first-half stoppage time, Carvajal whipped in a cross from the right, creating a great near-post chance for Benzema, beating Piqué to it.
But the Frenchman's header was slightly off, flying wide and kissing the outside of the post.
After the hat trick, Benzema relaxed a bit and started searching for angles. The result was...
Second half
After the restart, Real Madrid launched a quick attack right away, but it did not come off.
Instead, in the 51st minute, they broke quickly from the back. Di María dribbled through three Barcelona defenders in succession and slid a left-footed through ball, creating another one-on-one for Benzema.
This Tyrannosaurus Rex missed again, his shot going straight at Valdés.
Gao Shen was so angry he hopped on the touchline and immediately replaced him with Morata.
Come on, after a hat trick, is it sage mode already?
The Bernabéu still gave Benzema a warm ovation.
This hat trick was the highest affirmation for Benzema.
After that, Real Madrid continued to manage the game, while Barcelona, afraid their defense would be ripped again, returned to their usual style, focusing on passing and possession.
With both sides playing this way, the second half could not produce the same avalanche of attacks and fast counters as the first.
The match became a bit dull.
Gao Shen even wondered whether Real Madrid and Barcelona would really settle at 5-0.
Otherwise, how do you explain Real Madrid being unable to score after making it 5-0?
They created several great chances, so why no finish?
Moreover, Valdés suddenly looked inspired.
In the end, Real Madrid defeated Barcelona 5-0 at home, with Benzema's hat trick and five first-half goals.
(To be continued.)