Chapter 77

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Translator: Silver Dragon

Chapter: 77

Chapter Title: Johan -2

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15th minute of the first half.

I dropped back a bit and exchanged a quick one-two with Luis García, cracking the tight wall Valencia had set up.

I tried to thread a pass through to Iker Bravo slicing into the half-space, but unfortunately it clipped a defender's head and deflected over the goal line.

The linesman signaled a corner kick for Real Madrid.

Luis García, who had beaten Luka Savić in rock-paper-scissors for this game's kicking duties, bounded toward the corner flag with an ecstatic grin, his poodle-like hair bouncing wildly.

Watching him, I suddenly thought of Patrasu.

He gets a poodle cut,
and now he acts like a dog too.

Luis García finished his run-up, raised his hand, and whipped in the cross.

The ball arced perfectly toward Roberto Fabianski, but in the aerial duel with the defender, Roberto couldn't connect cleanly.

Kwang-!

The ball ricocheted off the post.

I sprinted toward the loose ball, ready to unleash a full volley, when I felt the baguette guy yanking my jersey from behind.

Already off-balance, I let my legs go limp and toppled backward, letting him pull ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me down.

Peep-!

The ref, who'd seen it all up close, blew his whistle. The baguette guy protested with an indignant look, but the ref ignored Valencia's complaints and stuck to the call.

Bwoong-!

A penalty kick, earned early in the first half.

Stepping up, I blasted it with full power. The keeper could only stare blankly as it flew past.

"…Puta Madre."

Leaving the dejected Valencia defenders behind, I remembered Johan was watching and sprinted to the corner flag where the Madrid home fans were, unleashing my signature celebration.

"Madrid! Madrid! Hala Madrid!"

Whew. Nailed the celebration too.

The moment Jesus Joo's face appeared on screen, Johan threw both hands up high.

"Dadaaa-! Mah-!! Daadaa!"

"Really now? Daddy's on TV?"

"Dadaa-! Dadaa-!"

Excited, Johan jumped up and started dancing. Yu-na clapped along, cheering him on.

As Jesus Joo placed the ball on the spot for the penalty, Johan craned his neck, searching for his own ball.

"Mah-! Ball!"

Yu-na handed him one and slowly filmed what he did next with her phone.

Imitating his dad, Johan carefully set the ball down, took two or three steps back, and the second Jesus Joo buried the penalty, Johan fired a serious shot ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠at the goal Patrasu was guarding.

Patrasu blocked it, but Johan didn't care and charged toward Yu-na.

But when his dad didn't do the celebration he wanted...

Johan plopped down on the floor with a grumpy face.

"Dada- hate!"

30th minute of the first half.

André Züler, starting in place of the injured Sergio Pepe, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠blocked a shot from a Valencia forward.

The deflected shot fell to Vladimir, who began a patient buildup from the back.

I dropped to just below the center circle to help in midfield.

Meanwhile, Vladimir spotted me after rolling the ball around patiently at the back and passed it over.

At the same time, the baguette guy—my personal shadow this match—pressed hard, but I didn't touch it and let it run through.

"Hostia!"

The second it passed between his legs, I spun and stole possession.

"Jesus!"

I fed Rafael, who was overlapping and calling my name. As Valencia's defense momentarily fixated on him, Roberto Fabianski darted into the box.

Rafael proved why he plays for Real Madrid.

His early cross, at a timing no one expected, dropped perfectly into Roberto Fabianski's path.

Roberto didn't miss it, extending his foot coolly to finish. As the net rippled, he bolted to me, roaring.

"Vamos!!"

I guided Roberto Fabianski over with my usual flair,

and we shared the joy of the extra goal with Rafael.

Yeah, yeah, Rafael's the one who assisted your goal, so go celebrate with him.

[Jesus Joo drops a bit deeper to receive the ball. He shakes off Valencia's defensive midfielder Popana's pressure with a single feint. Back-pass to Anthony, slowly adjusting Real Madrid's lines.]

[Jesus Joo's movement is definitely different this game. Less flashy runs, more veteran-like orchestration of his teammates' positions, influencing the entire pitch.]

[And as I speak, Jesus Joo gets it again. Casually shrugs off the pressing midfielders. Long ball forward!]

[Iker Bravo takes it, drags defenders in, and Jesus Joo surges into the box!]

[Iker Bravo cuts back to Jesus Joo!]

[Jesus Joo! Doesn't shoot right away, touches it once! Keeper's off-balance! Jesus Joo slots it into the empty net! Gooooal!]

[Jesus Joo adds another! Real Madrid makes it 3-0!]

Regular time ended, into stoppage.

Anthony Rodríguez intercepted a Valencia pass, and I realized it was time to clock out.

Anthony spotted me dropping near the halfway line and pinged it instantly. I linked up with Luis García in a one-two, reaching the edge of the box.

I slipped a pass behind Roberto Fabianski as he drew tackles from charging Valencia defenders. While they focused on him,

he let it run. Iker Bravo appeared from behind with a surprise cross, and I just nodded it in.

Hattrick complete. I immediately found Valverde and demanded a sub.

"Sub! Clock out! Suuub! Clock out!"

Valverde chuckled helplessly and nodded.

"Halftime's almost here. Just a bit longer."

Right after the celebration, the ref blew for halftime.

Peep-! Peep-!

Thrilled to be off, I handed my captain's armband to Ter Stegen, stepped over the touchline, and the Jesusing seal on my right arm broke free.

The unleashed Jesusing ignored my will entirely, smacking the baguette guy on the back of the head as he passed by.

The hitter, the hittee, and all the nearby players froze in shock.

"Peep-! Red card!"

Halftime whistle blew, and while Yu-na was off-guard.

Johan witnessed Jesus Joo smack the back of the head. He giggled in delight.

"Dadaa-! Good!"

Match Result.

Real Madrid 5 : 3 Valencia.