Dominating Football with Perfect Ball Control

Chapter 54: 54. Stepping into the Champions League for the first time

Check out advanced Chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari

----------

”...Zhang Zhidao, what do you think of today’s starting lineups for both teams?”

Champions League match day!

In the Sina Sports live broadcast room, commentator Zhan Jun was already impatient.

From the moment the Champions League group stage draw results were announced half a month ago, Zhan Jun had been looking forward to this day.

Recently, Zhan Jun had also posted several updates on Weibo, previewing today’s big match between Bayer Leverkusen and Real Sociedad.

It was a pity that Lance, who scored the winning goal against Bayern Munich, did not maintain his popularity in China for many days.

Soon, he was covered by other trending topics on the internet.

For example, Faye Wong and Li Yapeng’s divorce, Hua Chenyu winning The Voice of China finals, Fang Zhouzi and Cui Yongyuan going to court...

These hot events quickly occupied the trending searches, attracting the public’s attention.

Few people continued to follow Lance’s updates, and few people actively chose to watch Bayer Leverkusen vs. Real Sociedad.

CCTV5 was broadcasting the Group B heavyweight match, Real Madrid vs. Juventus, today.

Another match between Bayern Munich and Manchester City also attracted a lot of attention.

If it weren’t for Lance,

Bayer Leverkusen vs. Real Sociedad wouldn’t even be broadcast live.

Zhan Jun originally thought there wouldn’t be many people in the live broadcast room today, but unexpectedly, nearly 300,000 fans still came.

The first Champions League journey of the Chinese teenager Lance still tugged at the hearts of many Chinese people.

Two hours before the match, both teams announced their starting lineups.

Lance, who had been performing exceptionally well recently, was prominently listed!

Bayer Leverkusen 4-4-1-1

Goalkeeper: Bernd Leno

Defenders: Giulio Donati, Emir Spahi?, ?mer Toprak, Sebastian Boenisch

Midfielders: Robbie Kruse, Simon Rolfes, Lars Bender, Andrés Guardado

Forwards: Eren Derdiyok, Lance

Real Sociedad 4-3-3

Goalkeeper: Claudio Bravo

Defenders: Carlos Martínez, Mikel González, I?igo Martínez, José ángel

Midfielders: Javi Prieto (C), Esteban Granero, David Zurutuza

Forwards: Haris Seferovi?, Carlos Vela, Antoine Griezmann

Looking at these two starting lineups, Zhang Zhidao began with his signature ”hehehe” smile and spoke eloquently:

”We are already very familiar with Bayer Leverkusen, let’s first look at their opponent, Real Sociedad.”

”Their most threatening point is this one on the left...uh, Antoine Griezmann.”

”Antoine Griezmann is good at breaking through and has a high football IQ.”

”Although his physical condition is average, his footwork is very delicate, and he can also link up with teammates and has a certain scoring ability.”

”In addition, Esteban Granero in the midfield is excellent at passing and organizing, and he is on loan from Real Madrid.”

”The forward Carlos Vela was very agile when he played for Arsenal before, and he has been performing well in La Liga recently.”

”I estimate that Real Sociedad is more adept at ground infiltration. They don’t have a tall target in the penalty area, so they like to infiltrate from the ribs and play behind the defense.”

”It just so happens that Bayer Leverkusen’s two defenders are very slow to turn...Real Sociedad should take advantage of this point.”

”The technical finesse of La Liga is still superior to that of Bundesliga teams.”

”Exactly.”

Zhan Jun took over the conversation:

”And Bayer Leverkusen is more adept at quick counterattacks and emphasizes efficiency.”

”In the last Bundesliga match against Bayern Munich, they only had 6 shots on goal but scored 4 goals, with Lance scoring twice.”

”He is definitely the key player today!”

Zhang Zhidao couldn’t help but chuckle when he saw Lance on the screen.

”Lance is truly the most agile player I’ve ever seen; watching him play is simply a delight.”

”Fortunately, the opponent is a La Liga team, so the physical confrontation won’t be too excessive.”

