Dominating Football with Perfect Ball Control

Chapter 326: 326. Who can turn the tide?

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”Instructor Zhang, do you think Atlético Madrid still has a chance to equalise?”

”How should Lance play better when he’s being frozen out on the pitch?”

Time was ticking away.

Atlético Madrid 1-2 Barcelona.

Time was running out for Atlético Madrid.

Barcelona’s tight defensive formation in their own half, their high-press, and 79% possession, firmly controlled the game.

Lance had almost no chances to get on the ball.

Even when he did have possession, he faced infuriatingly targeted marking.

The commentator was already starting to worry for Atlético Madrid.

If they couldn’t win this match and Barcelona widened the gap, it would be even harder to catch up later.

Given Barcelona’s form this season, they almost never dropped points against weaker teams, their consistency was despair-inducing.

But looking at the current situation on the pitch, Atlético Madrid was finding it very difficult to create any opportunities.

The fans must have been anxious, so they asked guest Instructor Zhang to say a few words, to comfort them from a tactical perspective.

It was late at night, and it wasn’t easy for everyone to stay up so late to watch the game.

”Uh... this...”

Old man Instructor Zhang was momentarily speechless.

Being older, he often commentated on the Champions League, and had to shuttle between LeTV, Sina, and CCTV.

By the middle of the night, the old man’s mind was a bit muddled.

”The main reason is that Atlético Madrid is indeed unable to break through Barcelona’s high block right now. Atlético Madrid’s best defensive counter-attack is temporarily unplayable. Before, they relied more on Lance’s individual brilliance.”

”But Barcelona’s positioning is too compact, and their positional synergy is very good. The midfield and forward lines first press players like Koke and Gabi who are on the ball, immediately cutting off their connection with Lance. If the ball gets passed to the front, they can then form a tight encirclement around Lance.”

”Lance... is a typical ball-carrying player; he needs the ball at his feet to operate. In previous matches against Bayer Leverkusen, as well as Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao, more and more teams have thoroughly studied Lance’s characteristics. Barcelona’s approach today is indeed flawless.”

”At this point, they need someone better at off-the-ball movement to disrupt Barcelona in the attacking third. Atlético Madrid still has Correa, Luciano, Carrasco on the bench... bringing them on might make a difference.”

Although he didn’t want to admit it, Instructor Zhang’s meaning was very clear.

Atlético Madrid might create some chances with substitutions.

Lance’s characteristics were distinct, and Barcelona had thoroughly studied him.

He wasn’t a player adept at off-the-ball movement, and he didn’t have a significant physical advantage, so he was really easily restricted by Barcelona’s midfield and defence, which acted like a meat grinder.

He usually relied on the system’s template abilities to cope, but today, without the template’s boost, it seemed Lance’s shortcomings were fully exposed.

On camera, Lance himself was playing very hard, but it looked quite strenuous.

Even Atlético Madrid’s assistant coach Jesús couldn’t bear to watch.

”Why don’t we let Lance rest for a bit? He’s done his best.”

Simeone didn’t speak, he just stood with his arms crossed, his gaze sternly fixed on the pitch.

”The match has reached the 85th minute, and the score is still 1-2, with Atlético Madrid currently trailing.”

”Oh? We see that óliver Torres and Correa are preparing to come on.”

”Is Lance really going to be substituted?”

Although it was hard to admit, Lance had been heavily targeted today.

Barcelona’s frequent fouls hadn’t resulted in cards, and the referee was overtly and covertly protecting them.

Whether to protect Lance’s morale or his physical well-being, he needed to come off and rest.

”No!”

”Don’t substitute my God Lance!”

”As long as God Lance is on the pitch, there will always be miracles!”

Fans who were familiar with Bayer Leverkusen and had followed Lance since his debut were wailing online, wishing they could rush onto Simeone’s face to stop him.

Everyone knew very well that if there was only one person on the pitch who could change the tide of the battle, if there was only one person who could turn the situation around, it would definitely be Lance!

No matter how disadvantaged he seemed now, Lance had never disappointed his fans.

Barcelona fans, on the other hand, were very happy.

Barcelona manager Luis Enrique was already smiling.

As long as this Asian player was substituted, Barcelona’s victory today was surely secured!

Just as everyone was feeling a bit desperate and thought Lance was about to be substituted, the fourth official raised the electronic board!

”Number 14 Gabi, Number 9 Torres off!”

”Number 28 óliver, Number 1 Correa, entering as substitutes!”

Lance was not substituted!

Simeone, still wearing his signature black suit, stood with his arms crossed, watching the pitch.

”Lance, I believe you can do it!”

The commentator also breathed a sigh of relief.

He knew that as long as God Lance was there, there was hope.

”It looks like Atlético Madrid’s coaching staff is going to strengthen the attack. They’re taking off a defensive midfielder, Gabi, and the veteran Torres, who is running out of stamina. They’re bringing on two energetic wing attackers! Saúl moves to the centre, partnering with Koke. Lance and Griezmann form the strike partnership!”

