A Leap to the Top That Stunned the Audience! (Two-in-One)

"Kickoff resumed from the center circle."

"Modeste kicked off, laying it sideways to Szalai."

"I heard Modeste has been linked with Chinese Super League clubs?"

"Yeah, he might come to the Chinese Super League. He's 26 this year, his center-forward skills are very polished, and he's strong in one-on-one battles. If he joins the Chinese Super League, he definitely won't struggle to adapt."

"The market has already proven it—Chinese Super League foreign players who don't rely on their teammates are more reliable."

"How my teammates play has nothing to do with me. I'll solve the problem myself."

"But this is the Bundesliga. Modeste has to rely on his teammates' cooperation."

Hoffenheim's players were not lacking in individual ability.

Even Rudy, that rough German lad whom Li Luo had kept in check, possessed an exquisite long pass.

Firmino went without saying—he was Hoffenheim's attacking core.

In an instant.

Several blue-and-white figures had already penetrated into Wolfsburg's half.

Firmino carried the ball forward, beating two men in the middle before continuing his advance; his teammates spread out in a fan-shaped attack, stretching Wolfsburg's defensive line.

Neckar Arena beneath the night sky resembled a spaceship that had landed amid the fields, its mighty cheers echoing endlessly across the open land.

Live stream chat.

-[Firmino is so fierce. He's definitely going to a big club next season, right?]

-[He might join Liverpool, Atlético Madrid, Juventus, or Chelsea.]

-[At clubs of that level, Firmino won't have as many tactical resources at his disposal. Fortunately, he's hardworking, and he developed the attributes of a "shield striker" at Hoffenheim.]

-[Of course. Clubs at that level definitely have even deadlier finishers, so the division of roles will be different.]

The technical area.

Hecking looked utterly relaxed.

After taking the lead, setting up a low block and hanging on was what he did best.

The assistant coach's tone carried a hint of anxiety. "This won't do, boss."

"That guy Guilavogui isn't on the pitch."

"Arnold is too young."

Simply put:

Guilavogui, who had started last round only to be targeted by Frankfurt and was now on the bench, had his strengths too—he was better at sitting deep during positional defense;

Arnold, Wolfsburg's 19-year-old academy prince, was still developing. He had plenty of drive, but Hoffenheim's attacking unit could easily lure him out and create space.

"Don't panic."

"Li is dropping back while directing Bendtner to hold off Hoffenheim's high defensive line."

"Don't stop him. Let Li play however he wants!"

In truth, Li Luo did not need to direct Bendtner.

Bendtner was already on the center-circle line, "amicably" trading trash talk with Hoffenheim's high defensive line. No one could pull either side away.

His competitive attitude was average, but he was very enthusiastic about arguing.

Wolfsburg's teammates were not useless.

Gustavo, the former Bayern Munich player, precisely cut off Hoffenheim's link between the wings and the middle, winning back possession.

"Hehehe, as expected of a defensive midfielder who came from Bayern Munich."

"Or rather, you need some real ability to make it to Bayern Munich."

"We can vaguely hear the boos from Hoffenheim's fans. Gustavo made his name at Hoffenheim."

Li Luo had just dropped back to the thirty-meter area.

He did not immediately turn and sprint back upfield.

He noticed that Hoffenheim's attackers had not quickly dropped back into defensive positions. Instead, just like Frankfurt in the previous round, the moment they lost possession during an attack, they immediately launched a counterpress on the spot.

Why?

Why did aggressively attacking teams counterpress on the spot?

Why did teams that parked the bus in a low block also counterpress on the spot?

There was no time to think about why.

Li Luo quickened his footwork and sped up his thinking. The geometric model shaped by Spatial Awareness spun madly in his mind.

Gustavo was experienced, but Hoffenheim's immediate counter-press was giving him a headache.

Frankfurt's counter-press last round had been a reckless mess.

This round, Hoffenheim's counter-press was actually structured around multiple players moving in a rectangular formation, cutting off the connections across Wolfsburg's midfield and back line on a wide scale.

At the same time.

Hoffenheim's high defensive line was also tightly and slowly adjusting its depth, preventing Wolfsburg from directly launching long balls from the back.

"Right."

"Slow the tempo down."

"Don't let Wolfsburg launch quick counterattacks."

"If Wolfsburg had a top-class ball-playing center-back or goalkeeper... Hm? Li Luo is coming to receive!"

The Wolfsburg players at the back were overjoyed when they saw the Chinese youngster.

Hoffenheim's rectangular pressing net.

Its very center.

Li Luo stepped into it without the slightest regard for reason.

The Hoffenheim players were completely dumbfounded.

Wolfsburg's teammates weren't idiots.

"Wolfsburg center-back Knoche was clever. He passed it over, and toward Li Luo's preferred foot too."

"Hoffenheim's rectangular pressing net shrank toward Li Luo in the center."

"The spaces around him have opened up."

Li Luo was a little nervous.

Occupying space and breaking the rectangular pressing net were merely tasks for his brain.

The real challenge was releasing the ball at the fastest possible speed while being closed down by four players, all while adjusting his body orientation in advance.

