The match that was expected to be a thrilling battle turned one-sided, leaving everyone in disbelief.
In the visiting team's locker room at the Old Forest Management Institute Stadium, every Bayern Munich player looked pale and bewildered. Losing was one thing, but losing this badly was a first. Four goals conceded in the first half—how could they even face the second half?
Guardiola was equally baffled. He had no idea how to adjust and turn the game around. His strength lay in pre-match strategies, ensuring everything unfolded as he expected. But when things went awry, his ability to make effective in-game adjustments was exposed.
He had expected Bayern's ironclad defense to surprise Union Berlin. Instead, it was his team that was surprised. Su Luo, who had never shown proficiency in headers before, was now unstoppable.
"How do we come back from this?" Guardiola wondered, feeling helpless. From the coach to the players, confusion reigned. Bayern seemed disbanded.
Desperation led them to rely on their renowned passing and control style, trying to dominate Union Berlin in the front. But neither Muller nor Robben could find any openings. Lewandowski was lost in the crowd, experiencing the suffocating defense firsthand.
Kimmich and Keita, strong defensive midfielders, worked tirelessly. Pavard and Laxalt defended with all they had. Richards and Rudiger held the central defense. With Alex recovering from injury, Rudiger stepped up as the backbone, while Richards performed at his peak, effectively neutralizing Muller and Lewandowski.
Laxalt, the only weak link, was replaced in the second half after being repeatedly beaten by Robben. In the 60th minute, 20-year-old Nathan Ake took the field. His last appearance in a top league match was during the Europa League quarter-finals between Chelsea and Rubin Kazan in 2013. Since then, he had been loaned out until joining Union Berlin.
Seeing the young substitute, Robben's eyes lit up. Perhaps this was their chance for a second-half comeback. As Bayern continued to control the ball, it moved to the right. Robben took it forward, aiming to break through Ake with his usual speed.
Su Luo, not far away, didn't rush to intercept. He knew Robben wouldn't get past Ake. Sure enough, as Robben sped up to cut in, Ake extended his long legs and deftly poked the ball away, knocking Robben to the ground in the process.
Robben lay on the ground, ready to complain to the referee, but Ake was already advancing with the ball.
"So fast!"
"The young full-back Ake... no foul! The referee says play on! It's a counterattack opportunity!"
The entire Bayern team scrambled back in panic. Facing the pressure, Ake calmly changed direction and passed to Kimmich. Kimmich quickly tapped it to Forsberg, who then kicked it to Su Luo without stopping the ball. They broke through Bayern's defense instantly.
Union Berlin formed a 3 vs 2 attack in the front. Su Luo, Sane, and Maher Reiss moved in unison, forcing Boateng and Benatia to retreat hurriedly. As Su Luo reached about 30 meters from the goal, he feigned a shot, causing Benatia to rush forward to block.
Instead, Su Luo flicked his ankle and gently passed the ball to the right.
"Su Luo! What a pass! Maher Reiss is through!"
Maher Reiss timed his run perfectly, beating the offside trap and dribbling into the penalty area. Facing Neuer, he unselfishly crossed to Sane, who easily tapped the ball into the empty net.
Union Berlin's new trident worked seamlessly for the first time, executing a textbook counterattack. From Ake's steal to the midfield's quick connections and Su Luo's brilliant assist, Bayern's defense was utterly dismantled.
"5-0! This is a massacre!" exclaimed Duan Xuan, stunned.
Union Berlin, a second-division team just two seasons ago, was now dominating the Bundesliga champions.
Guardiola was in despair, unable to muster the energy to stand and watch. He slumped on the bench, expressionless, mirroring the despondency on the Bayern Munich bench.
In the Bundesliga opener, Sabitzer didn't start, replaced by Douglas Costa, who was repeatedly outplayed by Su Luo and Forsberg. In contrast, Sabitzer watched in complex emotions, seeing his old team thrash his current one. He regretted leaving Union Berlin for money.
The final moments of the game turned into garbage time. After Su Luo orchestrated the fifth goal, he sent a 30-meter through ball in a counterattack. Maher Reiss beat the offside trap and scored again.
6-0!
Maher Reiss and Kimmich were then substituted, with Quinine and Paredes coming on.
As the referee blew the final whistle, Bayern's players felt a sense of relief. The nightmare was finally over. Guardiola was left questioning his tactics and capabilities against an unstoppable Su Luo.
In the 84th minute of the game, Su Luo stepped out of the penalty area and assisted Paredes with a clever heel pass. The Argentine, who had just come off the bench, scored within five minutes of his debut!
7:0!
The Bundesliga giants, Bayern Munich, were completely crushed by Union Berlin! This match marked the beginning of Union Berlin's reputation as the "Star Breaker."
Years later, the armor-piercing bow in the game Glory of Kings was revised and split into "Breaking Dawn" and "Star-Breaking Hammer," named after Union Berlin's nickname.
After the goal, Paredes was ecstatic. Scoring in his debut, he felt Su Luo was his lucky star. He picked up Su Luo and almost paraded him around the field.
"Seven goals! Bayern Munich is utterly defeated!" the commentator exclaimed. "This was supposed to be a clash of titans, but it turned into a one-sided match!"
Bundesliga commentator Sauer seemed to gloat. "I'm sure Guardiola will have to explain this to the fans," he said.
Guest commentator Klinsmann wore a pained expression. "Perhaps it is Guardiola's fault. Afraid of Su Luo's counterattack, he played defensively in the first half, which backfired. Then, trying to revert to their original style, the team had already lost morale. And we must acknowledge Su Luo's versatility; his ability to score with headers is remarkable."
Narrator Saul nodded. "After his holiday, Su Luo has evolved. He surprises us every time. He's definitely a role model for professional footballers."
Unknown to the commentator, the "role model" took his teammates to a nightclub after the match.
When the final whistle blew, almost all Bayern players left the field in despair, unwilling to stay any longer. They were baffled by the turn of events.
In the player interview area, Su Luo, the man of the match, was surrounded by media. Handling the scene with ease, he responded, "I don't know why Bayern Munich played defensively. They should have stuck to their pass-and-control game."
When asked about his headers, Su Luo laughed. "I swear, I didn't practice headers during the holiday," he said, his humble response perceived as a boast by the reporters.
Guardiola faced a barrage of questions at the press conference. "Why did you change tactics?" "Will Bayern play defensively this season?" "What do you think of Su Luo?" "Did you consider Sabitzer's old club?"
Overwhelmed, Guardiola eventually left the press conference angrily, leaving reporters in shock. It was the first time anyone had seen him lose his composure.
That night, Su Luo and his teammates celebrated their 7-0 victory at a familiar nightclub, drinking beer and reminiscing about their triumph. This record would be remembered for years!
Back at the Old Forest Management Institute Stadium, Bayern players were tense. Just as Manchester United's 8-2 victory over Arsenal continued to haunt Arsenal fans, and Germany's 7-1 win over Brazil remained a thorn in the side for the Brazilian team, this 7-0 would linger in Bayern's memory.
"Congratulations on crushing Bayern!" someone toasted. "Cheers!"
Union Berlin players were on top of the world. They were ready to face the best, even Real Madrid and Barcelona.
While celebrating, Su Luo noticed a commotion near the dance floor. "What's going on?" he asked.
"It looks like a girl is being harassed," someone replied.
"Let's check it out," Su Luo said, leading the way. As captain, he exuded a commanding presence, and his teammates followed.
Approaching the scene, they saw six or seven tall men surrounding three young girls. Among them was a blonde girl whom Su Luo immediately recognized.
"Erica?" Su Luo called out. Erica Schmidt—how did she end up in this situation?
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