Dominating Football with Perfect Ball Control

Chapter 218: 218. Lewandowski Can’t Figure It Out

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”Pay attention to defence!! Defence!!”

”Be careful, he’s cutting inside!!”

”Stop him!!”

”Damn it!!”

Allianz Arena, Bayern Munich’s home stadium. Bayer Leverkusen players were falling all over the place near the penalty area, lying sprawled on the grass.

Robben’s curved shot, cutting in from the wing, hit the post.

”Clang—”

The sound echoed like a bell across the stadium, making all of Bayer Leverkusen’s players and fans break out in a cold sweat.

”Robben’s attempt!! So close!”

”Everyone in the world knows Robben is going to cut inside, but they just can’t stop this energetic old man Robben!”

Born in 1984, Robben was exactly 30 years old this year. Logically speaking, this was considered the final peak of his career, with his physical condition, technique, and experience all at their prime.

In recent years, he had repeatedly created famous moments in the Champions League, and in the 2013 Champions League Final, he scored the decisive winning goal, helping Bayern defeat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 to win the treble.

It’s just that, compared to his ”Little Flying Dutchman” days, Robben’s hair loss was quite severe, and fans gradually started to jokingly call him Old Man Robben.

Fans joked, but no one dared to underestimate him. Less than 5 minutes into the game, left-back Nathan Aké was already going crazy, so much so that when Robben dribbled closer, Aké was trembling all over, focusing intently on Robben’s movements.

”Left side? No, it’s the right side!! Damn it!!”

In a flash, Robben changed his rhythm and feinted, cutting inside again, using a fake shot to trick Aké, and then suddenly bursting into the penalty area. Aké panicked, reached out, and pulled Robben’s jersey.

Old Man Robben fell to the ground immediately!

”Eh?!! This ball! Robben fell in the penalty area!”

Zhan Jun had a bad feeling! His heart sank.

Sure enough, the referee’s shrill whistle blew, and he sprinted over, pointing to the penalty spot. Lance was stunned.

A penalty 5 minutes into the game?

Team captain Rolfes quickly went up to communicate with the referee, making a diving gesture with his hands hooked forward.

”He didn’t do it on purpose, and the opponent might have faked the fall.”

”And a penalty is a bit too much, isn’t it? I saw the position was on the edge of the box...”

Vice-captain Lars Bender cooperated, Nathan Aké argued emotionally, even wanting to go up and reason with the referee.

”I’m f***ing...”

Just as an ”F-word” was about to slip out, Lance clapped a hand over his mouth and pulled him away.

”Why are you pulling me? It was clearly a dive, I’m innocent, I didn’t foul!!”

Aké remembered only lightly touching the jersey and gently pulling Robben’s shoulder; there were no obvious foul movements with his feet or hands.

”Calm down, do you want a card?”

A penalty was already bad enough, with the captain pleading with the referee. If they angered the referee and got a yellow card, the defensive pressure for the next 90 minutes would be even greater, and they wouldn’t dare to make any moves.

With 10 men against Bayern, Bayer Leverkusen’s chances of winning would be even lower. And Bayern didn’t even need to beat Bayer Leverkusen; they could draw and still maintain a 6-point advantage.

The advantage is mine!

”Don’t question my officiating! All of you, get away, do you want a card?”

The referee was also very impolite, dispersing the players who came to plead, and firmly pointing to the penalty spot. There was nothing he could do, Lance had a headache.

In 2014, there was no VAR technology as predicted; the referee’s power was immense, and a confirmed ruling couldn’t even be overturned. Even if it was proven to be a misjudgement, it would only result in disciplinary action after the match, and the outcome could not be changed.

Bayern were awarded a penalty, and tens of thousands of fans at Allianz Arena erupted in applause and overwhelming cheers. Fans sitting across the aisle from the away team’s stands openly mocked the travelling Bayer Leverkusen fans.

This was a standard feature of all matches. Bayer Leverkusen fans could only let Bayern fans create insulting chants to their heart’s content, unable to retort.

