Kapitel 40: Another Goal against Bayern Munich
Although Messi is not typically recognized for his speed, it would be inaccurate to say that Messi is slow.
On the contrary, Messi's speed is quite impressive, particularly before sustaining a serious injury that affected his acceleration and speed.
He is undoubtedly a fast player, especially when positioned on the wing.
It is often overlooked by people due to his exceptional dribbling and breakthrough abilities, which overshadow his speed.
This situation is akin to the race between Lucas and Neuer, where Lucas's speed advantage quickly became evident.
Neuer's long legs give him a greater stride distance, but Lucas's extraordinary stride frequency of four steps per second enables him to take nearly one additional step every second compared to his opponent.
Considering the football is less than 20 meters away from both players, this distance clearly favors Lucas, who maintains a faster pace.
In the stadium, over 50,000 Bayern fans eagerly awaited the outcome, their shouts suddenly got increased trying of put pressure on Lucas, and shouting in their minds - Run Neuer, Run faster.
With his swifter pace, Lucas reached the ball first. Neuer, a step behind, attempted to forcefully tackle him, aiming to halt the opponent's attack through a foul.
However, since they are outside the penalty area, Neuer couldn't touch the ball with his hands.
Recognizing that facing Lucas one-on-one made it uncertain if he could stop him, Neuer resorted to a sliding tackle as the most suitable choice at that moment.
Anticipating that the opponent wouldn't allow an easy passage, Lucas delicately tapped the ball with his toes, causing it to sail over Neuer's head.
Simultaneously, Lucas effortlessly hopped over Neuer's outstretched leg, successfully evading the tackle.
He skillfully dodged the opponent's challenge! As Lucas regained possession of the ball, he found himself facing an empty goal.
However, due to the intense sprint he had just executed and the duel with Neuer, Lucas spend a considerable amount of energy. Consequently, he still had over 30 meters to cover before reaching the goal.
Concerned that his diminished physical condition might cause him to miss the target if he attempted a direct shot, he decided to advance directly towards Bayern's goal while retaining possession of the football.
This move provoked the Bayern fans in the stadium, who felt that their opponents are deliberately humiliating them.
As a result, they directed an unabashed chorus of boos at Lucas.
Unfazed by the jeers, Lucas considered it natural for offensive players to face such opposition from rival fans.
He effortlessly carried the ball into Bayern's half, calmly stood on the goal line, and gently pushed the ball with his foot, causing it to roll into Bayern's net.
Having scored the goal, Lucas coincidentally witnessed Lahm, who is rushing back, entering the small penalty area.
Lucas provocatively raised his eyebrows at him, silently challenging him:
"What did you say? Care to repeat it?"
Witnessing the opposing player's arrogance,
Lahm's anger surged, prompting him to raise his hand, preparing to engage in a physical altercation.
However, Werder Bremen's players immediately rushed to protect Lucas, with Captain Fritz leading the charge. A scuffle ensued between the Bayern and Werder Bremen players.
"Are you looking for a fight? Bring it on! Who's afraid of whom?" tensions rose.
Recognizing that a potential fight is about to start, the referee swiftly intervened, brandishing the yellow card towards the captains of Werder Bremen and two Bayern players.
Within a short span of time, three yellow cards are issued, leaving the remaining players startled, particularly those who already had yellow cards.
Consequently, they hesitated to incur additional penalties.
Lahm, too, regained his composure, knowing that he isn't prone to impulsive behavior.
However, Lucas's actions had genuinely provoked him, leading to a momentary lapse in his calm demeanor.
The yellow card served as a reminder of his impetuosity, as defenders face significant limitations in their defensive actions once they receive a caution. It hampers their defensive capabilities and makes them targets for opponents.
Hence, defenders must exercise caution and refrain from easily getting cards unless tactically necessary.
Unfortunately, Lahm had momentarily forgotten this due to his impulsiveness, an oversight that shouldn't have occurred.
In the VIP box, both Hoeness and Rummenigge shows displeased expressions.
They viewed Lucas's actions as deliberate provocation towards Bayern Munich.
However, given Guardiola's presence, they restrained their anger, suppressing it within themselves.
Observing the strained expressions of the two men, Guardiola couldn't help but chuckle inwardly.
...
"The goal has been scored! In the 46th minute of the match, Werder Bremen's No. 10 player, Lucas, has secured his second goal, changing the score once again!"
"Lucas's performance in this game is truly remarkable!"
"Yes, he reminds me of Messi. If he can maintain this level of play, his future prospects are limitless!"
After witnessing Lucas's second goal, Derek Rae and Craig Burley completely dispelled their doubts and became optimistic about his future.
"As we approach the middle of the second half, the score now stands at 2-1. This score poses a considerable challenge for Bayern. It is highly likely that after scoring this goal, Werder Bremen will adopt a more resolute defensive approach. For Bayern Munich, breaking through the opponent's goal will undoubtedly be more difficult," commented Derek.
"Furthermore, if Bayern continues to press and attack, the opponent may uses the space left in their defense once again, resulting in another conceded goal," Craig added.
"That's true. The Telekom Cup does not have overtime, which puts Bayern at a disadvantage," the commentator concurred, understanding the situation better than the Bayern coach.
Consequently, the coach quickly made tactical adjustments, encouraging players to launch attacks from both sides and uses their individual abilities to break the deadlock.
With Ribery's entry onto the field, Bayern's offense was no longer confined to the right side; they could also exploit opportunities from the left.
In contrast to Robben, who tended to be a lone ranger, Ribery displayed a preference for passing to his teammates.
His crosses from the flanks posed a significant threat to Werder Bremen's goal.
However, the team's center forward, Gomez, is struggling throughout the game.
Apart from his shot in the first half, his remaining attempts are rather outrageous, failing to reach his usual level of performance.
In the 48th minute, Gomez sustained an injury during a header duel with defender Papastathopoulos, causing him to collapse on the ground.
After assessing the player's injury, the referee signaled for the stretcher to be brought in, and Gomez made a substitution gesture towards the coach's bench, clearly indicating his inability to continue playing.
Team is behind right now and now even main centre is injured, Bayern's fans become a little worried.
Count it be that Bayern is about to lose the first game of the season?
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein