Chapter 66: Chapter 66 The Odds Of Winning Are 751 Times! Can You Really Beat Bayern?
Most football fans love watching stars dribble past five players in a row or score long-range worldies, exquisite chip shots, and other spectacular goals. Even quick three-second self-passes, high-speed dribbles, and clever overtakes can get fans on their feet.
Then there's a different kind of striker: no speed, no physicality, lacking in technique. Yet, they always find themselves in the perfect position to score goals effortlessly. Jiuye is the quintessential example of such a striker.
There's a joke about Inzaghi: his first touch with the ball is world-class, the second is European level, and the third is on par with national football...
In fact, Inzaghi once scored an extraordinary one-touch goal. After a serious injury, his play style became more efficient, especially with his world-class off-the-ball movements, making Jiu Ye a legend.
According to Balotelli's theory, no matter how strong you are technically or physically, without exceptional off-the-ball running, it's all superficial. Inzaghi imparted his passive skill to Su Luo, opening up a whole new dimension for him.
Off-the-ball running involves vision, experience, anticipation, situational awareness, game reading, and more—a blend of abilities that seem intangible but crucial.
Su Luo's training in recent days has shown earth-shaking improvements. Previously, he struggled in intense confrontations, often failing to notice his teammates' positions or the defensive gaps. His running routes were vague, leading to wasted efforts and fatigue. But with Inzaghi's passive skill, Su Luo now sees the entire field clearly, predicting plays before they unfold.
During a training match, Su Luo didn't even need to be in possession; relying solely on Inzaghi's talent, he scored effortlessly.
"Beautiful! Go, Su!"
"Great shot!"
"How did he get there?"
Alex, facing Su Luo, was astonished. He had seen Su Luo running right towards him, only to find him suddenly appearing from the left like a ghost. Su Luo easily bypassed Alex's defense, calmly scoring near the penalty area.
Alex had defended against Drogba, Messi, Ronaldo, and other top strikers, but Su Luo's pressure rivaled them, sometimes even surpassing them.
"Am I seeing things?"
After training, Alex couldn't shake off the chill down his spine. If it wasn't an illusion, Su Luo's potential was unimaginable.
Yet, Alex hoped for a young challenger like Su Luo to rise. The era dominated by the "peerless twins" Messi and Ronaldo was due for a new contender.
Su Luo had only experimented a few times with De Bruyne's possession ability in training simulations. Combined with attributes from Ronaldo, Haaland, and Inzaghi, Su Luo couldn't gauge the full extent of his unlocked potential.
This could be their trump card against Bayern.
With two days left until their match against Bayern, just to be safe...
He went to the nightclub again.
As Su Luo's popularity grew, so did the paparazzi trailing him. Predictably, tabloids picked up on it again.
Union fans and the coaching staff were used to these incidents. Every time Su Luo went out, it made headlines, but it didn't seem to affect his game.
Bayern fans, however, were quick to criticize.
"Going out before a big game? Does he not take us seriously?"
"He's drifting. Needs a reality check."
"With this attitude, Lewandowski will surely snatch the Golden Boot."
To them, Union Berlin seemed like a ragtag team with players more interested in nightlife than serious training. Defeating seasoned champions like Bayern seemed improbable.
According to betting sites like Bwin, Bayern's odds of winning at home were 1.46, while Union Berlin's odds were an outrageous 10.52 for a win—a draw stood at 6.39.
Despite Su Luo's two hat-tricks in the opening rounds leading to consecutive victories, Bayern remained the favorites.
Union Berlin's odds of winning the Bundesliga were a staggering 751 to 1, making them underdogs even among their own fans.
Only Little Anya had unwavering faith in Su Luo from the start of the season, betting her entire savings of 3,000 euros on Union Berlin to win the championship.
In the minds of Union Berlin fans, the upcoming game against Bayern felt ominous. Despite two victories, confidence was lacking. Bayern loomed like an insurmountable obstacle.
The day before the match, Iron Union members nervously prepared banners hoping to unsettle Bayern—a small gesture to bolster their team.
"Do you think we can win tomorrow?" Hogan asked, looking at the finished tifo.
"It's pretty blue," Bud remarked.
"We've seen significant changes this season, but team coordination remains an issue," Bader pointed out.
The new season had brought many new players, like Forsberg, who joined just weeks before the Bundesliga started, leaving little time for team integration.
"We rely too much on Su Luo's brilliance. Can he keep it up?" Uncle Hans nodded knowingly.
"If it wasn't for Su Luo, we might struggle to stay in the Bundesliga," he admitted.
Uncle Hans understood the risks of relying on Su Luo's individual brilliance. Union Berlin's current success felt precarious.
Yet, Uncle Hans lightened the mood:
"My mistake. We shouldn't be negative before such a big game. Who knows, maybe these boys will surprise us?"
"Yeah, Su can work miracles."
"That's right! When the going gets tough, he steps up!"
"Believe in Su!"
"Steel Union" bar near the Old Forest Management Stadium echoed with chants.
Despite being early afternoon, the bar bustled with anticipation.
Meanwhile, Bayern's bus journey through the forest left players uneasy.
"Is this still Berlin?" They wondered aloud.
The Union Berlin players were used to the secluded stadium surrounded by woods.
When the Bayern players tired and sought distraction, Thomas Muller broke the silence:
"Hey, that Asian kid, Su, which nightclub does he go to?"
