Chapter 1

Liaeri knew that Chen Yingxiong wasn't in form during his pre-match shooting practice, but a goalkeeper's rule is to never bet on the opposing striker's condition. Every ball, if you believe you can save it, you have to try!

So when Chen Yingxiong launched his first shot of the game, he didn't underestimate him just because Chen Yingxiong wasn't in good shape during warm-up. Instead, he immediately leaped up, reaching out with his right hand to swat the ball away.

Then, the instant his hand touched the ball, he pushed upwards, deflecting the ball.

His eyes followed the ball closely, leaning back to watch it bounce over the crossbar.

He was especially grateful he had made such a save. If he had been a step slower because Chen Yingxiong was out of form during warm-up, the ball might have flown into the goal just past his fingertips…

Falling to the ground from the air, he instinctively rolled a few times, dissipating the force. He felt a little scared.

The ball had been only a hand's breadth away from him.

But at that moment, his idol Buffon's warning re-emerged in his mind: "Facing Hero, the most important thing is not technique, but courage. You must believe that you are the best goalkeeper, and you can definitely block every shot he takes!"

That's right, I can't be afraid. If I'm afraid, I'll lose!

Liaeri got up from the ground, clapping his gloves and shouting loudly: "Don't give him chances like that!!"

The young man in his early twenties commanded the defense with a great general's demeanor.

※※※

"Oh, oh, oh! Liaeri! Liaeri! He made a beautiful save! He stopped Chen Yingxiong's dangerous long shot!"

The Italian commentators cheered.

"This talented goalkeeper, hailed as the 'New Buffon', made a brilliant debut with a wonderful save!"

"Hero's long shot was very sudden, but Liaeri made the right judgment! He didn't hesitate at all, and his movements in the air were very graceful, just like a frigate bird soaring in the sky!"

Substitute goalkeeper Buffon sat on the bench, and when he saw Liaeri's save, he couldn't help but clench his fist and wave it.

Good job, Nicola!

※※※

Such a sudden cold shot, and it didn't go in! Chen Yingxiong also held his head in his hands.

He knew what people thought of his performance during warm-up. He had no intention of defending himself; he even hoped that those people would continue to misunderstand. Then, in the game, he would score with a cold shot.

After scoring, he would run in front of those Juventus fans and enjoy their surprised and shocked expressions up close.

Unfortunately, he didn't get his wish. He was only a hand's breadth away from scoring, but at the last moment, he was stopped by that young goalkeeper!

Chen Yingxiong didn't know anything about Liaeri. Perhaps a fan could talk about Liaeri's past, present, strength, and potential for a long time, but Chen Yingxiong had never even heard Liaeri's name.

He couldn't be blamed for this. He never cared about his opponents. When he played in Naples, he never even faced Liaeri. Liaeri hadn't become famous enough to be known nationwide at that time.

He held his head in his hands and began to size up his opponent for the first time.

As if sensing his gaze, Liaeri turned his face and met Chen Yingxiong's eyes.

Be brave! Be brave!

When facing this legendary, seemingly invincible super striker, Liaeri kept reminding himself.

He couldn't look away first, or he would be admitting defeat!

But to be honest, making eye contact with Chen Yingxiong was not an easy task. Powerful players have an aura. Liaeri had an example by his side. Buffon in his prime, when facing an opposing striker one-on-one, could force those mediocre strikers to miss their shots even before making a move. That was an aura.

To put it bluntly, it's the confident air of a successful player, which affects the enemy's judgment when released.

Chen Yingxiong has scored countless goals, and he himself has super strong confidence. This confidence was previously considered inexplicable, but now that he has scored so many goals, no one thinks his confidence is inexplicable anymore.

This kind of confidence gives him an oppressive aura.

Once he gets serious and angry, very few people dare to look him in the eye.

But Liaeri didn't look away, bravely meeting his gaze.

※※※

Chen Yingxiong thought this new Juventus goalkeeper was interesting.

Are you deliberately provoking me?

Looking at me with that kind of look…

Trying to anger me?

Ha!

Chen Yingxiong laughed and then ran to his position in the corner kick tactic.

※※※

Liaeri was a little confused when he saw Chen Yingxiong suddenly smile and run away.

But he was very satisfied with his performance. Because he bravely met Chen Yingxiong's eyes and defeated him!

Chen Yingxiong turned his head and ran away first, so he felt he should have won.

He was even more confident in himself.