”You can’t even defend an old man! Oh la oh la!”

”Bayern will return as kings! Crushing you! Crushing you!”

The less than 2,000 Bayer Leverkusen fans couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to them; they couldn’t out-shout tens of thousands of people. They just drew crosses, praying that Bayern would miss the penalty.

But the one taking the penalty was Bayern’s star striker for the new season, Lewandowski.

”Lewandowski takes it... shoots!”

”It’s a solid strike, 1-0! Bayern gets a dream start, leading by 1 goal!”

”Lewandowski’s penalty was truly tricky; Leno guessed the right direction but couldn’t do anything.”

”This Polish super striker has already scored 14 league goals, and the gap with Lance has narrowed to 4 goals...”

The originally high-spirited Bayer Leverkusen suffered a huge blow to their morale due to the early goal from a suspected foul. Furthermore, Bayern Munich had adopted Guardiola’s tiki-taka tactics, playing very steadily after taking a 1-0 lead.

The midfield and front line continuously passed the ball, pressing and forcing Bayer Leverkusen to run tirelessly in their own half. Lance, in particular, was tightly marked; whenever there was any chance for a counterattack, Lahm, Thiago, Robben, Ribéry, Xabi Alonso, several players in the midfield and front line would immediately initiate a high press, forming chains across the passing lanes, making it very difficult for Bayer Leverkusen to get the ball out.

After continuous back passes, the goalkeeper had no choice but to clear it with a long kick. Defenders Dante and Boateng had strong aerial abilities, easily taking the ball from above Firmino and Lance’s heads, maintaining possession.

By the 15th minute of the first half, Lance hadn’t even touched the ball! Only De Bruyne found an opportunity, attempting a long pass to Son Heung-min.

Unfortunately, Son Heung-min, under Boateng’s close marking, couldn’t seize the chance.

”The connection between the Belgium duo has been targeted by Guardiola.”

Zhan Jun easily recognised Guardiola’s defensive tactics. High press to restrict the midfield and back line, cutting off the connection between the midfield/back line and De Bruyne, and also cutting off the connection between De Bruyne and Lance.

If this Belgium duo didn’t have possession, Bayer Leverkusen would almost lose their counterattacking options.

”It seems Guardiola prepared very thoroughly and learned from last season’s lessons.”

”Bayern’s front line is still constantly trying to create threats.”

”Robben and Ribéry on both flanks are still Bayern’s sharpest weapons, plus the heavy bomb in the front...”

”Lewandowski!!! A low shot!!”

Ribéry suddenly made a cross from the left, and Lewandowski suddenly shot with his back to the goal inside the box! Maguire, marking Lewandowski, was shocked!

He could shoot with his back to the goal?

The ball shot past his feet, precisely into the bottom corner!

”Another goal!!! Less than 20 minutes in, Bayern Munich leads by 2 goals!”

”Lewandowski scores a brace!”

16 goals in 14 league matches! Only 2 goals behind Lance!

Lewandowski had even long considered Lance his biggest rival. Lance breaking the Bundesliga scoring record and winning the Golden Boot with 42 goals last season had deeply shocked Lewandowski.

The Golden Boot that should have belonged to Lewandowski was snatched by Lance, he had been holding back a surge of determination to prove himself in the new season!

After scoring a brace, Lewandowski deliberately walked past Lance, looking at him provocatively. He had expected Lance to be nervous, angry, or flustered, but Lewandowski didn’t expect Lance to smile instead, a very calm smile, as if he was confident he could defeat Bayern.

”This guy!!”

It was Lewandowski himself who became unsettled! What right did this lad have?

The advantage is mine, how can Bayer Leverkusen win?

But Lewandowski could not have imagined that Lance had merely glanced at his system.

[Rage Value: 85%]

Because of Robben’s suspected dive and Lewandowski’s provocation, in less than 20 minutes, Lance’s [Bachira Meguru] template was almost at full rage!

They say 1-0 is the most insecure score. Lance was ready to prove to the whole world that, 2-0 is equally insecure!