Chapter 149: Aerial Dominance
"What an impressive jump!" Hidalgo couldn't help but exclaim, "Daniel Van Buyten, Belgian international, 1.96 meters tall, weighing 80 kilograms... A bit on the lean side, but with that height, his presence on the pitch is terrifying. Mallorca's defensive line has once again gained an advantage in height! Looks like any team trying to break them down will need to rely more on ground attacks..."
"His footwork isn't slow either—definitely a quality defender! Whether he can maintain this form remains to be seen, but one thing's for sure: Mallorca might have found another hidden gem abroad! Last season, Ronaldinho and Kaladze performed brilliantly, and now they've added Van Buyten... Mallorca is launching a counterattack!" Bones shouted excitedly.
Van Buyten's powerful header sent the ball flying to a spot just behind the center circle. Ronaldinho received it with his back to Real Madrid's half, and before Makélélé could close in, he quickly flicked the ball to the advancing Rufete on the right flank.
Now it was time for another of Mallorca's new signings to showcase himself.
Rufete sprinted down the right wing. Though he wasn't exceptionally fast, with Roberto Carlos already pushed forward in attack, there was no one marking him.
But of course, Carlos wasn't about to let Rufete run unchecked. Sprinting back at an astonishing pace, he was determined to recover his defensive position!
"What a monster. If I had a full-back like that, I'd also be confident enough to leave one side of the midfield open," José thought, pursing his lips.
Rufete was no rookie. He had been playing in La Liga since his teenage years and had faced Carlos many times during his spell at Málaga. Knowing Carlos was closing in fast, Rufete didn't attempt to dribble further. Instead, he lifted his right foot and sent a diagonal half-volley cross into the box!
The ball curved beautifully and landed inside Real Madrid's penalty area.
Samuel Eto'o, sprinting at full speed, shook off Karanka's marking and met the ball mid-stride, redirecting it with the inside of his foot in a controlled volley!
"OHHHH! Iker Casillas! What a stunning save! He dived and reached out with one hand to deflect the ball away—it's out for a corner! Mallorca wins a corner kick!"