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Still... can't do it?
Exhausted, Gaitán knelt powerlessly on the grass.
Benfica's all-out attack, was shattered by Atlético Madrid's counter-punch!
They launched several counter-attacks in the first half, seemingly on the verge of breaking through, but Lance's volley from outside the box, crushed Benfica's last shred of hope.
0-1.
Benfica returned to the changing room with a 0-1 score.
"Victor."
"What's up? Keep it short, I'm not in a good position to talk."
"Manchester United has agreed to our terms. My advice is to leave as soon as possible and go to Manchester."
"But..."
"Indeed, you're happy here, but Manchester United is a giant club! Although it seems to be in decline these past two years, under the guidance of renowned manager Van Gaal, Manchester United can definitely reclaim its dominant position. Do you want to be eliminated regrettably at Benfica, or go to Manchester United and win the Champions League?"
"I understand."
Victor Lindelöf hung up the phone and fell silent.
His agent's words weren't the most important.
The person who swayed Lindelöf was today's opponent.
Lance's imperious first touch and volley, left Lindelöf unable to stop him despite his best efforts.
Relying solely on these players at Benfica, they probably had no hope of reaching the quarterfinals in this lifetime.
It seemed only by going to Manchester United could he realise his Champions League dream...
...
Lance could never have imagined.
The catalyst for Manchester United quickly securing Swedish centre-back Lindelöf was actually himself.
He was still studying the system at this moment.
"How exactly can I achieve enlightenment?"
Before playing Real Madrid, his template fusion value was 77%.
Almost a month had passed, and the fusion value was still stuck at 77%!
The stubbornness of the Hyuga Kojiro template was several times more stubborn than the character's personality in the anime.
"Forget it, let's win this match first."
All of Lance's frustration was unleashed on Benfica.
So much so that the Benfica players in the second half were dumbfounded.
"No, who provoked him again? Did any of you challenge him?"
"No!"
"Why is this guy even more aggressive?"
At the start of the second half, Lance and Griezmann swapped positions, running along the touchline and driving deep!
The assisting template Bachira Meguru was fully activated!
An S-rank assisting character could unleash 100% of his strength.
Lance was seen performing a 'roulette' dribble from the left side of his own half!
His left foot's outside almost pushed half the ball beyond the touchline, and as Benfica's right-back Almeida briefly paused, the 'roulette' was pulled back to the limit, then he smoothly nutmegged the opponent with his right foot, disappearing to the left!
"Oh no!!"
He's started!
"A word of advice to Atlético Madrid's opponents: never let Lance start."
This was the exact quote from Real Madrid's full-back Carvajal after the Madrid Derby.
At the time, it was the most popular meme in football.
Today, Benfica fans witnessed the true value of that statement.
"Good!! He's got past him, keep going forward!"
Here he comes!
Jian Jun clenched his fists and shouted.
"Beautiful!! Just dribble past them!"
Instructor Zhang chuckled, he liked watching Lance play freely.
3 seconds!
The assisting character was activated, unleashing 100% within 3 seconds.
Lance had already dribbled 10 metres, entering Benfica's half.
"Stop him!!"
Lindelöf, in a panic, came over to cover, combining with defensive midfielder Samaris to sandwich Lance.
Defending along the touchline was relatively simple, the two closed in from different directions, with the touchline to Lance's left, limiting his space.
However, under the influence of Bachira Meguru, Lance had entered a 'madman' state!
Ah ha ha ha ha!
Breakthrough!
Breakthrough!!
The monster within roared!
He almost temporarily lost conscious control, completely surrendering himself to the monster!
He flicked the ball up with his left foot, avoiding Lindelöf's tackle whilst flicking the ball between the two opponents.
His body turned with almost no delay, and he back-heeled the ball through Samaris's legs with his right foot, rounding him from the left side along the inside line!
Lindelöf reacted quickly, taking a step across to cover, combining with another defensive midfielder Fejsa to sandwich him, whilst Samaris turned back and also pulled Lance's jersey, such an unsolvable, decisive encirclement, no one could break through it.
