Chapter 467. Ferocious Leicester City

“Hello, viewers, and welcome to LeSports. This is Instructor Zhang and Jian Jun providing live commentary.”

“Today is a long-awaited main event!”

“Last season’s miraculous Premier League champion, Leicester City! Hosting last season’s La Liga champion, Champions League defending champion, and also sextuple winner, Atlético Madrid!”

“Both sides have some common ground. They both saw important personnel leave during the summer transfer window.”

“For Atlético Madrid, the departures of Griezmann and Torres, coupled with widespread injuries to the team, dealt a major blow.”

“Premier League champion Leicester City also saw their defensive stalwart Kanté transfer to Chelsea.”

“Fortunately, Leicester City’s midfield maestro Mahrez stayed with the team, and with their sharp striker Vardy, the team still maintains sufficient fighting power and has advanced to the Champions League quarterfinals!”

“Atlético Madrid also has Lance, who just won the Ballon d’Or, the youngest Ballon d’Or winner in football history!”

“The first leg between the two teams at the Wanda Metropolitano ended 1-0, with Atlético Madrid holding a slight advantage. Today, playing at the King Power Stadium, they cannot afford to be complacent!”

Now, let’s look at the starting lineups…

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Leicester City 4-4-2 Schmeichel Danny Simpson, Wes Morgan, Huth, Fuchs Albrighton, Drinkwater, Ndidi, Mahrez Shinji Okazaki, Jamie Vardy

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Atlético Madrid 4-3-3 Oblak Juanfran, Godín, Giménez, Filipe Luís Koke, Tiago Mendes, Saúl ángel Correa, Lance, Gaitán

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As Atlético Madrid’s on-field captain, Lance clearly felt the aggressiveness of their opponent, Leicester City.

As a grassroots Premier League team, they had long faced strong teams like Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Arsenal, and last season, they had fought their way out of a bloodbath to achieve the Leicester City miracle.

Every player on the Foxes had a beast-like glint in their eyes, just like Atlético Madrid last season!

Unfortunately, after Atlético Madrid’s sextuple, Lance could no longer see that beast-like glint in his teammates’ eyes.

Each of them had received countless praises and been reported by the media from every angle.

Everyone’s market value had increased by at least 20 million euros.

It was like “the dragon slayer eventually becomes a dragon.”

Atlético Madrid was no longer the Atlético Madrid of last season.

In contrast, Leicester City, when the two teams exchanged pennants and tossed the coin, Lance shook hands with Captain Wes Morgan for the second time, and could clearly feel Wes Morgan’s strong fighting spirit, his muscular arms bulging with veins.

The sturdy center-back, over 190 cm tall, gave Lance immense pressure.

“Lance, I hope we have a wonderful game today.”

“I hope so.”

Lance lost the coin toss again, and Leicester City got the kickoff.

Wes Morgan grinned ferociously, turned, and returned to his position.

The match was tense!

…Beep!

Indeed, from the very first whistle, Lance felt the roughness of a grassroots Premier League team!

Ndidi, with the ball, directly collided with Saúl, resulting in a foul called less than 7 seconds into the game.

Lance thought he would get possession and initiate an attack, but after the short free kick was taken, Koke was preparing to launch a counterattack.

Defensive midfielder Drinkwater, a former Manchester United youth player, made a fierce sliding tackle, taking down Koke and the ball!

Because Drinkwater touched the ball first, it wasn’t even called a foul!

Leicester City continued their attack!

“Vardy!!! Mahrez’s cross from the left, Vardy’s header at the goal, just grazed the post and went wide!”

“Only 1 minute into the first half, Leicester City threatened Atlético Madrid’s penalty area!”

Hiss…

Jian Jun immediately felt a bad premonition.

In the first leg, Atlético Madrid’s 1-0 victory over Leicester City, the opponent played more conservatively, and Atlético Madrid was able to maintain some control.

Back at their familiar King Power Stadium, Leicester City was in their element, and dominated the Premier League rhythm from the very beginning of the match!

Attack and defense transitions were incredibly fast!

Full tempo!!

“Vardy!! Pressing back, Mahrez, Ndidi, Drinkwater… Koke is surrounded! Pass to Lance!!”

“Foul!! Ndidi pulls back and fouls!!”

“The referee only awarded a free kick in the center circle, without showing a card.”

“But it’s clear that Leicester City’s defense is very resolute today, and they are paying special attention to Lance.”

If Lance were allowed to dribble for even one more second, it would mean their defensive line would be breached.

Leicester City simply took him down before he could even receive the ball!

Atlético Madrid was clearly unaccustomed to such rough fouls, and for a while, they played rather frantically.

The midfield and defense struggled to get the ball to Lance.

Instead, their own defense was frequently threatened.

Lance had to drop back from his forward position, which finally stabilized Atlético Madrid’s defense.

“Oh wow! Lance has even come back, Leicester City is putting on a lot of pressure!”

Instructor Zhang kept exclaiming.

“Their offense isn’t complicated, it’s just playing behind the defense, with Shinji Okazaki as the pivot and Vardy making runs. At least for now, they’re doing a great job; Atlético Madrid’s defense is already in disarray. It should be a 4-5-1 formation now.”

Lance returned to play in midfield, forming a five-man midfield with Koke, Saúl, Gaitán, and Tiago Mendes to stabilize the formation, with only ángel Correa playing up front.

“Lance’s return to defense has been very effective; during this period, Atlético Madrid has gradually withstood Leicester City’s attacks and even created some counterattack opportunities!”

“Lance, beautiful!! A long pass directly to the front!”

“ángel Correa!!!”

Lance, with his Beckham-like Muscle Memory, delivered a long pass, a millimeter-perfect pass, finding ángel Correa’s head precisely.

However, Correa was too nervous and misjudged his volley, sending the ball just over the crossbar!

“Oh no, he missed that!”

Wasting opportunities often leads to retribution.

Atlético Madrid had just all rushed forward and now had to track back to defend.

Others were still engrossed in the previous attack, not realizing that Leicester City had already launched a quick counterattack!

“Very fast!! Leicester City’s counterattack!”

“Mahrez!! Dribbling past two players in the attacking third!!”

The left-footed Mahrez suddenly drifted to the right, completely engrossed in dribbling, with no desire to pass.

Yet, he was selfish, but skillfully so, dribbling past two Atlético Madrid players in succession, tearing open a gap!

“He’s in!! Mahrez curls it with his left foot!”

Clang!

The ball hit the post, making Atlético Madrid fans breathe a sigh of relief.

However, before they could even celebrate, a figure had already appeared at the landing spot!

“Back post!! Vardy!!!”

Bang!

A clean and decisive diving header!

The ball flew squarely into the net!

“That goal went in!!! Vardy!!”

Jian Jun sighed repeatedly, but Vardy’s goal was beautiful!!

“Jamie Vardy!!!!”

“A spectacular goal!!! Leicester City takes the lead at home!!”

Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler was excited!

This was their England player!!

The 29-year-old grassroots striker Vardy, a late bloomer!

Today, he finally shone brightly on the Champions League stage!