Chapter 1 Grimaldi

The Grimaldi Forum, North Entrance.

Media reporters stared intently at the end of the street.

Security personnel stood in two rows, on high alert outside the cordon.

Two vans with the Champions League logo emblazoned on them sped over!

The crowd began to stir!

"Messi!!!"

"Cristiano!!!"

"Ibrahimović!!!"

Security personnel were extremely vigilant.

The vans stopped at the roadside.

Griezmann and Simeone stepped onto the carpet.

The height and build of the two men made them look like father and son.

The restless crowd instantly calmed down, mixed with disappointed sighs.

Some fans were almost booing!

Since Diego Simeone took over Atletico Madrid in December 2011, European football has had another strong team that people "love and hate"!

Those who like him will be obsessed with his iron-blooded defense.

Those who hate him will be disgusted by his dirty pressing.

Diego Costa was once a representative figure.

Apart from Atletico Madrid's sharp striker, no one else could get Real Madrid's defense to receive all yellow cards in one half.

...

Not to mention Griezmann, who has risen to prominence in recent years.

Although his style of play is not so dirty, he is too confused in life and is often used as a fool by certain organizations, and his social media accounts often publish irrational remarks.

This has caused him to be disliked by many fans around the world.

Simeone touched his slicked-back hair, waved to the fans, ignored the media reporters, and strode towards the vehicles behind him.

"Lee! Mr. Voller! Mr. Toppmöller! We meet again!"

The Atletico Madrid coach looked like a gentleman at this time. He was about to say something more to Li Kang, but was stopped by old man Toppmöller.

Griezmann looked a little surprised: his own coach is a very proud person, and he would not be so proactive and enthusiastic when meeting even the biggest stars!

Simeone's expression didn't change much. He nodded and smiled politely, "See you later! My friends!"

With that, he turned and left.

Old man Toppmöller sighed, "Last season, Leverkusen was eliminated by Atletico Madrid!"

"I don't want to meet such a troublesome opponent in the round of 16."

Voller smiled and said, "Hurry up, if you leave a few steps later, the scene will be embarrassing."

Everyone walks the red carpet, who is not popular, who is embarrassed.

The fan base needs to be cultivated over time.

Although Li Kang performed amazingly in the Camp Nou battle, the wonderful moments still need time to spread.

In the distance, a row of vans were speeding towards them.

.....

Li Kang had just stepped into the conference center when he heard a series of crazy shouts behind him.

He didn't stop to look back.

The receptionist greeted him enthusiastically.

Leading the Leverkusen trio towards the venue.

The rules for the round of 16 draw are briefly summarized as follows:

1. The first-place team in the group will play against the second-place team in the group;

For example, Leverkusen will not draw Real Madrid, which is also the first in the group.

2. Teams from the same group and the same association will not meet;

For example, Leverkusen will not encounter Wolfsburg, which is also from the Bundesliga, nor will it encounter Barcelona, ​​which is in the same group.

3. A two-legged knockout system will be used.

For example, if Leverkusen draws Juventus, they will play one round at the Allianz Stadium in Turin and then another round at the BayArena. If the aggregate score of the two rounds is tied, the number of away goals will be calculated. If the number of away goals is tied, there will be extra time... If a winner still cannot be determined, then there will be a penalty shootout...

.....

Entering the venue.

Voller took Li Kang's cell phone, put it on silent, and put it in his briefcase. Then he made a gesture of "call me when it's over" and walked towards the club representative seat with old man Toppmöller.

Li Kang took the number plate and found his seat.

Is this the first row?

Why does the uncle next to me look a little familiar?

It turned out to be Buffon.

The goalkeeper of Juventus, the Champions League runner-up last season.

"Lee, I heard Morata mention you."

Buffon didn't show a very enthusiastic attitude, but he smiled kindly.

While speaking.

There was a burst of noise behind him, and the flashlights flashed wildly!

The two turned around.

It was Ronaldo.

He kept smiling in front of the camera and walked step by step to the front row of the player representative seat.

Coincidentally.

His seat was also next to Li Kang.

Without exchanging greetings.

Ronaldo restrained his smile, his expression returned to coldness, and he nodded calmly, as if he had said hello.

Buffon suggested, "Lee, if you are more enthusiastic, he won't be so cool!"

Ronaldo's mouth twitched...

......

More and more people entered the venue.

Li Kang saw David Silva, Hazard, Ibrahimović, Sanchez... and a group of famous coaches in the club representative seat.

The Champions League theme song stopped abruptly.

The master of ceremonies, Pedro Pinto, ran onto the main stage in a purple suit!

He chattered a lot of platitudes.

