Dominating Football with Perfect Ball Control

Chapter 83: 83. Compete with Bayern Munich for the championship!

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The crucial match against Bayer Leverkusen made all of Germany realize Bayer Leverkusen’s potential!

Before this, probably no one paid attention to this team.

They contended for a top-four spot every year, always seeming a bit strong, but with limited strength.

In the Bundesliga’s perception, Bayer Leverkusen would never win a championship in this lifetime; a top-four finish was their destiny.

Even if they briefly topped the Bundesliga and were temporarily on par with Bayern Munich, no one still believed this team could contend for the championship.

However, with the Bundesliga winter break approaching and the season nearly halfway through, Bayer Leverkusen not only didn’t collapse but instead bit ever closer to Bayern Munich.

Borussia Dortmund, originally a strong title contender, was kicked out of the title race by Bayer Leverkusen at their home stadium.

”Borussia Dortmund 2-3 Bayer Leverkusen. This last-minute comeback at Westfalenstadion was one of the most exciting and tense decisive matches I’ve seen this year, representing the highest level of the Bundesliga!”

”Bayer Leverkusen’s strong performances in direct confrontations this season have been terrifying.”

”They overturned Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and FC Schalke 04 away from home!”

”They even achieved a perfect record in matches against the top six!”

”This is the biggest dark horse of the 2013-2014 Bundesliga season!”

”If you were still skeptical about Bayer Leverkusen’s title-contending ability before, I believe after this tough battle, no one will doubt Bayer Leverkusen’s title-contending strength anymore, right?”

”The Bundesliga’s top scorer, Lance, who scored 18 goals in 15 rounds, this rising star, awakening with Bayer Leverkusen, has already become Bayern Munich’s biggest challenger!”

Lothar Matth?us has already begun to predict the Bundesliga title race.

The rivalry between Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen has taken shape!

Furthermore, in the upcoming Bundesliga Round 16, Bayer Leverkusen again defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 1-0, consistently staying on Bayern Munich’s heels.

Lance failed to score; he was almost targeted by all of Eintracht Frankfurt’s players.

As a result, Eintracht Frankfurt’s defensive line didn’t take Stefan Kiessling seriously.

In the 55th minute of the second half, Lance faced an insane five-man encirclement in the penalty area!

A photographer on the sidelines even captured a classic photo, just like Andrés Iniesta’s famous moment.

Lance stood in the penalty area, surrounded by five tense Eintracht Frankfurt players, yet Lance himself was at ease, receiving a pass from a teammate on the wing, gracefully maneuvering through the crowd, and somehow not losing the ball!

The Perfect Ball Control made all of Eintracht Frankfurt’s players go berserk.

As the five players closed in, there wasn’t a single defender within two meters of Stefan Kiessling near the penalty spot!

Lance avoided the tackle, threading the ball through the gap to Stefan Kiessling.

Stefan Kiessling’s shot was even easier than on the training ground, scoring with a single strike.

Lance failed to score, but his crucial assist still contributed!

Stefan Kiessling, after scoring, was also very excited.

This former star striker of Bayer Leverkusen, in front of all the fans, performed a shoe-shining celebration for Lance.

Then the two high-fived to celebrate, and embraced with the teammates who rushed over.

”It’s hard to imagine he’s only been with the team for less than half a season.”

German commentator Mehmet Scholl was filled with emotion.

Integrating into the team so quickly, and being able to stand on his own so soon.

It’s truly rare in Europe’s top leagues!

Winning against Eintracht Frankfurt and taking all three points put pressure on Bayern Munich.

On the live standings, Bayer Leverkusen, having played one more match, had already closed the gap to one point!

Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola has been under immense pressure recently.

Bayern Munich are the defenders of the throne; they can no longer afford to lose, and must strive for victory in every match to secure their top spot.

They faced Hamburger SV in this round, winning a difficult 2-1.

New signing Mario G?tze was no longer magical; he frequently performed poorly.

Ultimately, it was the veteran Franck Ribéry, returning from injury, who made a crucial breakthrough to create a goal, helping Bayern Munich secure a last-minute win against Hamburger SV.

