Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari
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Bayer Leverkusen easily defeated FC Augsburg 3-0, ending their two-game winless streak in the Bundesliga and Champions League.
To be precise, it wasn't really a slump, as after the 2-2 draw with Manchester United, both England and Germany media were almost entirely praising Bayer Leverkusen.
It was Manchester United, who were playing at home and got equalized, that became the target of media criticism.
"Young Genius Disrupts Moyes' Party! 16-year-old Lance's Backheel Miracle Savior—Red Devils' Old Trafford Shaken by an Equalizer!" —The Sun
"Lance's Masterpiece Exposes Moyes' Fragility: Bayer Leverkusen's Teenage Prodigy Secures Deserved Draw, Manchester United Manager's Weakness Raises Questions" —442
"16-year-old Prodigy Exposes Manchester United's Defensive Chaos, Bayer Leverkusen's 2 Games, 4 Points, Great Chance to Qualify!" —Kicker
So, after defeating FC Augsburg, coach Markus Weinzierl, who had made arrogant statements before the match, was criticized by German media and netizens.
"Bayer Leverkusen is amazing! They found a 1% way to win from 99%!"
"The strength gap between the two teams is so big, Bayer Leverkusen actually managed to win 3-0? /doge"
"Then I'll predict that coach Weinzierl has a 99% chance of being sacked this season."
"The farce is over. Bayer Leverkusen is a top-tier team. Bundesliga mid-to-lower teams can't touch them."
...
Four days later, Champions League group stage Matchday 3: Bayer Leverkusen vs. FC Shakhtar Donetsk.
Currently, Bayer Leverkusen has 1 win and 1 draw, with 4 points, placing them first in the group.
FC Shakhtar Donetsk also has 1 win and 1 draw, with 4 points, but is second in the group due to an inferior goal difference.
Manchester United has 2 draws, 2 points, placing them third in the group.
Real Sociedad has 1 draw and 1 loss, with 1 point, at the bottom of the group.
Group A's situation so far has exceeded everyone's imagination in Europe!
During the draw, everyone predicted Manchester United would easily finish first, and La Liga's Real Sociedad might take second place.
As a result, both of them are in doubt for group qualification.
It's actually Bayer Leverkusen and FC Shakhtar Donetsk competing for first place in the group!
The next two rounds of matches might directly affect the group's qualification structure.
Even Manchester United fans will secretly cheer for Bayer Leverkusen, otherwise, if FC Shakhtar Donetsk wins even one game, Manchester United's qualification situation will be very critical!
Facing FC Shakhtar Donetsk, the entire Bayer Leverkusen team was very cautious.
Given the potential to compete for first place in the group, coaches Sascha Lewandowski and Sami Hyypiä dared not be negligent, thoroughly researching their opponents.
FC Shakhtar Donetsk's most threatening player is undoubtedly Douglas Costa.
This left winger is incredibly fast, reaching an exaggerated dribbling speed of 35km/h in matches.
He averages over 3.5 successful dribbles per game, making him a top-tier dribbling king in Europe.
He also possesses the ability to cross and cut inside for shots.
With Douglas Costa's quality, joining a European giant would be more than enough.
Douglas Costa and right winger Taison, two Brazilian players, form the "Samba Wings," which will pose a huge threat to Bayer Leverkusen.
FC Shakhtar Donetsk also has the Croatian national team captain, Darijo Srna; the striker Luiz Adriano, who is being pursued by AC Milan; the starting goalkeeper for the Ukrainian national team, Andriy Pyatov; and the Brazilian central midfielder Fred, who has been scouted by Manchester United!
FC Shakhtar Donetsk is truly adept at recruiting Brazilian players and acting as a "star factory" to sell them to major clubs.
Manchester City's central midfielder Fernandinho and Chelsea FC's winger Willian both came from FC Shakhtar Donetsk.
Lance knew that this match would be no easier than the one against Manchester United.
Therefore, he trained diligently for a week before the match, striving to be in his best competitive state!
Matchday!
As Lance, holding the hand of a ball boy, stepped onto the pitch at BayArena, the system prompted a new breakthrough in his fusion value!
Template: Nagi Seishiro - S (Fusion Value 82%)
--Skill: Perfect Ball Control
--Skill: Hardcore Shot
--Skill: Mirror Learning
Rage Value: 0%
It seems that 50% and 75% are two key milestones.
I wonder if new skills will be unlocked when it reaches 100%; if not, I can only look forward to the enhancements brought by new templates.
Currently, Lance is weak in physical confrontation, has average speed, lacks more scoring ability when his rage value is insufficient, and his off-ball movement awareness is relatively weak...
These are all shortcomings.
