Dominating Football with Perfect Ball Control

Chapter 255: 255. Ronaldo’s Eternal Nightmare

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Most professional players have a ”Real Madrid dream.”

Perhaps being cheered by 80,000 people at the Bernabéu Stadium is the peak of their lives.

Lance also had a ”Real Madrid dream.”

From a young age, he hoped to become Real Madrid’s biggest opponent at the Bernabéu Stadium!

Last season, Lance failed to do so and was crushed by Real Madrid here.

This season, he finally realised his dream, truly becoming Real Madrid’s most troublesome opponent!

Just listen to how tens of thousands of people in the stadium boo him, and you’ll know the immense pressure Lance has put on Real Madrid!

”The score is still 0-0 for now, with Real Madrid having over 60% possession, and Bayer Leverkusen focusing more on defensive counter-attacks.”

”But in terms of the game, Real Madrid doesn’t have the upper hand; instead, every Bayer Leverkusen attack is very threatening.”

”Real Madrid’s offence is really hard to organise today.”

”Modri?, receiving the ball with his back to goal in midfield... Lance closes in, Modri? doesn’t dare to turn, just passes back.”

”Carvajal, then to Khedira, Toni Kroos...”

”Lance!!! What a beautiful play! Anticipating and intercepting the pass by getting in front!”

”Bayer Leverkusen’s counter-attack!”

In the first half, Real Madrid hoped to exert as much pressure as possible with their home advantage, but Bayer Leverkusen’s defence today was incredibly strong, encountering considerable resistance in midfield!

Modri? and Toni Kroos couldn’t perform.

Every time they were about to link up an attack, Lance would always appear in the most dangerous spot, disrupting the ball one step ahead.

”It really is you, Cannavaro!”

Lance was not a player known for his defensive skills, but his defensive interceptions today were incredibly confident!

Whether it was positioning or making a move, he was incredibly decisive!

Watching him tackle and win the ball from Toni Kroos, then dribble towards the attacking third, the two coaches, Sascha and Hyypi?, exchanged glances.

”No? When did you give him extra defensive training?”

”Huh? Didn’t you give him extra training assignments?”

”No, the training schedule is transparent, isn’t it? If you don’t know, how would I know?”

”Did any of you give him pointers?”

The two coaches simultaneously turned to look at the coaching staff behind them.

Defensive coach Bob Fritz shook his head blankly.

”Don’t look at me, I don’t know either!”

This kid is truly possessed!

But now was not the time to be curious about Lance’s defensive prowess.

Bayer Leverkusen’s counter-attack had already pushed into Real Madrid’s half.

Khedira rushed forward to intercept, but Lance elegantly dribbled past him with a Marseille turn!

The entire Bernabéu crowd was already gasping, their hearts in their throats.

The 2,000 away fans’ roar completely drowned out the tens of thousands of home fans!

”Lance... Good play!! What a beautiful pass, to Son Heung-min on the left!”

”Through ball, Son Heung-min overtakes on the outside!! Excellent!!”

In Sina Sports’ Champions League live broadcast room, Jian Jun’s tone was as excited as the fans!

Lance’s elegant Marseille turn aside, after dribbling past his man, facing Modri?’s tackle, he calmly slotted a through ball to the left, and then leapt over Modri? to continue his run forward!

The key was that this pass was simply divine!

It went straight into the ribs, perfectly bypassing the defenders, Son Heung-min took a touch and charged into the penalty area!

Ramos quickly rushed over to defend, striker Firmino deliberately pulled to the right, attracting Varane’s attention.

Varane couldn’t just let a Brazil striker go unmarked in the penalty area, but Lance had already surged to the edge of the box.

Varane gritted his teeth, abandoned Firmino, and charged straight at Lance!

Just then, Son Heung-min’s pass came across!

”Sure enough!”

Varane’s anticipation was correct; he went up early to position himself for the interception!

At the critical moment, the mere C-rank template of Cannavaro played a crucial role!

Lance subconsciously inherited Cannavaro’s positioning habits at the edge of the box, taking a diagonal step with his long 1.5-metre legs, then turning and firmly bracing himself against Varane’s impact with his back.

Whilst stabilising his centre of gravity, he shifted the ball to his left foot, stopping it with the inside of his left foot whilst facing away, pulling it to the left, like performing Tai Chi, he drew an arc and turned from the left side.

