I Am Scouted by Real Madrid

Sure enough, his intuition was correct.

When the match resumed in the 32nd minute, the waterlogged Wembley had been miraculously transformed into a reflective mirror surface.

Chen Zhong stood at the center circle, flexing his ankle, raindrops cascading from his hair and splashing onto the turf—this 25-minute break made him feel incredibly energized.

"Real Madrid on the attack!"

"Chen Zhong has the ball!"

"A seamless set of passes!"

"Pass it again!"

Real Madrid got into their groove faster than Manchester City, and even though the rain had stopped, the slippery pitch still posed challenges, yet Chen Zhong's stamina was fully charged.

This was causing quite the discomfort for Manchester City.

Just moments ago, they witnessed Chen Zhong bulldoze an unprepared Rodri, carrying the ball all the way towards Manchester City's penalty box.

Guardiola's expression turned grim,

He quickly called out the player's names, trying to stop Chen Zhong, and just as he anticipated, Chen Zhong unleashed a heavy cannon from outside the penalty area before Manchester City players could close in.

What level is Chen Zhong's heavy cannon at?

Every goalkeeper who's faced it says it packs a punch.

De Gea, Valverde, and even former Manchester City 'Door God' Joe Hart, for instance.

"Bang!"

In that moment, one could clearly see the rainwater separating from the ball, see it flying away, leaving a splash behind.

The ball quickly soared toward the goal, with the goalkeeper making a spectacular save.

"A very bold attempt!"

"Exceptional performance by the goalkeeper!"

"Ederson!"

"He made a perfect save!"

Ederson is an outstanding goalkeeper, even showing perfect performances like blocking the ball with his face when he first joined Manchester City, leaving many with deep impressions.

Corner chance for Real Madrid, many Manchester City players posture near their penalty box, ready for defense.

"Real Madrid's corner!"

"Let's see if they can seize this opportunity!"

"The corner is taken!"

"Chen Zhong!"

Guardiola knew who Real Madrid was aiming for, so did the Manchester City players.

Even Ruben Dias and Rodri had been double-teaming Chen Zhong, but this corner was certainly planned cleverly. Chen Zhong didn't take it head-on but maneuvered through them, then with a move akin to Ibrahimovic's taekwondo kick, sent the ball flying.

At the precise moment his foot contacted the ball, it splashed with water and thundered into the upper left corner, Ederson couldn't even raise his hand, only watch helplessly as the ball entered the net.

1-0!

As the ball hit the net.

Wembley Stadium erupted in cheers! The stands where Real Madrid fans were seated exploded with deafening roars, their white flags waved like waves.

Some even raised photos of Chen Zhong or banners bearing his name to show their support.

"Goooooooooooool!" cried the Spanish commentator, his voice breaking, shouting: "Chen Zhong! It's Chen Zhong again! On the stage of the Champions League final, this Chinese superstar has rewritten the score with an unbelievable strike!"

"He always manages to be the key player for the team, scoring the most crucial goals when needed!"

"He scored again in the Champions League final!"

After scoring, Chen Zhong went wild with celebration, first sliding on his knees in passion, then sprinting to the corner flag, performing his signature celebratory move.

Real Madrid fans in the stands, seeing Chen Zhong's gesture, followed his move and shouted loudly: "Chen!"

Guardiola on the sidelines held his bald head, his eyes a complex mix of emotions: shocked by Chen Zhong's strike and worried about his team's lagging behind.

Slow-motion replay showed at least three Manchester City players slipping during the goal, yet Chen Zhong had accurately jumped onto relatively dry turf—his ability to read the field was awe-inspiring.

"37th minute, Real Madrid leads 1-0!" excitedly analyzed the Chinese commentator, "This goal perfectly showcases Chen Zhong's ability to read the game..."

The change in the score completely disrupted Manchester City's rhythm.

Upon restarting the game, Manchester City attempted to organize a quick attack but hesitated in passing—the slippery pitch constraining these technical players.

