When Hu Lai walked up to Chen Xingyi, he stretched out his hand to shake hands with Chen Xingyi.
At the same time, with a smile that couldn't be concealed on his face, he asked in his native language: "How's it going, little Xingxing, how did you sleep last night?"
Chen Xingyi sneered back: "Very good."
"Ha, that's good, that's good! I have participated in four Champions League finals and finally met one of our own!"
Hu Lai smiled and raised his hand to pat Chen Xingyi on the shoulder.
Then the two people passed each other.
Chen Xingyi stood there and continued to wait for the next Madrid Pirates player, while Hu Lai continued to walk forward.
Although he couldn't hear what the two people were talking about at all, seeing this scene was enough to make the on-site commentator He Feng excited. He couldn't help but raise his voice and said in an excited tone:
"This is a historic handshake! Audience friends, audience friends, we have witnessed history again! This is the first time in the history of the Champions League final that there are two Chinese players, and it is also the first time that two Chinese players represent different teams.
Fighting! Hu Lai and Chen Xingyi are good friends. They were talking and laughing, but maybe they didn’t realize how amazing this scene was!
"Nine and a half years ago, when Hu Lai took the lead in going abroad to Europe, he was enviable, but also lonely. I still remember this photo - Hu Lai dragging his suitcase alone
In the empty airport hall, this scene was in sharp contrast to the Japanese players gathering together to wait for the flight. Japanese football has continuously supplied talents to Europe, which makes us extremely envious.
“Who could have thought at that time that in the not-too-distant future, Chinese players would stage the ‘Chinese Derby’ in the Champions League and the ‘Chinese Derby’ in the Champions League final?
"I think no matter what the final result of this game is, the scene of Hu Lai and Chen Xingyi shaking hands before the game is enough to go down in history forever!"
Yan Kang smiled and added: "This entire game will forever be recorded in history. Everything that happens in this game will be the first time in history."
He Feng laughed and said: "Haha, that's right!"
No matter what the outcome of this final is, a Chinese player will become the European champion anyway, so the two Chinese commentators were very relaxed and not nervous at all.
They have no obsession with the result of the game.
It's great that Hu Lai can win the championship, so that he can win his fourth Champions League title and become the player with the most Champions League titles together with Argentinian superstar Melly Banega.
Now Melli has four Champions League titles and Hu Lai has three Champions League titles, temporarily falling behind Melli.
However, Hu Lai’s fans have always been unconvinced. They believe that Melli’s first Champions League championship came completely by accident-in the 2021-2022 season, during the process of Madrid Kings winning the Champions League, Melli was already playing in the first team.
He played the ball, but was not yet the main player. That season he only played five times in the Champions League, starting once and coming on as a substitute four times. He didn't even play a minute in the final.
At that time, the heroes of the Madrid Kings' championship were midfielder Francis and main forward Cerrados.
Meili was completely led by the elders to win.
Hu Lai's three Champions League championships were all won by him as the absolute core player.
Anyone with a normal mind can tell which one has higher gold content.
Hu Lai's supporters hope that Hu Lai can win the championship, so that he can equal Meili in terms of the number of wins and surpass him in terms of gold content.
But the two Chinese commentators, He Feng and Yan Kang, don't really care about this.
If Hu Lai fails to win the championship, they will not feel it is a pity. They believe that Hu Lai will definitely win the Champions League in the future.
If Chen Xingyi can win the championship, it will also make history - the number of Chinese players who have won the Champions League will increase to two.
They will view and explain this game with a completely relaxed mood and with pure appreciation.
Really enjoy football.
"I hope that the two Chinese players will not have any baggage or burden, play seriously, and strive to provide a wonderful Champions League final to fans around the world. I also hope that both of them can perform well in the game..."
The players on both sides of the field have finished their pre-match handshakes and returned to their own half to prepare for kick-off.
※※※
During the coin toss, the Madrid Pirates won the right to pick a side and chose the side opposite the half of the field where they warmed up.
Manchester United won the right to kick-off.
Edman stood in the center circle to kick off the ball, while Chen Xingyi and Montero stood on the left and right at the junction of the center circle and the center line.
Before kick-off, the Manchester shuttle field gradually became quiet.
Following the referee's whistle, cheers suddenly erupted.
Edman turned around and passed the football back.
The football passed through the forward line and was directly passed to the feet of center back Diediu.
For Madrid Pirates, Camara took the lead and rushed towards Diediu.
Faced with Camara's pressing, Diediu made a horizontal move and then passed the ball to midfielder Todd Penny who was directly in front of him.
At the same time that the football was passed to Penny, Hu Lai also approached Penny from behind.
Penny looked back and saw Hu Lai and had already made his decision. He waited for the football to roll to his feet and then directly passed the ball back to goalkeeper Shim Dickinson.
Very normal kick-off mode.
Farias chased the football toward Dickinson.
