Football: Starting from being abandoned by Barcelona

On the other hand, Manchester City is not perfect in the eyes of the media.

Although they have world-class goalkeepers and central defenders, and their defensive organization is very solid, their offense can sometimes be monotonous and boring.

"Manchester City's offense depends largely on the creation of De Bruyne and Silva."

"If Leverkusen can successfully restrict these two players and cut off their connection with the frontcourt, Manchester City's offense may stagnate."

Of course, in all the discussions, the names of several key players were repeatedly mentioned.

Leverkusen's goalkeeper Bernd Leno, with his excellent reaction and save ability, is regarded as the team's last line of defense.

And their striker Javier Hernandez, with his sharp touch and power, has won the title of "Little Pea" in the media.

On the Manchester City side, Li Lei is undoubtedly one of the most watched players.

This young player from Asia has become an indispensable member of Manchester City with his speed, skills and unlimited potential.

De Bruyne and Silva, the two midfield brains, are recognized as the core of Manchester City's offense.

In addition to the players, the duel between the two head coaches has also become the focus of media attention.

Leverkusen's Roger Schmidt is famous for his rigorous tactics and coaching style.

Manchester City's Guardiola has redefined modern football with his innovative ideas and pursuit of details.

The competition between these two famous coaches is seen as a double game of tactics and psychology.

In all the analysis and predictions, a common view is that this will be a evenly matched contest.

Leverkusen's home advantage, coupled with their high-pressure tactics, may cause some trouble for Manchester City.

But Manchester City's overall strength, especially their defensive hardness and counterattack speed, may also become their magic weapon for winning.

Li Lei sat in the hotel room, looking out the window quietly.

The outside world is hotly discussing tomorrow's game, and countless eyes and countless expectations are focused on this green field.

But his heart was surprisingly calm, because no matter how the outside world commented, the real decision of the game was everyone fighting on the field.

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

In his mind, he simulated the scene of the game over and over again, telling himself over and over again that he must go all out and be unreserved.

As night fell, the drums of the Champions League knockout round were gradually approaching.

Leverkusen's BayArena, a quiet football sanctuary on weekdays, has now turned into a boiling furnace.

Fans flocked from all corners of the city, from various states in Germany, and even from various countries in Europe.

They gathered here with full enthusiasm and desire for victory, and the cold air seemed to be infected by this enthusiasm and became less biting.

The game was about to start in a few hours, but the stadium was already crowded with people.

Leverkusen's red and white colors filled almost every corner.

Occasionally, you can see some black and green figures, those are Manchester City fans who come from afar.

People wear hats and scarves with team logos, wave various flags in their hands, and sing their war songs loudly.

On the streets around the stadium, vendors are busy shuttling among them.

The aroma of hot dogs and the aroma of beer, mixed with the hustle and bustle of the crowd, constitute a unique symphony.

Some fans gathered around the small temporary stage, twisting their bodies to the DJ's music, and releasing their passion with dance.

As time went by, the crowd began to flow into the stadium.

They lined up in a long line and waited patiently for security checks.

After passing the security check, everyone walked quickly to their seats, fearing that they would miss any wonderful moments.

In the stadium, the atmosphere began to heat up little by little.

When the players walked into the field for pre-match warm-ups, every touch of the ball and every move would attract the audience's cheers like a tsunami.

Li Lei, this young player from the East, causes a commotion every time he appears.

People shouted his name as if to cheer him on.

When the theme song of "Champions League" sounded over the stadium, the atmosphere on the scene reached its peak.

Sixty-five thousand spectators stood up and sang softly along with the familiar melody.

The beams of light intertwined on the lawn, like a grand light show, and like a solemn ceremony.

Li Lei stood in the player's tunnel and took a deep breath.

Walking out of here means that the game has officially begun. At this moment, he can feel the excitement and tension of his teammates around him. It is a mixture of excitement and pressure.Mixed emotions.

Coach Guardiola walked up to them and scanned everyone with a firm look.

"Remember our tactics," he continued, "remember our goal. Today, we are fighting for victory."

"Yes!"

As the whistle approached, Li Lei and his teammates stood in a row, waiting for the final entrance. The moment they stepped onto the field, the whole stadium cheered for them.

As the game time approached, the atmosphere in the stadium became more and more tense.

When the host began to read the starting list, the whole audience instantly quieted down, and everyone held their breath, waiting for their heroes to be named.

"Leverkusen's starting lineup is..." The host's voice echoed in the stadium.

"Goalkeeper, Bernard Leno!" A burst of applause and cheers, Leno is Leverkusen's main goalkeeper, and his appearance made the home fans feel extremely relieved.

"Defenders, Omer Toprak, Alexander Dragovic, Tino Jedvaj, Benjamin Henrichs!"

Another round of applause rang out. This is a strong defensive line. Their mission is to block Manchester City's attack.

"Midfielders, Karim Bellarabi, Kevin Kampl, Charles Arangu, Julian Baumgartlinger!"

Midfielders are the key to controlling the rhythm of the game. The appearance of these four midfielders gave Leverkusen fans hope of victory.

"Forwards, Javier Hernandez, Karim Benzema!"

As soon as these two names came out, the whole stadium was boiling.

Chicharito and Benzema are Leverkusen's offensive weapons. Their performance will directly affect the outcome of the game.

Next, it is Manchester City's starting lineup.

"Goalkeeper, Willy Caballero!"

This name caused some discussion. Caballero is not Manchester City's main goalkeeper. His starting appearance puzzled some Manchester City fans.

"Defenders, Bacary Sagna, Nicolas Otamendi, Martin Demichelis, Kompany!"

Kompany's name caused the greatest response. As the captain of Manchester City, his presence made Manchester City fans feel more confident.

"Midfield, Fernandinho, David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Navas... Li Lei!"

When Li Lei's name was read out, the whole stadium was boiling.

This young player from the East has become an indispensable part of Manchester City. Countless Manchester City fans are looking forward to his performance.

Compared with them, Leverkusen's home fans are not so optimistic.

"Forward, Sergio Aguero!"

Aguero, Manchester City's top scorer, his name represents goals and victory.

As the players walked to their respective positions, the game was about to begin.

In the far east, a group of fans were gathering in front of the TV. As the starting lineup was read out, Gao Yi's live broadcast room became more popular, and the comment area was flooded with comments.

"I knew that Li Shen would definitely start!" "This time Manchester City is stable, Li Shen can definitely lead the team." "With Li Shen, it's stable!"

Gao Yi sat in front of the live camera, watching the enthusiastic discussion of the fans in the live broadcast room, and a smile appeared on his lips.

As a senior football commentator, he knew what Li Lei meant to these fans.

"Li Lei's starting appearance undoubtedly gave Manchester City great confidence." Gao Yi said to the microphone, "But we can't ignore Leverkusen's strength. This will be a evenly matched contest."

"Teacher Gao Yi, how do you think Li Lei will perform today?"

"Li Lei has always been a very stable player," Gao Yi replied, "His speed and skills are important weapons for Manchester City's offense. I believe he will have an outstanding performance today."

With the referee's whistle, the game officially began.