Chapter 779 - 779: Chapter-777 Champions League Showdown

Meanwhile, Klopp also stressed: "We've been preparing for this match for a long time. The team's recent form, our understanding of one another, our spirit on the pitch—all of it is at its absolute peak right now.

Anfield has always been a fortress.

This time, we're holding nothing back. Everyone in this squad has one goal: beat Real Madrid on our own turf, and take this crucial Champions League win."

Klopp admitted that Real Madrid were the most successful club in Champions League history, a side with ferocious competitive strength.

But this Liverpool side feared no opponent anymore. They could meet any challenge, and they would answer this clash of giants with a performance to match.

After the match, Countless Liverpool fans were looking forward to this match—it was, in every sense, the toughest test Liverpool would face.

Only by winning this game could they truly say they had arrived.

Time raced on.

After Klopp's remarks, it was Real Madrid's turn at the pre-match press conference.

Ancelotti, ever composed and shrewd, wasn't about to snap back. Instead, he gave Liverpool's strength the highest praise.

"Liverpool are the most fearsome side in Europe right now. Their attacking firepower is phenomenal—threats from every angle, transitions that happen in a blink. Conventional defensive tactics can barely contain them.

If we want to win this match, we need to sharpen our defensive focus, tighten every gap in our back line, and use disciplined, total team defending to hold back Liverpool's attacking storm."

Asked about Liverpool's Julien, Ancelotti didn't hold back his praise either, rating him in the highest terms: "De Rocca is, without question, a player for the history books. His dribbling, his vision, his finishing—all of it is world-class.

He can change the course of a match single-handedly.

He's Liverpool's single greatest threat. We'll be focusing on him specifically but to shut him down completely?

That's close to impossible."

Beyond that, Ancelotti in a rare move also touched on a summer transfer regret, bringing up Liverpool's midfield Kroos spontaneous: "This summer, we did go all-out to sign Kroos. He's a top-class midfielder we rated very highly, and he'd have fit perfectly into Real Madrid's system.

But sadly, he chose Liverpool in the end, and that's a huge disappointment for us.

It also meant Liverpool's midfield got an upgrade of epic proportions making a Reds side that was already formidable even harder to break down."

As the match drew closer, major sports outlets in England and Spain rushed to publish previews, breaking down the showdown from every angle.

The English press focused on Liverpool's unanswerable form and home advantage, declaring outright that the Reds had completed a total transformation. Their system had no weaknesses on either end of the pitch, and a string of lopsided routs against strong opponents was proof enough of their dominance.

The media zeroed in on the match's biggest storyline.

A head-to-head between De Rocca and Ronaldo. With De Rocca hot in form, this would be the heaviest test of his career so far and the duel between two of football's biggest stars would decide how the match unfolded.

The Spanish press, meanwhile, favoured Real Madrid's Champions League pedigree, arguing that Ronaldo's wealth of big-game experience and his nerve under pressure had always made him unstoppable on this stage and that he'd rise to the occasion in a heavyweight clash like this one.

At the same time, the Spanish media freely admitted that Liverpool's attacking pressure was unlike anything seen before, and that Real Madrid would have to abandon their usual rhythm and stay locked in for the full ninety minutes if they wanted to weather the Reds' assault.

For a while, all of European football turned its eyes toward Anfield, everyone waiting on this top-tier clash.

The next day.

Matchday arrived, right on schedule, for the Champions League showdown the whole world had been waiting for.

Anfield was completely drowned in a wave of red.

Tens of thousands of Liverpool fans had taken their seats early, the entire stand a solid sheet of crimson, flags snapping and scarves waving in the air.

Wave after wave of "You'll Never Walk Alone" thundered through the stadium.

It hung in the air above the pitch, refusing to fade.

Even the cold drizzle before kick-off couldn't dampen the fans' burning passion in the slightest.

