Episode [300]: The Start of the New Premier League Season
In the first round of the 2007-2008 Premier League season, Leeds United played against Manchester City.
The game was played at Leeds United's home stadium, Elland Road. There were a lot of fans gathered at the scene, and they were very concerned about this game.
Before the game, the media also paid great attention to this game.
Because just this summer, the Manchester City team was acquired by a large consortium, and some eye-catching signings were made in the transfer market. First, Elano was introduced for 8 million pounds, then Italian striker Bianchi was introduced for 8.8 million pounds, Martin Petrov was introduced for 5 million pounds, and so on.
In this season, Manchester City has made some big moves. But this is just the beginning. It is said that Manchester City will also introduce Real Madrid's Brazilian striker Robinho. At this time, Manchester City is rich and is like an upstart in the transfer market, just like Chelsea back then and the recent Sheffield Wednesday team.
It is said that now the Manchester City team is really going to get Robinho soon.
Moreover, the Manchester City team has made great moves in the transfer market, and now they even want to introduce Frank Ribery and others from Leeds United. They are really rich!
Although Manchester City has spent a lot of money so far this season, they are really not as good as Leeds United, and their strength is still a bit worse.
However, many media were optimistic about Manchester City before the game. They believed that Manchester City had the strength to defeat Leeds United.
However, fans of Leeds United don't think so. Is Manchester City capable? Maybe, but it will definitely not beat Leeds United.
Leeds United fans dressed up Elland Road as a sea of white in their white jerseys, and now they are waiting for the game to start.
"Friends of the audience, friends of the fans, hello! This is BBC Sports, and I am the Mark Lawrenson you are familiar with!" The BBC broadcast the game live, and Mark Lawrenson was sitting in the commentary booth of the Elland Road Stadium.
"Hello everyone, we are the Eddie Gray you are familiar with, and today I am still here to explain the Leeds United game!" Eddie Gray said.
"Today we bring you a game in the first round of the 2007-2008 Premier League season, Leeds United vs. Manchester City at home!" Mark Lawrenson accepted this game.
"This is the beginning of the new season, and all the teams will start fighting for the honor of the league. The gathering of the league is very important, and no one wants to fall behind at this time. In this game, Leeds United and Manchester City will definitely go all out, and the good game will start soon!" Eddie Guo said.
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Today's double-off starter list is as follows:
Away Team: Manchester City, Manager: Mark Hughes, Formation: 4-4-2
Goalkeeper: Isaacson
Back four [from left to right]: Garrido, Michael Dunn, Richards and Onuoha
The midfield four [left to right]: Martin Petrov, Geovani, Ireland and Elano
Two forwards: Bianchi and Bojinov
This is Manchester City's starting list today. The Chinese player Sun Jihai of Manchester City did not appear in the starting list, not even in the big list. Now Sun Jihai has almost become a marginal figure in Manchester City, and he will leave Manchester City soon.
Because the new consortium of the Manchester City team has taken over, it is urgent to improve their strength immediately, and Sun Jihai is also too old, and some of them are not worthy of the replacement of the Manchester City team.
Manchester City's striker is a relatively big feature today, because it is a combination of strikers from Italy. Bianchi is from Regina, Italy, while Bojinov is from Florence, Italy. It is said that Manchester City's introduction of Fiorentina striker Bojinov cost 12 million pounds, which is a very amazing price anyway.
The risk of Manchester City is a combination worth 20 million pounds. Manchester City fans are very confident and look forward to the team's crazy combination of one high and one fast.
Home team: Leeds United, head coach: Zhong Cheng, formation: 4-1-3-2
Goalkeeper: Zhong Zheng
Back four [left to right]: Patrick Evra, Gerard Pique, Kompany and Sagna
Single midfielder: Mohamed Sissoko
Three strikers [left to right]: Samir Nasri, Luka Modric and Joaquin
Forwards: Luca Toni and Edinson Cavani
This is the main lineup of Leeds United in the new season. Zhong Cheng has no secrets, and he will be the main lineup as soon as he comes up. This is to attack Manchester City.
The lineup of Leeds United has been running in for a long time. Except for Mohamed Sissoko and Samir Nasri who are newcomers, everyone else is the old man of Leeds United. This maintains the integrity of Leeds United very well. The strength of Leeds United is very powerful.
At this point, players from both sides were already standing on the court, waiting for the start of the game.
As the host, Zhong Cheng in a white suit walked over to Mark Hughes, the head coach of Manchester City, and stretched out his right hand directly to Mark Hughes.
Zhong Cheng said sincerely: "Welcome, Mr. Mark Hughes!"
Mark Hughes also held Zhong Cheng's right hand, and said directly: "Thank you, Mr. Loya, today's game will definitely be a very exciting game!"
Zhong Cheng smiled slightly and said, "I think so too!"
Zhong Cheng and Mark Hughes exchanged a few pleasantries, but they didn't see the tension before the game, but seemed very relaxed. It's just that the nervousness of the fans on both sides in the stands said it all, this was a vicious battle.