If I can successfully block Chen Yingxiong's shot in this game, can I win the recognition of the whole world?

Although he had been Juventus's starting goalkeeper for half a season, Liaeri felt he was still missing a "coming-of-age ceremony", symbolizing that he had completely become famous. He needed to become famous with one save!

He tightened his gloves, his heart full of fighting spirit.

Full of fighting spirit, Lieria took the corner kick directly from the air.

※※※

Chen Yingxiong was planning to go head-to-head with this little goalkeeper.

Liverpool didn't have many attacking opportunities. Juventus, with the advantage of playing at home, maintained a high-pressure attack on Liverpool's defense. Conte's pre-match guidance played a role, and the Juventus players vented all their anger on Liverpool.

During this time, Liverpool contracted their defense, and attacking opportunities were indeed scarce.

But whenever there was an opportunity, the one who would shoot the ball was definitely Chen Yingxiong.

In the seventeenth minute, Chen Yingxiong got his second shot of the game. This time it was another long shot from outside the penalty area, but slightly to the left.

It was fast and tricky, flying straight to the far upper corner.

This time, Liaeri leaped up again, his fingertips brushing against the ball!

The ball went wide of the goal!

The ball was so fast, and his save was so fast, that at first the commentators thought Chen Yingxiong had simply shot wide. Later, when they watched the slow-motion replay, they realized that Liaeri had touched the ball, causing it to deflect…

A group of people cheered for Liaeri.

"World-class save!"

"Hero's shot was beautiful, but Liaeri's save was even more beautiful!"

"Truly worthy of being the New Buffon! He deserves the name!"

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After Liaeri got up from the ground, he clenched his fist hard.

He could feel the excitement and agitation in his heart.

The second time!

He had saved Hero's shot for the second time in a row!

This shows that I'm definitely not just lucky!

I really have the strength, I am the best goalkeeper in the world!

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This time Chen Yingxiong didn't hold his head in his hands. He was mentally prepared. It seemed this goalkeeper really had some skills.

No wonder he was able to squeeze Buffon onto the bench…

Now his assessment of this goalkeeper had changed from "interesting" to "somewhat interesting".

※※※

The third contest between the two was when Chen Yingxiong received a pass from Suarez in the penalty area, and he directly swept the ball towards the near corner of the goal.

Liaeri made another wonderful save, this time quickly falling to the ground and catching the ball directly in his arms.

Under Chiellini's interference, Chen Yingxiong's shot was a bit weak. But for a tall guy of 1.9 meters, he fell down so quickly.

※※※

While Chen Yingxiong and Liaeri were competing, Juventus's attack achieved results.

Vucinic broke the deadlock for Juventus, and his goal helped the home team take the lead at home.

This goal excited Juventus fans. While cheering for Vucinic, they also shouted: "Who is the shrinking turtle? Huh? Who is the shrinking turtle?!"

Obviously, they were targeting Chen Yingxiong.

The TV broadcast also gave Chen Yingxiong a close-up.

They wanted to see what expression Chen Yingxiong had in the face of the Juventus fans' ridicule.

Chen Yingxiong had no expression.

It was as if he hadn't heard the fans' ridicule and taunts.

※※※

"Although Vucinic scored this goal, I must say that the biggest contributor to Juventus's lead is actually the goalkeeper, the young Nicola Liaeri!"

"Hero has taken three shots, but each shot looks like it will break the goal, but Liaeri has blocked all three shots. It's really amazing! Liaeri has shown a calmness that doesn't match his age. His mentality is very good, and every block is agile and accurate… It seems that he has learned a lot of useful things from Buffon in Juventus for more than a season…"

"Hero is unstoppable in English football, but after coming to Italy, he has finally hit a brick wall! Liaeri has proved with his actual performance that he can be a qualified successor to Buffon… Before that, there were still doubts. Everyone thought that a young man in his early twenties becoming Juventus's main goalkeeper was too rash a decision for Juventus… But now, I think anyone who has watched these twenty minutes of the game will no longer doubt Liaeri's ability!"

"There may be only three goalkeepers in the world who can block Chen Yingxiong's shots in so many one-on-one situations, let alone three times in a row! If it weren't for Liaeri's excellent saves, I'm afraid Vucinic's goal would only narrow the score difference between us and Liverpool from three goals to two goals…"

"Juventus! Juventus! The conscience of Italian football!"

The commentators kept cheering as if Juventus had already won the game.