Compared to players of the same age group, or new stars under 20, Lance is already quite overpowered.
But compared to world-class superstars like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Eden Hazard, and Neymar, Lance knows he has a big gap with them and is not complacent about his current achievements.
Nonsense, he doesn't even have a championship yet.
How can he compare himself to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo?
The first season has just begun, so take it slow!
Lance took a deep breath, slowly exhaled, listening to the countdown from the entire stadium of fans, and the referee's whistle!
His third Champions League match of his professional career has begun!
...
"Douglas Costa!! Oh! That shot—"
"Almost! That cut-in long shot was very dangerous; Bayer Leverkusen's goalkeeper Bernd Leno broke out in a cold sweat."
"...Oh! Here he comes again! Douglas Costa!! A fake pass?!"
"Luiz Adriano—"
"Header wide! Bayer Leverkusen escaped a scare!"
"25 minutes into the first half, FC Shakhtar Donetsk is dominating as the away team, and Bayer Leverkusen is struggling to cope. Coach Xu, what do you think?"
Xu Yang, a regular commentator for CCTV5 and Duan Xuan's partner, had already analyzed some of the match content.
After all, he was a former player for Bayi Team, a former famous player for Beijing Guoan and Shandong Luneng, and also briefly served as a national team player.
In Xu Yang's opinion, FC Shakhtar Donetsk's midfield strength was not inferior to Bayer Leverkusen's:
"FC Shakhtar Donetsk appears to be a Ukrainian Premier League team, but they actually have many Brazilian players in their squad, and their playing style on the field is very refined, while also possessing the wildness of South American teams."
"The young player Fred is full of creativity, and his several consecutive through balls with his left foot have been very accurate, combining with the two wingers to create a good penetrating effect."
"In contrast, Bayer Leverkusen's defense is under severe pressure, with Simon Rolfes and Lars Bender, the two defensive midfielders, more often entangled with the opponent. Lars Bender is unable to fully utilize his passing ability."
"At the same time, their wing attack is also limping, with the right wing completely suppressed, only able to rely on Son Heung-min on the left to create threats. Lance and Eren Derdiyok are unable to receive support, making it difficult to form effective attacks."
"This has led to FC Shakhtar Donetsk becoming increasingly daring and pushing further up..."
"However..."
Coach Xu's tone suddenly shifted.
"FC Shakhtar Donetsk has been pushing a bit too hard these last few times, and their backline is still quite exposed, perhaps..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Emir Spahić headed the ball clear from the back.
Lars Bender chested the ball down, then scanned the players upfront: Lance, Eren Derdiyok, Son Heung-min... Lance only had Fred following him.
Lars Bender decisively launched a long ball towards Lance!
How could Lance, who is 181cm tall, not easily handle the 169cm short Fred?
Watching the ball come straight towards him, Lance wasn't relaxed.
Fred, the future Manchester United midfielder, the Brazilian brother, might be short, but he is very strong!
He must have been instructed by the coaching staff to constantly seek physical confrontation with Lance.
For the first 25 minutes, Lance was almost entirely entangled with him, fighting for position, his jersey nearly torn.
However, in this crucial counterattack, Lance couldn't afford to mess up!
His teammates trusted him!
Fred couldn't win the header, so he could only push from behind, preventing Lance from turning.
The most Lance could do was head the ball back to a teammate, temporarily slowing down the counter-attack.
But just as the ball was about to land, Lance lightly headed the ball to control it, feigning a breakthrough to the right to pass to Son Heung-min.
Fred quickly stepped to the right, attempting to intercept the boy's pass.
The next second, just as the ball was about to be kicked, it suddenly disappeared!
"Wait? Where's the ball?"
Fred's vision was blocked by Lance's back; he didn't notice at all!
By the time he reacted, Lance had already turned and broken through!!
"Oh oh oh—that ball!!"
"A clever chip over! Wow! So elegant!"
Duan Xuan slapped his thigh; Lance was showing off again!
A right-footed elastico pulled back and then chipped over two opponents' heads, taking advantage of Fred's short stature!
The moment he brilliantly broke through Fred, Lance received a simultaneous prompt!
[Hardcore Shot: Difficulty Coefficient 92, Shot Goal Rate 92%]
That high?
Then let's take a shot!
30 meters from the goal, before the defenders could close in, Lance, to everyone's surprise, decisively fired!
"Eh? A direct shot!!"
Duan Xuan was stunned.
Lance suddenly made an unreasonable shot!
But!
The ball became a cannonball, flying straight into the top corner—
"Oh oh oh oh oh—that shot!! A worldie!!"
"Lance is incredible!"
"Bayer Leverkusen's second shot of the game, and their first shot on target! They've taken the lead!"
"1-0!"