Roaring chants and perfectly synced choruses piled on top of one another, pushing the fortress's suffocating intensity to its absolute peak.

Everyone was holding their breath, waiting for this Champions League clash between Liverpool and Real Madrid to begin.

The tunnel lights flared on both sides were about to walk out.

The stadium commentator's voice rose over the noise: "Ladies and gentlemen! The Champions League group-stage clash everyone's been waiting for is officially here!

Liverpool, the Reds sweeping through the Premier League, unbeaten and on a roll host the Champions League's own Galácticos, Real Madrid, in their fortress!

This is a collision between two of football's elite!

On one side, a Liverpool side firing on all cylinders, piling up goals this season at a staggering rate and steamrolling every opponent in their path. On the other, a Real Madrid side stacked with superstars like Ronaldo and Benzema.

And the ace-versus-ace matchup between De Rocca and Ronaldo is the biggest storyline of the night.

Two world-class forwards, face to face—this is destined to write a new page into Champions League history. Let's get ready for this clash of titans!"

Right after that, the commentator ran through both starting lineups.

"Liverpool line up in a 4-3-3 tonight, with Čech between the posts;

the back four, from left to right: Robertson, Hummels, Van Dijk, Piszczek;

the midfield trio is Kroos, Kanté, and De Bruyne covering distribution, interceptions, and transition play alike; and the front three is Sterling, Suárez, and De Rocca—three players with mobility, and finishing and dribbling ability that top the whole continent.

This is Liverpool at their strongest, as things stand right now.

Real Madrid, for their part, go with a solid 4-4-2.

In goal, the legendary Casillas; the back four: Arbeloa, Pepe, Varane, Marcelo; the midfield four: James Rodríguez, Modrić, Illarramendi, and Isco technically refined, brilliant on the ball; and up front, the twin aces Benzema and Ronaldo, two superstars combining as Real Madrid's core weapon for breaking down defenses…"

Soon, both teams walked out in orderly lines.

Boom!

BOOM BOOM!!

The roar of the crowd split the sky instantly, and every fan rose to their feet.

On the pitch,

Julien caught sight of the Real Madrid players. There was none of the old awe in him anymore only complete composure.

Both sides shook hands and lined up on either side.

Once the brief pre-match ceremony was over,

Peep!!

the referee's whistle sounded, and the most anticipated Champions League showdown of the season was officially underway!

Boom!

The noise in the stadium surged even higher.

Both sides played it relatively cautiously at first, and the fans expected a period of feeling each other out.

And yet no one could have guessed that it would take Liverpool just two minutes to rip straight through Real Madrid's entire back line!

In the 2nd minute, Real Madrid misplaced a pass in the final third.

Kanté cut it out, and Liverpool launched an instant, lightning-fast counter right where they stood.

One crisp pass later, the ball was at the feet of Julien, surging through the middle.

The instant he had it, Julien was off, his touches shifting rhythm unpredictably as he ran straight into the double pincer of Real Madrid's midfield core, Modrić and Illarramendi.

Facing down two world-class midfielders, Julien didn't panic for a second. He advanced steadily, stringing together shifts in tempo and sharp changes of direction, and beat Modrić in one fluid motion.

Then, without breaking his run, he shifted gears again and powered past Illarramendi, who'd rushed in to cover!

In a matter of seconds, he'd torn Real Madrid's midfield defence to shreds.

Free of his markers, Julien carried the ball forward all the way to the edge of Real Madrid's box. He steadied himself right at the top of the arc, and without waiting for the defenders to get goal-side struck it, decisively!

Thwack!

The ball carried vicious spin and ferocious pace, curling through the air in one clean arc, straight for the far corner.

Even throwing himself full-stretch, Casillas could only watch it sail past there was nothing he could do!

Swish!

GOAL!

1–0!

Just two minutes on the clock!

BOOM!

Anfield erupted, instantly and completely!

