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At the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, both the stands and the pitch were ablaze with action.
The Madrid Derby itself was always fiery, and after the pre-match discrimination incident, it had completely exploded!
Unfortunately, Lance could only sit on the bench, anxiously watching Real Madrid dominate as the away team, relentlessly pressing.
"The match has reached the 25-minute mark, and Real Madrid currently has the upper hand."
"Real Madrid's three midfielders are all playing exceptionally well today. Casemiro has shown world-class defensive midfielder capabilities this season, and he alone has almost stifled Atlético Madrid's offence."
"Modrić and Toni Kroos have more energy to participate in the attack."
Those who know, know.
The world's top midfielders, with them providing firepower from the back, the BBC trio upfront are in their element.
"Cristiano Ronaldo on the ball... Excellent! A sudden burst of acceleration shakes off Juanfran, and he takes a shot himself!"
"Oblak!!!"
The powerful shot almost tore through Atlético Madrid's net, but thankfully, the great goalkeeper Oblak made a spectacular diving save, pushing the ball out with one hand!
"Damn it!!"
Cristiano Ronaldo cursed under his breath, his expression quite displeased.
"Well done!"
"Jan, you're a god!"
"Get moving, all of you! How are you marking? Defend properly!"
Oblak grumbled a few curses at them.
The moment Cristiano Ronaldo got past Juanfran, defender Giménez didn't cover in time, otherwise, Cristiano Ronaldo wouldn't have had such a comfortable shooting opportunity.
Toni Kroos took the corner kick, Ramos's header almost went in, but Oblak blocked the ball again, and Godín quickly cleared it.
"Atlético Madrid's counterattack!! Koke, to Griezmann!!"
Griezmann and Torres had a two-on-two opportunity upfront!
Unfortunately, Griezmann hesitated slightly and didn't immediately play a through ball to Torres.
By the time they reached the edge of the box, Real Madrid's players had already tracked back like mad dogs.
Torres's rushed shot missed, flying wide past the post.
"What a pity! Atlético Madrid rarely gets such an opportunity and couldn't capitalise on it."
Commentator sighed.
If it were Lance, that play would have been handled more decisively, with an accelerated burst or a through ball to Torres, and Griezmann could have provided support nearby.
The live director's camera also focused on Lance.
Every time Atlético Madrid missed an opportunity on the counter, Lance would get a close-up, using the camera's language to illustrate the man's importance.
Actually, it didn't matter whether he stood out or not.
Even if Lance didn't play, it would be fine as long as Atlético Madrid won.
Given the pre-match atmosphere, there was a reason they had to win today!
But Real Madrid was truly strong!
Lance's worries still came true.
"Real Madrid continues to push forward, Toni Kroos... Oh!! A sudden chip into the box!"
"Benzema!!! It's a goal!!"
"In the 37th minute of the first half, Kroos assisted Benzema with a header! Atlético Madrid is temporarily trailing 0-1 at home!"
When it rains, it pours.
Atlético Madrid's morale had just taken a hit, and Real Madrid's attack came forward.
Gareth Bale broke through on the right, bursting into the box.
Just as he was about to cut inside, left-back Filipe Luís, in desperation, pulled Bale's shirt, bringing him down.
"Oh?! Oh!! Bale goes down in the box, and the referee immediately shows a yellow card! And points to the penalty spot!"
"Real Madrid gets a penalty!"
Lance and his teammates next to him suddenly stood up, then slumped back into their chairs.
This was bad!
"Damn it!! This is truly..."
Lance didn't know who to curse.
Filipe Luís had done his best, but he was facing the peak-form Great Saint Bale.
Cristiano Ronaldo stood arrogantly at the penalty spot, seemingly nonchalant, but actually trying hard to find the camera.
He took a few big steps towards the ball, then suddenly paused.
Oblak was deceived by his change of rhythm.
Cristiano Ronaldo cleanly struck the ball into the bottom corner.
"Cristiano Ronaldo! The penalty is calmly converted! 2-0!!"
"Atlético Madrid is down by two goals in the first half..."
Many domestic fans who stayed up late felt their hearts sink at this point.
They had expected to see Lance thrash Real Madrid for revenge, but instead, Real Madrid had struck back.
In novels and TV shows, the more arrogant the evil villain, the more satisfying it is for the audience when the protagonist beats them.
But in reality, those "villains" are often very arrogant, and there's nothing you can do about them.
"I'm turning off the TV."
"Without God Lance, Atlético Madrid has dropped a level."
"They're at least a Champions League Final-level team, why are they being suppressed like this by Real Madrid?"
"Actually, Atlético Madrid's strength isn't bad, but Real Madrid is truly strong."
Indeed, starting from the 2015-2016 season, it was the season Real Madrid began its ascendancy.
With the luxurious setup of the three midfield maestros + BBC, no team in world football could contend with them.
As the first half ended with a 0-2 deficit, if not for Oblak's desperate saves, Atlético Madrid might have been riddled with goals.
"We are champions! We are the kings of La Liga!"
"You are just a bottom-tier team!!"
In the stands, the away Real Madrid fans also started to become arrogant.
They sang and danced towards the home fans across the player tunnel, frequently giving them the middle finger in provocation.
If not for the high railings in between, Atlético Madrid fans would have long since climbed over and fought them...
...
"Don't worry, it's not the end of the world yet."
"We have 45 minutes to come back, I believe you can do it."
Simeone could only comfort his players.
He also didn't know how to turn it around.
"Coach, I want to play."
"Lance, actually, you shouldn't have played today."
The pre-match medical check showed that Lance's ankle injury had not fully recovered.
Playing rashly posed a certain risk.
"Coach, I'm fine. In this situation, I can solve it!"
Seeing the system once again display [Rage Value: 200%], Lance was truly anxious!
...
"After the half-time break, Lance still hadn't been substituted in, and neither team had made any changes."
"Real Madrid still maintained a strong sense of pressure on the pitch."
"Atlético Madrid could only try to defend compactly, first to avoid conceding more goals."
The match was tense.
Every time Lance stood up to warm up, he would receive applause from the entire stadium.
Now, he was the only hope for Atlético Madrid fans.
When Lance returned from his third warm-up, as the match entered the 63rd minute, he finally heard Simeone's words.
"Lance, it's up to you."
"Leave it to me!"
Lance nimbly took off his training top, looking at the classic red and white striped home jersey of Atlético Madrid on the chair, and at the words "10 - Lance" on the back.
This number 10 signified responsibility and accountability!
Griezmann was almost exhausted at this point, quickly leaning on his knees and gasping for air during a throw-in.
Just as despair was setting in, he suddenly heard thunderous applause from the entire stadium! Cheers and whistles, like a mountain tsunami, ignited the entire stadium!
Turning to look at the sideline, Griezmann seemed to see a saviour.
"Oh? In the 63rd minute of the match, Atlético Madrid finally made a substitution!"
"Long-awaited, he finally appears!"
"The number 10 player everyone has been waiting for, Lance, comes on as a substitute!"
"After two weeks of injury, Lance is now coming to the rescue in a crisis!"
"He replaces left-winger Carrasco, taking Griezmann's position, and Griezmann moves to the left wing."
Watching Lance jog onto the pitch, Commentator recalled the first time he saw Lance.
At that time, he was only 15 years old and not yet famous.
He had scored as a substitute in his first few games, earning him the nickname "Super Sub" from the German media.
Could it be that...
At this moment, no one realised what was about to happen, including Cristiano Ronaldo, who merely spat on the grass, looking scornfully as Lance came on.
"Is it useful?"
Atlético Madrid's throw-in was taken, to Koke.
Koke held off Modrić with his back to him, then faked a turn to deceive him, broke to the right, and played a through ball to the centre.
Lance had just run up, without even stopping his steps.
The moment he received the ball, a tangible killing intent erupted in his eyes!
[Rage Value: 200%]
The Bachira Meguru template suddenly unleashed powerful momentum.
He was like an ancient monster possessed, suddenly sweeping past Casemiro, his feet a blur, then dribbling past Pepe with a feint.
At the edge of the box, he withstood Ramos's charge, pushed the ball with the outside of his left foot through Ramos's legs, and then turned to bypass him, completing the breakthrough.
He effortlessly dribbled past three players and burst into Real Madrid's penalty area!!
"My God!!"
Goalkeeper Navas didn't even have time to exclaim, Lance had already taken the shot!
This shot was filled with the accumulated fury from off the pitch!
"Tiger!!"
Bang—
With the force of a meteor striking the ground, it slammed into the net!
"Oh oh oh oh oh!! Holy crap!!"
Such a shocking scene made Commentator instinctively blurt out a curse!
"Lance has only been on the pitch for less than 10 seconds!! A substitute equalises with a goal!!"
"1-2!"
"The miraculous Lance!"
"He is the saviour of the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium!"