Starting as a Defensive Midfielder at Real Madrid

Chapter 51: A Header That Toppled Lazio

Li Ang ultimately didn't manage to score his second career goal against Catania. But the powerful header he unleashed in the first half was enough to completely disrupt the opponent's defensive structure.

As the Sky Italia commentator put it during the live broadcast:

"Li Ang and Kevin-Prince Boateng—the two battering rams—completely stunned Catania's defense!"

Allegri's offensive setup was simple and brutal.

In the first half, he used rotating late runs from Li Ang and Boateng to pound the Catania backline, exhausting their defenders. Then in the second half, once their energy and concentration were depleted, he unleashed fresh-legged attackers to seal the deal.

It was a basic war of attrition, but it worked perfectly.

Li Ang and Boateng could run, and their constant pressure eventually broke down Catania's defenses.

With Zlatan Ibrahimović and Pato leading the line, once chances came, their quality was enough to deliver goals. Catania simply couldn't stop them.

As viewers across Italy watched Li Ang still running hard and covering ground late in the match, envy and admiration rippled through fan forums:

"Milan is so lucky. They're paying less than 200K in wages and got this guy on loan?"

"That's what happens when you have a good relationship with Real Madrid."

"We should've tried for him. Everyone assumed Real wouldn't loan him out."

"Let's be real. Teams like Juventus aren't top-tier anymore. Why would he come to us?"

"Says the Roma fan. You're only five points ahead. Get over yourself."

"Five points is five points. Want to settle this next time we meet?"

"Bring it on. We're not scared."

And so, the discussion quickly derailed—as football forum debates always do.

Still, amid all the bickering, one thing was clear:

Everyone now recognized just how much Li Ang had improved Milan on both ends of the pitch.

And after another clean-sheet 2-0 win, Milan fans rejoiced.

Five straight victories.

Since Li Ang joined AC Milan, the Rossoneri had only lost once—to Roma. Every game since then, they'd won.

They weren't just sitting atop Serie A—they were pulling away.

Naturally, the media counter-punch followed.

"Lazio: The Stone in Milan's Path!"

"Top Four Showdown: Can Lazio Strike Back?"

"Beware the Eagles' Determination!"

Ahead of the Milan–Lazio clash, such headlines flooded Italian sports media.

And fans of rival teams—already sick of Milan's recent success—jumped on the Lazio bandwagon, hyping up the match as Milan's downfall.

Whether Lazio's fans or players liked it or not, they'd been pushed to center stage—expected to be the ones to end Milan's streak.

With the whole country watching, February 2nd arrived.

Milan hosted Lazio at San Siro. The atmosphere was electric. The tension was real.

But neither side was in the mood for an actual battle.

Both teams had played just two days earlier. Energy levels were low.

From the first whistle, Milan stayed deep.

Lazio? Also stayed deep.

They stared at each other across the halfway line.

On the sidelines, Allegri muttered under his breath, calling Lazio's manager Edy Reja a sly old fox.

Reja muttered the same about Allegri—only calling him a young fox.

Both sides were waiting for the other to commit. Neither did.

And so, the match devolved into a slow, tactical, defensive deadlock that tortured fans on both sides.

Milan fans booed Lazio for refusing to attack.

Lazio fans jeered Milan for parking the bus at home.

But the players?

They didn't care. With only two days of rest, they were just trying not to collapse.

The difference came down to one thing:

Squad depth.

Milan had more midfield options off the bench—van Bommel, Seedorf, Flamini. They could shift tactics and personnel.

Up front, they had more firepower, too.

In the back? Well, it was hard to tell—Lazio barely attacked.

But when you crammed 11 players into your own 30-meter zone, that's to be expected.

Allegri shook his head in frustration.

This wasn't a battle—it was a stand-off.

So in the 30th minute, he made a change.

A few simple hand gestures from the touchline.

Then he sat back with a smile.

Reja squinted at the Milan bench, sensing a shift.

Three minutes later, Pato charged into the congested middle third and promptly got clattered.

The ref blew his whistle.

Free kick. Dangerous spot.

"Get up there! Li Ang, Thiago, Kevin—GO!"

Allegri shouted.

And suddenly, a wave of tall, physical Milan players surged into Lazio's penalty area.

Nesta, Thiago Silva, Li Ang, Boateng, Zlatan—one after another.

Reja groaned.

"He wasn't trying to play fair. He was baiting us for this all along."

Set pieces. Headers. Chaos.

Milan was built for this.

Compared to the likes of Inter or Napoli, Lazio wasn't as strong in the air.

Defender Biava, barely 180cm tall, looked nervous as he marked Boateng.

He tugged. He pushed. He did all he could.

But when Pirlo swung in the ball from the left, his man changed.

Boateng stayed put.

Li Ang cut in from the blindside.

"Mine!"

Li Ang shouted, outjumping Biava like a rising tide.

He didn't even watch the ball after he made contact—he was already falling back onto the grass.

Lazio's box descended into chaos.

Keeper Muslera made a brilliant save to stop Li Ang's header.

But Zlatan Ibrahimović was already there.

His foot met the rebound. Boom. Net.

San Siro exploded.

Lazio fans? Stunned.

Pundits? Shocked.

Because that entire sequence started with one player:

Li Ang.

The young midfielder had once again turned the tide.

"This kid just headed Lazio out of the game."

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