Yet Lance did the opposite, after turning, his right foot feigned to dribble left again, changing direction to the outside.
Lindelöf, losing his balance, could only instinctively throw himself down, attempting a slide tackle to disrupt, even if it meant a foul!
"It's secure!!"
"Exactly, foul him!!"
In the eyes of countless commentators and professionals, Benfica's resilient defence had formed an insurmountable barrier.
Lance had no possibility of breaking through.
However, the next second, the impossible happened!
Lance's feigned dribble with his right foot was a dummy, a feint as he stepped forward, then he smoothly flicked the ball up with his heel, and leapt over Lindelöf's legs!
"Oh oh oh oh—"
"He's got past him!! A rainbow flick!!"
The most provocative, most dazzling rainbow flick on a football pitch.
Originally just a showy, impractical trick, under Lance's feet, it transformed decay into magic, becoming the most practical move!
Benfica's four players on the touchline, in full encirclement, couldn't stop this guy!
Lance's assisting template burst forth in the final second, breaking free from his opponents' pulling, taking one touch and driving deep!
Pointing straight at the penalty area!
Jian Jun, usually eloquent and passionate, was momentarily speechless.
Only Instructor Zhang trembled as he muttered, "What a goal! Amazing!"
The Spanish commentators had no other words, only constantly praying to God—
"This goal is simply a masterpiece from God!"
"Lance has broken through—"
"Torres—"
Torres ran to the right for support, with only one centre-back left before the penalty area.
But Torres had no intention of taking the credit; he only wanted to set up Lance.
Only if Lance scored would this goal be perfect.
Benfica's goalkeeper was indeed affected by Torres, Ederson failed to rush out to the left side immediately, in his hesitation, Lance suddenly shot from inside the box!
Bang—
A powerful, heavy shot, aimed straight for the top corner!
It cleanly and sharply crashed into the net!
"Lance!! A brace!"
"Helping Atlético Madrid secure a 2-0 victory!"
"One man, like a force of nature, tore through Benfica's entire defence!"
"Benfica has burnt out, but their opponent has God Lance!"
The match had only reached the 66th minute, in Jian Jun's view, this goal had completely destroyed the home team's morale, the match was effectively over.
After scoring, Lance stood still, spreading his arms, his aura fully unleashed, like a king surveying his domain!
Even the home fans at Estádio da Luz couldn't help but feel a desire to worship him.
Torres rushed over, and together with Griezmann, they performed a 'worship' celebration, the spirited Atlético Madrid stars exchanged smiles and embraced.
"Brothers, what's our goal this year?"
"The championship!"
"Exactly, the championship!"
Lance pointed to the sky, clenching his fist…
...
"Lance, God Descends, Hat-trick Destroys Match, Atlético Madrid Secures Group Top Spot with 3 Goals"
"Group C Qualification Situation Reverses, Bayer Leverkusen Wins 5-1, Climbs to Second Place with Goal Difference Advantage"
"Bayer Leverkusen Fans: Thank You Lance, He Is Our Hero Forever"
"This Year's Puskás Award Best Candidate Goal: Lance, One Against Four, Unstoppable"
Marca gave Lance a perfect 10 for his performance today:
"Setting aside the volley that broke the deadlock, and the icing on the cake, the long-range shot from outside the box in the 79th minute of the second half. The second goal alone is enough to prove that Lance's value could be even higher."
"They say football is a team sport of 11 players, but Lance demonstrated what ultimate individual heroism is. This newspaper predicts that this goal will be a strong contender for the 2015 Puskás Award. He has a chance to become the only person in world football to win the Puskás Award for 3 consecutive years!"
"Furthermore, Atlético Madrid, with four wins out of four, secured the top spot in Group C thanks to Lance's hat-trick. Bayer Leverkusen and Benfica will compete for the last qualifying spot in Group C. Will Lance have the opportunity to become a player who reaches the Champions League semi-finals representing different teams, and can he achieve a Champions League title breakthrough this season?"
"This newspaper will continue to follow Lance and Atlético Madrid's Champions League performance..."