Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari
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Commentator Zhan Jun V:
"After a difficult Bundesliga win midweek, Arsenal needs to immediately switch to Champions League mode. This first leg of the Round of 16 is crucial, as they will travel to Germany to challenge Bayer Leverkusen. Can the Gunners overcome their old problem of poor performance in European matches away from home?"
"Bayer Leverkusen has had a good season, staying close to Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga and keeping the title race suspenseful. Can their combativeness in the Bundesliga extend to the Champions League?"
"It's worth noting that the Bundesliga's 'hot commodity,' the 16-year-old wonderkid Lance, should be a focal player that both teams are paying close attention to."
"His creativity in the front field and his ability to control and escape near the penalty area are world-class! Lance, starting in this match, might just be the decisive factor!"
"At 3:45 AM Beijing time tomorrow (Wednesday, February 19th), Zhang Zhi and I will be providing commentary on Sina Sports for this Champions League Round of 16 highlight match—Bayer Leverkusen vs. Arsenal."
Zhan Jun's Weibo post had already attracted a lot of interaction from fans.
It was clear from the Weibo comments that domestic fans were relatively nervous about Bayer Leverkusen.
"Can they beat Arsenal?"
"If they win tonight, I'll quit for a month."
"Arsenal is a Premier League powerhouse after all; Bayer Leverkusen's overall combativeness is still not as good."
"Forget it, they're softies in European competitions, a team that collapses every spring. What's so strong about them?"
"I haven't watched much of Bayer Leverkusen's Champions League games, but as an Arsenal fan, I can assure everyone that our team's Champions League performance is absolutely laughable."
"Not necessarily, what if Nana explodes?"
"Hard to say, can only cheer for Lance!"
"Isn't anyone cheering for our team? Lance doesn't even have an ID card."
"Is it wrong to support Lance? Setting aside nationality, we simply enjoy watching him play!"
"Exactly, I don't care about nationality; it's purely that Lance Emperor's playing style is too enjoyable to watch."
"+1 Lance is synonymous with football art."
"Just being handsome is enough, just tell me if he's handsome or not."
"The one before, are you talking about his looks or his skills?"
"Both handsome!"
…
Lance didn't know that two hours before the match, when he arrived at the familiar home stadium, BayArena, by bus.
In China, it was past 1 AM, and many fans were still staying up late, waiting to watch his match.
Some had set their alarms for 3:30 AM, waking up in the middle of the night to watch Lance.
University students were fine, as most were on holiday now.
But office workers could only go to bed early and endure the pain of getting up for work the next day to watch the game.
If it were just Bayer Leverkusen vs. Arsenal, few people, other than die-hard Arsenal fans, would choose to stay up late to watch such a match.
The sole reason most fans watched this game: Lance!
At his home stadium, there was no need to adapt to the pitch.
Lance had played there so many times, sometimes even training directly at the home ground.
He could feel the touch of every patch of grass under his feet with his eyes closed.
One hour before the match, the stands at BayArena were almost full.
When Lance and his teammates, wearing training kits, entered the field, they were first greeted by a thunderous cheer from the 50,000-strong, packed stadium.
"What should I do? I'm a bit nervous."
Julian Brandt started acting up again.
Lance was a bit too lazy to bother with him.
"It's not your first Champions League game, is it necessary?"
"But this is my first Champions League knockout match in my career!"
"The problem is…"
Lance's tone was flat, but it delivered a critical blow.
"You're not even starting."
"Damn it! Lance! You've changed, you're no longer the modest and kind Lance you once were."
"??"
To use a term from future netizens, this guy is truly a drama queen!
However, it wasn't just Julian Brandt.
When the Arsenal players entered the field and saw players like Mesut Özil, Olivier Giroud, Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey, and Thomas Vermaelen,
Even Son Heung-min's expression next to him seemed a bit off.
"Son, it's one thing for Julian to be nervous, but why are you nervous too?"
Son Heung-min scratched his head, unable to explain:
"I don't know either, maybe it's the first knockout match."
"No, it's possible that the opponent is your future arch-rival."
