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"Left! Manuel! React faster, focus, focus!"
"Right!"
"Manuel? With your skill, don't even bother with goalkeeping! Go learn tennis; it has more future than football!"
"Are you an idiot? You can't even react to a shot like that?"
"How many times have I told you, you must develop good habits for your hand shape when saving! Useless!"
"Sorry, Manuel. I'm afraid you can't stay in the U16... Frankly, your height disadvantage is too great."
"Grotthusen is already playing for the National Youth Team at this age; you can't compare to him in either skill or physique."
"You're lucky! Sascha and the U19 coach think highly of you and plan to let you try out. Make sure to perform well!"
"Not bad, you've played very well these two seasons. For the next cup match, you'll report to the first team."
"Good news, Bayern Munich plans to sign you. This is Bayern Munich's scout; we can discuss the terms first."
"Congratulations, and welcome to Bayern Munich. Manuel, you've made the right choice."
"I announce that the 2010/11 Germany Footballer of the Year is — Manuel Neuer!"
"Manuel, hello, I'm Pep Guardiola. It's a pleasure to work with you."
"Remember, Manuel, the opponent has a strange Asian player. Pay attention to his shots..."
"Manuel, pull yourself together. We just had bad luck. Our true strength is definitely far superior to theirs, and there's still a chance for the championship this season!"
"It's okay, you've done very well. Although we've lost these past few times, I believe we can win next time!"
Watching Guardiola's slightly weathered face, Neuer clenched his fists:
"Coach, don't worry, I'll definitely keep a clean sheet against that kid next match!"
Lance's few shots just now almost gave Neuer a near-death experience.
Two consecutive miraculous saves boosted the morale of the Bayern Munich fans, who applauded thunderously.
"Ah ah ah ah ah! Defend, defend!! We will win!"
After the save, Neuer also let out a rare roar to the sky, directing his teammates to defend the upcoming corner kick.
He felt his form today had reached the peak of his professional career; every shot from Bayer Leverkusen seemed to be in slow motion, perfectly anticipated by him.
After 30 minutes into the first half, Bayer Leverkusen had already had 5 shots on target, all saved by Neuer!
Besides Lance's 2 shots, Son Heung-min had a high-quality long-range shot, De Bruyne had another low shot, and even Harry Maguire, challenging for a corner kick, a header from point-blank range in the six-yard box, all were saved by Neuer!
After this divine save, Bayern's morale almost reached its peak!
"I love you!! Manuel!"
"You are God!!"
"God!! An omnipotent God!"
Jérôme Boateng, Müller, Lahm, and other teammates rushed to embrace Neuer.
A successful save is equivalent to a goal.
Theoretically, even if the other 10 players on the team are all weak, as long as the goalkeeper is a god, they could theoretically eliminate any opponent in a knockout match.
What's more, today Bayern, with their 'desperate soldiers will win' mentality, were in better overall form than Bayer Leverkusen.
Both the threat of their passing and control, and the pressure of their high press, made Bayer Leverkusen unable to exert their strength.
Bayern truly had no reason to lose!
According to the real-time odds of major betting websites, Bayer Leverkusen's odds for a home win were raised, whilst Bayern's away win and a 90-minute draw odds once reached 1.25 and 2.48, indicating that as the match progressed, most people favoured Bayern to win or a 90-minute draw.
Even luck seemed to be on Bayern's side!
In the 41st minute of the first half, Bayern Munich's relentless attack in the final third created a deadly threat.
"Thiago, Alonso... good, Müller comes to the centre to support..."
"My God!! That goal!!"
Amidst the commentator's exclamations, Thomas Müller drew Antonio Rüdiger's defence, and suddenly delivered a through ball between his legs!
Lewandowski reacted quickly, arriving in the box immediately, evading Maguire, and shot from a tight angle!
Logically, Lewandowski's shot was a bit forced; he himself was actually too eager.
However, Maguire stretched his leg in defence, and the ball bounced off his foot, deflecting past goalkeeper Leno's gloves and into the goal!
"Gooooooal!!"
"Robert — Lewandowski —"
"An unexpected deflection breaks the deadlock!"
