Tonight, the Rhein-Neckar Arena is ablaze once more! It's the second round of the Champions League group stage, and Hoffenheim is hosting Sevilla. The deafening roar of support nearly tore off the roof. Nagelsmann fielded his strongest lineup, vowing to conquer this tough La Liga opponent at home. His opening gesture was exceptionally clear: press them, cut them off! As the kickoff whistle blew, Hoffenheim's front four—Uth leading, Oliver, Rupp, and Gnabry in a diamond formation—were like four sharp knives, plunging directly into the connecting seams of Sevilla's midfield and defense!
"Spectators, look at this pressing formation! Hoffenheim wants to pull the plug on Sevilla's breathing machine!" the Commentator shouted.
After kickoff, midfielder Amiri was the first to show his attacking prowess, sticking tightly to Banega. Defensive midfielder Demirbay lurked on the flank, blocking passing lanes.
"Flank, block!" Demirbay's roar cut through the noise, just as Nagelsmann had said before, actively communicating with his teammates on the field. Nordtveit's block was timely, forcing Banega into a desperate back pass, which Nzonzi then barely managed to long pass to Navas. However, right wing-back Kaderabek had been waiting for a long time.
Once, twice, thrice, four times! Navas tried to attack the flank and cross four times, and all four times he was thwarted by Kaderabek and Vogt's early positioning, or directly cleared with a header! Hoffenheim, after Nagelsmann's adjustments, truly showed their ruthless side.
"Kaderabek, perfect positioning! Sevilla's right-wing weapon is completely silenced! Nagelsmann's tactical trap worked!" the Commentator exclaimed passionately.
The young Oliver was exceptionally active in the front-line press, his running coverage was extensive, and he clearly and concisely directed in German: "Rupp, press and tackle!"
Rupp raised his hand in acknowledgment, understanding perfectly, and immediately moved to cut off another potential receiving point. In the 22nd minute, Banega, caught between Amiri and Rupp, made a hasty pass that was keenly intercepted by Demirbay. The German defensive midfielder wasted no time, immediately distributing the ball to the fast wing-back Schulz, who had surged up the left flank.
"Counter-attacking opportunity! Schulz receives the ball!" the Commentator exclaimed.
Schulz looked up, and Sevilla's heavy defense instantly swarmed to the left flank. Just then, Schulz displayed excellent vision, delivering a precise long-distance diagonal pass. The ball, like a surgical knife, cut across half the field, flying towards the suddenly exposed space in the weak-side right rib area!
"Beautiful switch! Sevilla's left flank is open! Oliver is there!!" the Commentator shouted.
Oliver had already positioned himself, and he had started his run the moment he saw the ball flying into the sky. He controlled the incoming ball steadily, facing the experienced Mercado directly!
"The 17-year-old Oliver faces Mercado! Can he do it?" As the Commentator spoke, Hoffenheim fans' hearts tightened.
Oliver calmly nudged the ball with his left foot, enticing Mercado to shift his weight, then quickly pulled the ball back with his right foot for the first time. In the instant Mercado adjusted his steps, he skillfully nudged the ball outwards again with his right foot. As Mercado completely lost his balance, and the covering Nzonzi had already rushed forward. Oliver immediately lifted the ball with his right foot, flicking it into the air, and the ball seemed to stick to his foot, bouncing left and right on his instep three times. But the ball just wouldn't drop! Then, Oliver controlled the angle and power, gently flicking the ball to the left with the inside of his right foot! An aerial Sombrero! Oliver broke through!
"Elastico! Consecutive changes of direction plus a magnificent aerial Sombrero!! If I'm not mistaken, this is Di Maria's signature move!!! He faked out Mercado and Nzonzi! He actually broke through!!!!" The Commentator's voice almost cracked. Bursting through the momentary gap created by two defensive stalwarts, Oliver surged into the penalty area.
The angle was already tight, and Danish center-back Kjær slid in to block. Oliver didn't hesitate for a moment, facing the sliding Kjær, he calmly pushed out a powerful low shot with his right foot. The ball precisely passed through Kjær's spread legs, carrying intense spin! Sevilla goalkeeper Rico's vision was obstructed by Kjær and Nzonzi, causing a slight delay in his reaction; when he finally dived, his fingertips barely touched the ball but couldn't change its direction. The ball hit the net, finding the near post!
1-0!
"GOOOOOOOOALLLL!! Number 17, Oliver! Incredible! Calm! Delicate! Deadly! Including the 2 goals against Liverpool in the qualifiers, plus the 2 goals against Sevilla in the previous round, this is his 5th Champions League goal! His mentor Nagelsmann is celebrating wildly on the sidelines, his beloved disciple did not disappoint him!"
