Chapter 118: The Familiar Kicking Barcelona Kicking Barcelona! Is This The Champions League?

For most Union Berlin players, this was their first time going abroad for a competition. On the plane, everyone was pretty excited.

"You think there are any good-looking girls in swimsuits on the beach in Seville?" one player asked.

"Seville isn't close to the sea. Where's the beach?" another replied.

"Damn!"

"We can go to a nightclub, though. Let Su take us there."

"That's right. The fire-breathing girls in Spain must be very exciting..."

"Hey, hey, you guys are only thinking about women," Su Luo turned around and scolded with a smile. "Why involve me in your nightclub plans?"

"Huh? You're the expert!"

"..."

Though Su Luo enjoyed dancing, clubbing, and drinking, he was a disciplined player. He never indulged excessively. He went to nightclubs to strengthen his social bonds. But who would believe that?

He tried to explain at first, but soon gave up. Everyone already thought he was a nightclub guy, and he couldn't shake that title.

"Okay, if we win, I'll take you guys out!"

"Alright!!"

"Long live the captain!"

Coach Neuhaus couldn't help but intervene. "Do you have to discuss this in front of me? Talk about it in private!"

"Coach, you should come too!"

The players were overjoyed and tried to rope their coach in as well. Neuhaus remembered when his soul dance steps were filmed and posted online, and he immediately put on a pained expression.

"No, no, let's focus. But the premise is... we must win this game!"

"Don't worry, boss!"

On the plane, the players were full of confidence.

Meanwhile, at the Sevilla training base, Coach Emery looked at his players with concern. Sevilla, the fifth-place team in La Liga last season and the defending Europa League champion, had high goals for the new season. They aimed to finish in the top three in the league and reach at least the top eight or top four in the Champions League.

However, at the start of the season, Sevilla had gone winless in three rounds:

0-0 against Mara

0-3 against Atletico Madrid

1-1 against Levante

The team's morale was low, and they urgently needed a big win to boost their spirits. Union Berlin just happened to be in their way.

For Sevilla and Coach Emery, this game was a must-win. Playing at the Pizjuan Stadium, there was no reason to lose to a team that had been in the second division for many years.

At the pre-match press conference, Emery said, "Union Berlin are a strong team, but we will prove that European competition and the league are completely different. We have more experience in European competitions, and this time we will teach them a lesson. Our real opponents are Juventus and Manchester City."

Neuhaus remained humble, saying, "It's our first time in the Champions League. We can't expect to go too far. It's enough to experience the atmosphere as much as possible. Just participating in the UEFA Champions League group stage brings a significant broadcast bonus, what more could we ask for?"

It seemed Union Berlin just wanted to feel the Champions League atmosphere and weren't pursuing anything more. Judging from the pre-match atmosphere, the entire Sevilla team, including their fans, were quite confident. Spain's "Marca" predicted, "La Liga teams naturally have an edge over Bundesliga teams. Sevilla might face challenges away, but at home, they are expected to win. A conservative estimate is 2-1."

Only Sevilla striker Ciro Immobile was a bit worried. He noticed that neither Coach Emery nor his teammates took Union Berlin seriously enough. They believed their European experience was a talisman against defeat and were convinced Union Berlin wouldn't pose a challenge in the Champions League.

In an interview, Immobile expressed his concerns. "The opponent's striker, Su Luo, is very good. He was the European Golden Boot last season, but it seems our team isn't paying enough attention to him. We need to be more cautious to have any hope of winning."

Perhaps because Immobile seemed to undermine his team's confidence, on match day, when the starting lineup was announced, he found himself on the bench.

China's UEFA Champions League broadcast rights were held by CCTV, while the online live broadcast rights were acquired by PP Juli Sports for 300 million yuan. Facing competition from platforms like Penguin, Xinlang, and LeTV, PP Juli Sports invested heavily, betting everything on the Champions League. They were confident that with Su Luo participating, they would attract many viewers.

PP Juli Sports even hired popular Chinese commentator Zhan Jun and his partner, Teacher Zhang Lu, to cover Su Luo's game and other key matches. Zhan Jun's popularity, combined with Su Luo's enormous fan base, helped PP Juli Sports sell millions of "Champions League Packs" before the season started, exponentially increasing their memberships.

One week before the UEFA Champions League, PP Juli Sports went all out with their promotions. Whether watching short videos or browsing Weibo, people saw PP Juli Sports ads everywhere.

"The first match of a Chinese player in the Champions League! At 2:45 on September 16, tune in to PP Juli Sports! Cheer for Su Luo!"

"Zhan Jun and Zhang Lu will provide commentary, bringing you a Champions League feast!"

On the day of the match, many university students and young workers without access to TVs turned to their laptops or tablets to watch the game online.

"Why hasn't it started yet?"

"These ads are annoying. When will it begin?"

