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Ever since being promoted from the youth team to the first team in 2009, Antoine Griezmann had considered himself a genius.
At 18, he helped Real Sociedad win the Segunda División title, successfully earning promotion to La Liga.
At 19, in his La Liga debut, he assisted a teammate in scoring against Real Madrid.
At 22, his goal helped Real Sociedad secure a top-four finish in La Liga, earning a Champions League spot.
In less than four years, he transformed a Segunda División team into a Champions League team!
Of course, teammates like Asier Illarramendi, Aritz Aduriz, and Javi Prieto were also very strong…
But as the team's left winger, Antoine Griezmann was Real Sociedad's sharpest blade!
He cut through all obstacles! (Except for peak FC Barcelona, the rising Atlético Madrid in the past two years, and the resurgent Real Madrid…)
As for other teams, Antoine Griezmann was never afraid!
Bayer Leverkusen, a team ranked third in the Bundesliga?
Easy!
Even half a month ago, Antoine Griezmann thought this way.
That was until the Champions League draw results were announced, and the club's coaching staff began studying Bayer Leverkusen, playing Bayer Leverkusen's match videos in front of the entire team…
Antoine Griezmann was stunned.
Lance's several divine goals left Antoine Griezmann in awe.
If it were him, he might be able to pull off such a brilliant performance on the training ground, but in a fiercely contested match, Antoine Griezmann admitted he couldn't do it.
Antoine Griezmann, whose confidence had been constantly swelling, was for the first time struck by a young player.
The most absurd part was that the opponent was only 16 years old!
Upon arriving at BayArena in Leverkusen, Antoine Griezmann had been eager to see up close who this person truly was.
The home team players lined up, and the away team, Real Sociedad, players shook hands one by one.
When it was Lance's turn,
Antoine Griezmann couldn't help but look at him a few more times.
However, Lance remained expressionless, facing everyone calmly, which greatly annoyed Antoine Griezmann.
"Who are you looking down on?! I'm going to teach you a lesson today!"
The young and impetuous Antoine Griezmann had already ignited his inner fire.
In reality, Lance was simply lost in thought, calculating the group qualification scenarios.
"If we win this match, we only need to defeat Shakhtar Donetsk next, and then try to avoid losing in the two remaining rounds to have a chance to advance?"
"The result against Manchester United wouldn't matter then… No! How can I admit defeat prematurely?"
"Bayer Leverkusen isn't without a fighting chance against Manchester United!"
"Sir Alex Ferguson has retired; this is David Moyes's Manchester United!"
If Manchester United truly became, as predicted, a roadside team in the Premier League from a Premier League hegemon, even falling into relegation battles 10 years later…
Lance couldn't even imagine that scene; it would be too tragic, wouldn't it?
So tragic that Lance felt a bit like laughing.
In current football, Manchester United's lingering power was still present.
According to European media predictions, Manchester United would most likely finish first in the group, with the remaining three teams vying for second place.
Lance didn't think so.
He believed Bayer Leverkusen had the strength to contend for first place in the group!
"Let's start with this match!"
…
Captain Simon Rolfes won the coin toss, and Bayer Leverkusen kicked off first.
Both teams returned to their respective halves to warm up and prepare for the match.
Bayer Leverkusen players gathered in a circle, giving their final pre-match pep talk.
The referee kept an eye on the time on his wristwatch, ready to blow the whistle at any moment.
In the distant Eastern country,
many fans had already set alarms that were now ringing in the middle of the night, waking up at 2:45 AM to watch this Champions League match.
More young fans simply stayed up all night, just to witness Lance's Champions League debut!
Hearing the stirring Champions League anthem,
the audience in the Sina Sports live broadcast room were all very nervous and excited.
"So nervous!"
"Excited! Go, Lance!"
"Take down Real Sociedad!"
"Charge, charge, charge!"
"Can Lance score?"