The cheers of tens of thousands of Liverpool fans tore through the sky at once, a deafening wave of sound rolling across the entire stadium, a sea of red scarves surging in a frenzy.

Chants and club anthems rose and fell together, weaving into one another, pushing the fortress's atmosphere to its absolute limit.

Every single person was on their feet, screaming themselves hoarse, boiling over for this lightning-strike wonder goal to open the match.

Nobody had imagined that, against the mighty Galácticos of Real Madrid, Liverpool would break the deadlock in the opening two minutes and land a dream start.

Straight after scoring, Julien sprinted toward the stand below.

He slowly spread his arms wide, head held high, standing on the turf and letting the roar of the entire stadium wash over him.

His eyes were sharp, blazing with pure dominance.

In that moment, Julien genuinely felt it this Real Madrid, kings of the Champions League, was nothing more than this.

In this moment, he was the absolute ruler of Anfield, blazing with light, towering over everyone on the pitch.

The English broadcast commentator lost it completely, screaming himself raw with praise: "My God! Two minutes! An unbelievable goal!

This is Julien! This is what dominance from a generational superstar looks like!

Surrounded by two great midfielders in Modrić and Illarramendi, he broke through without a hint of panic, shook them off with no answer, and finished it off with an absolutely perfect wonder strike!

Casillas had no chance to react—Real Madrid's back line just collapsed!

Real Madrid are the grandest club in Champions League history but tonight, in front of Julien, they're fragile, brittle, no match for him at all!

This lightning strike—it's already a lock for this season's best opening goal in the Champions League. The number one player in the world, beyond question, is Julien!"

The camera swept quickly across the Real Madrid players.

Every Galáctico on the pitch wore a look of shock.

Modrić and Illarramendi looked helpless—the two of them together hadn't been enough, and Julien had torn through their combined defence alone, with room to spare.

Back in defence, Varane and Pepe wore grim expressions too. Neither had expected the match to explode open like this.

As Julien's teammate at international level, Varane knew exactly how frightening his form had been lately.

Right now, all he could hope for was that they wouldn't lose by too much tonight.

Up front, Ronaldo's face was filled with defiance.

Lips pressed tight, brow furrowed, he stared with a sharp glare at the celebrating Liverpool players, arms half-spread, waving his teammates up, urging them to shake it off.

Never before, in a clash between giants, had he been blindsided by such a crushing start.

Julien's explosive display had lit his competitive fire completely.

He would not accept his team being put on the back foot like this and even less would he admit that he'd been outdone in his own personal duel.

At the same time, a thought of his own was already forming: De Rocca, Messi and him were the top players in the World. De Rocca had beaten Messi at the World Cup. So—what if he beat De Rocca?

Wouldn't that mean he was the best player in the world?!

The brief celebration over, play resumed.

Ronaldo with fire in his veins, switched into one-man-counterattack mode—pushing forward, running hard, carrying the ball himself, determined to drag his team back into the game on individual talent alone.

Not long after the restart, Ronaldo picked up the ball in the middle, and on the back of elite physicality and sharp ball control shrugged off two Liverpool defenders in succession.

He drove all the way into the edge of the box, picked his moment, and let it fly with a ferociously heavy strike!

The ball screamed toward the far corner, loaded with power and terrifying pace—a shot that looked utterly unstoppable!

But Liverpool's keeper Čech was locked in, fully switched on, and reacted in an instant throwing his body full-length through the air to force the frightening shot away from goal by sheer will.

One brilliant save kept the Reds' goal intact and snuffed out Real Madrid's most dangerous move of the match so far.

With that shot saved, something switched on in Real Madrid.

The whole side shook off their sluggish start and pushed forward with intent. In midfield, Modrić and James kept the ball moving with constant organization, while full-backs Marcelo and Arbeloa pushed boldly forward.

Combined with the running threat of Ronaldo and Benzema up front, Real Madrid seized firm control of the game's attacking initiative.

