Chapter 377: Chapter 84: The Turin Massacre, the Old Lady’s Elegy, and the Bundesliga’s Vindication

The Danish defensive midfielder, Bauersen, was 30 years old. Piero was 35, Salihamidzic was 33, and Trezeget was already 32.

In other words, in Juventus’s starting eleven, only 25-year-old Diego and 24-year-old Marchisio were in their prime; all the others were veterans over thirty.

Was it that Juventus didn’t want a younger squad?

Obviously not.

For example, players like Muhammad Sissoko, Felipe Melo, and Chiellini had been emerging one after another.

But for various reasons, this was the only starting lineup Juventus could field now.

Do you know what Klopp had said in the locker room right before they came out?

"Physique, technique, strength—we’re superior to our opponents in every aspect!"

"And our greatest advantages are our speed and work rate."

"Faced with this group of has-beens who are ripe for retirement, the greatest courtesy we can show them is to make them face reality."

"Their era is over!"

Thinking of this, Wang Shuo took a deep breath, a smile gracing his lips as he shook hands with the Juventus players one by one.

His expression all but screamed to this group of legendary players, ’I grew up watching you play.’

After the handshakes, captain Weidenfeller went for the coin toss.

Wang Shuo, meanwhile, gathered all his teammates.

"Alright, listen to the boss’s plan. We start fast, unleash our speed and power, and crush them right from the get-go!"

Wang Shuo had been captain for six matches and had won all six, giving him considerable authority within the team.

The players were all willing to listen to him.

"After the whistle, it’s the same old routine. We up front are responsible for the running."

"Once the defense wins the ball, they’ll pass it straight forward. We’ll aim to break through and overwhelm them in a single push!"

Just then, Weidenfeller, having lost the choice for kickoff, walked over.

Everyone gathered in a huddle, pumped each other up, and then dispersed to take their positions.

Dortmund also lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation.

Goalkeeper: Weidenfeller;

Defense: Schmelzer, Hummels, Subotic, and Owomoyela;

Midfield: Shahin and Sven Bender formed the double pivot, with Grosskreutz, Götze, and Kuba ahead of them;

Forward: Wang Shuo.

As Swiss referee Busacca blew his whistle, Wang Shuo, positioned on the left side of the center circle, charged at top speed toward Juventus midfielder Bauersen in the opposing half.

After receiving the ball, Bauersen turned and passed to Grosso on the left flank.

Wang Shuo quickly charged toward Cannavaro.

Meanwhile, Kuba on the right wing rushed at Grosso.

Dortmund pressed high right from the kickoff, with every player surging forward.

Grosso hit a long pass, sending the ball straight upfield from the left flank.

The center-forward Trezeget wasn’t known for his running or ground coverage, but his aerial ability was excellent. He got under the ball and headed it down to Salihamidzic.

By the time the former Bayern player brought the ball under control, Schmelzer was already in his face.

Salihamidzic controlled the ball, cut inside, and passed to Diego, but Sven Bender poked it away.

Juventus began to press aggressively in the attacking third to win the ball back.

Players like Diego and Piero were also very active in the press.

Dortmund was forced to pass the ball back to their defensive line.

When Hummels received the ball near his own 30-meter line, there were no attacking players around him.

Trezeget slowly jogged over.

This gave Hummels time to settle himself.

The Dortmund center-back controlled the ball, took a moment to get set, looked up, and immediately launched a long pass upfield.

Wang Shuo was in the center, tightly marked by Cannavaro and Lillorotale.

Hummels’ pass was aimed toward the left side of the attack, into the space behind Juventus’s right-back, Zebina, for Grosskreutz to run onto.

But as it turned out, Zebina, while tracking back, muscled out Grandcross, secured his position, and headed the ball down.

The ball failed to enter the attacking third.

Cannavaro had been shadowing Wang Shuo the entire time.

He had originally planned to sprint forward to receive the ball.

But upon seeing Zebina’s headed clearance, he immediately gave up on the run.

He saw that Götze was running to receive the ball.

And he was certain to get to it.

Zebina would certainly move into position to mark Götze.

Grosskreutz, who had just run in behind Zebina, would draw Lillorotale away.

As Wang Shuo analyzed the developing play, he turned and glanced at Cannavaro.

’I really do respect you!’

’But... my apologies!’

As Götze received the ball, Wang Shuo made a diagonal run back toward the left half-space, as if to offer a passing option.

As expected, Cannavaro followed his every move.

Götze saw Wang Shuo’s run and immediately understood his intention.

And so, after controlling the ball, Götze sold a dummy, cut horizontally inside, and then suddenly sent a diagonal pass with his right foot.

At almost the exact same moment, Wang Shuo stopped abruptly, turned, and made a diagonal run at top speed.

Cannavaro was prepared.

The experienced Golden Ball winner had of course seen the dangerous gap that had opened between him and Lillorotale.

He knew Wang Shuo would use his speed to attack the space behind the defensive line.

But there was nothing he could do.

If he didn’t stick close to Wang Shuo and allowed him to receive the ball and turn, there would be no stopping him.

So, the moment Wang Shuo started his run, Cannavaro immediately turned to chase him down.

His only hope was that Wang Shuo’s first touch would be poor.

But that was obviously not going to happen!

Wang Shuo caught up to Götze’s pass just outside the arc of the penalty area, using the inside of his right foot to guide the ball toward the left side of the box.