”Lance should be able to make an impact today.”

”Oh?”

Zhan Jun smiled wryly,

”Zhang Zhidao, their opponent today is not an ordinary La Liga team.”

”This team is known as the ’The Royal One,’ and their midfield tackling and contention are very intense.”

”It will probably be a challenging test for Lance.”

”Is that so? Then if it comes to physical play, Lance might be at a disadvantage.”

”Yes, both of their defensive midfielders are very strong, and their backline is full of South American players, so they might have more dirty tricks...”

Zhan Jun couldn’t help but worry for Lance.

He had already put it very euphemistically.

In reality, besides their delicate technique, a bigger characteristic of South American players is that they play ”dirty”!

Constant small fouls, and they love to use some fouls that referees don’t see to annoy opponents.

Stepping on toes at any moment, or elbowing someone in a challenge.

Zhan Jun was afraid that Lance would encounter these dirty players and easily fall victim to their tricks.

At this moment, both teams’ players had walked out of the player tunnel, and the BayArena erupted in enthusiastic cheers and applause.

Zhan Jun redirected the topic back to the Champions League.

”It’s worth noting that Lance’s start today also broke the record for the youngest player to appear in Champions League history.”

”16 years and 104 days!”

”Before this, the record was held by FC Barcelona’s youngster Bojan Krki?, at 17 years and 19 days.”

”Lance advanced the record by more than 200 days!”

Zhan Jun couldn’t help but secretly marvel.

A 16-year-old boy appearing in a Champions League starting lineup!

And he’s Chinese!

Even if he doesn’t have a Chinese passport, it’s enough to make people incredibly excited.

”This is also the first time a Chinese player has appeared in the Champions League since October 20, 2010, nearly 3 years ago!”

Zhan Jun and Zhang Zhidao couldn’t help but sigh with emotion when they talked about this.

Since Hao Junmin’s quiet departure from Europe, it had been too long since a descendant of the Yellow Emperor had competed on this field.

Seeing Japanese and Korean players like Son Heung-min, Makoto Hasebe, and Shinji Kagawa gradually making their mark,

Chinese people could only envy their neighbors.

Now, finally, one of their compatriots was competing in the Champions League!

Fans in the live broadcast room showered gifts and rockets, filling the comment section with cheers and encouragement for Lance.

”Lance! Go for it!”

”There’s one of our own in the Champions League!! Who understands this feeling of redemption?!”

”A 10-year Bayer Leverkusen old fan, uninvited, is here.”

”Go Bayer Leverkusen!”

...

”Play against FC Barcelona, play against FC Barcelona!”

”Play against Bayern Munich!”

”My team has collapsed—”

Lance recalled watching the Champions League with his dad when he was in junior high.

At that time, in the small Belgian city of Genk,

KRC Genk’s competitive level wasn’t high enough to participate in the Champions League,

so they could only watch other teams on TV.

Lance’s favorite was Arsenal, where Thierry Henry played.

The 2005-2006 Champions League final, with the peak showdown between Thierry Henry and Ronaldinho, left a deep impression on Lance.

There was also the rainy night in Luzhniki, Cristiano Ronaldo crying as he lifted the trophy, and John Terry’s tears on the field.

And in the summer of 2009, Lionel Messi lifted the Champions League trophy, leading FC Barcelona to a treble and a grand slam, officially launching the Dream Team era.

When he became a youth player and came to the Munich youth training camp, he still couldn’t go to the Champions League matches to watch the games live.

Lance witnessed Bayern Munich lifting the Champions League trophy on TV.

He never expected that his first time participating in the Champions League, hearing the familiar Champions League anthem on TV, hearing the exhilarating string melody, would not be as a fan, and not from the stands.

At this very moment!

Lance, holding the hand of a child mascot,

was walking onto the Champions League field as a starting player, enjoying the cheers of the home fans!

”Finally, my dream has come true... No!!”

Lance’s lips curled into a fierce grin.

”The dream has just begun!”

Just then, the system, which had been silent for a long time, suddenly flashed a notification!