CHAPTER 638: CHAPTER 638 MADRID (1)

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[27/10/2020 | 20:45 | Champions Lg Match Week 2 | Leverkusen Vs Real Madrid]

[1’]

(FWEEEEEET)

The sharp blast cut through the rainy night, and the match was underway. Benzema rolled it back to Kroos, who immediately played it square to Casemiro. The Brazilian took one touch before spreading it wide to Vázquez on the right.

"And we’re off," Tyldesley announced. "Real Madrid starting on the front foot, as you’d expect."

Madrid’s opening possession was patient and measured, the ball moving from side to side as they probed for openings. Leverkusen held their shape excellently, the two banks of four staying compact, forcing Madrid to play in front of them. It was like a game of chicken to see who would blink first as they tried to impose their will on the match.

"Good discipline from Leverkusen in these opening minutes," McManaman noted. "They’re not diving in, not getting stretched. Making Madrid work for every yard."

In the third minute, Kroos spun past Palacios’ challenge and tried a long diagonal pass toward Vinícius on the left. But Frimpong read it well, stepping across to head it clear before the Brazilian could get to it. Madrid had to settle for a throw-in as the Germans regrouped, and Baumgartlinger managed to win possession from Valverde.

"Frimpong with a good start," Tyldesley observed. "Composure from the youngster."

[7’]

Madrid continued to dominate possession but failed to create clear chances. Leverkusen continued to bide their time, waiting for their moment. That moment came in the seventh minute when Palacios won the ball from Valverde with a perfectly timed tackle in midfield.

The Argentine immediately looked up and spotted Rakim’s run down the left. The pass was weighted perfectly, finding the seventeen-year-old in stride. Lucas Vázquez was forced to turn and chase, but Rakim’s pace started opening up some distance.

He tried to latch onto his arm, but the winger quickly slapped it away. "Rex is away!" Tyldesley’s voice lifted. "This could get dangerous!"

Rakim drove toward the Madrid box, the ball glued to his feet despite the wet surface. Ramos came across and stepped out to meet him, forcing him wider. But instead of taking him on, Rakim checked inside slightly and cut back, forcing the defender to a sudden stop. Before he could react, he sent a weighted pass to the top of the box into the run of Amiri.

Amirir shielded the incoming ball from Casemiro before flicking it behind Varane, onto the run of Patrick Shick. The striker had timed his run perfectly, charging into the box at pace with Mendy latching onto his side. He side-footed the ball under pressure aimed at the bottom corner, but Courtois got down brilliantly, pushing it around the post with a strong left hand.

"WHAT A SAVE!" Tyldesley roared. "Courtois denies Schick from close range!"

"Brilliant goalkeeping," McManaman added. "Look at the quick feet from Courtois, getting down so fast despite his height. But credit to Leverkusen—that move started with Rex winning the foot race against Vázquez and ended with a genuine scoring chance."

The corner was taken short by Rakim to Diaby, who overlapped to the edge of the box, receiving the return pass from the Frenchman. With the box collapsing in front of him, Rakim struck it first-time with his left foot, sending it dipping over the players in the box towards the far corner. Courtois scrambled across his goal, but the ball sailed just wide of the post.

"Ohhh, so close!" Tyldesley exclaimed. "Inches away from opening the scoring! What a start from Leverkusen—they’re not here to defend!"

[25]

Madrid tried to reassert control, with Toni Kross dropping deeper to dictate play. He started spraying passes left to right as they began probing the Leverkusen goal. Around the 15th minute, they won a free kick from thirty yards out, but the attempt ended up safely in Hrádecký’s arms.

The 18th minute saw him pick out Asensio on the right wing with a gorgeous forty-yard diagonal pass. The Spaniard controlled it beautifully, taking it past Sinkgraven’s challenge with a neat touch. Asensio drove toward the box, cutting inside onto his favoured left foot.

Tah stepped out to close him down, but the Madrid winger was already shaping to shoot. His strike was powerful and well-placed, curling toward the top corner. Hrádecký reacted brilliantly, leaping to his right and tipping it over the bar with his fingertips.

