CHAPTER 621: CHAPTER 621 QUARTERFINAL (3)

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[13/08/2020 |Half-Time | Sky Sports Champions League Studio | Lisbon]

The Sky Sports studio lights dimmed as the half-time graphic faded into view, the Champions League logo pulsing behind Jamie Redknapp, Rio Ferdinand, Steven Gerrard, and Alex Scott. The scoreboard beneath their desk read in clean white letters:

[RB Leipzig 0 – 1 Bayer Leverkusen.]

Redknapp leaned forward, tapping his pen against his notes. "Well, if you thought this would be cagey, think again. Leipzig came out flying, but Leverkusen grew into it, and right before the break—boom—Volland finishes off a move that’s straight from the training ground. Rio, give us your take."

Rio Ferdinand folded his arms, a small grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. "You know, Jamie, this is exactly what we were talking about before the match. Leverkusen just needed to weather that early chaos. Leipzig threw everything at them for the first 20 minutes—pressing like madmen—but once Leverkusen started using the ball properly, they looked the more mature side."

Gerrard nodded. "Spot on. The big difference for me is Havertz. He’s dictating tempo without needing to touch the ball all the time. He’s just drifting into clever areas, pulling Kampl out of position and opening lanes for Rakim and Wirtz. It’s calm, composed football. And look, that goal sums up their evolution."

The screen behind them showed a freeze-frame of Rakim driving down the left flank before the goal. Alex Scott gestured toward it with her pen. "Look at this, though. The maturity in Rakim’s decision-making is evident; instead of rushing to take on Upamecano, he waits, lets the defender commit, and then hits the trivela. Slightly cheeky, but it got the job done fairly easily."

Rio tilted his head, impressed. "He’s special, Alex. What I love is his bravery. Rakim? He’s demanding the ball under pressure; I dare say he thrives in those situations. That’s confidence born from preparation and repetition, doing that game in and out, no matter the opponent."

"Still," Alex countered, "you can’t ignore how open he leaves that left side when Wendell pushes forward. Leipzig nearly punished them twice with Nkunku’s runs. Against a better finisher, they’d be level."

Redknapp jumped in, steering the conversation toward the broader tactical chess match. "Let’s talk systems. We said pre-match this would be Nagelsmann’s 3-4-3 against Bosz’s 4-2-3-1, and that duel’s really showing now. Leipzig’s wing-backs have been pinned deeper than usual. Gerrard, how do they fix that?"

"Honestly," Gerrard replied, leaning back thoughtfully, "it’s risky, but they’ve got to commit one of the midfielders—probably Sabitzer—higher up. Right now, they’re hesitating between pressing Demirbay or covering space. That’s allowing Leverkusen to turn and break too easily. Either go all-in or drop off. Half-measures are killing them."

Rio nodded in agreement. "And Nagelsmann’s not the type to sit on his hands. I guarantee we’ll see Forsberg or Schick early in the second half. Leipzig needs presence. Poulsen’s working hard, but he’s on an island."

Scott smirked. "And maybe tell Upamecano to stop dribbling into midfield like he’s Zidane. That nearly cost them twice."

Laughter rippled through the panel. Redknapp smiled, using the moment to pivot. "Let’s talk about the bigger picture. These are two clubs built very differently from the traditional giants. Leipzig and Leverkusen both run on development, smart scouting, and efficiency. No Galácticos here. But look what they’re doing—quarter-final of the Champions League, playing bold football."

Rio leaned forward, eyes gleaming. "Yeah, and that’s what modern football looks like, Jamie. These clubs can’t afford to spend $200 million on a rebuild, so they invest in players like Rakim, Havertz, and Wirtz. And it’s working. Even during COVID, while others are tightening belts, Leverkusen’s showing that identity and structure can outperform spending."

Gerrard added, "Exactly. It’s the sustainability model, isn’t it? We’re watching what the future might look like. You’ve got two young managers, two squads built under 25, both playing progressive football. This might be an evolution of Germany’s old rigid systems to a more fluid, fearless football."

Redknapp gestured toward the highlight reel looping behind them—Hradecky’s reflex save, Nkunku’s strike off the bar, and Volland’s clinical finish. "So, second half predictions then. Can Leverkusen hold this?"

"Depends on how long they can keep their heads," Alex said. "Leipzig will throw everything at them for the next twenty minutes. If Leverkusen survive that wave, they’ll have chances to kill it off."

"Agreed," Rio said. "But if Leipzig gets one back early, the momentum swings hard. You can’t underestimate how relentless they are once they smell blood."

Gerrard smiled knowingly. "I’m backing Bosz—that dressing room’s calm. Havertz looks like a captain tonight. And his bench has the deeper depth in quality."

Redknapp closed the segment with a nod toward the camera. "Well said, Stevie. The second half promises fireworks in Lisbon. Leipzig is chasing history, Leverkusen is chasing destiny. Don’t go anywhere — we’ll be right back after the break."

[46]

The whistle sliced through the humid Lisbon air once again as Volloand kicked off the match for Leverkusen. Immediately, their opponents flooded forward, looking to win possession quickly, but Haavertz didn’t panic, knocking the ball back to Demirbay. The holding midfielder deftly received the ball, skipping past the charging Poulsen into the space ahead of Olmo.

Before the Attacking midfielder could trouble him, he knuckled the ball to the side, finding Aranguiz in a bit of space. The Chilean dribbled forward, forcing the nearby defenders to swarm him lest he become a danger. But before anyone could get close, he lifted the ball over the approaching Laimer to find Wirtz, in the final third, who had drifted inwards.

The seventeen-year-old chested it down under the pressure of Klostermann, knocking the ball back into the run of Haverts, who spun off. Kai sent a piercing through-ball past Klostermann into Wirtz’s run, and he exploded forward quickly, reaching the edge of the box. Halstenberg guided him wide, but a quick stop and go allowed him to explode past him, creating enough room to manoeuvre.

Finding an opportunity, he powered towards the near post, letting rip a shot across the face of the goal before Gulácsi could close him down. The keeper managed to lunge after the ball; his outstretched glove caught just enough of it to deflect it past the far post out for a corner.

"Wirtz with his real chance of the game, but Gulácsi was equal to it." Peter Drury exclaimed as the German wunderkind clutched his head in disappointment.

"He’ll be disappointed, but he’s on the right track, asking the right questions." Jim Beglin noted.

[48’]

Demirbay jogged across to take the resulting corner, brushing the sweat from his brow as the humidity thickened under the lights. Leverkusen packed the six-yard box, Tah and Sven Bender muscling for position against Upamecano and Halstenberg. The delivery came whipping in with venom, curling toward the penalty spot.

Havertz lost his man, rising into the air to flick it backwards with the faintest of touches.

The deflection caused chaos as the ball ricocheted off Klostermann’s thigh, spinning dangerously toward the far post before Gulácsi punched it clear under pressure. Volland, who had thrown himself into the rebound, colliding with the keeper mid-air as the referee’s whistle sounded for a foul.

"That’s brave goalkeeping again from Gulácsi," Drury observed. "He’s kept Leipzig alive single-handedly tonight."

"Yeah, Peter, but look at the body language," Beglin replied. "Leverkusen smell blood. They’ve come out in the second half sharper, more aggressive — this is exactly what Leipzig didn’t want."

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To Be Continued...