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[13/08/2020 | Time: 20:45 PM | Estádio da Luz, Lisbon]

The Estádio da Luz sat under a darkening Portuguese sky, its red seats glowing under the stadium lights like embers. Despite the empty stands, the atmosphere crackled with tension. This was the Champions League, and history would be written tonight regardless of who watched.

In the commentary box high above the pitch, Peter Drury settled into his seat, shuffling his notes one final time. Beside him, Jim Beglin adjusted his headset, both men preparing for what promised to be a fascinating tactical battle.

"Good evening and welcome to the Estádio da Luz here in Lisbon," Drury began, his voice carrying the gravitas that had become the soundtrack of so many memorable nights. "We are moments away from the first quarter-final of this unique Champions League tournament. RB Leipzig versus Bayer Leverkusen—two German sides, but only one will advance to face either Paris Saint-Germain or Atalanta in the semi-finals."

"It's a fascinating matchup, Peter," Beglin added. "Two clubs built on very different philosophies, but both playing aggressive, front-foot football. This should be an absolute cracker."

The camera panned across the pitch, where players from both sides stood lined up in the tunnel waiting for the go signal. The giant screens at either end of the stadium displayed the team sheets.

"Let's have a look at the lineups then," Drury continued. "RB Leipzig, under Julian Nagelsmann, line up in what looks like a 4-2-3-1, though we know it will be fluid. In goal, Péter Gulácsi. The back four: Lukas Klostermann at left-back, the powerhouse pairing of Dayot Upamecano and Marcel Halstenberg in the centre, and José Tasende on the right. A young defence, but they've been excellent this season."

"The midfield double pivot," Beglin picked up, "Konrad Laimer and Kevin Kampl, two tireless workers who will be key to Leipzig's high press. Then the attacking three: Marcel Sabitzer on the left, Dani Olmo in the middle as the ten, and Christopher Nkunku on the right. Leading the line, Yussuf Poulsen."

"No, Timo Werner, of course," Drury noted. "He's already made his move to Chelsea. But this Leipzig side has shown they can cope without him."

The camera shifted to the Leverkusen side, moving down the line, briefly stopping at all players who either ignored it or interacted. "And for Bayer Leverkusen," Drury continued, "Peter Bosz has named a strong side. Lukas Hradecky is in goal. The defence: Wendell at left-back, Sven Bender and Jonathan Tah as the centre-back pairing, and captain Lars Bender on the right. Two brothers in that back line, Jim."

"Absolutely, and what a story that is," Beglin said. "In midfield, Kerem Demirbay and Charles Aránguiz are sitting deep, both excellent on the ball. Then the attacking trio, and here's where it gets interesting, Peter. On the left wing, seventeen-year-old Rakim Rex. In the middle, 21-year-old Kai Havertz. And on the right, Seventeen-year-old Florian Wirtz. That is a frightening amount of young talent."

"Leading the line is Kevin Volland," Drury added. "Not the flashiest name, perhaps, but a player who knows where the goal is. And behind him, that trio of Rex, Havertz, and Wirtz—a combined age of just fifty-five years old. Remarkable."

"The question is whether they can handle the occasion," Beglin said. "Leipzig will press them high, try to force mistakes. If those young players can stay calm and pick their moments, Leverkusen have the quality to hurt anyone. But if they panic..."

"Then Leipzig will punish them," Drury finished. "Both teams are coming into this match with confidence. Leipzig topped their Champions League group, while Leverkusen won the DFB-Pokal just last month with a stunning 5-4 victory over Bayern Munich."

The players began making their way out of the tunnel, the iconic Champions League music greeting them like gladiators entering their arena of battle. The Anthem surprisingly sounded more surreal in the sparsely populated stands as only UEFA staff sat in some seats.

The two lines emerged from the tunnel side by side, stepping onto the immaculate turf of the Estádio da Luz. The stadium lights were blinding, the grass perfect, the goalposts gleaming. Cameras tracked their every movement as they lined up for the pre-match formalities.

Handshakes were exchanged quickly, professional pictures were taken, and a coin was tossed. The decision was made in Leipzig's favour, as the players dispersed to their positions, and Rakim jogged to the left wing, feeling the grass beneath his boots and testing the surface one final time. The ball sat at the centre spot, where Poulsen and Olmo waited for the referee's whistle.