<Çalhanoğlu tells you: How an outstanding midfield core escapes under intense pressure.>

A flash of inspiration struck.

Before receiving the ball.

Li Luo opened up his body. As he adjusted his orientation, he twisted his hips along with it.

"Wow!"

"Receiving on the half-turn, then using a cushioning step..."

"The simplest way is the greatest way."

"No cushioning step at all—a One-Touch Passing."

"Then another cushioning step diagonally, escaping another Hoffenheim pressing matrix!"

Everything happened incredibly fast.

The spectators in the four stands watched helplessly as Li Luo played a one-touch pass, accelerated into space, played another one-touch pass, and accelerated again, tearing Hoffenheim's shape to pieces.

In the livestream.

Comments flooded the screen.

-[Not bad, not bad. I play for my school team too, and this is how I break through the opponent's press or counter-press—make the most logical runs and provide the safest passing option for teammates at the back.]

-[So handsome.]

-[His speed in tight passing-and-moving situations is insane...]

-[Li Luo is a build-up midfielder, but also a destructive midfielder. He destroyed Hoffenheim's off-ball structure.]

-[The simplest way is the greatest way. Li Luo avoided so, so many detours, unlike Juventus's Pogba, who loves showing off flashy skills.]

Firmino was a little dumbfounded. Was Li Luo some "brain-enhanced version" of Leverkusen's midfield core, Çalhanoğlu?

Hoffenheim's players weren't idiots either.

The instant their rectangular counter-pressing system was shattered, everyone sprinted back like mad, rushing into defensive positions.

Unfortunately.

Wolfsburg's players weren't idiots either.

No matter how fast Hoffenheim's players ran, they could never outrun the speed of Wolfsburg's passing.

"Here he comes!"

"Li Luo, three touches."

"Linking up the midfield and back line."

"Changing Wolfsburg's rhythm as a whole and launching a counterattack!"

"Beautiful!"

"To De Bruyne."

"Li Luo was so good at finding gaps! No offside!"

Hoffenheim's tall, powerful defensive line was breached by Li Luo.

At the instant he slipped through.

De Bruyne painted a rainbow across Neckar Arena as well!

The ball rose from the ground, spinning violently as it flew over the halfway line, tracing an incomparably beautiful arc through the air.

The camera followed its trajectory.

At the landing point.

The Chinese teenager raced across the open pitch.

The adrenaline of countless spectators surged higher and higher.

"A one-on-one!"

A heart-stopping moment.

Hecking bent forward, fists clenched tight.

The assistant coaches unconsciously crouched on the grass, staring without blinking.

Marcus shouted at the top of his lungs.

Li Luo did not look up.

Spatial Awareness gave him perfect control over the ball's path and landing point.

As he watched Hoffenheim's goalkeeper charge out.

The first thing that came to mind... was not bringing the ball down, driving forward, and finishing the one-on-one.

It was—

98 heading attribute!

He took a small step and leaped.

His arms spread wide.

His body dove forward.

The ball dropped.

A header!

The entire stadium was dumbfounded.

The commentators stood frozen in disbelief.

Every pair of burning eyes went blank at the sight, shocked beyond words.

Smack!

The football turned into a cannonball.

Carrying the force of wind and thunder.

It screamed through the air.

Spinning.

Unstoppably blasting toward Hoffenheim's goal!

Goalkeeper Baumann's face turned red with urgency. He pushed off the ground with all his strength, but his pink gloves... touched nothing.

When he turned his head.

The ball had already twisted the white netting into a whirl.

0:2!!!

The stadium erupted.

Dense applause poured down like a torrential rain.

Li Luo lay on the grass and touched his forehead...

[Shock Value +1!]

[Shock Value +1!]

[Shock Value +1!]

[...]

The rapidly changing numbers surged at an unprecedented rate!

Wolfsburg's players rushed over one after another.

Unable to contain themselves, they piled into a towering heap in Hoffenheim's half.

"Brilliant, Li!"

"That header of yours..."

"I've seen Bierhoff's headers, and tonight I witnessed Li's arcing header cannon with my own eyes."

"What nonsense are you talking about? Li's heading is his biggest weakness."

"Hey, hey, hey, which bastard is pushing up against me?"

The 6–2 disaster in their last encounter had been Wolfsburg's shame.

Tonight, Li Luo had washed that shame away.

"Beautiful!"

"Unbelievable!"

"A stunning header cannon!"

"A diving header!"

"A dazzling gem!"

"His talent... it's practically overflowing!"

"Li Luo's header, assisted by De Bruyne."

"Two goals! The young Chinese player Li Luo had scored twice in the Bundesliga!"

"He helped Wolfsburg extend their lead."

"As a Chinese person, I'm proud of him."

The commentator was practically incoherent.

Coach Zhang chuckled beside him.

In the livestream chat.

The big screen replayed the goal in slow motion from every angle.

-[0–2? Then the 6–2 I bet on is half right.]

-[Holy shit, was that Bierhoff possessing him? Or Van Persie?]

-[Li Luo can score headers like that too?]

-[What? When did Li Luo develop such heading ability?]

