The Prince of Inter Milan starts with Brother Xiaosa

Chapter 99 Love Song Stadium Battle with Huang Qian

In the twenty-fifth round of Serie A, Inter Milan faced Bologna away from home.

Samuel was accidentally injured during the pre-match warm-up, and Rivas temporarily replaced him.

Taking into account the Champions League game four days later, Mourinho made certain rotations in the starting lineup.

Leo and Balotelli rested, Muntari switched to attacking midfielder, leaving Maxwell on the left, and Cordoba replaced the suspended Chivu.

In addition, Mancini, who was not included in the squad for several consecutive games, returned to the bench today.

Mancini's assistant Mihajlovic previously led the home team against his old club.

Before the game started, Inter Milan players who were familiar with Mihajlovic shook hands and hugged him.

Former Inter Milan coach Mancini was actually spotted wearing sunglasses to watch the game.

Leo and Balotelli, who were sitting on the sidelines, also noticed Mancho in the stands.

"He asked me before if I would like to play in the Premier League."

"Oh?" Leo didn't know that Mancini was still in contact with Balotelli in private.

"Then what do you think?"

Balotelli bared his white teeth and said:
  "I'm quite curious about what it would be like to play abroad, and it's said that Manchester City is willing to offer me a high price...

But as long as you, boss, are at Inter Milan, I will be at Inter Milan for one day! "

Bashen is not stupid. He can still clearly distinguish what it was like to play football last season and what it feels like to have Leo pass the ball to him and score goals this season.

If you don't hug your thighs tightly, that would be really stupid!

Leo smiled, who can say for sure what will happen in the future.

Although Bologna ranks last in the league, their strength is actually not that bad.

The home team's leading striker Di Vayo currently ranks second behind Ibrahimovic in the scorer list.

All Bologna players wore black gauze on their arms to pay tribute to the former Italy international Bulgarelli who passed away last week.

For the club, Bulgarelli played 486 games for Bologna and won the only top league championship in the team's history.

For the national team, Italy international Bulgarelli won the European Cup with the Azzurri in Rome in 1968.

It is worth mentioning that in the 1963-1964 season, Bologna won the Serie A championship after a play-off match with Inter Milan.

This is also the only championship in the history of Italian football that has been produced through a play-off.

Even Inter Milan officials published an article of condolences.

"Italian football has lost another great man.

……

F.C. Inter Milan misses this man and this fighter, and our thoughts are with Bulgarelli’s family at this time. "

Of course, for most young fans, this is already the last century, and there is no feeling at all.

Before kick-off, both sides observed a minute's silence, and a huge portrait of Bulgarelli and his No. 8 jersey were displayed in the stands of the Dallara Stadium.

Then the game finally officially started. Without Leo in the midfield of the Nerazzurri, the offense naturally seemed far less organized than usual.

Until the end of the first half, neither side could change the score.

Before the referee blew his whistle, Mourinho walked into the tunnel with a dark face.

"I hope it wasn't the Milan derby victory a few days ago that made you complacent.

I would like to know if you are satisfied with your performance in the first half? "

Faced with the head coach's questioning, every player in Inter Milan's starting lineup today lowered their heads.

"We are stronger than our opponents, so there is nothing to say, just return to the field, score a goal and end the game!"

However, not long after the second half began, Bologna, playing at home, seized the opportunity.

Diwayo passed Valliani, and Rivas made the first clearance and pushed the ball out of the baseline.

Bologna took a corner kick from the right, and Britos beat the Cordoba Lion from the front and shook his head!

The ball bounced through Cesar's arm and flew into the far corner of the goal!

One to zero!

The stadium at Dallara was filled with excitement and the Bologna fans cheered.

Mourinho's dark face was stunned. He shook his head and asked Balotelli to warm up on the sidelines.

Leo and the others are not on the court. Ibrahimovic is both a father and a mother in the frontcourt, but there is no chance to score.

After Balotelli came on as a substitute, the Swedes finally felt a little more relaxed.

Muntari's powerful long-range shot was blocked by the home team's goalkeeper Antonioli!
  Maicon took a corner kick from the right. Ibrahimovic nodded the ball forward. Cambiasso stopped the ball with his left thigh in front of the goal and hit the lower edge of the crossbar with his right foot and bounced into the net!
  One to one!

Inter Milan equalized the score!
  Madman’s adjustments had immediate results!
  However, a draw was still not acceptable to Mourinho, and Leo was called over.

"Go warm up and get ready to play."

Leo nodded, took off his coat and went to the sidelines to start warm-up exercises.

In the 71st minute, Leo came on as a substitute.

His first touch of the ball was a very penetrating through ball.

It's just that Ibrahimovic was not prepared, and the shot passed two defenders in the penalty area and was easily obtained by Antonioli.

Immediately afterwards, the home team also made the first substitution of the game. Miha replaced Valliani with striker Maracina.

What Mourinho's team likes most is this kind of team that doesn't retreat on defense but still attacks.

In the 79th minute, it was Leo's direct pass from the center that directly penetrated Bologna's defense!
  Balotelli took the ball from the right side of the front court and broke through, tapping his heel back to Leo who was following.

Leo was pulled down by home team defender Zenoni who was returning to defense, and the referee showed a yellow card.

The free kick was handed to Balotelli to take it. Balotelli took a free kick from a small angle on the left. The ball bounced over the wall and hit the inside of the far post and into the net!
  Two to one!