Peter Drury's voice rose in the commentary box: "Here we go then. RB Leipzig in their white kits with red trim. Bayer Leverkusen in their traditional red and black. The referee checks his watch..."

Rakim took a deep breath, scanning the positions of his teammates, saying a light prayer as he cleared his mind. "This is it," he whispered to himself. The referee raised his whistle to his lips (FEEEEeeettt).

~~~

[13/08/2020 | Time: 20:45 PM | Estádio da Luz, Lisbon]

[1']

(FWEEEEET)

The whistle pierced the Lisbon night, and the ball was rolled back from Poulsen to Olmo. Leipzig immediately pushed forward, their white shirts flooding into Leverkusen's half like a tide. Kampl received and spread it wide to Nkunku, who took one touch before firing it back inside to Sabitzer.

"And we're underway in Lisbon," Drury announced. "Leipzig immediately on the front foot, as we expected."

The opening minutes were frantic, with Leipzig pressing high and Leverkusen struggling to find their rhythm. Every pass was contested, every touch pressured. Hradecky was forced to go long twice in the first three minutes, bypassing the midfield entirely.

"This is exactly what Nagelsmann wanted," Beglin observed. "Leverkusen can't get out of their own half. The question is, can Leipzig maintain this intensity for ninety minutes?"

[8']

The first real chance came in the eighth minute. Laimer won possession in midfield with a crunching tackle on Demirbay, immediately feeding Nkunku on the right. The Frenchman drove at Wendell, cut inside onto his left foot, and curled a shot toward the far corner.

Hradecky was equal to it, diving to his left body fully outstretched to push it wide. "Lovely technique from Nkunku," Drury said. "But Hradecky comes to the rescue."

As Leipzig prepared to take the corner, Beglin shifted topics. "You know, Peter, there's been a lot of talk about how this extended season is affecting players. Normally at this point in August, they'd be on beaches somewhere, recovering. Instead, they're playing in one of the most intense tournaments in football."

"Absolutely," Drury replied as the corner was cleared. "And clubs are worried about injuries, about burnout. We've already seen several high-profile players pick up knocks. The financial pressure from COVID means they can't afford to lose key assets before the transfer window."

[14']

Leverkusen finally found some possession around the quarter-hour mark. Aránguiz dropped deep to collect from Tah, turned, and played a lovely ball over the top for Rakim, who had drifted inside. The young winger controlled the ball on his chest, but Upamecano was there instantly, his long legs stretching to poke the ball away.

"Good awareness from Upamecano," Beglin noted. "He's been linked with several big clubs this summer, Bayern, United, Chelsea, all reportedly interested. Performances like this in the Champions League only increase his value."

"Indeed," Drury agreed. "And speaking of transfers, Kai Havertz is the subject of intense speculation. Chelsea is said to be preparing a bid north of seventy million pounds. You wonder if nights like this are his audition."

Havertz, as if hearing the commentary, dropped deep to collect the ball, spun away from Kampl with a delightful touch, and threaded a pass into Wirtz's feet. The young German took one touch before releasing Volland, but Halstenberg blocked the striker's shot.

"This pandemic has really shaken up the transfer market," Beglin said during a lull in play. "Clubs that were spending hundreds of millions are now being far more cautious. Barcelona are struggling financially, we've seen it reported. Same with Real Madrid. Even the Premier League clubs are being more measured."

"Which creates opportunities for the clubs that can spend," Drury added. "Chelsea has already brought in Timo Werner from Leipzig and Hakim Ziyech from Ajax. They're not stopping there by the looks of it."

On the pitch, Leipzig continued to dominate possession but without creating clear chances. Leverkusen had settled into a compact defensive shape, forcing Leipzig to play around them rather than through them.

[28']

The match's first yellow card came in the twenty-eighth minute when Laimer clattered through the back of Rakim near the touchline. The Leverkusen winger had received a pass from Wendell and was turning to attack when the Austrian caught him high on the ankle.

"That's a clear booking," Beglin said as the referee reached for his pocket. "Laimer knew what he was doing, hit him early to send a warning shot, stop the counter before it starts." Rakim took a moment to shake off the tackle, receiving treatment from the physio before the free kick.

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To Be Continued...