Lance, standing on the sidelines, also thought he was going to be substituted.

He turned and exchanged a glance with Simeone from afar.

Simeone nodded, seemingly blowing the horn for attack!

Atlético Madrid, all out attack!

...

The addition of Correa and óliver significantly increased Atlético Madrid’s threat on the wings in the attacking third!

The two fresh forces were full of energy, and their dribbling and speed were their weapons.

Suddenly, Barcelona’s full-backs, Alves and Alba, were having a very difficult time, and the pressure on them increased dramatically.

However, they were still wingers and couldn’t directly threaten the goal.

The final strike still had to come from Griezmann and Lance.

Griezmann was almost out of breath; he was struggling on the pitch.

Lance was still running tirelessly between the opposing defenders in the attacking third, making runs without regard for his stamina.

Even without the talent for off-the-ball movement, Lance could make up for it with his willpower and stamina!

”Brother, you’re not going to kill yourself, are you?”

Griezmann watched Lance’s clumsy but tenacious running, secretly clicking his tongue.

”Damn it, I’m going for it! I must create an opportunity for you!”

86 minutes, 87 minutes, 88 minutes... The refereeing team on the sidelines was already calculating injury time.

Barcelona also retracted their attack, unable to sustain the energy consumption of a high press, and tried to keep their three lines tightly packed in the midfield and defence.

Atlético Madrid had only one final chance to besiege them.

”Barcelona is playing too steadily; their compact defence leaves no space for Atlético Madrid’s counter-attacks.”

”The two wing players who just came on are being restricted by Barcelona’s defensive formation.”

The commentator and Instructor Zhang exchanged glances; they didn’t know how they could win.

In the media box, the CCTV production team was still filming match footage, with the camera mostly focused on Lance.

Wang Tao, the head of the production team and director, already felt it was hopeless.

”Later, we’ll use Plan A: record some fan expressions and follow God Lance with the camera. Xiao Ma, you also help think about how to create an atmosphere of regret or sadness.”

”Brother Wang, it’s not over yet, I feel there’s a chance...”

Ma Fanshu’s words were rudely interrupted by Wang Tao.

”What chance? It’s hopeless.”

Wang Tao shook his head.

Barcelona, for some reason, was truly uncanny this season.

”Hey? Look!! That ball!”

Just as everyone was in despair, and the fans in the stands were almost crying, Ma Fanshu suddenly pointed excitedly at the pitch.

It was an Atlético Madrid attack; ángel Correa broke through from the left side!

He dribbled past Alves and played a cut-back pass to Griezmann.

Griezmann was almost exhausted, but he still used his last bit of strength to turn and cross the ball to the far post.

Mascherano, Piqué, Alba, Rakiti?, all four were on edge, rushing towards Lance almost simultaneously.

They had never relaxed their guard against this young Asian man!

”Here it comes!”

At this critical moment, Lance showed no emotion, remaining extremely calm.

The movements of everyone around him and the trajectory of the ball formed a clear path in his eyes!

Everything was calculated!

Lance took a deep breath, completely surrendering control of his body to instinct.

Come on!

No matter what this is.

Facing what might be the last chance for a goal, Lance moved!

With his back to the goal, he took a step forward and to the right, his right foot touched the ball first, the tip of his toe slightly flicking it up to bypass Piqué’s interception.

At the same time, his knee gently juggled the ball, bypassing Rakiti?’s interception.

Then he turned and volleyed it!

”Oh no!”

Mascherano and Alba immediately formed a double block!

Goalkeeper Ter Stegen was fully prepared at the near post!

They definitely couldn’t let Lance score this easily!

”Lance — Volley shot!”

Even the camera was following Lance’s movement, ready to capture the moment of the volley.

In an instant, Lance put full power into his swing, completing the volley motion, but the camera missed it!

The defenders’ sliding tackles and blocks, the goalkeeper’s saves, all missed!

Where was the ball?

Holy crap? A feint!

When the camera refocused on Lance, Barcelona’s players were utterly despairing!

Lance had actually, at the moment of shooting, stuck the ball to his ankle, then used a rabona to hook it back and flick it up, deceiving Piqué a second time, opening up a perfect shooting angle!

”This is my shot, you fools!”

Bang —

Everyone could only watch as Lance lifted his weaker left foot and struck the ball!

Whoosh —

A blur flashed and flew into the top corner of the goal!

The entire stadium fell silent!

After half a second, it exploded!

”Goooooooal —”

”Lance~~~~~ Lance~~~~~”

”That’s a goal!! Beautiful!!”

”Lance!! Lance!! The match has just entered injury time, and he’s successfully equalised!”

”2-2!”

”Atlético Madrid hasn’t given up, Lance hasn’t given up!”