Now, the players on both sides are standing in their positions, waiting for the start of the game.
The referee of this game looked left and right, then raised his head and glanced at the players on both sides, and found no surprises. Then he turned around and looked towards the sidelines, waiting for the reminder of the kick-off whistle from the sidelines.
However, the referee turned around, glanced at the watch on his wrist, and then directly blew the whistle to start the game—beep!
The game is about to start!
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The game is going on, and the fans on both sides are working very hard and shouting loudly.
They haven't been to the scene to watch the game for several months, and the fans of both sides are panicking. Now they finally have the ball to watch. They have vented their passion that has been suppressed for several months in this game. One by one, they shouted non-stop, crazily gradually, as if they were really not tired at all, very excited.
"Oh, opportunity, Manchester City's opportunity is here!" Eddie Gray exclaimed suddenly.
On the court, Sagna from the wing was a little reckless in his attack, and Martin Petrov easily poked the ball past him and passed through the crotch. Martin Petrov immediately flashed past Sagna who was jumping up, directly dribbled the ball inside, and rushed towards the Leeds United penalty area.
The fans of the Manchester City team were very excited and excited. They all jumped to Chari and shouted excitedly to cheer for the fans of the Manchester City team.
Martin Petrov immediately cut inside towards the Leeds United box.
Leeds United's penalty area was methodical and there was no panic at all. Kompany was in the most critical position. Martin Petrov was very uncomfortable. He couldn't move forward with the ball, and he didn't have a shooting angle. He had no choice but to pass the ball.
But the passing line is not very good. This is the strength of Leeds United's defensive system.
Leeds United let go of the players and strangled almost every line without losing their position, which made the Manchester City people very uncomfortable.
Mark Hughes on the sidelines frowned, it was very difficult.
Leeds United is indeed well-deserved. They also won the triple crown of the Premier League last season, and their strength is very strong.
At this time, Martin Petrov could only pull the football back, and then quickly passed the football to the side.
Garrido from the side came up from the side, rushed up from behind Sania, caught up with the football without saying a word, and directly kicked a pass.
With a bang, the football flew into the Leeds United penalty area.
In the restricted area, the Italian striker Bianchi rushed up immediately, jumped high and headed the goal. With a bang, the football hit the Leeds United goal like a shell fired.
The Manchester City fans who came from afar were very excited and excited, and their eyes were fixed on the football.
It's a pity that the football was jumped high by Zhong Cheng in front of the goal, and shot the football with a single palm. The Manchester City fans at the scene sighed in frustration.
Corner kick, Manchester City won the corner kick.
Martin Petrov appeared in the corner area, and then sent the football into the Leeds United penalty area with an extremely evil arc. Bianchi did not touch the football in the penalty area. But he still jumps pretty high.
Here, Leeds United's central defender Kompany jumped high to clear the ball with a header, and slammed the football to the outside of the penalty area. But the football hit Bianchi's back hard and bounced back towards Leeds United's goal, which scared the fans of Leeds United.
Fortunately, Zhong Zheng reacted quickly and directly hugged the football in his arms.
Zhong Zheng let out a sigh of relief, and was taken aback in his heart. This ball is really dangerous, and it is a very conventional ball. Fortunately, he was in a good position, otherwise the game would be over, completely over.
Zhong Cheng immediately threw out the football to launch a quick counterattack, and Leeds United's signature attack came.
Mark Hughes waved immediately on the sidelines, signaling the Manchester City players to return to defense quickly and not to give Leeds United a chance.
However, Leeds United's counterattack speed was really too fast. From Zhong Zheng vigorously throwing the ball to launch a quick counterattack, until the football came to the feet of striker Edinson Cavani, only one person in the middle caught the ball and only passed it with one kick.
The one who received the ball was Luka Modric in the midfield, and he took the ball and dribbled it forward at high speed. At the same time, the other Leeds United players scattered forward, pulling Manchester City's defense. Therefore, it came out in an empty moment, and Luka Modric, who dribbled the ball at high speed, was waiting for this opportunity.
Luka Modric slammed the ball into Edinson Cavani with a straight kick. Edinson Cavani successfully reversed offside and went directly to the meeting with the ball.
The fans of Manchester City were too scared to speak, while the fans of Leeds United were extremely excited, jumping excitedly one by one, shouting loudly: "Goal, we need to score, we need to score!"
Edinson Cavani was very calm at this time. Looking at Isaacson who rushed out, he had thought of a way to deal with it.
Isaacson is very tall, and his speed and attack are not suitable for his strengths. Edinson Cavani immediately swayed his leg and pretended to shoot, dunked Isaacson who had thrown out, and faced the empty goal directly.
The Manchester City fans closed their eyes in despair, unable to watch anymore.
After Isaacson was dunked, it was easy for Edinson Cavani, and he sent the football into the Manchester City goal with a light push, one to zero.
Leeds United still took the lead with a quick counterattack.