There were the London Olympics and the European Cup in the summer of 2012, so the European league schedule was relatively tight, the winter break was short, and the second half of the season started very early.
Lu Wenbin rushed back to Madrid and rested for only one night. He didn't even have a pre-match training session. He just had a quick physical examination. On January 3, 2012, Real Madrid played its first game in 2012. The first round of the 2011/2012 Spanish King's Cup quarter-finals was held at Real Madrid's home stadium, the Bernabeu, against La Liga team Malaga.
As a first-tier team, Malaga is naturally not as weak as Bonfradena. The team also has superstars such as former Bayern Munich's defensive core Demichelis, the king of the small penalty area Van Nistelrooy and so on.
On the other hand, Real Madrid's Lu Wenbin, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Benzema, Di Maria and others all had their own endorsement brand activities and various public welfare and charity activities to participate in during the winter break, and did not have a good rest at all.
Non-European players like Lu Wenbin and Di Maria even have to fly across half the globe, go home to celebrate New Year's Day, and then hurriedly fly back to Madrid to participate in the first game of the new year.
Not only Ronaldo, Di Maria and others, but even Lu Wenbin, who is always known for his strong physical fitness, was in poor condition in this game.
From the beginning of the game, even Malaga was suppressing Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.
In the first ten minutes of the game, Real Madrid didn't even have a shot. Even Lu Wenbin didn't get a chance to shoot under the close defense of Demichelis.
In the 10th minute, Malaga got a chance to shoot in the penalty area. Although winger Isco's shot was saved by Casillas, Malaga got a corner kick opportunity.
When the corner kick was taken, Van Nistelrooy first ran two steps out from the middle of the penalty area, attracting Pepe who was defending him to follow him out.
Then, Van Nistelrooy suddenly started to move forward, rushed to the front of Ramos, and headed the ball towards the goal before Ramos, and then Van Nistelrooy himself fell out of the baseline.
But the ball had already flown past Ramos and flew into the narrow gap between Casillas and the goal post.
In the 10th minute, former Real Madrid player Van Nistelrooy faced his old club and scored a wonderful goal in the small penalty area under the defense of two top defenders Pepe and Ramos.
The king of the small forbidden area, the title is well-deserved!
As a former Real Madrid player, Van Nistelrooy did not celebrate enthusiastically, but the Malaga players and a small number of away fans were very excited and celebrated enthusiastically.
After all, it is definitely a rare opportunity for Real Madrid, led by Lu Wenbin, to lead at the Bernabeu.
After the opponent scored a goal, the stars of Real Madrid finally perked up a little.
It would be a joke if we lost to Malaga at the Bernabeu.
Moreover, if they lose at home, they may not be able to turn the tables on the road.
The safest thing to do, of course, is to ensure a win at home and a draw away from home.
Real Madrid, with their spirits raised, attacked more aggressively and created shooting opportunities one after another in the next ten minutes.
However, Lu Wenbin's shooting luck was not good today. One of his shots in the penalty area hit the goal post and bounced out of the bottom line.
Another shot by Benzema hit the target.
Real Madrid had bad luck, but Malaga had great luck.
In the 29th minute, Malaga got another corner kick.
After the corner kick was taken, Casillas made a mistake in his attack and collided with Ramos. Not only did he fail to hold the ball, but his reluctant shot instead sent the ball to the feet of Malaga midfielder Fernandez in the penalty area.
Fernandez naturally did not waste such a great gift.
Without waiting for other Real Madrid players to grab the ball, Fernandez volleyed the ball into the Real Madrid goal without waiting for the ball to land.
Real Madrid fell behind 0-2 to the visiting team Malaga at their home ground. Malaga's players and fans celebrated wildly in the Bernabeu stadium, causing boos from Real Madrid fans in the stands.
All the Real Madrid players on the field were finally enraged.
In the first game of 2012, Real Madrid might actually lose to Malaga, a mid-table team ranked 8th in La Liga. Would they have a black start in the new year, and at their home ground
It's simply unacceptable.
With Mourinho furious on the sidelines, Real Madrid players had no choice but to work hard.
If he continues to stroll lazily on the field, he might be banished to the cold palace by Mourinho.
In the next ten minutes of the first half, Real Madrid finally showed their momentum, pushed Malaga back, and dominated the opponent in Malaga's half.
In the 36th minute, Real Madrid finally scored a goal.
The one who scored the goal was the most reassuring Lu Wenbin.
Although Lu Wenbin's condition is not good, he is still above average.
Di Maria made a long diagonal pass from the midfield and lifted the ball to the top of the penalty area.
After Lu Wenbin took the ball, he kicked it with his heel and passed a defender next to him. Then he turned around and passed by his opponent, and shot before another defender could grab the ball.
The ball went through the penalty area along the grass and went into the far corner of the goal along the goal post.
Although goalkeeper Caballero made a save, Lu Wenbin's shot was at a too sharp angle and he was ultimately unable to reach the ball, so he could only watch the ball go into the net.
Real Madrid finally scored a point thanks to Lu Wenbin's goal, and the score between the two teams was 1-2.
The morale of the Real Madrid team was boosted after scoring the goal, and they kept working hard. At the end of the first half, Lu Wenbin made a straight pass through Malaga's defense. Benzema successfully made an offside move and shot into the near corner of the small penalty area.
Thanks to Lu Wenbin's pass and shot, Real Madrid finally equalized the score, and applause from fans rang out in the stands of the Bernabeu.
During the half-time break, Mourinho angrily criticized the performance of the entire Real Madrid team in the first 30 minutes of the first half in the locker room.
Of course, the performance in the next 15 minutes was also praised.
Finally, Mourinho said that if they couldn't win this game, then everyone would have to forget about taking a holiday, so the plan to take a day off after the game was cancelled.
This is bad news for Real Madrid players.
The winter break was short to begin with, and everyone rushed back to participate in the first game of the new year. Everyone was very tired, which was also one of the reasons for everyone's poor performance.
Everyone wants to have a good rest tomorrow and sleep in or something.
It would be a bolt from the blue if there was no holiday tomorrow.
Therefore, after a 15-minute break, in the second half of the game, Real Madrid players put all their energy into fighting, grabbing, running and competing for fleeting opportunities.
Although the condition is still not good, at least the fighting spirit is there.
In the 63rd minute, Lu Wenbin broke through Malaga's right defense through continuous passing, and Di Maria cut in from the right and scored.
Real Madrid finally reversed the score to 3-2.
In the 80th minute, Lu Wenbin's breakthrough created a free kick and he scored it himself.
Lu Wenbin scored twice and helped Real Madrid lead Malaga 4-2.
The score of 4-2 remained until the end of the game. Real Madrid finally did not lose at home. With Lu Wenbin's two goals and an assist, as well as Di Maria's goal, they reversed the game 4-2 at home and defeated Malaga, winning the first round of the King's Cup quarter-finals.