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Chapter 343 Nightmarish First Half

The [-]-[-] victory over the opponent in the away game means that Hoffenheim has stepped into the threshold of the top [-]. Although it may not be possible, after leading the total score by one goal and scoring two away goals, Hoffenheim's promotion situation is indeed excellent.

So although there will be a home game against Frankfurt three days later, Rangnick still gave the team half a day off and postponed the return to Hoffenheim for half a day, allowing the team to take a good tour of the beautiful seaside city of Lisbon.

The players had a great time and went shopping with a sense of victory, which would make the feeling even better, but one person was very upset - Li Jie, who went shopping with Long Bisheng, Ning Xi and Lu Xiaoshan, swore after returning to the hotel that he would never go shopping with these three people again!
The feeling of being ignored as an invisible person is really bad...

Hoffenheim, who returned from Lisbon happily, defeated Eintracht Frankfurt at home three days later. Ibisevic, who had a slightly lackluster performance against Benfica, scored his first hat-trick in nearly two years.

Four days later, the Rhein-Neckar Stadium was full of seats. Nearly [-] Hoffenheim fans welcomed the visiting team with huge shouts. At the Stadium of Light a week ago, the Benfica fans were not so friendly. The Hoffenheim fans decided to let the other side know how good they are.

Although he scored two goals and a goal difference in the away game, Rangnick still dare not take this game lightly. For his coaching career, European games have never been a good memory, and his group of players except Hildebrand have no experience in European games before this season.

And their opponent is Benfica, which has won the Champions League twice, so even though they played well in the away game, it may not mean that they can also play well at home.

Benfica's starting lineup is exactly the same as the previous game, without any changes, which also made Rangnick puzzled for a while, but this should be a good thing for Hoffenheim. After all, can the opponent they just defeated a week ago show any different strength in this game?
What a joke!If they have more strength, then don't show it in the home game?Did they just become Super Saiyan after a week?That's too sci-fi.

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After the start of the game, Hoffenheim played very steadily. They had the advantage of the goal. Naturally, they didn't need to rush forward to avoid being caught by the opponent. Benfica didn't seem to be in a hurry, so they kept entangled with Hoffenheim in the midfield, like lukewarm water.

Hoffenheim is naturally happy to entangle with their opponents like this. Anyway, it is definitely not them who are in a hurry now, but Benfica. The opponents are not in a hurry, so why are they in a hurry?
Even Rangnick is very satisfied with the situation on the field. If Benfica wants to advance, they have to win Hoffenheim by two goals or win a [-]-[-] or more victory.

They made a mistake, and even Rangnick didn't notice it-Benfica is characterized by slowness, and their state often comes out after 10 minutes or even the second half of the game. In the last game, Benfica performed best in the second half, almost completely suppressing Hoffenheim.

In the drowsy back and forth attack, 10 minutes passed quickly, almost without warning, Benfica suddenly exerted strength!
Schaffer intercepted Marin's dribble in the backcourt, and then immediately distributed the ball to Aimar. Due to the slow pace of the game just now, Gustavo did not post it immediately, and Aimar received the ball smoothly.

Rangnick is not dissatisfied with this. After all, it is now in Benfica's half. If Gustavo follows Aimar every step of the way for nine or 10 minutes, then the physical consumption will be too great. Besides, let others get the ball.

Seeing Aimar take the ball, Gustavo immediately greeted him. Although it is impossible for the opponent to have no chance to take the ball, at least it is uncomfortable for the opponent to hold the ball!
Facing Gustavo, who is 1.8 meters tall and weighs 1.7 kilograms, he rushed over aggressively. Aimar, who is only 62 meters tall and weighs only [-] kilograms, is really just like his nickname, a humble clown, facing a giant.

Unfortunately, on the football field, height has never been a factor that determines the strength of a player.

Facing this opponent who completely froze himself in the last game, Aimar was not afraid-you didn't give me many chances to get the ball in the last game, but now, I have the ball at my feet!

As soon as he took the ball and turned around, Gustavo pushed forward, trying to make Aimar lose his balance at the first time, but when he stuck it up, Aimar easily dunked and pulled the ball, dodging the way he was pounced on, and then the ball moved forward and passed in front of him!

