The Uventus players, the manager, and the coaching staff walked down the tunnel to the lineup spot and the starting lineup began lining up behind the referees alongside the Bayern players who had also just arrived.
While the players lined up, the fourth official quickly went around to check the players’ shooting boots, shin guards, and their kits, to ensure that everything was in place and the kits were not illegal.
This was a normal thing done to ensure that the players were not endangered by wearing illegal studs, not using their shin guards, or wearing jewelry.
Both the starting lineup players and the others were checked and less than a minute later, the referees began marching forward, caras on them as they began walking out to the field.
Walking behind with the substitutes, Jason glanced at the opposing team’s players.
He already knew from the final tactical eting that Pirlo had been mostly correct about the expected lineups.
Lewandowski was the starting striker, Muller was behind him, Gnabry was on the left flank, and Sane was playing on the right.
In midfield were Musiala and Kimmich, while the back four consisted of Davies, Upacano, Sule, and Pavard, all in their appropriate positions.
In goal was no one other than Neuer.
Thanks to Pirlo being mostly right about the formation, the Uventus players could feel a bit more relaxed as they had spent quite a bit of ti preparing to go up against this team, but they didn’t for one second think that it would be an easy task.
Jason didn’t think the sa either and focused on keeping his nerves in check and how he would watch the match from the bench, preparing for when the manager would bring him on.
***
{Tonight is the night!}
{Eyes from all around the world are gathered here at the Estadio do Dragao in Porto, Portugal, for no other reason than the biggest night of club football for this season!}
{It is the Champions League final and Uventus go up against Bayern Munich}
{It has been quite the journey. Right from the group stages of this competition. There have been ups and downs, but these two teams showed hard work, determination and consistency to reach this stadium}
{The battle is not over and they have another 90 minutes to determine which one of them wants that silverware more}
{I am Trevor Bradley and in the box with is my co-comntator Martin Druski} The comntator introduced the comntary team as the starting eleven of the two teams, along with the referees, lined up in front of the fans.
Once the players were lined up, the comntator stayed quiet so that the anthems could be sung, but as soon as the anthems were over, the lid over the comntator’s mouth burst open
First, starting with the lineups of the two sides before getting into further discussion with his partner over how they expected the match to go and about any comnts about the lineups.
While the captains of the two sides were going through the necessary pre-match formalities with the referee, the caras zeroed in on the Uventus bench and stopped on Jason’s face.
{Martin, what do you think about the Uventus’s manager’s decision to put this man on the bench?} Trevor asked his partner.
{Frankly, I’m just as surprised as you are that he’s not starting. He’s been in good form and his good performances for this team cannot be denied, but like the manager said, he picked the lineup in the best way he thought would help the team}
{There must be a plan. Maybe more control than attack, or more defense, who knows? The manager might even be planning for a drawn-out ga and bringing in this lad in the late minutes of the ga would definitely resharpen the tired edges of the attack} Martin replied, trying to analyse the situation.
{Well, we may not be sure of the manager’s plan, but I doubt this match would be lacking in excitent either way. These two sides have a lineup of fantastic players and I can say without a doubt that we are in for a treat} Trevor said, taking up the comntary again just in ti as the team captains had headed over to their sides of the field and the referee was now checking his watch to determine the kick off ti.
*Fweeeeeeeeeeee!!!*
After crosschecking his watch and the ti, the referee for the day, nedo Perez blew his whistle to kickoff the ga.
{And they’re off! The end of this journey is in sight!} Martin said cheerfully as Ronaldo sent the ball back into the Uventus half of the field.
Receiving the ball calmly, Bentacur passed the ball to Kulusevski on his right while the Bayern players had already begun advancing into the Uventus team’s half of the field, the nearest forwards rushing at the ball on the press.
Catching the ball comfortably, Kulusevski had already spotted Gnabry advancing rapidly, leaving space behind him that Chiesa had appeared at the end of on the right flank.
Quickly Kulusevski passed the ball to Chiesa on the flank and the Uventus man caught it smoothly, trying to push forward on the attack just monts after kickoff.
Advancing forward, the other Uventus players moved up the field to give him support, but facing the Bayern team that was still in position to guard their half, Chiesa tried to break in from the flank.
Getting near Davies, he attempted so tricks to confuse the man, but despite his young age, Davies didn’t lose his composure and commit to the tackle, forcing Chiesa to try to knock the ball past him, but there was no way Chiesa could pull away from a player as fast as Davies.
Realizing that he wouldn’t be able to get away, Chiesa opted to turn back, using the outside and blocking Davies with his body, but not only was the young back fast, he was also strong and Chiesa soon ended up falling over after Davies crashed into him from behind.
The referee’s whistle followed imdiately.
*Fweeeeeeeeeeee!*
{It might be early in the ga, but the referee isn’t going to slack off and let any of the teams think they can get away with any unnecessary fouls} Trevor said.
{Yes. It really shows how the referee will officiate this ga and that is sothing everyone watching would want. You know, fairness} Trevor added.
On the field, Cuadrado had run up the field to take charge of the free kick after Chiesa had decided not to take it quickly.
Most of the other Uventus players headed to the edge of the penalty box to await the cross in as the free kick was close enough for a cross directly into the box.
Glancing at his teammates and making a few hand signals, Cuadrado finally heard the referee’s whistle. Running up to the ball, he whipped it powerfully, sending an inwardly curling ball into Bayern’s penalty area.
The players of the two teams rushed up into the penalty box, trying to get to the ball’s path but it was Ronaldo, who using a teammate as a shield, leaped to et the ball first.
{Ronaldo in the air! Header!} Trevor scread as Ronaldo put his head to the ball and sent it at goal.
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