After Paris Saint-Germain was removed from the list, I led England to victory!

(I really couldn't hold back when England beat Andorra 1-0. Andorra is ranked over 100 places lower than England. The saying "European national team" isn't a joke. The whole game was so abstract.)

It seems the protagonist's goal of saving English football still has a long way to go.

The first round of the Champions League group stage is about to begin, with Hoffenheim playing away against Sevilla.

As the plane landed at Seville Airport, the setting sun cast its golden rays upon the orange-red rooftops of this southern Spanish city, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene.

Looking out the porthole, Yan Yuan saw that the entire city seemed to be coated in gold, a stark contrast to the austere industrial style of Germany.

"How's it going, kid? First time in Spain?" Captain Vogt patted him on the shoulder and asked with a smile.

Yan Yuan nodded: "Yes, Captain, this place is even more beautiful than I imagined."

Yan Yuan hasn't been to many places. He's been to the Netherlands, France, and Germany. The farthest place he's ever been is his hometown in China, but he was just a year old then.

"Of course!" Vogt raised his eyebrows smugly. "Seville is one of the most charming cities in Spain. I'll take you there tonight."

Vogt is a well-known "travel expert" within the Hoffenheim team. Whenever they play away games, he can always find the most authentic restaurants and the most interesting attractions in any city he has visited.

This time is no exception.

"Listen up, guys!" Vogt clapped his hands in the hotel lobby. "Tonight we're not going to the hotel restaurant; I'll take you to try some real Seville cuisine."

"Captain, are you sure you're not taking us to eat those weird 'specialties' again?" Amiri teased with a smile.

Last season, during a friendly match in Portugal, Vogt confidently took everyone to eat "Portuguese stewed tripe," but everyone except him frowned and barely managed to swallow it.

"This time it's absolutely reliable!" Vogt said confidently. "When I was in Seville last time, I found a fantastic tapas restaurant, and the owner is a friend of mine."

"Huh? Captain, where did you get so many 'friends'?" Gnabry couldn't help but ask.

"See, Sergei? That's the captain's charm," Ute interjected. "He can make friends anywhere."

In the evening, the team arrived at a small restaurant in Seville's old town.

Wooden tables and chairs, warm yellow lighting, and flamenco dancer portraits hanging on the walls—everything here exudes Spanish charm.

The boss was a warm-hearted middle-aged man who immediately opened his arms to Vogt upon seeing him:

"Hey! Kevin, we meet again!"

"Juan, you'd better treat my teammates well tonight!" Vogt and his boss Juan hugged tightly.

Soon, plates of tapas were served, along with pan-fried Iberian ham, garlic prawns, fried calamari rings, gazpacho... The aroma was irresistible, making one's mouth water.

There are a lot of delicious foods, but the amount of these foods is not much when averaged out to each person.

The main reason for eating this was to try something new, not to fill our stomachs. It was also to let everyone experience the local customs and culture of Seville, something Vogt was well aware of.

"This ham is amazing!" Gnabry exclaimed, his eyes lighting up after taking a bite.

"This is the real taste of Spain," Vogt said proudly, raising his glass.

Yan Yuan took a bite of the garlic prawns. The tender prawn meat was coated with rich garlic olive oil, which made him unable to resist forking another one.

"How is it, Yan? It tastes even better than German sausage, right?" Amiri asked him with a smile.

"Yes, it really is. It's a completely different flavor, a completely different feeling from German sausages." Yan Yuan nodded as he ate.

"Yan, you're of Chinese descent. If you score in tomorrow's game, you have to treat us to Chinese food," Ute suddenly suggested.

"No problem, but if there's no Chinese restaurant here, then we'll have to wait until we get back to Germany to treat everyone," Yan Yuan readily agreed.

"Then it's settled!" the teammates cheered.

After a simple meal, Vogt suggested a city walk in Seville, and also showed everyone the city's night view.

"Seville Cathedral is the third largest cathedral in the world, and Columbus's coffin is inside," Vogt explained like a professional tour guide. "There's also Plaza de España here, which is especially beautiful at night when it's lit up."

"Captain, you could consider becoming a tour guide after you retire," Amiri joked.

"Okay, then you'll have to give me a tip." Vogt laughed heartily.

Seville is even more enchanting at night than during the day; the ancient cobblestone streets, the play of light and shadow under the orange trees, and the sounds of street performers playing guitars—everything is captivating.

"This place is perfect for a vacation," Gnabry exclaimed.

"Once our group advances, we can come back during the winter break if we have the chance," Vogt winked.

"Captain, are you trying to put pressure on us?" Ute asked with a smile.

"No, this is motivation," Vogt said earnestly. "We are a young team, but that's precisely why we should leave our mark in the Champions League."

Yan Yuan listened and silently agreed. Tomorrow's match was of great significance to Hoffenheim, as it marked the first step in Hoffenheim's Champions League group stage journey in the club's history, and Seville's home ground was never a good place to play.

