Capítulo 45: Dortmund's stadium
"Is this Dortmund's home stadium?
It's really intimidating!"
Dortmund's home fans are incredibly passionate, making it one of the most renowned stadiums in European football—the infamous "Devil's Stadium."
With a seating capacity of 80,000, Dortmund's home stadium is almost always packed to the brim.
Particularly, the South Stand is where more than 30,000 fans fervently gather for every game.
Donned in Dortmund's black and yellow jerseys, waving various flags, and singing the team anthem at the top of their lungs, they create an electrifying atmosphere.
The ambiance at home is even more daunting than Bayern's Allianz Arena.
"Try not to let the off-field factors affect you. Dortmund's home ground has always been like this. If you pay too much attention to such things, they will get inside your head!" Captain Fritz advised the young players who are taken aback by Dortmund's home atmosphere.
It is often said that home fans are the twelfth man on the team, and this statement holds true.
When playing at home, tens of thousands of fans can provide cheers and applause, rallying behind the home team, igniting their fighting spirit, and elevating their performance.
On the other hand, the visiting team's players often face jeers and boos from the home fans, which can unsettle them, impair their concentration, and lead to mistakes.
Moreover, the enthusiastic support from the fans can exert pressure on the referees, potentially swaying decisions in favor of the home team.
These factors collectively contribute to the home field advantage in football, which is particularly evident in leagues worldwide, with several teams boasting impressive home records.
Unfortunately, Dortmund is one such team with a formidable home record.
Last season in the Bundesliga, they lost only one out of their 17 home games—a statistic that places them at the top among all 18 teams in the league, significantly ahead of the second-placed team.
Defeating them on their home turf proves to be even more challenging than triumphing at Bayern's home ground.
Historical head-to-head data between the two teams also strongly favors Dortmund.
In the past two years and nearly ten matches, Dortmund has dominated with 7 wins, 2 draws, and 1 loss against Werder Bremen.
Coupled with Werder Bremen's less-than-optimal physical condition, the formidable home advantage held by their opponents, and the onesided historical results, it's apparent that this game will pose significant difficulties for Werder Bremen.
Schaaf, the coach, is well aware of this situation and devised a bold plan.
"For the first five minutes after the opening whistle, let's attack relentlessly, aiming to score and then immediately shift to a defensive stance, holding our ground until the end of the game!"
Dortmund's players are young, energetic, and fiercely aggressive—an admirable quality.
However, young players often struggle with maintaining stable mental composure.
When conditions are favorable, they perform exceptionally well without psychological burdens.
But when faced with adverse circumstances, particularly extended periods without scoring, impatience creeps in, leading to deteriorating performance and eventual defeat.
The last time Werder Bremen defeated Dortmund, it was by capitalizing on Sylvester's early goal within the opening five minutes, which disrupted Dortmund's mindset, increasing their anxiety and resulting in an abnormal collective performance.
It was ultimately a stroke of luck that led Werder Bremen to victory.
Therefore, if Werder Bremen wishes to win, they must exploit this vulnerability in their opponents and fight valiantly.
If their tactics prove successful, they might have a chance in this game.
However, even if their tactics fail, it won't be a significant setback, considering their already slim chances of winning.
Thus, when Coach Schaaf presented his plan, all the players agreed, displaying their willingness to give it their all!
...
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the final match of the 2012 Deutsche Telekom Cup, featuring Dortmund against Werder Bremen!" exclaimed the commentator Derek Rae.
"And I'm commentator Craig Burley!"
"The game is about to start. Let's take a look at the starting lineups of both teams:
Dortmund's lineup includes No. 20 Langerak, No. 21 Kirch, No. 15 Hummels, No. 30 Gunter, No. 37 Halstenberg, No. 5 Kehl, No. 7 Leitner, No. 19 GrosKreutz, No. 11 Reus, No. 32 Bittencourt, and No. 9 Lewandowski.
Werder Bremen is set up in a 4-3-3 formation, with No. 1 Mielitz, No. 23 Selassie, No. 5 Lukimya, No. 15 Prodl, No. 17 Ignjovski No. 8 Fritz, No. 6 De Bruyne, No. 7 Arnautovic, No. 10 Lucas, No. 41 Fullkrug, and No. 11 Elia.
The commentary duo of Derek Rae and Craig Burley, who received favorable ratings for their narration during the Telekom Cup semi-final, will continue their commentary in this game.
With the five major leagues yet to commence, this match is undoubtedly a must-watch for football enthusiasts.
Lucas, who scored a hat-trick in yesterday's game against Bayern, shattered three Telekom Cup records in a single match—setting the youngest starter, goalscorer, and hat-trick records.
Although the Telekom Cup's significance might not be particularly high, achieving these three records at such a young age elevated his popularity within the football community.
Additionally, due to Derek comparing Lucas to Messi in his commentary, many Messi fans and critics is also drawn to the match.
"Hehe, let's see if this so-called Messi II is as extraordinary as the commentator claims!"
"I watched Lucas's last match, and he's undoubtedly the real Messi II!"
"I don't follow much football, so don't deceive me!"
"That's right! So many 'Messi' emerge every year from every corner. When did Messi become so cheap and insignificant?"
"Based on my 20 years of watching football, Messi's ball control is undoubtedly incredible. Other players claiming to be similar to Messi can only dream if they lack such exceptional ball control."
"Tsk tsk, Messi fans making an appearance again. If your Messi is so dominant, why did Germany defeat him in the World Cup?" (Taking about 2010 world cup match where Germany defeated Argentina 4-0)
"Are we here to discuss faces or talk nonsense?"
...
The discussion initially revolved around whether Lucas is Messi II but is soon derailed by the arrival of Messi and Ronaldo fans, diverting the conversation to the never-ending debate between the two iconic players.
As the players with immense talent, subjects of extensive discussions, and boasting massive fan bases, Messi and Ronaldo is often referred to as the two best player in modern football.
Their fans, who harbor mutual dislike, frequently engaged in heated arguments.
Amidst the fans' quarrels, time ticked away.
At 7:35 in the evening, with the referee's whistle, the highly anticipated Telekom Cup final between Dortmund and Werder Bremen is officially started.
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