"What?"
"Nothing, good luck today, just go for it."
Lance almost gave it away.
He didn't want to spoil the fact that Son Heung-min would join Tottenham in the future and become Arsenal's North London rival so early.
Getting back to the main topic,
According to the current Champions League rules, the Champions League knockout stage consists of two legs, home and away.
Bayer Leverkusen first hosts Arsenal, and then travels to the Emirates Stadium in North London for a decisive battle against Arsenal.
The two teams will compete for a spot in the Quarter-finals based on the aggregate score of the two legs.
If the score is tied, away goals will be compared.
If away goals are also the same, then it will be extra time + penalty shootout.
Away goals are undoubtedly one of the reasons why the Champions League has been so exciting in recent years.
Every goal scored by either team could become a crucial factor in the second leg.
In the first leg, if Bayer Leverkusen allows Arsenal to score too many goals at home, Arsenal will undoubtedly have some tactical and psychological advantage in the second leg.
Lance realized that he also felt the nervousness of participating in a knockout match for the first time.
Rather than nervousness, it was a slight excitement!
That feeling of a slight tingling in his scalp and a slight acceleration of his heartbeat.
…
In the player tunnel, Lance saw the Arsenal players and manager Arsène Wenger up close.
Arsène Wenger, for some reason, seemed very familiar with him and took the initiative to greet him.
"Lance, finally we meet. I've been watching your games since your debut, and you've performed very well… Play well today, good luck."
"Thank you?"
Even after Arsène Wenger left, Lance was like Louis XVI with Head & Shoulders—completely clueless.
"You know him?" The captain, Simon Rolfes, behind him was very curious.
"No, I don't."
"It feels like he wants to poach you."
"Forget it, ignore him, focus on the match."
Accompanied by the familiar Champions League anthem, Lance and his teammates walked out of the player tunnel.
The cheers from BayArena were like a hurricane on the sea level, filled with passion, rushing towards them.
"Welcome to Sina Sports, dear viewers! Today, we bring you the first leg of the Round of 16 in the 2013-2014 UEFA Champions League!"
"Bayer Leverkusen!"
"Hosting the Premier League powerhouse at BayArena,"
"The Gunners, Arsenal!"
"Lance, a suddenly rising rookie this season, being in the starting lineup for such an important match, also demonstrates the coaching staff's trust in this 16-year-old."
"We believe that with his previous excellent performances, everyone is looking forward to seeing if he can perform against a European powerhouse."
"Professor Arsène Wenger, the world-renowned coach who has managed Arsenal for 20 years and created the 49-game unbeaten Arsenal, his tactics might pose some challenges for Bayer Leverkusen."
"Alright, let's first look at today's starting lineups."
Many fans who were woken up by their alarms groggily forced their eyes open.
They either lay in bed with their tablets open or struggled to get to their computers and click on the live stream link.
Hearing Zhan Jun's passionate voice finally lifted their spirits a bit.
The lineups of both teams were displayed on the screen.
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Bayer Leverkusen 4-4-1-1, Coaches: Sascha & Hyypiä
Goalkeeper: Bernd Leno
Defenders: Giulio Donati, Emir Spahić, Ömer Toprak, Sebastian Boenisch
Midfielders: Robbie Kruse, Simon Rolfes, Lars Bender, Son Heung-min
Forwards: Stefan Kiessling, Lance
————
Arsenal 4-2-3-1, Manager: Arsène Wenger
Goalkeeper: Wojciech Szczęsny
Defenders: Bacary Sagna, Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny, Kieran Gibbs
Midfielders: Theo Walcott, Aaron Ramsey, Mikel Arteta, Mesut Özil, Santi Cazorla
Forward: Olivier Giroud
————
After both teams took photos, shook hands, exchanged pennants, and a coin toss decided possession,
Many fans either opened a beer or brewed a cup of tea to become sober,
And were now waiting for the match to begin with anticipation and excitement.
"Alright! With a whistle from the Italian referee, this Champions League Round of 16 highlight match between Bayer Leverkusen and Arsenal kicks off!"