-[So handsome, this is fucking... a work of art!]

-[Absolutely gorgeous.]

-[A world-famous painting!]

-[Too bad Hoffenheim isn't famous. If Li Luo did that against Real Madrid or Barcelona, it would shake the whole world.]

-[Husband!]

-[A Chinese player scoring a goal like that in one of Europe's top five leagues... how could anyone not be excited?]

In the technical area.

Hecking stared blankly.

The assistant coaches were still crouching on the ground.

"You..."

"Why didn't you tell me... Li's headers were that fierce too?"

"Well, boss, Li's heading is his biggest weakness. That was what Manchester United's report said too."

On the other side.

Marcus was at his wits' end, desperately tugging at his hair.

Why?

Why had Hoffenheim's coaching staff missed so much information about Li Luo?

Wasn't that kid supposed to be the Chinese Xavi, the Chinese Iniesta, the Chinese Pirlo, and the Chinese Fabregas?

VIP box.

The Volkswagen executives were beside themselves with excitement.

"This is incredible."

"Watching Li play is simply a pleasure!"

"The young ladies of the Porsche Family and the Piëch Family aren't worthy of Li!"

"By their generation, the family wealth will have been diluted so much. Compared to Li's commercial value, it's worth nothing!"

"Li will become a superstar. When he looks for a partner, he won't need to care about her family background at all."

"The Sun says Li prefers Eastern girls. Generally speaking, The Sun is quite authoritative on this sort of thing."

Cheshire.

Hale Village lay shrouded in thin mist beneath the night sky.

Pfft!

Ferguson had been halfway through a drink when he saw Li Luo's header on the television screen... and couldn't help spraying out the water.

"Hecking..."

"That guy Hecking..."

Jack hurriedly chimed in, adopting a reproachful tone. "That guy Hecking is simply..."

Ferguson wiped his mouth with a napkin and said with feeling, "Simply a genius manager! He gave Li the fullest possible freedom! He let the seed of genius bask in the sunlight of freedom and grow freely!"

"I'm already immensely looking forward to Li's return."

"Quick! Switch back to the Manchester United broadcast... What? Manchester United are going to lose again?"

Neckar Arena.

The celebrations gradually died down.

De Bruyne was a genius midfielder who liked to think.

He carefully replayed the course of the match in his mind, trying to find a way to further extend their lead.

As he thought—

His brows suddenly furrowed!

The look he gave Li Luo was filled with sincere respect.

"Setting aside that headed finish."

"Li is far too selfless. He works tirelessly to organize and link up play, patiently sorting out the midfield. Even after a one-touch sequence breaks down the defense, he always gives me the chance to make the killer pass!"

"Other than that chipped pass last round that tore apart Frankfurt's high defensive line."

"In every other attacking phase, he always gives me the chance to get the assist..."

"He clearly saw the gaps in their defense too. No, it isn't just selflessness—it's about the team. He has me take responsibility for the killer pass... and there's an even deeper meaning behind it: variation."

The match was about to restart from the center circle.

Li Luo and his teammates jogged back toward their own half.

He suddenly noticed the Belgian's strange gaze. "What is it?"

De Bruyne rubbed a tender shoot between his fingers, avoiding eye contact. "Nothing."

Li Luo casually thought, With my passing attribute at 50, trying to thread through balls into a parked bus in a positional battle would get Hoffenheim counterattacking against us in minutes... Good thing De Bruyne's passing is so good.

Time slowly passed.

Every pass of the ball tugged at the hearts of the fans in the stadium.

Firmino entered berserk mode.

In the face of adversity, he remembered his impoverished childhood, the academy years when he had suffered constant bullying, and the malnutrition he had been diagnosed with just after joining Hoffenheim.

The village, the bonds, his companions...

Hoffenheim did not have much time left.

They could not give up!

Firmino, in his number-nine-and-a-half shield-striker form, decided to engage Li Luo in one final battle for space!

The next moment.

The Brazilian prodigy felt the flames around him vanish and stared blankly as Li Luo left the pitch...

"Dead-ball situation!"

"The match has reached the 74th minute."

"The fourth official raised the LED board."

"Hecking used his final substitution."

"Li Luo is coming off."

"Wolfsburg are about to enter a period of multi-front competition. In a few days, they will travel to Britain to face Europa League powerhouse Everton."

Thunderous applause erupted.

Quite a few Hoffenheim fans applauded the Chinese youngster as well.

Li Luo walked off the pitch.

[Shock Value gained: 168456]

He had actually gained 150,000 Shock Value tonight!

Hecking gave the Chinese youngster a firm hug and explained, "The schedule is tight, and we have a big advantage now. Hoffenheim's players are getting more and more physical. I'm worried you'll get injured. We still need to prepare seriously for a stronger opponent—Everton."

Li Luo nodded earnestly. "Everyone has worked hard."

The assistant coaches quickly handed him a dry towel and drinking water, then called over the team doctor for a physical check.

In the end.

The referee blew the final whistle.

Hoffenheim 1:3 Wolfsburg.

Chinese youngster Li Luo scored twice, stunning the Bundesliga.