The stadium erupted, Oliver spread his arms and glided in celebration, engulfed by his ecstatic teammates. On the sidelines, Nagelsmann clenched his fists, violently punching the air, roaring towards the field: "That's how you play! Oliver! That's it!"
His eyes held uncontainable pride and excitement. His high-press tactics, executed precisely by his disciples, yielded the most perfect fruit.
In the 35th minute, Saravia gained possession near the halfway line, keenly spotting the only potential vulnerability in Hoffenheim's defense after their aggressive push forward. This was a huge void left by Schulz's forward run. A precise diagonal long pass ripped through the defense! Sevilla's Ben Yedder launched like a ghost, Hübner made an offside trap error! One-on-one! The French striker calmly chipped the ball over the onrushing Baumann!
1-1.
"Sevilla! Ben Yedder! A textbook counter-attack! The score is level! 1-1!"
The away Sevilla fans finally cheered. Hoffenheim's press was fierce, but the margin for error at the top level is extremely low. Oliver tracked back to midfield, watching Ben Yedder celebrate, his eyes calm. After halftime, with the sides switched, Hoffenheim did not panic; Nagelsmann's adjustments required the players to stick to the strategy of combining flanks and the center for ball movement.
"Hoffenheim is pushing through the middle! Amiri has the ball, he's observing…" the Commentator said.
Amiri was holding the ball in midfield, attracting the double-team of Nzonzi and another defensive midfielder!
"Amiri, the right side is open!" Oliver keenly observed the emptiness on the right flank after Sevilla's defensive midfielder was drawn away by Amiri, and loudly directed him.
Amiri understood, feigning a strong drive through the middle, then suddenly passed to the right flank! Kaderabek had already surged forward, overlapping at high speed, and received the ball steadily! Escudero, who was marking him, was firmly held behind him!
"Kaderabek! He's pushed in! Cross!!!"
Sevilla center-back Lenglet instinctively rushed towards the center of the penalty area, preparing to block a tap-in. Just then, Oliver, who had been lurking near the penalty spot, suddenly started a lateral movement! Kaderabek understood perfectly, he didn't blindly sweep the ball towards the goal, but instead delivered a precise cut-back pass, targeting Oliver who was moving laterally.
"Oliver receives the ball! Lenglet is rushing towards him! What will he do?" the Commentator exclaimed.
Facing the tall Lenglet's block, Oliver displayed world-class ball control and footwork. He didn't trap the ball to adjust, but directly met the ball and flicked it outwards with his instep! The ball drew a beautiful small arc, as if it had eyes. This ball bypassed the desperately outstretched leg of Lenglet, whose movements were slightly clumsy, carrying intense spin, flying directly towards the far bottom-right corner of the goal. Goalkeeper Rico had initially prepared to block the near post, but was completely deceived by this incredibly tricky shot, losing his balance. He managed a desperate dive, but it was too late! The ball precisely hit the theoretically absolute dead corner!
2-1!
"Outside of the foot! A golden caress!! An absolute perfect angle! This is simply a work of art! 2-1! Hoffenheim leads again! Oliver! An incredible young man! He has dominated the game once more! Oliver, 17 years and 136 days old! He made Rico and Sevilla's entire defense look like a backdrop!!" The Commentator was completely awestruck by this goal.
On the sidelines, Nagelsmann excitedly slid on his knees, clenching his fists and roaring to the sky! His tactics had completely unleashed Oliver, and this child repaid his trust in the most astonishing way. After conceding, Sevilla launched a furious counter-attack, changing to a 3-4-3 formation and attacking aggressively down the left flank, with Saravia and Escudero taking turns to surge forward! Gnabry tracked back to help Schulz defend.
"Rupp, help!" Oliver loudly reminded the central midfielder to pay attention to protecting the rib area.
At a crucial moment, Hoffenheim's defense withstood the pressure. Rupp accurately tracked back into position, and together with Schulz, blocked Escudero's cross out for a goal kick. Subsequently, Sevilla got an opportunity outside the box, and Vázquez unleashed a powerful shot from the top of the penalty area. Excellent angle and power! But Baumann, like a god descending, made a flying dive, pushing the ball over the crossbar with one hand!
"Baumann!!! A spectacular save! Keeping the goal intact! Sevilla's attacking wave was stopped by Hoffenheim's iron defense and super goalkeeper!" The entire Hoffenheim crowd erupted in thunderous applause for their guardian.
After Hoffenheim neutralized the opponent's attack, central defender Vogt gained possession. He didn't blindly clear the ball, but instead adjusted slightly near the halfway line, looked up, and instantly spotted Oliver in a one-on-one situation with Kjær on the right flank! A precise long pass found Oliver! Oliver, with his back to goal, steadily held off the tall Lenglet!
