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Lance's mansion.
Lance, the absolute core of Atlético Madrid and the most valuable player in the squad, was currently chatting and laughing with his upcoming opponents.
After adapting to the training ground, Bayer Leverkusen had a half-day off, and a group of friends who had a good relationship with Lance came to his house as guests.
"Lance, seeing your villa, I suddenly feel like my house is just a pigsty."
"As expected of a big star, after half a year, we are already people from two different worlds."
"Oh, my God, stop playing the victim here. You guys still drive luxury cars and live in mansions."
Lance cursed with a smile, "Besides, we're still going to compete on the same pitch, so how are we from two different worlds?"
"Speaking of which, are you really not starting tomorrow?"
"Yes, we've already secured first place in the group, so there's no need to exhaust the main lineup. Plus, we have to play Barcelona this weekend..."
"That's true, Barcelona is much harder to deal with than us."
"Remember the last time we played Barcelona? The pressure in that game was too great."
"Yeah, I was defending Messi, and if I wasn't careful, he'd just dribble past me."
Lars Bender got a headache just thinking about Messi.
"But thanks to Lance, the referee, who was like a pig, was clearly biased, yet we still managed to win the game."
Eliminating Barcelona in the semi-finals last season was definitely a memorable match for everyone at Bayer Leverkusen.
Recalling the situation at the time, everyone chatted excitedly, speaking at once.
For a moment, Lance looked at the smiling faces of his teammates, as if he hadn't left Borussia Dortmund for a second.
"Hey!! Kevin!"
"Oh my god, Kevin, long time no see!"
"You've been doing well lately!"
As everyone talked about De Bruyne and Son Heung-min, Lance simply made a video call, and a group of people teased De Bruyne through their phones, making the atmosphere even more lively.
After dinner, Lance's former teammates from Bayer Leverkusen had to leave, and Lance continued to use his extended Lincoln to send his brothers back to the hotel.
"It would be great if you started. See how I'll kick your ass tomorrow."
"Maybe I'll come on as a substitute."
"That would be great, I've always wanted to be your opponent."
"No, no, no, you're not qualified."
"Damn it! Let's duel!"
Julian Brandt, his best friend, joked with Lance before leaving.
After the two shook hands and hugged, their next meeting tomorrow would be on the battlefield!
...
The final round of the Champions League group stage!
Matchday!
Atlético Madrid vs Bayer Leverkusen
A crucial match for the Bundesliga team's qualification, German sport1 channel naturally paid close attention, sending live commentators to cover the duel.
Sitting in the media box at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium, the voices of the familiar commentator Scholl and guest Oliver Kahn spread throughout Germany.
1 hour before kickoff, there was hardly anyone to be seen on the streets of Bayer Leverkusen, everyone was packed into bars or watching the match with their families.
The key was that Lance was on the roster, although he didn't start, Bayer Leverkusen fans still hoped Lance could play, even if he might end Bayer Leverkusen's chances of qualification.
"There's good news today, Lance is not starting. We, Bayer Leverkusen, have a chance to take home a victory and secure our qualification!"
Scholl introduced before the match.
"Besides Lance, Atlético Madrid also didn't field core players like Griezmann and Torres, Bayer Leverkusen's current starting lineup has a high probability of defeating their opponents."
"The match begins, Bayer Leverkusen kicks off first..."
"Good, to Julian Brandt!! Beautiful!! A brilliant pass!!"
"Torres! A quick shot—"
"Oh, the goalkeeper came out and resolved it!! Oblak!"
Scholl's tone was full of regret.
Julian Brandt's pass after breaking through on the right was quite beautiful, Kießling's shot was also very good, it would have been a goal against any other goalkeeper, but the only main player Atlético Madrid didn't rotate was the goalkeeping god Oblak.
Bayer Leverkusen's continuous attacks were all thwarted by Oblak.
Julian Brandt angrily spat on the ground.
Passing the substitute bench, he saw Lance's triumphant smile, and Julian Brandt clenched his fists even tighter.
"Just you wait, Lance! I'm not the same person I used to be!"
After Lance left, Julian Brandt's position was solidified.
He became Bayer Leverkusen's main attacker, making rapid progress in the new season.
He quickly found another attacking opportunity.
