In the first round of the DFB-Pokal, Bayer Leverkusen hosted SV Lippstadt.
"Lance, what kind of team did you say this was again?"
"A 3. Liga team. No, buddy? Are you kidding me?"
Lance was speechless.
It had been made very clear in the tactical meeting a week ago.
Based on the scout's observations, the coaching staff had simply designed a tactical plan, briefly introducing the characteristics of each opposing player.
They had even conducted targeted drills on the training ground.
SV Lippstadt was indeed a 3. Liga team, but Bayer Leverkusen still had to prepare everything they needed to.
After all, with the Bundesliga title out of reach and the Champions League a pipe dream, the DFB-Pokal was their only chance to compete for a trophy.
Even with a substitute lineup in the first round, they had to play well.
Yet, despite being emphasized so many times, Julian Brandt had let it go in one ear and out the other.
"Hehehe, I fell asleep during the tactical meeting and didn't hear it. Anyway, it's just a 3. Liga team; I can beat them with one foot."
"And you're even a starter with that attitude."
"It means the head coaches trust me! I'm the only future core of Bayer Leverkusen!"
Julian Brandt's confidence came from who knows where.
In today's match, Lance and Julian were both included in the squad list.
Unfortunately, Lance was still a substitute, while Julian was a starter.
Two hours before the match, the starting lineups for both sides were announced.
SV Lippstadt's lineup consisted of unfamiliar names, not worth mentioning for now.
Bayer Leverkusen lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
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Goalkeeper: No. 2 Substitute Goalkeeper, Andrés Palop.
Defenders: Roberto Hilbert, Ömer Toprak, Philipp Wollscheid, Kyriakos Papadopoulos
Midfielders: Emre Can, André Hegeler, Sidney Sam, Gonzalo Castro, Julian Brandt
Lone Striker: Swiss international, Eren Derdiyok.
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Overall, the midfield and defense were entirely rotation players.
Only attacking midfielder Gonzalo Castro and striker Eren Derdiyok were experienced players in the starting eleven.
The intention was clear: the defense would try its best to withstand the opponent's attacks, while the two experienced attackers would seize opportunities to score and kill the game.
The plan was good, but the execution went awry.
Lance arrived at the substitute bench from the locker room, and before he could even warm his seat, a cheer suddenly erupted from the stadium.
"Ah? No, what happened? What's going on?"
Everyone on the substitute bench, as well as the two head coaches, were stunned.
Less than 3 minutes into the game, the 3. Liga team players were already celebrating.
All of Bayer Leverkusen's players were dejected, and the goalkeeper sat in the goal, sighing.
Through the replay on the big screen, Lance finally saw the goal.
The goal was conceded very simply; it wasn't due to any brilliant combination play from the opponent.
What kind of combination play could a 3. Liga team have?
A long ball from midfield was directly lofted into the box, and a tall striker, 190 cm tall, appeared out of nowhere, easily heading the ball in.
0-1.
Bayer Leverkusen was trailing a 3. Liga team at home.
"What was that team called again?"
"Lipp... uh..."
His teammates had almost forgotten who the opponent was, but that wasn't important; Bayer Leverkusen was the one trailing.
A Bundesliga team was upset by a 3. Liga team.
Next, what the 3. Liga team did was very simple—they parked the bus.
For a weak team playing against a strong team, the optimal strategy is defensive counter-attack.
As long as the opponent hasn't reached the level of peak Barcelona, it's generally very difficult to break through a compact defense.
From the 3rd minute of the goal until the 30th minute, Bayer Leverkusen had no good opportunities.
Despite having 75% possession, they only had 1 shot on target; the rest of the time, they could only pass the ball back and forth on the flanks.
Lance watched Julian Brandt and felt very anxious.
Julian has good technique and speed, excels at breaking through on counter-attacks, and creating threats by utilizing space in the attacking third.
Today, the area around the box was crowded with people, making it impossible for Julian Brandt to break through; he was just mechanically receiving the ball, cutting back, passing it back, receiving it again, passing it back...
From the perspective of the substitute bench, Lance was even more able to calmly analyze the situation from an outsider's viewpoint.
Currently, the best method was to mindlessly loft high balls into the box, but SV Lippstadt's two center-backs were tall and sturdy, firmly controlling the aerial duels.
Bayer Leverkusen only had 1 striker, Eren Derdiyok, who couldn't win against two opponents.
They were completely stumped now.
In Lance's opinion, perhaps only Lionel Messi on the field could solve the problem.
They needed a single-point breakthrough player who could tear apart the defense and create threats through individual ability.
"Lance!"
Lance was carefully observing the match when he was suddenly called by head coach Sami Hyypiä.
"Coach, looking for me?"
Lance thought his chance had come and was about to get excited.
"Go warm up; move around every 15 minutes."
"Okay."
To avoid unexpected situations, substitute players would get up and warm up periodically.
Lance could only jog slowly along the sidelines with everyone else, stretching his legs.
European football stadiums are generally professional stadiums, with the front row of the stands close to the green grass, and no track blocking the view around.
So Lance could clearly hear the fans in the front row discussing animatedly.
"What kind of play is this? Is it so difficult to beat a 3. Liga team?"
"No choice, it's all a substitute lineup."
"Even substitutes shouldn't be like this. Is there no one available in the first team?"
"At least for now, it seems we only have one barely passable starting lineup, and the bench depth is too thin."
"It's ridiculous to struggle against a 3. Liga team..."
It was ridiculous.
Lance watched the game from the sidelines, already simulating many scenarios in his mind.
Using the Nagi Seishiro Template Perfect Ball Control skill, he could find at least 3 or more shooting opportunities.
Unfortunately, his 16-year-old age became the biggest obstacle.
Unless it was a desperate situation, the coaches would not substitute him onto the field.
However, in the 71st minute of the second half, something comical happened.
The score on the scoreboard was quite ironic.
Bayer Leverkusen 0-2 SV Lippstadt
The opponent's iron defense left Bayer Leverkusen helpless, and instead, through a quick counter-attack, two passes tore through Bayer Leverkusen's defense.
Facing a 2-on-1 situation, the goalkeeper was helpless.
The 3. Liga team breached the goal, leading Bayer Leverkusen by 2 goals!
Sealing the victory!
At Bayer Leverkusen's home ground, the BayArena, the 30,000 fans in the stands were as silent as death.
Only the 100 fans in the away section cheered wildly, even happier than Christmas.
A 3. Liga team challenging above their division and upsetting a Bundesliga team was enough for them to brag about for a year.
Even the reporters in the media section were typing rapidly on their laptops, having already drafted the post-match headlines.
"Giant Killer Arrives! Lippstadt's Two Punches Defeat the Pharmaceutical Factory, Bundesliga Powerhouse Loses All Face!"
"DFB-Pokal Shocking Upset! Bayer Leverkusen Swept by 3. Liga Team, Humiliatingly Eliminated in First Round!"
Bad news: Bayer Leverkusen had less than 20 minutes left.
Good news: Anyway, no one expected anything from Bayer Leverkusen, and it wasn't Bayern Munich being upset.
Bayer Leverkusen's goal each season was just to contend for a top-four finish in the Bundesliga, which fit the team's persona.
Their biggest significance was merely to serve as a backdrop for Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund in the title race.
Besides their own fans, who would pay attention to a marginal team?
Lance felt that his teammates on the substitute bench didn't care either, some even chatting and laughing.
The players on the field didn't seem to have the belief in victory, purely treating the starting opportunity as a job, completely giving up.
"How can this be?"
Lance found it very difficult to understand.
If I could get a chance to play, I would definitely...
"Lance, come here."
Sami Hyypiä's call interrupted Lance, and he quickly ran over.
"Coach?"
"Change your clothes, get ready to go on."
"Really?"
Lance thought he had misheard; there was really a chance!
"Nonsense, what are you dawdling for, hurry up."
Hyypiä laughed and cursed, almost dropping his jaw.
Lance casually pulled off his jacket, then quickly stripped off his training pants, performing a 1-second costume change.
"Coach, I'm ready!"
"Good, good, good..." Hyypiä chuckled.
The coaching staff communicated with the fourth official, completing Lance's pre-match check-in.
Confirming name and identity, confirming eligibility to play, checking for any prohibited jewelry.
Everything was ready, and Lance was already on the sidelines, eager to go!
Just waiting for a dead ball on the field, and the moment the fourth official raised the electronic board!
"No. 27 Gonzalo Castro off the field."
"No. 39, Lance! Coming on as a substitute!"