Inter Milan overtook the score!
  The balance of victory began to tilt towards the Nerazzurri.

Mourinho replaced Ibrahimovic with Vieira because he also wanted the Swede to leave the game early and rest.

In the final stage of the game, Bologna was still trying to equalize the score.

As Leo sacrificed himself to steal the ball from Mudingai's feet, the referee Eroldi blew the whistle for the end of the game.

In the end, Inter Milan reversed the away game and won 2-1!

“No, no, no, we did not underestimate the enemy, I have always emphasized that Bologna is a very capable opponent!

Just making some necessary adjustments considering our schedule.

Yes, our next focus will naturally be the Champions League game four days later.

I think the guest-first-home schedule is beneficial to us.

In a life-and-death battle that affects the qualifying result, I think it is very helpful to have fans at home cheering us on. "

As Mourinho said, the Nerazzurri quickly got into preparations for the game against Villarreal.

No matter how good the league results are, to be honest, in the eyes of Nerazzurri and the media from all walks of life, it seems that it is what it should be.

If we can't make a breakthrough in the European war, then what's the point of Moratti inviting the madman?

Not to mention that we must win the championship, but at least we can go further than when Mancini led the team before, right?
  With such expectations on their shoulders, the entire Inter Milan team went to Villarreal, Castellon Province, Valencian Autonomous Region, Spain, to prepare for the away game against the Yellow Submarine one day later.

Villarreal has always been a strong team in La Liga. Since Pellegrini took charge in 2004, it has been built into a very competitive team.

Whether it was reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League in the 05-06 season, or last season it defeated Barcelona and Atletico Madrid and once again entered the Champions League as second in La Liga.

All show that Huang Qian's strength cannot be underestimated.

As Inter Milan ranked first in the group, it was hard to say that it was good luck to draw such an opponent.

At 2:25 pm on February , the Love Song Stadium was full for the first time this season.

In this poetically named stadium, Mourinho's team ushered in the first leg of the European quarter-finals.

The Madmen did not surprise anyone and continued to use the 4312 formation with the best record.

Ibrahimovic and Balotelli partnered up front, with Leo as the attacking midfielder.

However, the three midfielders behind him today are Zanetti, Cambiaso and Muntari, with Stankovic on standby.

David Thornton continues to start at the left back position, Maicon is still the right back, the center back combination is Chivu and Rivas, and the goalkeeper Cesar.

Vieira and Samuel are absent due to injuries.

Villarreal's lineup is not neat either.

Center back Gonzalo Rodriguez is out due to injury, and full-back Juan Capdevila and striker Giulifranco are both suspended for this crucial home game.

The home team deployed a 442 formation today.

Young forwards Giuseppe Rossi and Llorente, who had previously been teammates with Leo in the Italian national team, played together.

This Llorente scored 15 league goals for Valladolid last season and was bought by Villarreal for 555 euros.

It's not the Athletic Bilbao one, it's just the same name.

After the opening, the Yellow Submarine, playing at home, quickly launched an offensive.

In the second minute, Giuseppe Rossi broke through from the right and was brought down by Chivu. The home team won the first free kick opportunity of the game.

Cazorla's low free kick went around the wall, and Nerazzurri goalkeeper Cesar was well prepared.

Leo got the ball in the middle. This seemed to be his first time playing against a team from La Liga.

Changing direction and accelerating to avoid the defense of captain Senna on the yellow field, Leo hoisted the ball into the penalty area.

Ibrahimovic nodded the ball into the goal, but Villarreal goalkeeper Diego Lopez reacted quickly and lifted the ball out with one palm!
  The home team quickly counterattacked and hit the frontcourt. Rossi made a diagonal pass. Llorente's powerful volley was bravely blocked by Cesar!
  Senna took a corner kick, and Cazorla's long shot from outside the penalty area was blocked by the Inter Milan defender.

It's not possible to kick like this. Leo rolled his eyes and suddenly had a good idea.

Taking advantage of the dead ball, Leo called Balotelli over.

"Did you see that guy over there?"

Bashen looked in the direction directed by Leo, and it turned out to be Villarreal forward Giuseppe Rossi.

So he nodded, slightly confused.

"I saw."

Leo then said as if there was something in his words:
  "I met him before in the Italian national team. He is not as fast as you, not as strong as you, and his skills are not as good as yours.

I don’t know why he was selected but you couldn’t. "

As soon as he said these two words, Ba Shen's eyes instantly ignited with blazing fire.

"I know! As long as I perform better than him and score more goals than him, everyone will know that I am better than him, right?"

Children can be taught! Leo nodded with satisfaction.

"Mario, let's see how you perform today!"

So under Leo's "encouragement", Bashen entered the state.

Received Leo's pass in the frontcourt, Balotelli strode into the penalty area with his speed advantage and ate up the young Uruguayan center back Godin alive!

Facing the experienced Spanish goalkeeper Diego Lopez with a single goal, Bashen unexpectedly picked up the ball and volleyed the ball sideways and scored!

The entire audience was stunned by Balotelli's performance.

Even the referee Konrad Plautz was stunned for a moment before reacting and declaring the goal valid.

One to zero!

Just five minutes into the game, Inter Milan took the lead with Balotelli's wonderful goal!
  (End of this chapter)