On the way back to the hotel, Vogt suddenly stopped, turned around and said to everyone:

"Guys, the game is tomorrow. I know you're all excited, but make sure you get a good night's rest tonight."

"Don't worry, Captain," Amiri raised her arm in a gesture of support, "we won't let you down."

"I believe you, Amiri. By the way, Yan, is your 'Pharaoh's Arc' ready?" Vogt asked Yan Yuan.

Yan Yuan smiled slightly: "Absolutely, Captain, 100%."

It is indeed 100%. Currently, Yan Yuan has practiced the matching accuracy of the Pharaoh's Arc skill to 100%. He can't guarantee a 10-to-10 match, but there is a good chance that he can kick in eight or nine out of ten.

Back at the hotel, Nagelsmann encountered them in the hallway.

"Ha, looks like the guys had a lot of fun?" the coach asked, raising an eyebrow.

"The captain treated us to amazing tapas," Schultz said excitedly.

"Well done, Vogt. You really should relax before the game," Nagelsmann nodded, adding a final word to everyone.

"But once you've enjoyed yourself, it's time to focus. I want to see the same team spirit in tomorrow night's game. Okay, everyone go back and rest. Tomorrow night, I want to see everyone at their best!"

"Understood, Coach!" everyone said in unison.

……

The following day, at 8 PM.

At Seville's home stadium, the lights of the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium illuminated the green field as if it were daytime, and the red and white flags in the stands surged like waves, while the songs of the Seville fans resounded through the sky.

The echoes of the Champions League theme song had barely faded when the referee blew the whistle to start the match.

The Spanish commentator's voice was transmitted to all parts of the world via broadcast signal:

"Welcome to the first round of the Champions League group stage's highly anticipated match! Sevilla hosts Champions League newcomers Hoffenheim in a clash between two attacking teams. Let's look forward to an exciting game!"

As expected, Sevilla took the initiative from the start.

Banega calmly orchestrated the attacking rhythm in midfield, each touch of the ball exuding the elegance and threat characteristic of South American players.

Sarabia and Correa, like two sharp knives, repeatedly charged down Hoffenheim's flanks, trying to break through the defense.

Hoffenheim's two defensive midfielders, Demirbay and Amiri, were exhausted, barely maintaining the balance of the defense with their energetic running and precise interceptions.

Nagelsmann stood on the sidelines with his hands in his suit pockets and a slight frown on his brow.

The young coach clearly understands that the team needs time to adapt to the intensity of the Champions League, so there will definitely be a period of struggle at the beginning.

"Sevilla's attack is like a tidal wave!" the Spanish commentator exclaimed excitedly. "Hoffenheim's defense is under severe pressure!"

The home team fans in the stands cheered with every attack, while the away team players received the ball and shrill whistles immediately filled the stadium.

At this moment, Yan Yuan appeared somewhat isolated in the frontcourt, but he did not become impatient. Instead, he kept observing the changing situation on the field.

It was precisely at times like these that he understood that, against an opponent like Sevilla, rushing forward would only put more pressure on the defense; he needed to wait for the right counter-attack opportunity.

As the match progressed to the 15th minute, Hoffenheim gradually stabilized their position.

Demirbay began to be more willing to pass the ball forward, while Amiri used his agile movement to create opportunities for his teammates to receive the pass.

The commentator noted this change: "Hoffenheim is finding its rhythm, their passing accuracy has improved significantly, it seems Nagelsmann's team is adapting to the pace of the Champions League."

On the sidelines, Nash finally loosened his clenched fists. He turned to his assistant coach and said something, his eyes gleaming with confidence.

The turning point came in the 28th minute when Correa attempted to break through Schulz on the left wing, but the latter cleanly dispossessed him.

Hoffenheim's left-back didn't hesitate at all, delivering a precise through ball to Gnabry, who was making a run down the left flank.

The German winger dribbled forward like an arrow, his speed leaving Mercado struggling to keep up.

"Gnabry! Hoffenheim has a counter-attack opportunity!" The commentator's voice suddenly rose.

Gnabry executed a textbook one-two pass with Grillitsch on the left wing, completely shaking off the defenders.

At this moment, Yan Yuan's brain was working at high speed.

He anticipated the likely direction of the attack when he saw Gnabry receive the ball and advance.

As a right-wing attacker, he did not blindly push forward, but first observed the positioning of the Sevilla defense. The opposing center-back Kjaer was keeping a close eye on Uth, while the right-back Navas was drawn to his own midfielder Kramaric.

This is a perfect opening!!!

Yan Yuan suddenly started moving, taking long strides and using astonishing explosive power to cut diagonally into the penalty area from the right flank.

His timing in making that run was perfect, hitting the weakest link in Sevilla's defense.

Gnabry looked up as he broke into the left side of the penalty area, and he keenly spotted Yan Yuan's run.

