Chapter 642 Prelude to the Ascension

On the evening of September 19, in the first round of the Champions League group stage, Manchester United played against Lyon, the former French Ligue 1 champion, at Old Trafford.

For Manchester United, this is a very crucial game.

In this Champions League group stage, Manchester United drew three opponents with strong strength. Although it should not be difficult to qualify for the group, it is definitely not easy. Whether it is Lyon, Hoffenheim, or even Shakhtar Donetsk, they all have the strength to threaten Manchester United.

Among them, as the former seven-time champion of Ligue 1, both strength and European war experience are very outstanding.

In addition, Lyon has a player who is very familiar with Manchester United-Memphis Depay!

This Dutch winger, who was once expected by Van Gaal to be Ronaldo's successor, quickly gained a foothold in the former French Ligue 1 champion after being sold to Lyon by Manchester United. Now he is facing his old club again in the Champions League. Depay is naturally eager to have a good performance, to avenge the abandonment of the arrow, and to prove to his old club that it was an absolute mistake for them to abandon him.

Players from both sides came to the player tunnel. The referee on duty was conducting the final inspection before the players from both sides came on the field. When he saw Bruno, he obviously stayed a little longer and nodded slightly.

This year's FIFA awards ceremony will be held next Monday night, but the media all over the world know that this year's World Footballer of the Year has been settled in advance. Bruno's performance last season was too outstanding. He not only led the team to win six championships in the season, but also was the absolute core and number one contributor to Portugal's victory in the World Cup. In terms of personal performance, he was not only the Premier League Golden Boot and European Golden Boot last season, but also won the three best players in the Premier League again. In the World Cup, he won the Golden Boot and the Best Player.

In the face of such an overwhelming advantage, even Cristiano Ronaldo, who is aiming for the throne of the King of Football, cannot defeat Bruno this year and achieve the three consecutive World Footballer of the Year titles.

Facing such a hot superstar, no football person can ignore his influence and status.

………………

Bruno also knows that at this moment, the whole world is paying attention to him, so he is also very excited in the game and tries his best to show his best condition.

Less than six minutes into the game, he seized an opportunity on the right, quickly ran out of the gap, and got a chance to counterattack.

Compared with other sports, there are eleven players on each side of a football match. Including the referee, there will be a total of twenty-three people on the field. Among them, except for the two goalkeepers whose activity areas are fixed in the penalty area, the rest of the players are basically moving at high speed, interweaving with each other. If you are not careful, it will be like a cursory look and miss it.

For any competitive game, concentration is the most important basic quality of a player.

This is especially true for football games with many people and frequent interweaving and running.

In football games, the most easily exposed problem of inattention is that you can't catch the ball.

When Manchester United intercepted the ball in the backcourt, Luke Shaw got the ball on the left side of the center line. When observing the front, Lyon's left back Ferland Mendy obviously did not catch the crisis because he thought the ball was still on the other side.

But in the next step, when Luke Shaw quickly made a long diagonal pass and sent the ball behind Lyon's left back and left center back, he hurriedly realized the danger.

Just as he turned to chase the ball, Bruno had already passed by him at the fastest speed, like a gust of wind, quickly caught up with the football, and easily stopped the ball with his chest.

Fortunately, not all Lyon defenders were distracted like Ferland Mendy. Denayer reacted immediately, quickly returned to defense, and blocked Bruno in front of him.

………………

Two people one on one, Bruno stopped the ball with his chest and started quickly, and wanted to shake off the opponent directly, but Denayer decisively fouled and tripped Bruno to the ground.

The referee gave a yellow card without hesitation.

Lyon won a chance to breathe and quickly retreated to its own penalty area to organize defense.

Bruno's right cross accurately found Harry Kane, but the England center's header slightly hit the crossbar.

Although they failed to score, Manchester United gave the opponent's central defender a yellow card just six minutes into the game. Mourinho's opening tactics worked, and Bruno's start was very eye-catching.

Lyon coach Bruno Genesio was very upset on the sidelines, constantly complaining to the fourth official, obviously thinking that the punishment was too severe.

As a defender, especially a central defender, with a yellow card on his back, he would be tied up and unable to let go.

Of course, in comparison, if there was no foul, Bruno would pass directly and enter the penalty area, and Lopez would be difficult to stop. At that time, he would be more passive if he was scored, so Denayer's choice was understandable.

………………

Mourinho stood on the sidelines and seemed to be more relaxed from the beginning of the game.

When he saw Bruno let Denayer carry a yellow card, he laughed directly.

Although the subsequent frontcourt set-piece failed to score, such a result was already good.

When they saw Bruno constantly retreating on the field, while calling on his teammates to try to launch an attack on the right, Mourinho and Faria looked at each other and smiled again: What a smart boy!

Denayl had a yellow card and was already playing with limited hands and feet, and Bruno signaled his teammates to play more on the right side, which was a bit like adding insult to injury and taking advantage of his illness.

This is definitely a very praiseworthy choice in a football match.

He is indeed a great man who can beat the two superstars Cristiano Ronaldo and Yosi!

On the court, with Bruno's call, Manchester United's attack quickly tilted to the right.

Mbappe and Cancelo, this right-wing combination of Manchester United is originally known for its offensive ability. With Bruno, this immediately made Manchester United's right-wing attack more frequent, putting great pressure on Lyon's left.

Although Manchester United did not make too many personnel adjustments this season, their strength is already very strong. After two seasons of running-in, they have long reached an excellent state, which is much stronger than Lyon. Especially when Bruno was active, Lyon's left side was exhausted.

In the 21st minute, Rashford made a diagonal pass to the front of the penalty area on the left, and Harry Kane passed the ball to Bruno who came in later.

Mbappe had no chance, and pushed the ball back to the midfield without stopping, giving it to Bruno.

Bruno quickly passed the ball to the right, and Cancelo made a run-in. After receiving the ball, he took it directly to the right side of the penalty area, pulled out Ferland Mendy, and then suddenly passed it to the penalty area.

At this time, Bruno had already run to the empty space, and after receiving Cancelo's cross pass in the penalty area, he faced Denayer, pulled it to the left, and swung his left foot to shoot directly!