Football: My AI System Provides Max-Level Predictions-Chapter 758 - 547: The Blood-Red Twilight of Itihad — "This is Champions League-level confrontation!

7:45 PM.

The sun dips into the corners of Etihad Stadium, with the golden light on the brink of being consumed by night.

Inside Etihad Stadium, at 5℃ temperature, the players' breaths instantly form white misty clouds.

Manchester City captain Kompany steps onto the field with a solemn expression, leading his teammates.

Bayern's Lewandowski, in golden boots, pauses before stepping on the grass, exchanging glances with Tang Long as they pass each other.

Both of them want to size up the other!

Sparks seem to fly in the air — a silent battle between top players.

Referee Kunia stands in the center circle, scanning the poised players at both ends with a sharp gaze.

A whistle sounds, sharp and urgent!

In an instant, screams from 60,000 Manchester City fans roar out, as if they might upend the entire stadium.

"City!"

"City!"

"City!"

At the sound of the opening whistle, Manchester City pounces toward Bayern's half like a long-dormant lion.

Gundogan quickly connects with Diego at the center circle for a brilliant play.

Their passes weave like silverfish through water, flawlessly completing a series of quick exchanges, thrusting the ball into Bayern's inner area in the blink of an eye.

At that moment, left winger Tang Long is like a pale blue lightning bolt, swiftly advancing down the diagonal line!

Unlike ordinary wingers, Tang Long fervently charges towards the penalty area, and this unexpected move from the wing to the center often has a surprising effect—

The hurried right-side defense set up by Robben and Alaba is shredded by Tang Long, leaving a fatal gap.

"Tang!"

Seizing the timing, Gundogan shouts and delivers a through ball, the football carrying a fierce spin, just skimming above Vidal's outstretched toe, targeting the gap between Robben and Alaba, rolling towards Tang Long.

At Tang Long's start, Bayern's entire defense line seems tethered by an invisible cord, collectively pushing up fast—an attempt to create offside!

But Tang Long, well-prepared, employs an S-curved run, a technique he learned from Icardi at Inter, zigzagging just onside to meet Gundogan's pass.

Instinctively, Boateng raises his hand to signal offside, but the assistant referee remains unmoved.

No offside!

"Must charge!"

Facing a one-on-one, the seasoned Neuer decisively abandons his post, rushing towards Tang Long in an attempt to block the angle.

Tang Long strikes towards the far corner!

The crowd collectively holds their breath, eyes glued to the ball's trajectory.

However, Neuer, showcasing world-class goalkeeping reflexes and parrying skills, at a critical moment, manages to deflect the ball out of bounds with his leg.

"Close call!" The German goalkeeper lies on the grass, gasping for air, looking at the dusk enveloping Etihad's night sky, relieved to have dodged a bullet.

Tang Long touches his chin, looking at Neuer, lying on the ground in disarray, secretly startled.

"Any Premier League goalkeeper wouldn't have been able to save that, yet Neuer did. I underestimated him; I should have bypassed him for a safer shot on an open goal."

On the sidelines, Guardiola waves his arms, shouting at the players on the field:

"Remind Sterling to watch for opportunities in the side spaces! They're definitely going to strengthen that side's defense!"

The live chat lights up.

-[Wow, Tang Long struck like a tiger in just 5 minutes.]

-[Almost scored, what a pity, haven't seen Tang Long miss a one-on-one in forever.]

-[I can't remember the last time Tang Long failed to score in a one-on-one situation.]

-[The attempt was good, it was Neuer's extraordinary save, not Tang Long's fault.]

-[It's alright, strikers should keep shooting, it's just warming up, the real show is yet to come.]

As Bundesliga champions, Bayern plays in the Champions League every year, their players possessing more experience on the big stage than their opponents, Manchester City.

Despite an early scare from Tang Long's threat, nearly conceding a goal, Bayern's players remain composed and unflustered, showing no signs of panic.

Bayern's counterattack is just as swift and fierce as lightning.

Vidal intercepts a pass between Diego and Ranocchia at midfield, launching a precise long ball to a forward-moving Lewandowski.

The Polish striker surges towards the ball like a cannonball, with Kompany giving chase, their arms entangled, pulling each other's shirts out of shape.

Amidst the physical tussle, their released breaths intertwine, both able to hear the other's heavy breathing.

Such pulling is commonplace in the Champions League, with both sides fouling slightly, the referee doesn't blow the whistle.

In the intense physical confrontation, Kompany is unexpectedly toppled by Lewandowski!

"Good ball!"

Lewandowski shouts to himself, striking powerfully just as Stones arrives for backup!

The football rockets towards the far corner, and had it not swerved at the last moment, hitting the crossbar and post, goalkeeper Bravo would have been reduced to a spectator.

Guardiola furrows his brow and says to Chiwo, "Lewandowski is still so strong, he seems even stronger than when I coached Bayern last year!"

Chiwo ponders for a moment and responds, "Don't worry, Kompany is experienced, he knows how to adjust against Lewandowski."

In the 18th minute, a crack reappears in Bayern's defense.

This results from Manchester City's ceaseless transverse passes at mid-pitch, maximizing the width of the field.

Since Guardiola's arrival at Manchester City, he has extended Etihad Stadium's sidelines by a meter, from 67 meters to 68 meters, to better exploit passing for pulling opponents apart.

The Camp Nou is also notably wide; Guardiola thrives on implementing tactics on a wider pitch, making him even more relaxed and at ease.

Don't underestimate that extra meter, it burdened Alonso and Vidal, covering Manchester City's passes back and forth, forcing them a step slow in dueling, exposing a gap, allowing Gundogan's pass to penetrate.

Sterling receives a pass on the right flank!

In this game, Manchester City sticks to the 4-3-3 formation, with the starting forwards being Tang Long, Agüero, and Sterling.

Tang Long and the other two are short, quick-footed forwards, proficient in ground tactics.

"Haha, Sterling begins flaunting his orchid fingers again!"

"That's his signature dribble move."

"He twists and turns, his prominent backside nearly concealing the camera in this close-up!"

"Swerve, swerve, another swerve!"

"Sterling makes three consecutive swerve moves on the sideline, throwing Boateng to the ground!"

Sterling successfully breaks Boateng's defense yet pushes the ball to the end line due to heavy swipes to thoroughly upset Boateng's balance, losing the chance for an inward cut.

From the sidelines, Chiwo observes, thinking, "This shows Sterling's dribbling nuance gap with Tang Long, he needs more polishing."

Sterling hesitates for a second, then passes back to the top of the penalty arc!

That choice isn't bad, as Gundogan awaits, adjusting his breath before unleashing a powerful shot!

The ball roars towards the top left corner of the goal.

The entire audience holds their breath, their focus fixed on the ball.

In this tense moment, Neuer leaps into the air like a sprouting plant, his body stretched to the fullest, his fingertips barely touching the ball.

The trajectory of the ball alters, skimming the crossbar and flying out of bounds.

The crowd erupts with a tremendous sigh, unable to believe the ball didn't go in!

Gundogan angrily slaps his thigh, turning to Tang Long beside him, saying, "What kind of keeper is this, did he take some drug?"

The commentator Zhan Jun exclaims with excitement:

"This is a classic Champions League clash!"

"The shot was brilliant, and the save was unbeatable!"

"Gundogan proves he's one of the Premier League's best midfielders."

"And Neuer proves he's still the world's top goalkeeper!"

"Such a high-level save, it's simply unbelievable!"