Everyone was bored, and the scattered applause seemed to be driving him off the stage quickly.

After a while.

The lights dimmed.

Several staff members carried two large tables and quickly set up the stage.

When the lights came on again.

A young woman, holding two transparent glass tanks, slowly walked to the main stage. Each transparent glass tank contained 8 mini soccer balls.

Li Kang thought she looked a little familiar.

It was Esli, the female partner in the Koenigsegg sports car commercial.

Buffon suddenly sighed, "Her mother was very beautiful when she was young... Have you seen that movie 'Romeo and Juliet'? Forget it, we are twenty years apart in age!"

Li Kang nodded seriously, and he decided to go back to the club and watch it when he had time.

Esli put down the glass tank, secretly looked at the player representative seat, smiled, and left from the side backstage.

Buffon raised his elbow and nudged Li Kang, and said with a smile, "That little girl is looking at you, it's good to be young!"

....

Immediately afterwards.

Two old UEFA officials took the stage and gave a long speech.

It was like a lullaby.

Making everyone drowsy.

After a long time.

Two tall figures appeared on the main stage!

Breaking the dull atmosphere.

Made the atmosphere of the draw ceremony reached its climax!

Thunderous applause!

Kaka!

Henry!

The two are the guests of this round of 16 draw ceremony!

"The draw ceremony is about to begin!"

.....

Coach representative seat.

Old man Toppmöller couldn't help but become nervous, adjusted his sitting posture a few times, and began to pray in his heart: Give me Porto or Zenit! Among the second-place teams in the group, only these two are soft persimmons!

The coaches of Porto and Zenit had similar ideas.

Mourinho's expression was solemn.

Wenger's smile was brighter than in previous years.

Guardiola kept writing and drawing on the draft paper, staying out of the matter.

Enrique was full of confidence.

Simeone was eager to try.

What about the Real Madrid coach? Benitez looked bitter, and his troubles came from outside the stadium.

....

The draw ceremony officially began.

Kaka didn't dawdle for too long.

AC Milan did not enter the Champions League main tournament this season.

Real Madrid's strength is about the same no matter who they play.

There is no psychological pressure.

He reached out and took out a small ball, and broke it open with force!

He unfolded the paper inside and aimed it at the camera.

"Eindhoven!"

On the other side.

Henry was under greater pressure.

He also took out a small ball and broke it open!

"Barcelona!"

"The first match result is out: Eindhoven vs Barcelona!"

Some people are sad.

Some people are happy.

The soft persimmon in the first group was actually pinched by Barcelona!

Eindhoven coach Cocu shook his head helplessly. Who would have thought that after fighting for the first place in the group, he would still encounter Barcelona!

Enrique's expression was very restrained, and he deliberately put on a troubled look.

Can't laugh.

Laughing is disrespecting the opponent.

Unless you can't help it.

....

Live broadcast room.

Barrages of comments flying everywhere.

-[There is no suspense in this game. The total value of the Eindhoven team is not as good as Neymar's half leg!]

-[Barcelona is stable. As long as it doesn't rain in the Camp Nou anymore... you can win even if it rains!]

-[Poor Eredivisie, they won't see them rise again in their lifetime!]

-[If it were Ajax, it would be hard to say.]

......

Henry's mood was complicated.

He and Wenger are like father and son, and the two jointly created the Premier League's undefeated myth.

It's a pity that he helped Arsenal draw Barcelona twice.

This year, he has to draw a...

....

As mini soccer balls were broken open one by one.

The Champions League round of 16 match results were released one by one.

"Lyon vs Atletico Madrid!"

"Manchester City vs Porto!"

At this time.

Simeone's expression was slightly regretful. Atletico Madrid is not afraid of anyone this season.

Old man Toppmöller was so nervous that his legs were shaking!

There are still a lot of tough bones that haven't been drawn!

What if Juventus or Paris Saint-Germain comes...

....

When the fourth draw result was released.

The whole audience was in an uproar.

"Chelsea vs Paris Saint-Germain!"

Mourinho frowned.

Blanc smiled.

-[I announce that the Champions League quarter-finals or semi-finals will be staged in advance!]

-[The Paris coach's smile is more ugly than crying!]

-[Clash of the titans!]

-[I still want to see Li Mingdeng fight Ibrahimović, fight Fabregas, it seems that these two wishes cannot be fulfilled at the same time this season!]

........

The draw ceremony did not stagnate for too long.

Kaka continued to break the balls.

"Real Madrid!"

Henry's heart skipped a beat.

He looked at Wenger from afar.

The director's camera happened to give a close-up of the two.

The King of Highbury took a deep breath, decisively took out a small ball, and broke it open with force!

