Chapter 61 UEFA Champions League Swiss Derby

The Champions League quarter-final match between Gosau and Zurich has attracted great attention from Swiss football, because this game is the first Swiss derby in the history of the Champions League, which is undoubtedly a major event in the history of Swiss football. It marks that in addition to Gosau, Switzerland has finally appeared in Europe. There are strong teams that have made achievements in the Champions League.

Many famous Swiss football players are full of emotion. They have seen the great changes in Swiss football in recent years. They know that the changes in Swiss football are closely related to the rise of the Gosau team. It is the Gosau team that has improved the image of Swiss football, improved the influence of Swiss football, and improved a lot. The economic strength of the Swiss team gave them more money to improve the strength of the team, which eventually led to the improvement of the overall strength of the Swiss league.

In the past few seasons, although the Swiss Super League ranked higher and higher in Europe, from this season, the Swiss Super League can just say that it has been among the top five European leagues.

On March 28, Zurich's head coach Castella led Zurich to Gosau to prepare for the quarter-finals of the Champions League, which Switzerland is concerned about. He was very excited, which was the most glorious moment in his coaching career. In preparation for this game, Castella sent all the substitutes in the league on the 26th, resulting in a 1:1 draw with St. Garren.

Of course, Castella's current results have some meaning of enjoying their success. Most of Zurich's current lineup is the foundation laid by his predecessor Charles Landes. Last season, Zurich has reached the top 16 of the Champions League. It can be said that they have completed the process of quantitative change and entered the eighth season. It's a matter of course. But Castella's credit can't be erased. Don't you see, how many rich head coaches can't qualify in the group with a big and small king? It's amazing that Castella can bring the team to this point with a good card that is not top at all, so now Castella is in the minds of Zurich fans. The status is very high.

When he met the Gosho team in the quarter-finals, Castella was not afraid, but only excited. He didn't think that the Zurich team must stop his footsteps in the Champions League when he met the Gosho team. Yes, Gosho is the defending champion. In recent seasons, it has been difficult for Zurich to win against Gosho. In the league, Gosho's advantage is so great that it won the championship nine rounds ahead of schedule, but none of this can kill Castella's fighting spirit. It's different in the Champions League and in the league. It's just a two-round knockout match. Anything can happen. When Zurich faced Dortmund, no one was optimistic about Zurich, but it was Zurich who laughed at the end.

Castella is very confident now. He is confident that with Zurich's familiarity with Gosho, even if he can't defeat Gosho, he can be shocked. In short, he won't let Gosho pass comfortably.

However, in an interview with reporters before the game, Castella was still very low-key. He said that Zurich has not won the Gosau team for several seasons, and it is difficult to beat them this time, but for Zurich, it is a great thing to reach the top eight of the Champions League.

In fact, when Castella said this, his heart was burning with fighting spirit. The game has actually begun, since he said it.

Within the team, Castella said: "This is the best chance for you to be famous. As long as you can defeat them in these two games, you will be famous all over Europe and the world!" You will become big stars and heroes in Zurich! What's so difficult? Isn't it just two games? Use your best in these two games, and don't relax every minute!"

After saying this, Castella was very satisfied to see that his players' eyes also ignited their fighting spirit, especially Bijelyka, Shaqiri and other players. They have played against the Gosho team countless times in the past few seasons, but it is difficult to win. It can be imagined how arrogant they are eager to win. Li!

Subsequently, Castella issued a silence order within the team that no one in the team was allowed to be interviewed by any reporters before the end of the two games.

Compared with Castella's great enemy, Lin Fenglei did not do anything special mobilize his players before this game, because Zurich has never defeated Gosho in these seasons. If he says too much blood before this game, he will appear pretentious. He just told himself. Don't underestimate your players. In his opinion, as long as the players do not underestimate the enemy and can play at a normal level, the Gosho team may win more than 70% in this round.

At 7:45 p.m. on the 29th, the high-profile game officially began. Before the game, the two head coaches shook hands cordially and looked very friendly.

