Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari
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"The German Football Association Cup! Whilst the prestige of this cup competition isn't as high as the league, and certainly not the Champions League!"
"But who would complain about having too many championships?"
"The teams that have made it to the quarter-finals are Wolfsburg, Freiburg, Borussia Dortmund, Hoffenheim, Arminia Bielefeld, Mönchengladbach, and today's two protagonists, Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich!"
"Since they've made it this far, they will naturally fight for the championship!"
In the commentary box for German TV Channel Two, commentators Mehmet Scholl and Oliver Kahn discussed today's key match.
As the favourite commentary duo chosen by German fans, they were both quite excited for today.
Kahn laughed heartily:
"It's just that both these teams have a chance to win the championship, so it's a waste to have them meet in the quarter-finals."
"In a sense, whoever makes it past the quarter-finals can win this season's German Football Association Cup!"
Looking at the other opponents, whether it's Wolfsburg, Dortmund, or Mönchengladbach, their strength this season would be hard-pressed to threaten Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern.
"In fact, today can also be considered a 'final rehearsal' for the Bundesliga title contenders. In just a month, the direct confrontation between the two sides might decide the championship."
Bayern Munich still leads Bayer Leverkusen by 2 points.
Their league schedule is also relatively easy.
Perhaps only the Bundesliga Round 31 match in early May, Bayer Leverkusen vs Bayern Munich, this battle of titans, can end the championship suspense.
"Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern have both been in good form recently, let's first look at the starting lineups."
"Oh? With the Champions League quarter-finals about to begin, both sides have still fielded their full-strength lineups. It seems they both value the German Football Association Cup very much."
Bayer Leverkusen 4-2-3-1
Goalkeeper: Leno
Defenders: Kimmich, Maguire, Antonio Rüdiger, Nathan Aké
Midfielders: Rolfes, Lars Bender
Attacking Midfielders: De Bruyne, Lance, Son Heung-min
Forward: Firmino
Bayern Munich 4-3-3
Goalkeeper: Neuer
Defenders: Rafinha, Jérôme Boateng, Badstuber, Bernat
Midfielders: Lahm, Xabi Alonso, Thiago
Forwards: Thomas Müller, Lewandowski, Götze
"Robben and Ribéry's recent injuries have had a huge impact on Bayern!"
"That's right, even Lewandowski is injured; he has to play with a mask today."
"For Bayer Leverkusen, Van Dijk is injured. It seems that in the mid-to-late season, injuries are also a major factor plaguing all teams. Whoever has a deeper bench will have a greater advantage on multiple fronts..."
Lance originally thought that Bayern, without Robben and Ribéry, would be easier to deal with.
In reality, he underestimated Guardiola.
After 10 minutes of play, Bayer Leverkusen hadn't even managed a single attack!
Possession was completely controlled by Bayern, with a possession rate almost exceeding 80%!
Lewandowski dropped deep to receive the ball, retreating to almost the centre circle.
Seeing him draw out the centre-back, creating space in front of the penalty area, the ball was passed to Müller, then to Götze, and the goal was in danger!
Lance instinctively, using Bachira Meguru's monster intuition, slide tackled.
He brought down Lewandowski and received a yellow card, but it also defused a crisis.
"You're too ruthless!"
Lewandowski, on the ground, couldn't help but complain, just a little bit more, damn it!
Lance glanced at Lewandowski, even wanting to laugh a little.
"What are you laughing at? Is the mask funny?"
Lewandowski looked angrily at Lance, deliberately putting on a fierce expression.
"A little, yes."
Lewandowski originally wore a black mask, thinking it would add some deterrence.
He didn't expect to be mocked by Lance to his face.
His momentum dropped significantly.
Laughing aside, Lance still didn't dare to underestimate Lewandowski.
Today, he was Guardiola's "tactical linchpin."
Many attacking tactics could be built around Lewandowski, such as just now drawing out the centre-back to create space for Götze.
Or Götze and Müller interweaving from the wings to create shooting opportunities for Lewandowski.