"Beautiful!! Julian Brandt... he dribbled past!!"
He had asked Lance for some dribbling tips, and he didn't expect to use them here.
His gaze went to the open space on the left, and he swung his leg widely, seemingly making a long pass to the left.
Unexpectedly, at the moment the defending player was distracted, Julian Brandt quickly changed the pass into a pull-back, leaning his body to the left, using his right foot to perform a 'Raboná' at extreme range to pull the ball back, and then immediately dribbled with his left foot to complete the breakthrough!
"Beautiful!! Julian Brandt—"
Julian Brandt dribbled and accelerated past his opponent, instantly breaking the balance on the pitch, heading straight for the penalty area!
Lance on the bench was stunned by this play.
"Damn? This kid is really good!"
Before, Julian Brandt relied purely on his physical attributes, liking to use muscle explosiveness to accelerate and dribble.
Now he could play with such finesse?
Those two moves to get past his opponent really had his own shadow.
It was just that Julian Brandt's movements were slightly stiff and delayed, with plenty of explosiveness but lacking in agile grace.
If it were Lance himself, he would have handled this ball more elegantly.
Regardless of the perfection of the dribble, let's just say he got past!
Julian Brandt was temporarily unchallenged in the penalty area and shot directly from a tight angle!
"Damn it?!"
Even if goalkeeper Oblak was a god, he couldn't stop a powerful shot from inside the penalty area.
Bang—
The football went through his gloves and into the net!
"Goooooooal!"
"Julian Brandt—helps Bayer Leverkusen score an away goal!"
"The score on the pitch is 0-1!"
...
Julian Brandt's goal caused a slight disarray for Atlético Madrid.
They could only temporarily solidify their defence, unable to strengthen their offence.
Bayer Leverkusen's momentum was strong, pressing Atlético Madrid in the attacking third.
On the other side, Benfica, of course, had no suspense, already leading Astana 3-0 in the first half.
If the score held until the end, Bayer Leverkusen would be responsible for elimination even if they won.
Therefore, Bayer Leverkusen played a bit anxiously.
Fortunately, Atlético Madrid's attack wasn't strong either, and both sides remained temporarily unharmed, with the match dragging on until the 75th minute.
Simeone couldn't quite stand Lance's gaze.
He hadn't originally planned to bring Lance on, but the kid kept staring at him with expectant eyes, eager to play!
Especially facing his old club, Simeone could tell that Lance really wanted to go on and play.
"Fine!"
Anyway, 20 minutes on the pitch would count as a warm-up for the match, and Bayer Leverkusen wouldn't intentionally injure Lance, so he might as well let Lance go on and have some fun.
"Oh? We see that Atlético Madrid has requested a substitution! Number 10, Lance, is coming on!"
Here he comes!
Commentator Scholl was very excited, finally seeing a familiar face.
How many fans were waiting for this moment!
Especially Bayer Leverkusen fans, they would be satisfied just to see Lance running on the pitch.
"Lance is very active after coming on. He tries to dribble himself... takes a shot!!"
"Oh oh oh oh—it went wide!"
"Lance, the ball is back at his feet!"
"Attempts a breakthrough!! Beautiful!! Lance—"
Just before the end of regular time at 90 minutes, Lance's powerful shot from outside the box, cutting in and dragging the ball horizontally, flew straight into the top corner!
"Gooooooal!!"
"Lance continues to dominate in the Champions League!"
"Opponents want to get a victory from him? Sorry, no chance!"
Scholl's excited voice once again spread throughout Bayer Leverkusen, throughout Germany.
He was clearly praising an opposing player, but German fans weren't even angry, because Lance was one of their own!
Even if he went out to wander, Bayer Leverkusen would always be his home!
Fans would never forget the joy of the previous two seasons, and there would always be a place in their hearts for Lance.
"That guy, he's stealing the limelight again."
"Damn it!! Damn it!"
Watching Lance spread his arms and embrace the fans, Julian Brandt, Kießling, and Lars Bender couldn't help but curse with a smile.
A perfectly good victory, was inexplicably equalised by that kid Lance.
But the good news was, the referee soon blew the final whistle.
With a slim 1-point advantage, Atlético Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen advanced from the group together! Benfica was eliminated!
"Go to the Europa League!! We're playing in the knockout stage!"