"What kind of team is Sevilla? Can't Su Luo handle them?"

"They've won the Europa League twice in a row. They're not that weak."

Among the barrage of discussions, Zhan Jun and Zhang Lu were also talking about the game in the studio.

"Director Zhang, what do you predict for Su Luo's first game in the Champions League?" Zhan Jun asked.

Director Zhang smiled and then slowly analyzed, "Sevilla and Union Berlin play differently, reflecting the styles of La Liga and the Bundesliga. But the two teams are actually quite similar! Emery's playstyle emphasizes practicality, with a strong midfield defense, flexible changes, efficient offense, and speed."

"From the looks of it, it might seem like a sparring match between brothers. The competition will come down to counterattack efficiency. In this respect, Union Berlin with Su Luo is unique in Europe."

"Yes!" Zhan Jun continued. "According to official Bundesliga statistics, with Su Luo, Union Berlin has an 82% success rate of combined counterattacks, with a goal formation rate of over 60%. Every counterattack is usually completed within 15 seconds, without much delay."

"Su Luo's role in the team's offense has become increasingly significant. This season, he's also taken on more playmaking duties. As Union Berlin visits Sevilla, Su Luo's performance will be crucial!"

As the commentators talked about Su Luo, a close-up of him appeared on the screen. The game was about to start!

"Su Luo, wearing the captain's armband, is only 18 years old, but he already has a mature and stable presence," Zhan Jun noted with admiration.

"Thank you, Barcelona!" "Destroy my factory!" "Beat Barcelona, ​​beat Barcelona!" "Play Bayern Munich!" "My factory has collapsed!"

This was the first time Su Luo heard the UEFA Champions League theme song live. He remembered his previous life, waking up at 2 a.m., fighting off sleepiness to watch the games on his computer. Every time he heard the Champions League melody and the thrilling string music, his drowsiness vanished, and he felt a rush of excitement.

Especially during the life-and-death battles of the Champions League knockout rounds, he felt as nervous as if he were playing for his home team. Unfortunately, in his past life, he was stuck in a grueling 996 job, with no time to travel to Europe to watch a Champions League match at iconic stadiums like the Bernabeu, Old Trafford, or Stamford Bridge.

Now, not only was he hearing the theme song live, but he had also become a player on the field! Looking at the 45,000-strong crowd at the Pizjuan Stadium, Su Luo felt a surreal sense of fulfillment.

"What are they saying? It's a jumble, and I can barely understand a thing," he muttered.

"I told you to learn some foreign languages. Now look, you're lost at a critical moment," a teammate teased.

"Who would have thought I'd ever go abroad to watch a game?" another added.

"Yeah, who could have predicted this?"

In the visiting stands at Pizjuan Stadium, Uncle Hans and the core fans had traveled with the team. About 1,000 members of the Iron and Steel Alliance drove, took trains, and flew to the away game. Seville's strong exotic atmosphere, with signs in Spanish everywhere, almost made Uncle Hans and the others late.

The Spanish fans on the other side of the aisle were also enthusiastic, greeting the German fans with all sorts of Spanish swear words. Uncle Hans and his group couldn't understand a word, but they knew it wasn't anything nice. So they responded with German swear words, which sounded quite fierce, startling the Spaniards a bit.

Before the game started, the fans from both sides were already engaging in a confrontation. In this warm atmosphere, the players from both teams came out of the tunnel. Uncle Hans and his group quickly got up and cheered, focusing on their own team.

"Lord! Lord! Lord!" they chanted.

As the top star, Su Luo received the biggest applause and cheers. His appearance also drew the attention of more than 40,000 Spanish fans. After surpassing Messi and Ronaldo to become the European Golden Boot last season, many Spaniards were curious about him. They wanted to see just how amazing this Chinese player was.

From a distance, with his black hair and yellow skin, Su Luo didn't look particularly strong, maybe even a bit thin. Except for his handsome face, which resembled Keanu Reeves, he seemed ordinary.

"He's nothing special," a Spanish fan remarked.

As the captain, Su Luo went through the pre-match ceremony with the players from both sides, who were now ready to battle. He gathered his teammates, forming a circle with their hands on each other's shoulders.

"Our first Champions League game! The other side doesn't seem to know what they're up against!" Su Luo declared. "Let's show the Spaniards what the German steel chariot is made of!"

"What team are we?" he shouted.

"Iron Union!" his teammates responded.

"Iron Union!"

"What are we here for?"

"Victory!"

"Victory!"

"Very well, crush 'em!"

"Whoa-!"

As the Union Berlin players dispersed back to their positions, the Sevilla players suddenly felt an ominous presence from their opponents. Fierce and aggressive!

Sevilla's captain, veteran Reyes, felt a sudden sense of foreboding. "Why does this feel like it's going to be tough?" he muttered.

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