Football singularity-Chapter 631 Openner

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[20/09/2020, 17:58, Bundesliga Week 1, Volkswagen Arena]

"Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to week one coverage of the 2020/21 Bundesliga. I’m your host Wolff-Christoph Fuss, and joining me is my co-commentator Kai Dittmann." Wolf’s magnetic voice resounded as a drone shot showcased the field below with players finishing their pre-match formalities. "On today’s agenda, we have Wolfsburg facing last year’s runners-up and DFB-Pokal champions Bayer Leverkusen. Kai, take us through the starting lineups, please."

"Thank you, Wolff," Kai began, his tone analytical. "Let’s start with the home side. Oliver Glasner has set Wolfsburg up in a 4-3-3 formation. Between the posts, we have Koen Casteels, who had an excellent season last year. The back four consists of Ridle Steffen at right-back, the centre-back pairing of Maxence Lacroix and John Brooks, and Jérôme Roussillon on the left."

The screen displayed the Wolfsburg formation, each player’s face appearing next to their position. "In midfield," Kai continued, "we have Admir Mehmedi, Maximilian Arnold as the anchor, and Xaver Schlager. Up front, the attacking trio features Josip Brekalo on the right wing, the towering Wout Weghorst as the striker, and Victor Sá on the left."

"A solid lineup from Glasner," Wolff observed. "Weghorst will be a handful for any defence with his aerial presence."

"Absolutely," Kai agreed. "Now, for the visitors, Peter Bosz has opted for an interesting 4-1-4-1 formation. In goal, the hero of last season’s Champions League run, Lukas Hrádecký. The defensive line features the Bender brothers, Lars at right-back, Sven and Edmond Tapsoba in the centre, and Daley Sinkgraven starting at left-back."

"Notable change there from last season," Wolff interjected. "Wendell drops to the bench."

"Indeed," Kai confirmed. "In the defensive midfield role, we have Charles Aránguiz sitting as the lone pivot. Ahead of him, a very attacking quartet: Karim Bellarabi on the right centre-mid position, Florian Wirtz and Kerem Demirbay as the dual attacking midfielders, and on the left, the seventeen-year-old sensation Rakim Rex."

The camera zoomed in on Rakim, who was going through his final stretches at the halfway line on his flank. His hair had grown out, and despite the curls, it was well over four cut into a low taper. "Leading the line," Kai continued, "is Lucas Alario, who gets the nod ahead of recent arrival Patrik Schick."

"Quite an attacking setup from Bosz," Wolff noted. "With Kai Havertz now at Chelsea, it seems the responsibility for creativity falls heavily on young Wirtz, Demirbay, and of course, Rakim, who signed that contract extension just days ago."

"Exactly right, Wolff. And speaking of that extension, there’s been a lot of talk about the expected incentives in that contract beyond the wage structure. If he performs anything like he did in the cup match midweek, four goals and two assists against Norderstedt, clubs across Europe will be lining up." Kai noted with an interested expression, eager to see the player’s performance after signing such a high-profile deal.

"While Bosz faced a restructuring of his offence after the high-profile departures of Haverts, Volland, and Pohjanpalo. Oliver Glasner faced a reshuffle of his defence after Wolfsburg’s Europa League excursion midweek." Wolff said as the camera cut to the stands. "The 500 permitted fans inside Volkswagen Arena can be seen singing loudly, happy at a sense of normalcy."

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[20/09/2020, 18:00, Bundesliga Week 1: wolfsburg 0 vs 0 leverkusen]

The referee’s whistle pierced the evening air, and the 2020/21 Bundesliga season for both sides was officially underway. Weghorst rolled the ball back to Arnold, who immediately played it wide to Brekalo on the right. The Croatian winger took one touch before threading it back inside to Schlager.

"And we’re off," Wolff announced. "Wolfsburg starting on the front foot, looking to establish control early."