”What?”

Everything happened too fast; Varane didn’t have time to react and had already been bypassed by Lance!

”Stop him!!!”

Casillas panicked, directing his teammates to close in.

Marcelo and Varane simultaneously pressed forward in a pincer movement, but Lance didn’t shoot, nor did he pass to the offside Firmino!

He raised his right foot as if to shoot, attracting everyone’s attention, but unexpectedly backheeled the ball backward!

[Monster Passing!]

According to the monster’s instinct within!

Only another monster could receive his pass, right?

Lance decided to take a gamble at the crucial moment!

A blind backheel flick, if it succeeded, it would be great, but if it went astray, it would be a huge mistake, and Real Madrid would definitely counter-attack!

”Lance? This ball!!”

Whilst Jian Jun and Zhang were stunned, another figure in a black jersey had already galloped into position!

”De Bruyne!!!!”

Lance’s backheel flick created a brilliant cross, perfectly opening up the angle for the diagonally running De Bruyne.

De Bruyne could comfortably curl the ball with his left foot; even on the training ground, there wouldn’t be such a comfortable shooting environment!!

”Beautiful!! Straight into the top corner!! What a goal!!”

”Bayer Leverkusen’s continuous brilliant passing in the attacking third, Lance assists De Bruyne for the opening goal!”

”Real Madrid 0-1 down to Bayer Leverkusen! 0-4 down on aggregate!”

The moment De Bruyne scored, all the Real Madrid fans were stunned.

”How could this happen?”

”How could it be?”

It should have been Real Madrid’s advantage; the home fans had been constantly mocking Bayer Leverkusen before the match, hoping to beat Bayer Leverkusen 4-0 and meet Barcelona in the semi-finals.

They never expected to be thrashed by Bayer Leverkusen in both legs!

The overwhelming boos and insults earlier were now silenced.

Lance’s cooperation with his teammates had turned the Bernabéu into a library!

Only the voices of the away fans could be heard!

”Kevin, beautiful!!”

Lance originally wanted to celebrate with De Bruyne, rushing to the corner flag for a passionate knee slide.

However, after scoring, De Bruyne just flailed his arms and jumped around like an idiot.

”World-class goal, neighbourhood-level celebration.”

De Bruyne’s celebration was even worse than an old lady in the neighbourhood.

Watching the Bayer Leverkusen players celebrate excitedly, Cristiano Ronaldo, in the distance, spat on the grass, his expression showing a lack of conviction, but his eyes betrayed him.

”Can I really beat this guy?”

Repeated setbacks had begun to make the world’s most confident Cristiano Ronaldo doubt himself.

Lance was gradually becoming his nightmare!

”After taking a 1-0 lead, Real Madrid’s attacks became increasingly desperate, whilst Bayer Leverkusen remained calm, focusing on defensive counter-attacks...”

”Real Madrid’s long pass to Cristiano Ronaldo... A direct volley?”

”Too forced, that shot flew into the stands.”

”Bayer Leverkusen’s goal kick, Lance, good, passes to De Bruyne...”

”Beautiful!! De Bruyne’s diagonal pass, Firmino shields the ball, passes back to Lance...”

Facing the platform set up by his teammates, Lance, 27 metres from the goal, didn’t hesitate for a second!

Kojiro Hyuga!!

At the moment of shooting, Lance felt as if some glass shattered inside him!

Bang—

A loud bang echoed over the Bernabéu!

When everyone heard the sound, the football instantly disappeared, the next second, it had already hit the net!

”So fast!!”

Casillas stood in front of the goal, completely unresponsive, questioning his life!

”Lance creates two goals with 1 assist and 1 shot!!”

”Bayer Leverkusen leads Real Madrid 5-0 on aggregate!!”

Human joys and sorrows are not interconnected.

Jian Jun, and the Bundesliga commentators, were all very excited.

The Spanish commentators’ voices were almost crying.

”It’s over... Everything is over.”

”The first half has already declared the end of this series!”

”Real Madrid, the highly anticipated title favourite... will probably be upset and eliminated today, stopping at the quarterfinals!”

”Congratulations, Lance, congratulations, Bayer Leverkusen.”