Check out advanced chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari
----------
"Today is a crucial battle. Have you heard of the Champions League curse?"
"Of course!"
12 March 2015.
8:15 PM Berlin time.
There were still 30 minutes until the start of the second leg of the 2014-2015 Champions League Round of 16.
BayArena, away team changing room.
The Atlético Madrid team, about to take the pitch, was undergoing its final pre-match pep talk.
Simeone, the "Bandit Coach," clenched his fists, his expression serious.
The Champions League curse?
Atlético Madrid players naturally understood.
Since the Champions League format change, no team has been able to defend its Champions League title.
This includes 9-time champions Real Madrid, the "Dream Team III" Barcelona dynasty, and Manchester United, who reached the Champions League Final three times in four years... None of these teams achieved it.
During Barcelona's most dominant period, the 'Cosmic Team' that ruled European football, even at their most invincible, they could only win the Champions League every other year.
The curse of not being able to defend the Champions League still persists.
The current Atlético Madrid players had already been fortunate enough to win the Champions League.
Simeone was worried that tasting the highest honour too early would diminish their fighting spirit, so he constantly used the idea of defending the Champions League to motivate his players.
"Yes, the Champions League cannot be defended. But we are different, we are an army of steel!"
"So far this season, we are the best defensive team! We fear no one!"
"As defending champions, I have every reason to believe that we can break the curse and successfully defend our title!"
"Lads, can we do it?"
"Of course! Of course! Of course!!!"
Everyone in the Atlético Madrid changing room was enthusiastic, cheering with raised arms.
Simeone was very pleased with the team's morale.
The 1-1 score from the first leg was nothing; today, they only needed to defeat Bayer Leverkusen.
On the path to defending their title, Bayer Leverkusen was just a small obstacle that Atlético Madrid could easily overcome!
In the home team changing room, Lance and his Bayer Leverkusen teammates filed out.
They ran into the Atlético Madrid team head-on.
Atlético Madrid player Griezmann couldn't help but glance at Lance.
"They... are so relaxed."
Griezmann noticed that Lance was joking and laughing with his teammates.
Compared to Bayer Leverkusen's atmosphere, Atlético Madrid's seemed much more serious.
He wondered if it was a good or bad sign.
"Do they really have the confidence to win at home?"
Griezmann paused slightly, then clenched both fists.
"No!! I won't lose to that brat again this time!"
The scene of Real Sociedad being eliminated by Lance last season was still vivid in his mind.
Being equalised by Lance in the last match also made Griezmann very uncomfortable.
Today, Atlético Madrid would walk out of this stadium with smiles!
Actually, on the other side, the Bayer Leverkusen players were also a bit flustered, not as calm as Griezmann thought.
"Lance, what should we do? The other side seems really strong."
"Yeah, today is definitely going to be a tough battle."
Firmino was still a bit shaken.
In the first leg at the Vicente Calderón Stadium, they almost exhausted all their strength just to equalise the score.
Today, they felt completely uncertain.
"Don't think too much, we just need to play normally."
De Bruyne tried to comfort his teammates, but his voice was a bit soft, and no one heard him clearly.
"Hey!!"
Lance roared, attracting the attention of the entire Bayer Leverkusen team.
"Look at those people."
He pointed to the fans who were frantically making noise in the stands.
The match hadn't even started, but everyone had already been singing and dancing for almost two hours.
The fans were all trying their best to help the team, how could the players be afraid before even fighting?
In the ultra stand, a huge Bayer Leverkusen TIFO displayed the glory of the home team.
In the image, Lance's bicycle kick shot ripped through the net.
Under limited conditions, the TIFO manually made by the fans actually showed excellent results.
The entire Atlético Madrid team watched in stunned silence.
"Look how hard they're trying; this atmosphere is definitely no less than the Westfalenstadion!"
Lance declared passionately:
"So, we cannot disappoint our fans!"
"This is our territory!"
"Awoooooo—"
"Exactly!"
"Let's crush them!!!"
Encouraged by the fans, the Bayer Leverkusen players finally found their home-pitch rhythm!
The fans were the 12th player on the pitch!
With them behind them, the team would be fearless!
"Alright, Lance!!! A long-range shot!!"
"Oh my god!! Oblak's divine save!!"
CCTV5 commentator He Wei almost swore.
Just 1 minute into the match, Lance's sudden long-range shot almost broke through Atlético Madrid's goal.
If not for the god-tier goalkeeper Oblak's incredible save, Bayer Leverkusen might have taken the lead in the first minute.
"Lance's desire to shoot is very strong today! We can see him try more shots."
Commentary guest Xu Yang also noticed that Lance was in great form today!
Atlético Madrid's steel defence was most afraid of high-quality shots.
In the first leg, Bayer Leverkusen's shooting quality was average, and their offence was very difficult.
Today's hope lay with Lance.
Template equipped: Hyuga Kojiro (Fusion Value 1%)
Rage Value: 5%
Support Character: Nagi Seishiro - S (Fusion Value 100%)
Support Status: On
Today was Hyuga Kojiro's debut.
Lance didn't expect his first shot to almost score!
He truly lived up to his reputation as the fierce tiger from "Captain Tsubasa"!
Lance might not have seen other works, but he had watched "Captain Tsubasa" as a child!
Characters like Tsubasa Ozora and Hyuga Kojiro were his football enlightenment.
If he could unlock the special move [Tiger Shot] from it, Lance couldn't imagine how violent it would be on a real football pitch!
Even without a skill, he could already feel the power of his shot!
"Guys!! Remember to pass to me! I'm incredibly strong today!"
"No problem!!"
Son Heung-min and De Bruyne simultaneously gave Lance a thumbs up.
They also noticed that Lance was in excellent form today!
He might be their hope for advancing to the Champions League quarter-finals!
Griezmann of Atlético Madrid also sensed that something was wrong.
The moment Lance shot, Griezmann almost pissed himself!
"My God! Is he going to evolve again?"
Compared to last season's striker, who had excellent ball control but was otherwise average, Griezmann felt that this season's Lance was already on par with Messi and Ronaldo!
At 17, in his second Bundesliga year, could he really achieve this level?
"Damn it!!"
Griezmann could already feel that today seemed ominous.
Sure enough, his ominous premonition came true!
In the 19th minute of the match, Bayer Leverkusen continued their offensive siege.
Atlético Madrid tried to strengthen their defence in front of the penalty area, almost blocking any shooting space for De Bruyne, Son Heung-min, and Firmino.
Only Lance's movement was somewhat elusive, surprising Simeone.
"What's going on? His off-ball movement wasn't this strong!"
"I don't know either..."
Atlético Madrid's assistant coach was also bewildered.
Previous research materials and videos showed that Lance's off-ball movement was only average.
Today, it was almost comparable to Inzaghi's!
It was simply unbelievable!
All defensive tactics had failed!
As Lance suddenly retreated out of the penalty area, Atlético Madrid's defensive midfielder Gabi didn't arrive in time.
Lance received the ball outside the penalty area, turned with a backheel, and created an angle horizontally.
Before the Atlético Madrid players could react, Lance unleashed his right foot!
He struck with all his might!
Bang—
The explosive sound of the strike almost echoed throughout the stadium!
Goalkeeper Oblak felt as if a cannon had truly fired at the goal!
The football, carrying immense momentum, whistled and roared into the net!
The "cheating" goalkeeper Oblak had no reaction whatsoever, his face was pale!
"Gooooooooal!!!! Laaance—"
"A worldie—"
"He is simply a god descended to earth! Unstoppable!"