Group of Death (Two-in-One)

Monaco's royal family were die-hard fans of Chinese traditional culture.

Prince Albert II, in order to engage in cultural exchange with China, had even sent a millennium-old throne to the Forbidden City.

On December 3, 2002, China had defeated Poland, Mexico, Russia, and South Korea in Monaco to win the hosting rights for the 2010 World Expo.

Grimaldi Forum.

A red carpet had been laid from the north entrance all the way to the roadside.

Media reporters had set up their cameras early on both sides of the carpet.

Monaco covered only 2.08 square kilometers.

Yet this conference center alone occupied as much as 70,000 square meters.

Leo Kang, Völler, and old man Topp stepped out of their business vehicle.

Once the reporters saw the club badges on their chests, they showed little interest. Their gazes soon returned to the end of the road. Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Juventus were the main targets of their interviews.

The moment they entered the conference center's lobby.

They could feel the rich presence of traditional Chinese elements.

Celadon, black-glazed porcelain, colored porcelain, Yue ware. Tiger heads, goat heads, rat heads, ink-wash calligraphy and paintings, all kinds of zithers and drums.

Leo paused.

Only after taking two more steps did he see the label clearly: replicas.

The negative emotions that had just welled up gradually faded away.

Völler smiled. "The Monaco royal family can't afford many Chinese antiques. Everything here is a replica."

"Prince Albert II is obsessed with Chinese culture to a crazy degree. He's made Chinese a compulsory course for the children of this country."

Leo nodded seriously.

Old man Topp looked a little nervous.

Ever since defeating Manchester United, he had been praying for Bayer Leverkusen's luck in the Champions League draw.

Playing well was no match for drawing well.

This year's Champions League landscape was very different.

There were quite a few powerful sides in Pot Three and Pot Four as well.

For example: CSKA Moscow from the Russian Premier League, Sevilla from La Liga, Lyon from Ligue 1, Shakhtar Donetsk from the Ukrainian Premier League, and Galatasaray from the Turkish Süper Lig.

Roma in particular had somehow been placed in Pot Three.

This season's Champions League group stage was very likely to produce a group of death!

Under the guidance of UEFA staff.

The three entered a large hall.

"The player representatives sit in the audience. The two of us have to go to the club representatives' section. Message me if anything comes up, and also—"

"You sound like a grandma! Come on, Leo isn't a child."

Völler and old man Topp headed toward the seats in the front row before the main stage.

Leo followed the number on his ticket and headed toward the audience seating.

He quickly found his seat.

Sixth row.

A seat by the aisle.

"Bayer Leverkusen has produced another genius? An Asian?"

Leo had barely sat down when someone beside him greeted him.

It was Roma's Pjanić.

In 2015, this guy was skinny as a stick.

"You're Chinese, right? You have to be. I once shared a room with a Chinese player!"

"This is my first time seeing a Chinese player at a Champions League draw ceremony!"

Pjanić smiled and held out his hand.

Leo responded politely.

He suddenly remembered that there had indeed been a Chinese player who had once been called one half of the "Metz Twins" alongside Pjanić. Unfortunately, their careers had later gone in vastly different directions.

Pjanić was about to continue.

When the media reporters behind them suddenly let out waves of astonished exclamations, camera flashes going wild!

A group of players wearing Barcelona badges entered the venue!

Messi!

Iniesta!

Suárez!

Pjanić asked in confusion, "Why can Barcelona bring so many player representatives? Every other club can only send one player!"

Schürrle, seated to his right, said, "Barcelona are last season's Champions League winners. Not only do they have more player representatives, they also have three legendary guests presenting awards!"

After all the representatives had taken their seats.

The Champions League group-stage draw ceremony officially began.

After an impassioned opening theme.

A man and a woman emerged from opposite sides of the main stage.

Manchester United's former legendary goalkeeper Schmeichel.

Miss Switzerland, Melanie.

The two were the hosts of this draw, delivering their opening remarks in an official tone.

Below the stage.

Pjanić adjusted his posture, his eyes fixed on the graceful figure on the main stage as he muttered, "She's seriously hot!"

Leo: "..."

He really could not see why the heavily covered Miss Switzerland gave the Roma prodigy that impression.

Pjanić glanced at Leo and said, "You don't think Miss Melanie is attractive? Your taste is seriously flawed!"

The draw ceremony moved quickly.

The two hosts left the stage.

The giant LED screen on the main stage began showing the top ten goals from the previous Champions League season:

Aboubakar's thunderous long-range strike.