"Oliver receives the ball with his back to goal, Lenglet is marking him tightly! Seems like there's no chance? Wait! What is he looking at?!"
Oliver did not choose to turn and force his way through, nor did he even look at the positions of his teammates behind him. Just as Lenglet and the other center-back, Kjær, instinctively moved closer to attempt a double-team. Oliver, as if he had eyes in the back of his head, gently flicked the ball backwards with the heel of his standing foot.
"Backheel pass?! Oh My God!!!" This pass truly stunned the Commentator.
The ball, like a precisely guided missile, subtly and strangely threaded its way through the only gap in the combined bodies of Lenglet and Kjær. Meanwhile, on the left wing, Gnabry, who had been assisting in defense, understood perfectly and burst forward like an arrow from a bowstring, successfully beating the offside trap!
"Gnabry is onside!!! One-on-one!"
The speedy Gnabry on the left wing, like a flash of lightning, caught up to Oliver's blind pass, facing Sevilla's goalkeeper, Rico, directly! He calmly shot towards the far corner. Although Rico managed to touch the ball with his foot, he couldn't change its direction, and the ball rolled into the net!
3-1!
"GOALLLLLLLLLL!!! Gnabry, and Oliver's genius assist!!! A backheel pass like from a God's perspective! He's like he has 360° vision! Genius imagination! It's 3-1 now!" The Commentator was almost speechless.
"That's awesome, Oliver! You're really f***ing awesome!!" After scoring, Gnabry was the first to run to Oliver, hugging his miracle-making teammate tightly.
On the sidelines, Nagelsmann raised both arms and applauded, then burst into disbelieving laughter towards the assistant coaching staff. His beloved disciple's creativity far exceeded his imagination! As the match neared its end, Sevilla pushed everyone forward for a corner kick, and the ball was headed clear by Vogt. Uth won a header in the attacking third, flicking it towards the center. Oliver, still Oliver, lightly brought down the ball near the halfway line. Oliver took the ball, with an open field ahead of him; only the goalkeeper remained in Sevilla's half! Banega chased back frantically! Oliver had anticipated this, calmly taking a touch, accelerating with a quick dodge, and easily shaking off Banega's desperate tackle with his speed and change of direction. He looked up and observed that goalkeeper Rico was indeed positioned somewhat far out, approximately 25 meters from the goal at this point. Without any hesitation! Oliver adjusted his step and curled a beautiful arc with his left foot.
"A left-footed lob shot?!"
The ball, with intense spin, cut through the night sky, soared over the despairing pursuit of Lenglet, and arced into a massive rainbow. It dropped, landing with incredible precision towards the far corner of the goal! Rico desperately retreated and leaped, his fingertips just inches away!
4-1!
"GOOOOOOAL!!!! A hat-trick!!! An unparalleled performance! A perfect lob shot after calm observation! 4-1! The match is over! Sevilla has been completely destroyed by this 17-year-old English genius! 2 goals in the Champions League qualifiers, 2 goals in the first group stage match, and a hat-trick in the second round! 7 Champions League goals! A prodigious talent has emerged at Hoffenheim!!!" The Commentator was completely insane, speaking so fast he was almost breathless.
The entire stadium erupted into a blue frenzy! Oliver spread his arms, basking in the thunderous adoration of the crowd! His teammates swarmed him, tossing him high into the night sky—a hat-trick, this was absolutely a perfect individual performance. Hoffenheim secured a resounding 4-1 victory over Sevilla at home. Nagelsmann excitedly rushed onto the field, immediately finding Oliver, who was surrounded by his teammates. Completely disregarding the cameras and the gazes of everyone on the sidelines, he opened his arms and gave his 17-year-old protégé an incredibly forceful, proud hug!
Then he released him, gripping Oliver's shoulders tightly, his eyes sparkling with unconcealed excitement and brilliance, shaking him vigorously: "Fantastic! My boy! Truly a dream performance!" His voice trembled with excitement, "You delivered on everything I wanted! Everything!"
Nagelsmann had so much he wanted to express, which ultimately condensed into a proud and affectionate German phrase: "Ich bin so stolz auf dich!"
Oliver's face also bloomed with a tired but satisfied smile, and he nodded vigorously to his mentor. Nagelsmann's trust and tactical design had given wings to his talent, completely unleashing Oliver's offensive threat. Tonight, the Rhein-Neckar Arena cheered only for this 17-year-old. Hoffenheim's prodigious talent was rising rapidly.
...
The victory against Sevilla was like a strong stimulant, but also like a hard millstone. High-intensity, high-level competition takes a huge toll on players, especially on the young Oliver. From the start of the Bundesliga season to the current packed schedule, coupled with continuous Champions League battles, even an iron body needs a breathing space. Not to mention this 17-year-old boy.