Naturally, Gustavo would not let Aimar pass him so easily, and immediately turned around to chase after Aimar, but Aimar's speed was much faster than he imagined. With the ball, he was two positions ahead of Gustavo, but Gustavo couldn't catch up!

Aimar was able to become the absolute main force and the core of the midfield in Valencia back then. In addition to relying on his technical and organizational skills, he relied on his fast dribbling speed!In the assault, it can also play an exceptionally good role.

Aimar quickly dribbled the ball across the half. During this process, Gustavo could only escort the sidelines like a wingman next to the host.

Just when he was about to make a foul from the side and rear to keep the opponent, Aimar had already completed the last pass.

The precise through ball, like a scalpel, tore through Hoffenheim's defense. Comper was about to intercept the ball halfway, but the ball flew past him and fell in front of Saviola who had just inserted in the back row!
"Joker" and "Rabbit" cooperate with each other tacitly!
Saviola took the ball forward and entered the penalty area!
Li Jie rushed over from the side. When Aimar passed the ball, he judged the threat of the pass, so he dropped Cardoso, who he should have been defending, and returned to the goal.

"Block his shooting angle!" Hildebrand didn't bother to praise Li Jie's reaction, but shouted loudly. He didn't need to say that Li Jie had already rushed over from the side, intending to stick to Saviola so that he couldn't shoot directly.

Li Jie's reaction was correct. With Saviola's strength, it seems that it is not easy to steal the ball directly from his feet. The best way for a tall central defender to deal with a small forward in the penalty area is to block the shooting angle and reduce the opponent's room for movement.

But Saviola didn't give him a chance to post it. The moment Li Jie posted it, Saviola swung his legs quickly, and suddenly shot the ball out with force on the spot!

Facing this sudden shot, Hildebrand hastily fell to the ground to make a save. The ball bounced in his hand, then jumped up, and slowly fell into the goal!
No.203 minutes, Benfica equalized the total score, their current disadvantage is only one less away goal!
After this goal, Hoffenheim's troubles began to grow.

The slow-warming Benfica players began to perform better and better, using their excellent skills to play around the Hoffenheim players on the court. Although Gustavo cheered up and followed Aimar closely, there was no room for him to get the ball. But Benfica's offensive focus has been placed on Quaresma.

Compared with Aimar, Quaresma is more difficult to defend. After all, Aimar is getting older and his body has become more fragile. Quaresma has no such problems, and he keeps wandering on both sides. It is much more difficult to defend him!

After a breakthrough Baker failed, Quaresma transposition to the right, his opponent is the Croatian veteran Simunić.

With a flexible twist of his legs, Quaresma dribbled the ball and began to break through from the side. Simunić did not confuse him with his abnormally high frequency of fake moves, but firmly occupied his inside line, preventing him from having a chance to break through.

Seeing that Quaresma had been pushed near the baseline by Simunic, Quaresma lifted his right foot, swiped the ball near the baseline, and made a direct pass.

Simunić raised his leg, but Quaresma did not pass the ball. The moment Simunić put his leg down, his left foot stretched out from behind his right foot, and he twisted his body and passed the ball!

The legendary "Scissor Kicks"!Perhaps only a freak like Quaresma who is used to passing the ball with the outside of his instep can pass the ball in such an awkward situation!

The ball drew an arc and flew into the penalty area!
Li Jie's sight was blocked by Simunić, and when he saw the ball flying from Simunić's side, Cardoso had already moved a step forward, stuck him firmly behind him, and then jumped up, shaking his head and attacking the goal!

Hildebrand only had time to stretch out his hand, and the ball flew into the goal without hindrance!
Two to zero!Benfica will surpass the total score!
Hoffenheim, who conceded two goals in a row, was in disarray and was beaten by Benfica for the rest of the first half. If it wasn't for Aimar's long shot that was blocked by the goal post, maybe they would be three goals behind in the first half!

When the whistle sounded at the end of the first half, the Hoffenheim players fled into the locker room. This first half was a nightmare for them!

(End of this chapter)