At the same time, Manchester United's other central defender Niels Van Akel quickly dropped back and was ready to meet Dickinson.
However, Dickinson did not pass the football to him. He used the outside instep of his left foot to move the football to the left, moved out of the way, and then kicked the ball forward with his left foot.
Janus Edman pulled diagonally from the center to the left to receive the ball.
However, Madrid Pirates' right back Jose Yinla Susta judged the ball's placement in advance, so he blocked Edman and occupied a more advantageous position.
Edman was blocked by him, and he could only spread his arms and push his body up behind Yin Rasusta's header to interfere.
I don’t know if his interference really worked. Yin Lasusta’s header hit the spot where Manchester United’s Brazilian midfielder Rodrigo Gustavo was.
The latter was also caught off guard.
The football hit his thigh and bounced off, and he quickly ran after it.
Then he kicked Kamara with his legs and successfully kept the football at his feet.
However, he did not get rid of the Madrid Pirates' defense.
Instead, he fell into the encirclement of the Madrid Pirates - now beside him, in addition to Kamara, there is also Vukovich.
With one against two, it is very likely that the ball will be conceded.
Chen Xingyi, who retreated to the center circle to meet him, pointed his hands at his feet and shouted to Gustavo: "Here! Pass the ball!"
Gustavo caught a glimpse of Chen Xingyi out of the corner of his eye. That was indeed the closest contact point to him - the two were less than three meters apart.
So Gustavo quickly poked the football to Chen Xingyi with his toe.
The moment Chen Xingyi received the ball, Madrid Pirates captain Juan Ramirez had already started and pounced from the side.
Chen Xingyi chose to turn the football to the center when receiving the ball, so that he could use his body to block Ramirez behind him.
But after he turned around, Madrid Pirates center back Riva Moreno stepped forward and blocked him.
At the same time, Manchester Athletic attacking midfielder Jota Serreo, who had just advanced to the front line, quickly turned around and advanced, avoiding a head-on collision with Chen Xingyi.
This made Danny Drew hesitate and retreat to the side, wanting to chase Sereo.
He soon felt something was wrong and stopped abruptly.
Despite this, there was still a gap as wide as one person between him and his central defender partner Neri.
Chen Xingyi turned around and saw this gap in the center circle. Without any hesitation, he immediately pushed the football forward with the instep of his left foot!
This step was so fast that not only Ramirez who was behind him didn't notice it, but even Riva Moreno who was in front of him didn't react. He stretched out his foot reflexively without stopping him at all.
Chen Xingyi!
When Danny Drew saw Chen Xingyi's sudden pass, he immediately turned around and chased the football. At this time, he no longer cared about Sereo who was advancing behind him.
Chen Xingyi is the number one threat!
After moving the football for more than ten meters, the game turned into a 100-meter sprint race between Chen Xingyi and Danny Drew.
Among center backs, Drew is considered fast, but facing Chen Xingyi, who is considered a fast horse among forwards, his speed is not enough...
I saw Chen Xingyi striding forward, surpassing Drew in just a few steps, and completely leaving him behind!
Huge cheers erupted above the shuttle field.
Commentators from all over the world roared wildly:
"Chen! Chen! He's like a cheetah!"
"Amazing speed! Chen! Oh my God!"
"Chen Xingyi...he's so beautiful! Just rely on speed to break through and eat Drew alive!"
"Wow!
!Incredible!
"
Amid the exclamations of the commentators, Chen Xingyi penetrated the Madrid Pirates' defense like a sharp arrow, caught up with the football, and headed towards the penalty area!
Madrid Pirates goalkeeper Hewel gave up the goal!
"The goalkeeper is out!"
When Chen Xingyi was about to catch up with the football, he slightly adjusted the rhythm of his feet, leaned his body slightly to the right, swung his left leg, and shot directly!
Although Hewel quickly got off the ground, the football still passed between his legs!
Then without any suspense... it rolled into the goal!
When the football passed under Hywell's crotch, the cheers at the shuttle field almost reached their peak.
Nearly 40,000 Manchester Athletic fans roared with all their strength and made all their voices heard.
The rumble was like thunder, rolling over the stadium.
This is the cheer for a goal!
In their cheers, the goal came as expected!
“GOOOOAL!
! Wonderful goal! Wonderful conclusion moment! Unbelievable!" British commentator Matthew Cox stood up from his seat and shook his fist vigorously. He was a supporter of Manchester Athletic in this game.
He Feng also exclaimed: "The game has just started, and Manchester United scored a goal! Such an unexpected start! Who would have thought?! And the goal was our Chinese player Chen Xingyi! This was also his first performance in the Champions League final.
The first goal scored!”
"List--!
! Chen, who was participating for the first time, was like a ‘flashman’ in front of the Madrid Pirates’ defense! He used his speed to give Manchester United the lead! Perfect start! Manchester United leads Madrid Pirates 1:0 at home!”