They kept piling pressure onto Liverpool's back line, wave after wave.

They were trying to use sustained pressure to break Liverpool's rhythm and claw back from the setback of that early goal.

Faced with Real Madrid's fierce response, Liverpool played it remarkably calm and smart.

Instead of charging blindly forward, they played it patient and solid—the whole team dropping in to shore up the defence, leaning on the elite centre-back pairing of Van Dijk and Hummels, backed by Kanté's shield in midfield, to grind out every wave of Real Madrid's assault.

At the same time, the team never lost their edge on transitions even while sitting deep, they stayed ready to break the moment the chance came.

They leaned on the pace of their forwards, waiting patiently for the killing blow.

Their switches between attack and defence were disciplined, slow, run with method.

That patient defending paid off fast, handing Liverpool a golden chance to counter.

In the 14th minute, with Real Madrid still building in the final third, Modrić took the ball in midfield and tried to thread a through-ball to split the defence but it ran straight into Kanté's zone.

Kanté read it perfectly and cut it out, clean and sharp.

He killed Real Madrid's attack stone dead, proving once again exactly what a world-class defensive midfielder can dominate a game.

The instant he won it; Kanté wasted no time at all.

In one motion, he lofted a long ball out to the space on the right flank.

Sterling was already flying forward into open space, completely unmarked. He took it as he ran, let his pace off the leash, and tore up the right flank like the wind blowing straight past Real Madrid's entire side of the pitch in an instant!

At the very same moment, three Liverpool players flooded the middle at once—Julien, Suárez, and De Bruyne, all were bursting forward together.

The three of them staggered their runs, each one ready to receive and finish!

Whoosh!

Liverpool fans in the stands shot to their feet with a gasp, waves of astonished noise rolling around the ground.

Everyone knew it: Liverpool's counter had arrived!

Would this be a goal?

Sterling, still carrying the ball, sprinted flat-out all the way to the byline on the right edge of the box. With not a hint of greed, he spotted his teammates flooding in through the middle and squared it along the ground without hesitation.

The ball skimmed the turf at speed, cutting straight across the middle of Real Madrid's box.

Real Madrid's back line was already in chaos by now. Varane and Pepe scrambled to cover, the two centre-backs snapping their marking tight in an instant, locked onto every man in the box, trying desperately to shut down Liverpool's chance to finish.

In the middle of the crowd, Julien held his position perfectly, taking the ball under tight marking from two defenders at once.

Even with a shirt being tugged from behind and a defender squared up in front of him, he relied on elite touch and balance to—bring it under total control, without a single mistake.

With the ball secure, Julien didn't lay it off on the spot instead, he drove forward with it, straight through the heart of the box.

Surrounded by a wall of Real Madrid shirts, he kept shifting his rhythm underfoot, again and again throwing the defenders off balance.

Everyone assumed he'd replay his opening wonder strike, or simply pull the trigger and end the move with a shot.

Real Madrid's defenders tightened their line too, dropping their centre of gravity low, throwing everything into blocking his shooting angle.

Every ounce of defensive attention was locked onto Julien alone.

And right as the whole of Real Madrid braced, eyes fixed on Julien's shot—he sold it, winding his leg back like he was about to strike, his whole body opened up for it.

It fooled every single Real Madrid defender completely.

Then, the very next instant, a light flick of the ankle sent the ball sideways instead—slipping past every defender and landing perfectly at the feet of an unmarked, fast-arriving Suárez.

That single piece of combination play tore Real Madrid's entire defence wide open.

Suárez read it instantly, ran onto it, shook off every last defender, and with Casillas racing off his line to meet him, adjusted his footing and just barely toe-poked it—the ball slid past Casillas and rolled calmly into the bottom-right corner!

GOAL!

2–0!

________________________________________________________

Check out my paatreon where you can read more chapters:

paatreon.com/LorianFiction

Thanks for your support!