"Hrádecký!" Tyldesley exclaimed. "What a save! Asensio thought he’d scored!"

Around the 21st minute, the match settled with both teams finding their footing. Madrid controlled possession with 68% in the opening twenty minutes, but Leverkusen’s compact shape made it difficult to create clear chances. Every time Madrid tried to play through the middle, they found red and black shirts in the way.

Worse yet, Leverkusen used any chance they got to launch counterattacks, attacking fast and hard each time. In the 25th minute, one such opportunity presented itself when Baumgartlinger intercepted a loose pass from Valverde and immediately released Diaby down the right. The Frenchman’s pace was electric, managing to lose Mendy drop of the shoulder and a change in pass, charging into Madrid’s half.

Crossing into the final third, Diaby looked up and spotted Rakim making a diagonal run from the left, cutting inside Ramos. The through ball was perfectly weighted, skidding along the wet surface with speed right into Rakim’s path. He was forced to take it for the first time due to the pace it was coming at, and he struck it for the first time with his right.

Courtois, who had been charging out immediately, dove low to his left body fully outstretched. The ball took a deflection off Varane’s shoulder, changing its trajectory just enough to knock it onto the post. The rebound spun loose into the six-yard box, but Varane was there to hack it clear before Schick could pounce.

"HOW IS IT STILL 0-0?!" Tyldesley’s voice cracked with disbelief. "Courtois with another incredible save, and then the post comes to Madrid’s rescue! Leverkusen have been magnificent!"

"This is elite goalkeeping," McManaman said, his tone full of admiration.

[29]

Madrid finally created a clear chance in the twenty-ninth minute. Benzema dropped deep to collect possession, turning past Tapsoba with a beautiful piece of skill. The French striker immediately played a through ball to Vinícius, who had made a run in behind Frimpong.

The Brazilian was through on goal, with a clear line on the goal before nearby defenders could stop him. He took one touch to steady himself, then struck it with his right foot toward the near post. Hrádecký stayed big, making himself wide, and the shot struck his outstretched leg, deflecting away for a corner.

"Hrádecký again!" Tyldesley roared. "Vinícius should have scored!"

"Both goalkeepers are in inspired form tonight," McManaman noted. "This match could easily be 3-3 already if not for Courtois and Hrádecký."

The corner was cleared, but Madrid won it back immediately through Casemiro’s pressing. The Brazilian played it wide to Asensio, who whipped in a dangerous cross toward the penalty spot. Ramos rose highest, powering a header goalward, but Tah threw himself in the way, the ball cannoning off his shoulder and spinning behind for another corner.

[31]

Palacios won possession in midfield with a crunching tackle on Valverde, which looked borderline, but the referee’s whistle stayed quiet. Not waiting for a verdict, he immediately looked up, finding Rakim starting his run on the left flank. Casemiro lunged in to intercept the pass, but it was struck with too much power, and the weather made it all the harder.

Reacting quickly, Rakim squeezed in between the ball and the Brazilian midfielder, stealing the loose ball. A nifty cruffy turn and he managed to escape the man’s marking, playing a quick one-two with Baumgartlinger to avoid Kross as well. Charging down the wing with the ball at his feet, he started picking up speed, forcing Vázquez to back track slightly to keep him in front of him.

"Rex is away again!" Tyldesley’s voice lifted. "This time he has space!"

He suddenly knocked the ball forward further than his usual dribble style and exploded forward, closing the distance between him and the fullback. Faking a breakthrough down the flank, he cut inside once the defender bit, breaking past and forcing Ramos to step up. Instead of taking him on, Rakim cut back onto his right foot, creating separation.

Just in time to dodge a lunge from Casemiro, who had attempted to steal the ball from behind. Moving the ball past his body, he played a weighted through ball behind Madrid’s now disjointed defensive line. Schick had timed his run to perfection, staying onside by inches as he latched onto it. Varane was tracking him...

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To Be Continued...