Chapter 182 Advance to the Europa League semi-finals
Two days later, in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, Barcelona defeated AC Milan 3-1 at home and advanced to the semi-finals. Messi scored twice, raising his total number of goals in 2012 to 32.
Exceeding Qiao Anchen’s 31.
However, both of Messi's goals were penalty kicks. Scoring two penalty kicks in one game and then surpassing Qiao Anchen made some Qiao Anchen fans and Chinese fans feel a little unhappy. They felt that Messi surpassed Qiao Anchen with two penalty kicks.
Victory without force.
But Qiao Anchen didn't have any objections, because he also scored a lot of penalty kicks. Penalty kicks themselves are a part of football and there is nothing to despise.
What's more, he was able to score 100% of his penalty kicks because of a system plug-in. And Messi was able to score because he was really playing under a lot of psychological pressure. It was much more difficult for him to score a penalty kick.
Since he was overtaken, Qiao Anchen should try his best to score goals and come back to overtake him.
At 20:45 in the evening on April 5, 2012, with the referee's whistle, the second leg of the 2011/2012 Europa League quarter-finals, Atletico Madrid's away game against Hannover 96, was held at the Niedersachsenstadion, the home ground of Hannover 96.
The fight officially begins.
In the first round at the Calderon Stadium, Atletico Madrid won 4-1 at home, with a three-goal difference advantage, which basically killed the suspense of the second round.
But in fact, Simeone and his players still dare not be careless.
First of all, several of the team's main forwards, Alda Turan, defensive midfielder captain Gabi, and full-back Juan Fran were suspended due to accumulation of yellow cards. The overall strength of Atletico Madrid's starting lineup was greatly weakened.
Secondly, Hannover 96's home record this season is very strong. In the entire 2011/2012 season, Hannover 96 has not lost at home.
This is a record that many super giants have not achieved, a typical home game. This season, even Bayern Munich, Dortmund, etc. have not conquered this stadium.
Finally, in terms of probability, a three-goal lead is not a guaranteed win. There are many examples in football history of leading by three goals in the first round, then underestimating the opponent in the second round, and being overturned by the opponent.
If Hannover 96 can beat Atletico Madrid 3-0 in this game, they can eliminate Atletico Madrid with more away goals and advance to the semi-finals while equalizing the total score.
Therefore, Atletico Madrid is still relatively cautious in this game. It is an away game and the lineup is limited, so Simeone made a change. Instead of 433, he sent out a balanced formation of 442 and put in four midfielders.
Help the back line defend.
At the same time, in terms of game tactics, Simeone also asked everyone to retreat deeper this time, attracting Hannover 96 to press heavily, and then attack the opponent's counterattack.
After all, Atletico Madrid is ahead by three goals. Hannover 96 has no choice but to attack with all its strength. Atletico Madrid can take advantage of this.
This is a conspiracy. Even if the opponent knows Simeone's plan, there is nothing they can do because they are too far behind and have no choice but to attack.
Sure enough, as soon as the game started, Hannover 96 went on the offensive amidst the cheers of more than 40,000 fans at home, attacking frantically in an attempt to take the lead.
However, Atletico Madrid held its defense firmly and withstood Hannover 96's opening three blows with intensive defense, and then slowly began to use the opponent's empty backcourt to counterattack.
Although there were not many counterattacks, most counterattacks failed due to one reason or another, allowing the 0-0 score to remain unchanged for more than half an hour.
But the personal abilities of Falcao and Qiao Anchen still came into play in the 34th minute.
In this counterattack, Falcao used his personal ability to beat two people in a row, and then after hitting the wall with Qiao Anchen, he lobbed a shot from outside the penalty area about 20 meters away from the goal.
The ball soared into the air, over goalkeeper Ziller's head, and flew towards the goal.
Ziller turned around to fight back, but it was too late. The ball rubbed the lower edge of the crossbar and fell into the Hannover 96 goal.
Falcao opened the scoring and gave Atletico Madrid a 1-0 away lead. The total score expanded to 5-1, leading by four goals and erasing the opponent's away goal advantage.
At the same time, Falcao's total number of goals in the Europa League has reached 8, tying with Joan Chen, and only one away from Schalke 04's Huntelaar, and continues to defend the Europa League Golden Boot.
Opportunity.
Therefore, Falcao seemed very excited after scoring the goal. He rushed to the sidelines and celebrated with a passionate kneel-down celebration, which attracted the boos and curses of countless German fans in the stands.
But regardless of how many players there were, Falcao and Atletico Madrid players rushed forward and enthusiastically pressed Falcao to the ground to celebrate.
Because Falcao's goal really killed the suspense of the game and was enough for Atletico Madrid to advance to the semi-finals of the Europa League.
In the remainder of the first half, Hannover 96 went on a crazy offensive spree, but failed to score a goal against Atletico Madrid's iron-blooded defense.
After 1 minute of stoppage time, the referee blew the whistle to end the first half. The two sides entered the halftime break with a score of 0-1. Atletico Madrid, who was playing away from home, temporarily took the lead by one goal and the total score was 5-1.
After a 15-minute rest, the two sides changed sides and fought again in the second half.
During the halftime break, Hannover 96 substituted two offensive players in succession, and the formation had changed to 334, with four forwards deployed for a desperate attack.
At the same time, on defense, Hannover 96 began to commit fouls a little unscrupulously, even though they knew that they were likely to be eliminated.
But Atletico Madrid was not intimidated. The current team, led and trained by coach Simeone, has never been afraid of collisions and confrontations. On the contrary, opponents are starting to be a little afraid of Atletico Madrid's big moves.
Hannover's offense did not achieve any results, but the defense was repeatedly penetrated by Atletico Madrid.
Although they tried every means, even directly using tactical fouls to maliciously interrupt Atletico Madrid's counterattack, there were still times when the interception failed.
In the 61st minute, Hannover 96 made a mistake in their offense and was intercepted by Atletico Madrid for a quick counterattack.
Wing midfielder Thiago came in from the back, hit the wall with Qiao Anchen and then made a pass.
Falcao lost his head due to the interference of the opponent's defender in the front post challenge. Qiao Anchen took advantage of his movement from the back post, stuck his position 7 meters in front of the goal and volleyed the ball successfully into the goal.