Lewandowski's towering header.

Benzema's rocket from a tight angle.

Accompanied by the passionate Champions League theme music.

Every goal drew applause from the venue.

Barcelona accounted for five of the ten best goals.

When the famous scene of Messi sending Boateng to the ground appeared on the big screen.

The entire venue instantly erupted in cheers.

Bayern Munich's sporting director looked grim.

In the club representatives' section.

Old man Topp sat between Enrique and Guardiola, looking rather uncomfortable.

He could not understand why the two juniors could completely ignore him, not even offering a greeting!

So what if they had won a treble and a sextuple?

After the top ten goals had finished playing.

The LED screen did not go dark.

Instead, it suddenly inserted the best goal from this season's Champions League qualifiers.

On the screen.

A black-haired youth in Bayer Leverkusen's number 10 shirt unleashed a stunning free kick with a bizarre curve at Old Trafford!

At once.

Everyone's eyes turned toward the players' section, searching for the scorer.

Pjanić stared at Leo in shock and praised him. "Your free kicks seem even better than mine!"

Chinese livestream.

Duan Xuan and He Wei could not help getting a little excited at the sight.

"Leo Kang! He's the first Chinese player to appear at a Champions League draw ceremony!"

"The brilliance of that free-kick goal was no less than any of last season's top ten Champions League goals!"

The comments gradually grew excited.

-

[Although Leo Kang isn't a Chinese national, I still hope he keeps getting better and proves to the world that Chinese people can play football too!]

-

[Prove what? Only when Chinese football becomes strong overall can we shake off the label of being a footballing wasteland. Leo Kang must never come back!]

-

[I can already guess tonight's self-media headlines: "Messi Stunned!" "Cristiano Ronaldo Stunned!"]

-

[It's not that exaggerated. Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were just as amazing at seventeen! At most they'd say, "That kid's free kick is pretty good!"]

In the club representatives' section.

Allegri suddenly turned around. "Mr. Topp, this kid is a little like Pirlo. Our Juventus—"

Simeone interrupted, "This kid's style of play suits Atlético Madrid perfectly!"

Pellegrini said, "Our Manchester City—"

Old man Topp cursed UEFA's editing team ten thousand times in the depths of his heart!

No, Völler must have been behind this!

And this pack of greedy managers from the giants!

Wenger, why are you looking at me like that?

Why are you Arsenal joining in on this too?

Old man Topp tried his best to keep his tone calm. "Mm, Leo, his free kicks are pretty good! Yes! Only his free kicks are good."

The Champions League ceremony soon reached its most significant segment.

Maldini and Zanetti, the two legends of AC Milan and Inter Milan, stood before the small stage as draw guests.

Snap!

The small ball was twisted open.

Barcelona were drawn first, into Group E!

The managers of all the Pot Two clubs could not help becoming nervous.

Old man Topp was also praying without pause.

When the result came out.

He nearly fainted from rage.

Chinese livestream.

Duan Xuan and He Wei were also commentating on the draw results.

"Bayer Leverkusen! Group E!"

"Roma! Group E!"

"BATE Borisov! Group E!"

"The first group of death has been born!"

"Congratulations to them!"

The comments were filled with delight!

-

[This is hilarious! Bayer Leverkusen fought so hard to eliminate Manchester United in the Champions League qualifiers, only to run into Barcelona in the group stage.]

-

[A revenge match for the castoffs from the giants? I suspect this group was rigged, haha.]

-

[Roma have been very strong these past two seasons. They're second in Serie A, and their defensive system is especially formidable. Their counterattacks are incredibly sharp! It'll be hard for Bayer Leverkusen to get through.]

-

[BATE Borisov won't be easy either. The icy Belarusian weather has caused Bayern Munich and Atlético Madrid plenty of trouble before. Their underwear froze solid, never mind passing the ball!]

-

[Objectively speaking, Bayer Leverkusen will have a hard time qualifying! They definitely can't beat Barcelona!]

-

[Look at Arsenal's draw, though. What great luck—they're guaranteed to make the Round of 16!]

Forty minutes later.

The full group-stage draw for the 2015/16 Champions League season was complete!

Group A: Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Shakhtar Donetsk, Malmö.

Group B: PSV Eindhoven, Lazio, CSKA Moscow, Wolfsburg.

Group C: Benfica, Atlético Madrid, Galatasaray, Lokomotiv Astana.