Compared to the sharpness of the "Robbery" duo, today Müller, Götze, and Lewandowski, combined with Thiago and Xabi Alonso, made the midfield passing and control truly watertight, reminiscent of peak Barcelona.
"I have to find a way to hit them hard."
As time approached 20 minutes, Bayern Munich showed no signs of letting up.
Passive defending consumed a lot of stamina; if this continued, Bayern would gain more and more advantage.
"What do you say?"
De Bruyne had the same thought.
He felt it was necessary to create one or two sufficiently threatening counterattacks to make Bayern hesitant.
Otherwise, their attacks would become increasingly reckless.
Lance glanced at the system panel.
Equipped Template: Hyuga Kojiro (Fusion Value 15%)
Rage Value: 30%
Support Character: Bachira Meguru - S (Fusion Value 100%)
Support Status: On
He didn't use an experience card today, so there was only 1 equipment slot temporarily.
Considering that the opposing goalkeeper was Neuer, Lance planned to use the Hyuga Kojiro template, which had stronger shooting, to deal with Neuer.
After discussing with De Bruyne, Son Heung-min, and Firmino, the few of them briefly studied an attacking strategy.
Bayern Munich took the free kick, Xabi Alonso shot high, and it was Bayer Leverkusen's turn to attack.
Bayern pressed high, with almost everyone past the halfway line.
This high-press could fully compress Bayer Leverkusen's space, but the defence was also very vulnerable, like now!
"Beautiful!! Lance's timely retreat!"
Lance, playing as a shadow striker and attacking midfielder in the number 10 position, unexpectedly retreated between the two centre-backs, almost deeper than the defensive midfielder.
With an extra passing option, Bayer Leverkusen's passing immediately came alive!
"Lance, to Bender, then to Rolfes, diagonal pass to Lance, to the left wing!!! Good play!!"
A dazzling series of passes, Lance sprinted forward, pretending to dribble through, but suddenly made a diagonal pass to the left wing!
No need for overly sophisticated passing technique, just a brain was enough.
Lance's pass was perfectly reasonable, instantly throwing Bayern's defensive formation into disarray!
Lahm, Rafinha, and Jérôme Boateng all rushed to cover Son Heung-min.
Brother Son's acting was excellent; he feigned a strong burst, dribbled explosively to the edge of the penalty area, and then nudged the ball with his left foot, pretending to continue down the wing.
Lahm was pulled into the middle by Lance's run.
Rafinha, excited as a young player, immediately slide tackled, but Son Heung-min easily dodged him with a feint!
"This ball!! Son!! Great opportunity!"
Son Heung-min calmly passed horizontally, Firmino feigned receiving the ball, and then suddenly let it through behind him!
Lance received the ball at the top of the arc, and whilst being entangled by Lahm, he immediately made a diagonal pass into the penalty area!
"So imaginative!"
Lance had originally received the ball with his back to goal, then half-turned and swept it across the penalty area, where there was no one behind him.
But the next second, De Bruyne had already appeared in the penalty area!
"Not offside!! A tacit understanding between the two!"
"Kevin De Bruyne—"
De Bruyne's late run completely disrupted Bayern.
As a result, Badstuber abandoned the open central space and ran to defend De Bruyne.
In the crowd, De Bruyne could easily pass the ball horizontally to the centre!
Lance faced Neuer and shot instantly!
Tiger Shot!
Bang—
With a loud thud, Neuer didn't dare to be careless, flying to punch the ball out for a corner!
He thwarted Lance's sure goal!
"A world-class shot, a world-class save!!"
"The offence and defence in this match are too exciting!!"
Neuer's fist was throbbing!
He got up and looked at Lance in astonishment, truly wondering where this Asian kid got so much power in his shots!
But Lance's face showed no regret or frustration.
Instead, he looked very excited!
"Is this kid a devil?"
Neuer felt a chill down his spine.
Unbeknownst to him, Lance had only glanced at the system panel.
His Rage Value was 30% just now.
One shot saved had already increased it to 55%!
Could it be that Hyuga Kojiro's shots increased rage?
Wouldn't that be invincible!