"Wolfsburg!"

"The fifth match result is out!"

....

Player representative seat.

Buffon said in a low voice, "The probability of us meeting is very high! There are many fun places in Milan... then..."

Li Kang nodded with a smile.

Main stage.

Kaka displayed a new piece of paper.

"Leverkusen!"

Henry perked up and took one out with force!

Pa!

"Arsenal!"

"The sixth match result is out!"

Henry looked at Wenger again with a happy look.

But he saw a trace of bitterness on his mentor's face!

What's going on?

Is Leverkusen not good?

They were able to defeat Camp Nou because it was raining!

.....

Live broadcast room.

Barrages of comments flying everywhere.

-[I still have to rely on you, Henry! Good draw!]

-[In the past ten years, the probability of Arsenal meeting Barcelona in the Champions League is as high as 80%. This season, the curse of being eliminated in the round of 16 every year is about to be broken!]

-[From an overall strength point of view, it is difficult for Leverkusen to beat Arsenal, unless Li Mingdeng calls the wind and rain again!]

-[Are you kidding me? Can Čech catch heavy artillery with one hand?]

...

Old man Toppmöller breathed a sigh of relief.

This match result is better than drawing Juventus, although it is only a little better.

As long as there are no injuries in Arsenal's lineup, their combat effectiveness is extremely terrifying.

Sanchez on the front line, Cazorla in the midfield, and Čech guarding the goal.

What's more, there is a real British Empire star on the bench - Wilshere.

....

The following match results.

All released.

"Benfica vs Juventus!"

"Bayern vs Zenit!"

Several UEFA officials took the stage and gave half an hour of platitudes.

The round of 16 draw ceremony was declared over.

When leaving the venue.

Buffon put his arm around Li Kang's shoulder and said, "Your two grandfathers are still going to be interviewed by reporters! I'll take you to rest!"

Ronaldo was about to leave, hesitated for a moment, and said to Li Kang, "He's just taking you to the rest area."

....

Buffon first participated in the Champions League in 1997.

The partners in the draw ceremony every year have changed batch after batch, and most of them have become special guests like Kaka and Henry.

The only familiar faces are Ronaldo and Messi.

He skillfully took Li Kang to the rest area and introduced him to the player representatives of the powerful teams.

Zenit's Hulk had an arrogant expression.

Chelsea's Hazard was busy taking the hamburgers from the buffet area.

Arsenal's Sanchez was sitting in the corner in a daze.

Manchester City's David Silva was lying on the sofa playing mobile games.

...

The stars were not very interested in Leverkusen's number 10.

Ronaldo and Messi were not free to come to the rest area, they still had to accept interviews with reporters.

Ibrahimović is also a darling of the media, and his speeches are traffic.

.....

Press conference site of the draw ceremony.

Wenger was surrounded by French reporters.

He was a well-known star in Ligue 1 when he was young, and after becoming a coach, he vigorously promoted the reform of French youth training.

In the late 1980s, he brought a little black man from Africa back to Ligue 1.

That little black man was George Weah!

The man who went from Ctv5 to Ctv1!

"Mr. Wenger! In this year's Champions League 1/8 knockout round, you didn't encounter Barcelona or Bayern. Are you confident of entering the Champions League semi-finals?"

"Are you feeling better? It's been cold recently! Wear more!"

"The zipper is broken!"

French reporters gradually began to care about the health of the meritorious legend.

Media from other countries focused their attention on Mourinho and Blanc.

The strong dialogue between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain is the most popular traffic!

It can simply be called a Champions League peak showdown staged in advance!

...

Enrique was also surrounded by reporters.

His face was ruddy and he was in high spirits.

"Barcelona's goal is to defend the title!"

"Losing to Leverkusen was just an accident! A loss in a group match is nothing! Barcelona still has dominance in Europe!"

"If they can beat Arsenal, we are likely to meet again! I am looking forward to it!"

"Li Kang's return to Barcelona? Leverkusen will not let him go during the winter break! But it doesn't matter, we will recall little Denis from Villarreal! He will inherit Xavi's number 6 jersey!"

Cruyff has returned to Amsterdam for treatment.

Barcelona's public relations efforts in the Catalonia region... are very strong.

As long as they win all the way in the Champions League!

What 1 million euros, what La Masia number 4 position...

All kinds of messy voices will be covered by the results!

......

Li Kang didn't get lost this time.

He soon met Voller and old man Toppmöller at the north gate of the conference center.

"I called Dino, and the coaching staff is now starting to study how to deal with Arsenal!"

"Why not have artificial rainfall at the BayArena? It doesn't cost much!"

"The method of laying sand is more economical!"