Conversely, Real Madrid players seemed fully accustomed to the conditions, Camavinga even intentionally kicked into puddles, exploiting irregular bounces to create threats.

Manchester City pressed high to create threats, but Real Madrid's efficient counter-attacks were like a sword hanging over their heads, every offensive causing them to reconsider defensively. As time ticked down and halftime approached, Manchester City urgently needed an equalizer, their formation inevitably pushing forward.

In the 44th minute, Manchester City organized an infiltration near Real Madrid's penalty area. They attempted a direct pass to Haaland but were intercepted by Camavinga's smart stretch.

The ball didn't roll far, instead rebounding to Chen Zhong who had retreated to defend!

Without hesitation, he didn't even lift his head to survey the field, guiding the ball forward slightly with his left foot, kicking open a firm spot within the muddy space—the very same spot where he scored from the corner earlier! Then, his iconic, full-force right leg swung high, the muscular lines bulging beneath his drenched jersey, cleats flinging splashes of mud.

"Bang—!!"

Again, a resounding thud! The ball tore against gravity's grip, streaking as a white lightning bolt through the rain curtain! This time, it sought no precise angle but exuded raw, domineering force, hurtling straight for the center of the goal!

The speed was astounding! In the damp air, rainwater peeled away from the ball's surface in an uncanny white trajectory. The ball even slightly deformed under the immense power!

Manchester City players instinctively stretched to block but in the mud couldn't react effectively. On the goal line, Ederson showcased his world-class reflexes, instinctively leaping, arms reaching wide!

The ball skimmed above his fingertips, with unstoppable momentum, pounded into the net! Its enormous force made the net shake violently, soaring high with white spray bursting instantly before the goal!

"GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!!!! CHEN ZHONG!!!" the Spanish commentator's voice nearly shattered the microphone, "Unbelievable! Incredible! Heavy Cannon! Absolute Heavy Cannon! Chen Zhong! He scores twice! On the Champions League final stage! He has almost secured the victory for Real Madrid with two earth-shattering strikes! My god! The power! The shot!"

2-0!

Wembley Stadium's Real Madrid stands were utterly ecstatic! White engulfed the stands, flags whipped crazily, screams and yells nearly tore the stadium's roof off! Countless fans hugged, leapt in joy, mixing tears with rain and happiness. The call "CHEN! CHEN! CHEN!" resounded deafeningly across the sky!

Guardiola clung to his bald head once more. This time, disbelief, frustration, and shock etched across his face.

He gazed at Chen Zhong, wildly celebrated by teammates in the mud, that figure like a god descending amidst the torrential rain. His meticulously crafted possession play seemed frail and powerless against both the extreme weather and opponent's brute force.

Ederson stood within the goal, watching the ball still spinning on its own in the net, shook his head helplessly, his gaze filled with resignation—Chen Zhong's second heavy cannon, its power immense, angle precise, speed rapid; in the rain, nearly indefensible!

"Real Madrid... Real Madrid extends their lead! Chen Zhong! Once again, Chen Zhong! A breathtaking world-class goal! Halftime brace!" the Chinese commentator's voice trembled with excitement, "Here's the key man! Here's the big-stage performer! On the Champions League final stage, he emerged when needed the most, and twice at that! Manchester City utterly stunned by this heavy cannon! Under the downpour and Chen Zhong's eruption, their prized possession skills stand obliterated!"

Manchester City players stood motionless in the rain, letting the cold water wash over them. Rodri's gaze was somewhat vacant, Ruben Dias breathed heavily, hands on hips, Ederson wiped rainwater off his face, gravely staring at the scoreboard. The tremendous disappointment and chilling 0-2 score felt like the freezing rain, soaking their hearts.

After less than a minute of restarting from the center circle, the referee glanced at his watch, then looked up at the pouring rain and increasingly waterlogged pitch, decisively raised the whistle to his lips.

"Tweet—!! Tweet—!! Tweet—!!!"

Three long whistles cut through the rain!

Halftime ended!

The glaring score on the electronic screen stung every Manchester City fan:

Real Madrid 2 - 0 Manchester City