"Bayern Munich takes the lead!"
"Damn it!!"
"Fuck!!!!"
"What kind of luck is this?"
The Bayer Leverkusen players were truly frustrated.
The most unbearable thing in a match is not being outclassed and crushed by the opponent, the most unbearable thing is when Bayer Leverkusen's overall strength is not weaker than Bayern's, and they occasionally threaten the goal in the final third.
But the opponent's goalkeeper is on steroids, and they also have dumb luck, so no matter how they shoot, they can't score.
Instead, they get eager to attack and Bayern hits them on the counter, and a casual shot goes in.
It's a feeling of utter powerlessness and frustration.
Goalkeeper Leno, defenders Maguire and Antonio Rüdiger all looked bitter, sighing with their hands on their hips.
Harry Maguire was almost dizzy when someone slapped him hard on the back.
"Who?"
He turned his head and saw it was Lance.
He didn't respect anyone on the team, except for Lance, who was a few years younger than him.
"Harry, keep your head up. That goal wasn't your fault."
"But..."
"But what?! Get it together, watch me score an equaliser!"
"What?"
Harry Maguire was stunned.
The opposing goalkeeper was on steroids, and the morale gap between the two sides was so huge; could they really score?
"Lance, any ideas?"
De Bruyne thought Lance had another trick up his sleeve.
"What ideas? Just charge in! Kevin, later, just loft it directly to my head."
"??"
What exactly was this kid planning?
There was no time to explain; Bayer Leverkusen restarted the game.
With less than 5 minutes left in the first half, Bayer Leverkusen didn't have many chances to equalise.
They had to get one back before the break, otherwise the second half would be even harder!
Bayern Munich was wary of Lance's breakthrough, and the high-intensity 30-minute run had exhausted Bayern's stamina too much, so in the last few minutes, they didn't dare to high-press, opting instead to sit deep in front of their goal.
Bayer Leverkusen finally got some possession opportunities.
"De Bruyne, Lance... good, drops back to receive, then passes back, distributes to the left..."
"Son!! Unable to break through Lahm and Rafinha, cuts back to the centre."
"De Bruyne... tries to penetrate with Lance... Xabi Alonso defends very steadily, giving no chances."
"Pass it back again, the first half should end like this."
Watching Bayer Leverkusen passing the ball around outside the box for a long time, commentator Scholl knew that Bayern, having lost so many matches, had learnt their lessons, and today they were probably seeking revenge.
As long as they could drag it into the second half and regain some stamina, Bayern could continue to use high-pressing to compress Bayer Leverkusen's space, and their scoring form today would ensure they scored another goal, extending their lead...
Theoretically, everything was perfect; Bayern was like a stable computer, everything running on the programme Guardiola had written.
However, no one expected that Bayer Leverkusen's squad contained an unpredictable super "virus"!
During the passing in the final third, striker Firmino unconsciously pulled out of the box, attracting Jérôme Boateng's defence within a few seconds.
The "virus" Lance had already transformed into a Trojan horse, quietly lurking in front of the penalty area!
"Now!"
De Bruyne's eyes lit up, and without any hesitation, he delivered a sudden curling ball whilst dribbling!
"Excellent!"
Neuer had already been guarding against the "Belgium Twin Stars connection"; the moment De Bruyne passed, Neuer had already moved far beyond the post, blocking any possible shooting angle for Lance!
"You won't break this goal today!!! Wait..."
The curling ball bypassed Badstuber's head and arrived at Lance's side.
Both Neuer and the defenders subconsciously assumed Lance would, as before, control the ball, then try to dribble into the box and shoot in a more reasonable manner.
Who knew that Lance's template had already changed!
I'm going to be unreasonable today!
[Rage 100%]!
Fierce Tiger!
Outside the D-box, just in front of the arc, Lance swung his weaker left leg, meeting the ball with a volley!
Bang—
A tiger's roar echoing through the forest!
Like a battleship's main gun firing!
The moment Neuer saw Lance shoot, before he could even react, the ball had already heavily pierced the net behind him!!
The entire stadium was petrified!!
At this moment, Neuer truly had a near-death experience!
"So fast!"