Group D: Juventus, Manchester City, Sevilla, Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Group E: Barcelona, Bayer Leverkusen, Roma, BATE Borisov.

Group F: Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Olympiacos, Dinamo Zagreb.

Group G: Chelsea, Porto, Dynamo Kyiv, Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Group H: Zenit Saint Petersburg, Valencia, Lyon, Gent.

Some rejoiced, while others worried.

Groups E and D, two undisputed groups of death, became the hottest topic of discussion.

The Champions League draw ceremony officially came to an end.

Pjanić shook hands with Leo Kang. "See you in the Champions League!"

A man in a suit stepped forward. "Hey! Sofia's son! I watched you grow up! Do you remember me? I never expected you to become so outstanding. You should come home more often."

The Barcelona crest was embroidered on his clothes.

Leo Kang glanced at him.

He gave no response.

Then turned and left.

Why did so many Chinese fans still worship a Spanish player who insulted China as the "iron-blooded soul of the team"?

The suited man smiled awkwardly.

He turned to Iniesta and spread his hands. "The kid's hit his rebellious phase!"

At the venue exit.

Völler and old Topp did not chat with their old friends. Instead, they met up with Leo Kang immediately.

"Did you make any new friends? Hmm, that kid Pjanić seems to live a decent life."

"Could you stop acting like an old granny? Leo is already seventeen! Let's get moving. The moment those crazy reporters see stars from the big clubs, they're like flies spotting shit!"

The three quickly left the Grimaldi Forum.

They did not run into anyone pestering them.

After all.

Among the thirty-two teams in the Champions League, there were plenty of powerhouse clubs with far more media attention than Bayer Leverkusen. The reporters simply could not interview them all.

Like Barcelona's sporting director, Robert, at that very moment.

Microphones were practically crowding around his mouth.

"Mr. Robert! Do you think Barcelona can defend their Champions League title this season?"

"After Xavi left, Barcelona happened to receive a transfer ban this summer. Can you adapt to competing on multiple fronts this season?"

"Bayer Leverkusen's young genius refused to return to Barcelona. What do you think of that? Why did you sell him to Bayer Leverkusen instead of loaning him out?"

Robert remained composed as he answered the reporters' questions one by one.

"Leo Kang? We respect his personal wishes. Interestingly, Barcelona and Bayer Leverkusen are in the same group."

The implication was obvious.

Beating an old, weak, and injury-riddled Manchester United proved nothing.

In the Champions League group stage, Barcelona would crush Bayer Leverkusen with their strength.

A youngster who had only just emerged wanted to prove Barcelona's decision had been wrong?

Leo Kang returned to the first-team dormitory.

Even through two walls, he could hear Brandt laughing while playing games.

He took off the very uncomfortable suit.

Turned on his computer.

And began searching for Roma's recent match footage.

He often watched replays of Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Juventus, but he could not understand them at all. Even with God's Perspective, he still could not understand them.

The footage began playing.

When he saw Roma's starting lineup.

He understood why everyone praised this Serie A team's strong defense and sharp counterattacks.

Center-backs: Manolas partnered with Rüdiger.

Those two were among the fastest defensive players in the top five leagues when it came to explosive speed.

Midfield: Pjanić, Keita, De Rossi, Nainggolan.

The intensity of that midfield's pressing and ball-winning was absolutely among the toughest in the top five leagues!

Forwards: Salah, Džeko.

There was no need to mention a top-class center forward like Džeko.

Roma's version of Salah probably had not yet reached his complete form, right?

An hour later.

Leo Kang, sitting before the computer, was a little stunned.

Was Salah already that strong in 2015?

And Pjanić—he was practically playing straight from Pirlo's template!

That Rüdiger seemed to turn even better than he would in the future.

The shadow in Leo Kang's mind suddenly spread wildly.

Within his consciousness, every detail from the matches he had just watched began replaying.

The pitch turned into a flat plane.

Roma's players became stars, constantly moving.

Their overall movement.

Formed two chains across that plane.

A long while later.

The shadow in his mind began to contract.

Leo Kang was drenched in cold sweat.

He kept gulping in deep breaths.

Even with God's Perspective, he simply could not find a way to break this defensive system.

It was probably still limited by his understanding of tactics.

And by his understanding of his own teammates' characteristics.

In short.

If Bayer Leverkusen wanted to qualify from the Champions League group stage.

The difficulty was extremely high.

In the original timeline, the two teams that qualified from Champions League Group E in the 2015/16 season were Barcelona and Roma.

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