At this time, it was already early October. The grand curtain of the Munich Oktoberfest had long been raised, and the air seemed to float with Bavaria's unique festive atmosphere, the alluring scent of beer malt and roasted meat grease.
During training a few days after the victory against Sevilla, the experienced assistant coach Kramer quietly reminded Nagelsmann: "Julian, although Oliver has been performing very well recently, his multiple shuttle runs today were a few seconds slower than usual. He should rest."
Nagelsmann looked at Oliver, who was drenched in sweat on the training ground but still meticulously completing every movement, and a subtle hint of tenderness appeared in his eyes. He saw clearly that Oliver had played almost every important match in the League and Champions League recently. His running distance, number of duels, and the pressure of ball handling were all among the best in the team. Although this young tiger cub was full of energy, he also needed a short break to perform better. At the same time, hundreds of kilometers away in Munich, a "kind-hearted person" also sent a timely message.
Thomas Muller was scrolling through his phone and happened to see an article reporting Oliver's stunning performance in the match against Sevilla. In the photo, Oliver was surrounded by his teammates, smiling brightly. Muller grinned, revealing his signature, amusing smile.
Since their mutual follow-up at Hoffenheim's home stadium last time, the two had occasionally chatted on social media. Muller would sometimes share funny Bayern anecdotes or complain about training intensity, and Oliver would ask Muller about life in Germany or football techniques. This Bayern prankster had a good impression of Oliver, who was nearly ten years his junior, and appreciated his talent and liveliness.
He felt that Oliver was very much like him. Muller's fingers danced quickly across the screen, and his message soon appeared on Oliver's phone: "Hey! Oliver! That was awesome! Those 3 goals against Sevilla were so cool, especially that third shot, it was simply incredible, I wanted to applaud you in front of the TV!"
Oliver saw Muller's message, smiled, and replied, "Thanks, Thomas, that goal was just good luck."
Muller immediately typed back: "Luck? That's all skill. Oh, by the way, you've been playing so hard recently, you must be exhausted, right? The Munich Oktoberfest is lively now, do you know about Oktoberfest?"
Oliver replied, "I know about it, but I haven't attended yet."
Muller became enthusiastic: "Wow! How can that be? Oktoberfest is a huge event in Germany! Come on, it's not far from your Baden-Württemberg to Munich. I'll host, take you to experience it, I guarantee it'll be more fun than you imagine."
Oliver's heart stirred slightly; he really wanted to go, but his age was an issue.
"Thomas, thanks for the invitation, but... I'm not an adult yet, I can't drink alcohol."
Muller replied instantly, his message seemingly carrying his characteristic hearty laughter: "Oh my goodness, my friend! Does Oktoberfest only mean drinking alcohol?! The atmosphere, understand?! It's that feeling of everyone having a blast together! The live music, the giant Ferris wheel, and those sausages, roasted chicken, huge pretzels, so fragrant they can steal your soul! Besides, there are also fruit juices and soft drinks at Oktoberfest, don't worry! The main thing is to enjoy the lively atmosphere and have fun, just think of it as a trip to Munich to clear your head?"
Muller's enthusiasm almost permeated the screen. For Oliver, the invitation from this football veteran and Bayern legend itself carried a unique appeal. Moreover, his interaction with Muller had already reached over 80%, so going to Oktoberfest with Muller was also a great opportunity for interaction. Furthermore, this was indeed a rare opportunity for relaxation during a busy season. Just then, Nagelsmann announced within the team the decision to rest some key players, including Oliver, for the next away Bundesliga match against Wolfsburg.
After training, Nagelsmann called him aside privately, "Oliver, you'll be rested for next week's home game against Wolfsburg. You've been playing too much recently, and your body and mind need to recharge. Don't train or watch games during this time; let your body and brain rest."
He patted Oliver's shoulder affectionately.Oliver felt a wave of relief and immediately thought of Muller's invitation. He quickly explained, "Coach, Thomas invited me to Munich to see Oktoberfest..."
Nagelsmann raised an eyebrow, then showed a knowing smile: "Oh? That Thomas fellow is quite enthusiastic."
He also knew Muller well.
"Of course you can go, kid. Experiencing German culture is a good thing, but remember, don't touch alcohol once you're there, always be careful on the road, keep me updated on your safety, and remember to report back to the team on time."
Upon receiving his coach's approval, Oliver's face instantly broke into a wide smile: "Absolutely! Thank you, Coach!"
He went back, took out his phone, and replied to Muller: "Thomas! Coach agreed! I'll be there soon!"
Muller replied with a string of jumping and cheering animated emojis and a line of text: "Awesome! Friday or Saturday? Let me know when your itinerary is set, I'll pick you up, waiting to take you to eat the best roasted chicken!"
Oliver replied with an 👍🏻.
...
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