After the match, Franck Ribéry appeared very serious during the interview.

”We are very fortunate that we won today. Otherwise, the opponent might have seized the opportunity to overtake us.”

”As last season’s champions, we really hope to win the sextuple that belongs to Bayern Munich this season under the leadership of our sextuple-winning coach, and achieve the Bayern Munich dynasty... But this is much more difficult than we imagined. Our opponent is not only Bayer Leverkusen, but also ourselves!”

Pep Guardiola also let out a long sigh after the match.

”Today’s three points are very important. Indeed, Bayer Leverkusen has a rising star like Lance... But the Bundesliga is a long race, and with experienced players like Franck Ribéry and Arjen Robben, I am still quite hopeful about contending for the championship this season.”

...

Bundesliga Round 17, the final match before the winter break.

Bayern Munich had already secured the winter championship title one round in advance.

But Bayern Munich’s players couldn’t relax at all!

Everyone was on edge, much like students taking a final exam.

For the last exam before the holiday, Bayern Munich faced strong opponents VfB Stuttgart!

Similarly, Bayer Leverkusen would also travel away to challenge the traditional Bundesliga powerhouse, SV Werder Bremen.

...

Weserstadion, SV Werder Bremen, away team changing room.

”This is our last match before the holiday, so let’s get energized!”

Before the match, Sami Hyypi? gave the motivational speech task to his coaching partner, Sascha.

Sascha was full of passion and enthusiasm, like a little mustache, speaking with fervor and gesturing wildly.

It was just a pity that this was a changing room, not a beer hall.

”If you want to have a good holiday, I believe you all know what to do.”

”If any of you mess up, the consequences are unimaginable!”

”Everyone worked very hard in the first half of the season; the whole team united together, propelling Bayer Leverkusen into the title contention... If you feel that contending for the title is too tiring, too much pressure, it’s understandable to fall back to contending for a top-four spot. With our strength, we’d probably easily secure a Champions League spot for next season... But!”

”I want to ask, now that we’ve reached this point, don’t you want the championship? Do you want the Bundesliga salad bowl?”

Everyone here was young, professional players, and their goal was to fight for that damn championship.

How could they not be tempted?

”Of course!”

”We want the championship!”

”Championship!”

”Championship!”

All of Bayer Leverkusen’s players were full of emotion, with their fighting spirit overflowing!

Clearly, Sascha didn’t need to motivate them; everyone’s desire for the championship had already reached its peak!

”Good, very spirited!”

Sascha was very satisfied with the players’ condition.

”Then let’s step onto the field and defeat any enemy standing in our way!”

When SV Werder Bremen’s players saw the Bayer Leverkusen group in the tunnel, they clearly felt their fierce momentum, with red eyes and steaming nostrils, like a group of angry bulls.

SV Werder Bremen striker Franco Di Santo’s heart skipped a beat.

He suddenly realized that this Bayer Leverkusen team was definitely not to be trifled with!

Indeed...

”Gooooooal!!! Laaaaaance!!! The 19th goal!”

”Bayer Leverkusen leads by one goal away from home! Bayer Leverkusen’s momentum is soaring!”

Less than 10 minutes into the match, Lance received a long pass from Lars Bender. He controlled the ball in the penalty area, fooling the defender, creating space, and unleashing a sudden shot!

The ball rocketed into the bottom corner!

Bayer Leverkusen’s attack used only one pass!

Before the end of the first half, Bayer Leverkusen launched a high-quality counterattack!

Son Heung-min sprinted down the left wing, covering 80 meters and shaking off four players!

He crossed the ball to Lance from the edge of the penalty area!

The goalkeeper rushed out in time, originally intending to block Lance’s shot.

Who knew that the moment Lance received the ball, he deliberately used his right foot to gently flick it while facing away, then turned around to bypass the goalkeeper!

The goalkeeper stretched but couldn’t touch the ball, falling to the ground and only able to look back in despair as Lance faced an open net and blasted it in!

0-2!

”The 20th Bundesliga goal!!”

German commentator Berenberg was stunned!

”Could it be that... if Lance continues to maintain his form this season, he could break the 30-goal mark? This youngster is absolutely on fire!”