Wolfsburg’s early passes were crisp and measured in the opening minutes, the midfield trio of Arnold, Schlager, and Mehmedi forming tight triangles that made it difficult for Leverkusen to press effectively. In the opening minutes, the home side dominated possession, probing for weaknesses in Leverkusen’s defensive structure.

[4’]

In the fourth minute, Wolfsburg created the first real chance of the match. Arnold picked up the ball in deep midfield and played a wonderful long diagonal to Victor Sá on the left wing. The Portuguese winger controlled it beautifully, taking one touch to set himself before driving at Lars Bender.

Sá’s pace was explosive, luring the German in with a set of stepovers, knocking the ball past the veteran right-back and chasing it down toward the byline. His cross was whipped in low and hard toward the penalty spot, where Weghorst had peeled away from Tapsoba. Bender was there first, though, managing to get his foot in the way to deflect the ball out of the box.

"Sven with the crucial deflection," Kai exclaimed. "Weghorst was waiting to pounce just behind him."

"Early warning signs for Leverkusen, though," Wolff added. "Wolfsburg mean business tonight."

[8’]

Leverkusen finally settled into the match around the eight-minute mark. Aránguiz collected the ball from Sven Bender and immediately looked forward. He spotted Wirtz checking back to receive and played it into his feet. The seventeen-year-old turned quickly, evading Schlager’s press with a neat body feint before sliding a pass out wide to Rakim on the left.

"Here comes Rex," Wolff’s voice lifted slightly. "First real involvement for the German."

He received the ball with the outside of his right boot already facing his marker. Feinting a drive down the line, he suddenly pulled the ball back, performing a crisp V cut, stepping past the lunging Mehmedi. "Looks like he’s gaining speed here," Kai exclaimed as Rakim escaped the pressing of Arnold and Lcroix, who had stepped up from his defensive line with a nimble La Croqueta.

Steffen Wolfsburg, right back, stepped up to block him, quickly closing down the distance between them. Rakim, seeing this point to the left side of the box, the right back had just vacated, and Alario immediately cut across, dragging Brooks with him. His right foot flashed toward the ball, still holding eye contact with Alario.

The outside of his right boot hit the ball, sending it to the right side of the box. "No look pass from Rakim and he slots in Bellarabi who beats the offside trap and his man." Wolf narrated as the German winger bore down on the keeper, who was scrambling off his line.

Bellarabi took one touch to control the ball that seemed to hone in on his foot, his second to set himself, and with Casteels rushing out to close the angle, the German winger struck it with his right foot, aiming for the bottom corner. The shot was clean, powerful, heading toward the net—but Casteels got down brilliantly, palming it away with a strong hand.

"What a save from Casteels!" Wolff exclaimed. "That was destined for the corner!"

The rebound spun loose to the edge of the box, where Demirbay was arriving. The midfielder struck it first-time on the volley, but Lacroix threw himself across, blocking it with his thigh. The ball deflected behind for a corner.

"Leverkusen showing their intent now," Kai observed. "That was a beautiful move, starting with Rex beating three players like they weren’t there. Bellarabi should have done better with the finish, but you have to credit Casteels."

[14]

The match settled into a fascinating tactical battle as Leverkusen began controlling possession with notable dominance. Wolfsburg tried to win back possession through their midfield, but Leverkusen’s high press, led by Wirtz and Demirbay, made it difficult for them to play out from the back.

Arnold and Schlager were being forced into hurried passes, which allowed Leverkusen to win the ball in dangerous areas. In the sixteenth minute, Aránguiz intercepted a loose pass from Schlager and immediately released Bellarabi down the right channel. The German was off like a sprinter, his quick strides eating up the ground.

Roussillon tracked him, guiding him wide as they got closer. As they approached the edge of the box, he suddenly cut inside onto his left foot, creating separation from his marker. Brooks stepped up to close him down, but a quick stepover and change of direction left the American centre-back wrong-footed.

With space opening up, he pulled the trigger from the top of the box. The shot was struck with venom, curling toward the top left corner. Casteels was beaten, his dive too late...

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To Be Continued...