"Is there anyone knowledgeable who can tell me what the winning odds are today?"
"Bayer Leverkusen should have a slight advantage."
The vast majority of fans supported Lance and Bayer Leverkusen.
Just as many people became Houston Rockets fans when Yao Ming joined the Rockets, many people were now gradually becoming Bayer Leverkusen fans.
Beep—
"Hello, viewers of Sina Sports, we are now bringing you the first match of Group A in the 2013/14 UEFA Champions League season!"
"Bundesliga's Bayer Leverkusen is hosting last season's La Liga fourth-place team, Real Sociedad, at BayArena!"
"Wearing black jerseys are the home team, Bayer Leverkusen, and Real Sociedad are in blue and white stripes…"
"Oh? Let's look at this play first!"
Commentator Zhan Jun hadn't even finished his opening remarks when the situation on the field suddenly changed!
The moment Bayer Leverkusen kicked off, several black figures advanced in unison, launching a collective assault on Real Sociedad!
After kicking off, Eren Derdiyok passed directly to Simon Rolfes behind him.
Simon Rolfes passed it horizontally to Lars Bender.
Antoine Griezmann was just about to press Lars Bender, when the opponent, without any hesitation, sent a long pass directly to the front of the field!
"Damn it!!"
Antoine Griezmann's heart tightened, and he quickly turned back!
Sure enough, the flat and fast long pass instantly pierced through the midfield barrier!
Lance leaped high in front of the penalty arc, and incredibly, he used the outside of his foot to bring the ball down in mid-air!
Upon landing, he instantly turned and dribbled past Real Sociedad captain Javi Prieto!
A through ball was sent to the left!
Andrés Guardado surged forward from the flank, entering the penalty area!
"Lance!! Perfect execution! Guardado is in!"
Zhan Jun excitedly slammed his fist on the table!
It was rare for a player to handle the ball in front of the penalty area so cleanly and decisively!
Lance completed the trap, turn, and pass in almost one second, making a brilliant pass into the box before Real Sociedad players could surround him! He created a time difference!
Andrés Guardado immediately drew two defenders away, while target man Eren Derdiyok made a diagonal run, drawing away another center-back, creating a vacuum in Real Sociedad's penalty area!
"Fuck! Fuck!!"
Antoine Griezmann gritted his teeth, chasing back frantically, his eyes burning with fury!
He had already seen the dangerous black number 39 actively surging forward!
"Watch out!!"
Antoine Griezmann warned in despair.
At the same time, Real Sociedad's goalkeeper Claudio Bravo also noticed the danger and rushed out of the six-yard box immediately to intercept!
This Chilean goalkeeper, would join FC Barcelona a year later, break Víctor Valdés's clean sheet record, and win the Champions League with FC Barcelona!
His judgment was truly world-class!
Sure enough, Andrés Guardado crossed the ball to the center with his left foot!
"Bingo!"
Goalkeeper Claudio Bravo confidently dove, flying to intercept the cross.
"Got it!"
Antoine Griezmann also slowed his pace; with the goalkeeper making the save, Bayer Leverkusen's early blitz would be thwarted… or would it?
"Merde!"
Antoine Griezmann couldn't help but curse in French.
But then Lance, a step ahead, touched the ball with his right foot, intercepting the cross before it reached the goalkeeper's gloves!
At the moment of stopping the ball, Lance somehow chipped it up, and like a graceful gentleman on a dance floor, he turned around goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, facing an open goal!
"Lance… receives the ball! Beautiful!! Turns past the goalkeeper!"
"A goal is coming!!!"
"Just 9 seconds into the match, Bayer Leverkusen breaks the deadlock! The German team blitzes Spain!"
"This goal by Lance! Breaks multiple records! Youngest player to appear in the Champions League, youngest goal scorer! And the fastest goal record in the Champions League!"
"Youngster Lance! He also becomes the first Chinese player to score in the Champions League!"