The mention of Su Luo's nightlife habits momentarily distracted the team.
"I know! Berghain, one of Germany's wildest nightclubs," Boateng chimed in.
"Really? That's something," Muller chuckled, lightening the mood.
He rarely went to nightclubs, but now he couldn't help feeling a little tempted.
"How about I take you there after we win?" Boateng winked at him.
Mueller was moved for a moment, but the thought of his wife Lisa's fiery temper made him panic.
After a brief pause, Mueller turned to the others and asked, "What about you guys... would you go?"
Lewandowski, Robben, and Ribery shook their heads in unison.
Lewandowski aimed to catch up with Messi and Ronaldo, maintaining strict self-discipline akin to Ronaldo's, even his diet under his nutritionist wife Anna's guidance for a decade, never indulging in excess.
Robben, a family man, rarely frequented discos.
Franck Ribery had wanted to go, but after his and Benzema's involvement in the "young x door" scandal, he'd become more low-key.
Only "Swiss Messi" Shaqiri weakly raised his hand. "I... I want to go too."
"Alright! After the game, we'll go together!" Thomas Müller looked excited, already planning excuses for his wife's inevitable questions.
Suddenly, Lewandowski interjected, "But are we really sure we can win?"
The bus fell silent for a moment. Then Lewandowski laughed and shook his head. "Hey, what am I saying? How could we lose to a newly promoted team?"
"Yeah, that's a good one," his teammates chuckled, and the bus was filled with a jovial atmosphere.
No one noticed Mario Götze in the back row, staring out the window with a somber expression. His teammates' excitement seemed distant to him.
Not long ago, Dortmund had defeated Bayern 2-0 in the German Super Cup. Götze, once a hero at the Westfalen Stadium, was now booed every time he touched the ball, burdened by the disdain of fans despite being Germany's football star.
He'd moved to Bayern in pursuit of greatness, only to find himself often substituted early under Guardiola's management. The strategies seemed to overlook him entirely.
Although he started this time, Götze couldn't shake off his deep unease. The window to prove himself was slowly closing.
Looking at his celebrating teammates, Götze felt a profound sense of powerlessness.
"Was moving to Bayern a mistake after all?"
"Next, let's look at the latest sports news. The highlight of the third round of the Bundesliga will be Union Berlin's home game against Bayern Munich, scheduled to kick off at 9:00 p.m. this Saturday."
"Union Berlin's match list confirms Chinese player Su Luo's likely starting position, currently topping the Bundesliga scorer's list with an impressive lead."
"Su Luo's back-to-back hat-tricks in the first two Bundesliga rounds have secured Union Berlin two consecutive victories. All eyes are on his performance in this upcoming game."
"CCTV Sports Channel will broadcast live with detailed commentary..."
A week before the game, CCTV 5 had already aired previews, stirring anticipation among viewers.
On the eve of the match, TV13 ran continuous previews of Su Luo's game in their news segment.
Su Luo's continued success in the Bundesliga was elevating his popularity in China, though it was early to compare him to icons like Liu Xiang, Yao Ming, and Lin Dan. He was emerging as a rising star in Chinese sports, particularly in football.
CCTV's leadership had invested significantly in Bundesliga coverage, emphasizing Su Luo's role.
Commentator Duan Xuan, seasoned in Bundesliga coverage, worried about the pressure on Su Luo, fearing excessive media hype might harm his performance if they lost to Bayern.
Fans, neutrals, and onlookers had high expectations, adding to the pressure on Su Luo.
On match day, to ensure optimal player readiness, Union Berlin, though playing at home, booked a nearby hotel for their squad.
During breakfast, Su Luo noticed his teammates seemed unusually downcast. Alex, Trippier, and Forsberg appeared listless. Richards and Fabianski, out of form lately, looked especially frustrated. Even energetic players like Nabi Keita and Quinine stared blankly at their plates.
"What's going on?" Su Luo was puzzled by his teammates' subdued mood.
Captain Matuschka joined Su Luo with his plate, looking helpless. "They're all nervous."
"Just because we're up against Bayern?"
"Yeah, Quinine couldn't sleep all night, tossing and turning."
Matuschka sported dark circles under his eyes.
"Facing Bayern shouldn't put this much pressure on us. We need to relax and play our game."
"But everyone's focused on winning the championship; the pressure is mounting."
While pressure could motivate, excessive stress risked undermining their performance.
Su Luo felt helpless but knew actions would speak louder than words. Instilling confidence in his teammates required tangible reassurance.
Everyone glimpsed the possibility of defeating Bayern; hope could revive their spirits.
"Yes! Su Luo must lead us forward!"
At that moment, a message flashed on his phone—it was from Josephine.
"Lo, I'm afraid work's delaying my return to Berlin for another week. Missing your big game. Feeling sad / pouty emoji"
"It's alright, Jojo. Work's important. Catch the highlights later."
They hadn't seen each other in weeks, and Su Luo had hoped for her to watch his game.
Putting away his phone, another message popped up—a surprise from someone he hadn't heard from in ages, Taylor Swift!
"Could I trouble you for a ticket? I'm in Berlin and keen to see you play."
At the gate of the Old Forest Management Stadium, Josephine smiled at her phone.
"Let's surprise him today. If he scores, we'll celebrate together."
Over the stadium, clouds gathered ominously, hinting at an extraordinary game day ahead.
Six hours remained until Union Berlin faced Bayern Munich.
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