CCTV's football commentator Duan Xuan is introducing the game to the audience in front of the TV: "Guests, now we are broadcasting a game of the first round of the quarter-finals of this season's UEFA Champions League at the Thunder Stadium in Gosau, Switzerland. The two sides are the defending champion Gosau, Switzerland. The team and Zurich, the runner-up of the Swiss Super League last season, is the first Swiss derby in the history of the UEFA Champions League.

"Gosau has been very well in the Champions League this season. They advanced with a complete victory in the group stage, and in the first round of knockout, they eliminated the Bundesliga strong team Leverkusen with a big score of 7:2 in two rounds; while Zurich met Real Madrid and Naples in the group stage. Team, they qualified second in the group after eliminating Naples. In the first round of knockout, they narrowly defeated Borussia Dortmund in two rounds and reached the quarterfinals of the Champions League.

"Gosau and Zurich meet four times in the Swiss Super League every season, and sometimes they meet in the cup, so they have played countless times, and Goshao has an absolute advantage in the record of the two teams. Of course, in the Champions League, it is the first time that the two teams have met. In terms of strength, Gosho certainly still has a certain advantage, but Zurich has repeatedly played a good show in the Champions League this season, so it is hard to say who will win in this round.

"Now that the players of the two teams have entered the court, let's introduce their starting lineup. First of all, the starting lineup of the home team Gosho, goalkeeper Chekareli, left-back Ribeiro, right-back Gugelman, and central defenders are Salihovic and Cheva. Ley's combination, left winger Avazzini, right winger Horensten, midfielder Antunović, and Ivanovic in front of him. This lineup is also the usual lineup used by Coach Lin Fenglei.

The starting lineup of the visiting team Zurich is goalkeeper Miller, left-back Vozel, right-back Staher, central defender is a combination of Jinho and Sereda, midfielder Salami, in front of him is Berisha and Spalf, front of Shachiri and Djolic, and the striker is Bijerica. Coach Castella's lineup is a little different from his usual main lineup. He arranged an extra player in the midfield, while Marcelinho, the second striker of the team who scored 22 goals for Zurich this season, did not play. As far as we know, Marcelinho was not injured. He sat on the bench. It seems that Coach Castella hid him in this game.

"With the whistle of the German Lesinski, the referee on duty, the game officially began. In the first half, the home team Gosho kicked off first, and they attacked from left to right in the first half."

After the start of the game, the Gosho team did not have much temptation to face the well-known opponent. After the opening, Egman launched an offensive. After receiving Avanzini's cross pass at the front of the penalty area, he made a long shot.

Everything seems normal in the game, but Lin Fenglei always feels that there is something wrong. Why did Castella change the starting lineup he is used to in this game? You should know that Marcelinho plays an extremely important role in Zurich's attack. He not only has strong scoring ability, but also his breakthrough and series in the frontcourt are indispensable for Zurich. If Castella doesn't send him to play, doesn't he want to attack?

After looking at it for a while, Lin Fenglei was sure that Castella really gave up the attack in this game. At least they gave up the position attack. Almost everyone in their start was defending. Even their two former waists Shaqiri and Dejorich entangled the two backs of Gosho's two backs Ivanovic and Antunović doesn't give them a chance to score easily.

The front waist defense and back waist sounds a little strange, but this kind of defense is really very effective, because Ivanovic is the organizational core of the Gosho team. His position is generally relatively backward and his running position is more flexible. He can use his accurate long pass to dispatch the team's attack in that position. Direction, so Gosho's offensive basically passes through Ivanovic.

Antunowic's main task is to share Ivanovic's defensive pressure and protect Ivanovic to ensure that Ivanovic can organize comfortably. But now the two men of the Zurich team have fixed both of them, and they are not stingy about their physical strength. Where did the two of them go? Li, the opponent's two front waists followed everywhere, which made Ivanovic feel very uncomfortable. Even if he wanted to catch the ball, it was difficult, let alone organize an attack.