Without the slightest hesitation, the German left winger delivered a precise long pass across half the field with his right foot.

The ball drew a beautiful arc, soaring over the heads of three defenders and landing precisely in Yan Yuan's path.

"What a beautiful pass! Gnabry's pass was perfect!" the commentator exclaimed.

As Yan Yuan ran, he gently tapped the ball with the outside of his right foot. This exquisite ball-stopping action allowed the ball to land obediently half a meter in front of him, just in time to avoid Escudero who was chasing back.

At this moment, only Sevilla goalkeeper Rico remained in front of Yan Yuan.

His brain was rapidly calculating the shooting angle and the positions of the defenders. Escudero was chasing back with all his might, and Kjaer was also blocking the near post.

In a flash, Yan Yuan made his decision: he feigned a powerful shot towards the far corner, a feint that shifted Rico's center of gravity slightly. Just as the goalkeeper adjusted his footing,

Yan Yuan used the inside of his left foot to deliver a low, powerful shot that sent the ball hurtling towards the near post!

Despite Rico's best efforts to save the ball, his view was blocked by his own defender, and he was a fraction too slow, allowing the ball to slip into the net!

"Goooooooal! Hoffenheim takes the lead away from home! Yan Yuan has scored a brilliant goal!" The commentary booth erupted in cheers.

The German commentator excitedly analyzed, "Look at the whole process of this goal! From Schulz's interception, to Gnabry's advance and pass, to Yan Yuan's perfect control and calm shot, it was a textbook example of a fast counter-attack!"

Far away in the East, the Chinese commentators couldn't hide their excitement after seeing Yan Yuan's performance: "Young player Yan Yuan has demonstrated his exceptional football intelligence and superb technique! In this goal, his timing of the run, his ball control, and his shot selection were all perfect!"

The Pizjuán Stadium fell silent instantly, with only the cheers from the away fans standing out.

Yan Yuan ran towards the corner flag area and opened his arms to accept the hugs from his teammates.

Gnabry was the first to rush up and jump onto his back, followed by Amiri, who also joined in the hug. Vogt patted him hard on the back.

On the sidelines, Nagelsmann unusually pumped his fist in celebration. The young coach, known for his composure, knew the value of this opening goal in the away game.

Meanwhile, Sevilla's coach Machín looked grim as he shouted at his players, clearly extremely dissatisfied with the defensive errors.

However, their good fortune was short-lived, as Sevilla, after restarting the game, demonstrated the resilience of a La Liga powerhouse.

In the 38th minute, Nzonzi delivered a precise long pass from the backfield, finding Sarabia who was making a high-speed run down the right flank.

After a one-two with Navas, the Spanish winger crossed from the byline, but Schulz's clearance at the near post went awry.

The ball inexplicably landed at the feet of Banega at the edge of the penalty area, and the Argentine midfielder fooled Demirbay with a convincing fake shot.

He then delivered a perfectly executed diagonal pass with the outside of his foot, and Ben Yedder emerged from the gap in the defense like a ghost.

A powerful shot from a tight angle found the top corner!

That shot was impossible to save!

"Gooooooal! Sevilla equalize! Ben Yedder!" The entire Pizjuán Stadium was instantly ignited, with a frenzied surge of red in the stands.

The Spanish commentator exclaimed excitedly, "This is a Champions League-level match! Both teams scored a goal within just ten minutes, the pace of the game is breathtaking! But I must say, as a Champions League newcomer, Hoffenheim has adapted very well."

The German commentator lamented, "Schulz's clearance error gave the opponent an opportunity, and Hoffenheim's lead only lasted for ten minutes."

Nagelsmann shook his hands vigorously on the sidelines, but he quickly composed himself and gestured to the players on the field to stay calm.

Meanwhile, Machín on the other side pumped his fist in relief, as the timely goal brought the game back to a stalemate.

Yan Yuan wiped the sweat from his forehead. He noticed that the Seville players' morale had clearly improved, and the upcoming match would be even more difficult.

In the final stages of the first half, both sides tried to change the score again, but neither was able to create any clear-cut chances.

When the referee blew the whistle to end the first half, the score was 1-1.

The commentator summarized: "A thrilling first half! Hoffenheim took the lead with efficient counter-attacks, but Sevilla demonstrated a strong ability to adjust, making the second half even more exciting!"

As the players walked toward the locker room, Yan Yuan and Gnabry were still discussing the goal.

Yan Yuan put his arm around Gnabry's shoulder and said.

"Sergi, that pass was perfect, I didn't even need to adjust my footing."

Gnabry responded with a laugh: "Come on, your positioning was the key; the timing was perfect."

Schulz, walking behind, looked somewhat remorseful, but Vogt patted him on the shoulder:

"Don't overthink it, we'll try again in the second half."

In the away team's locker room, Nagelsmann was writing and drawing on the tactics board.

"We did well in the first half, but we could have done better," Nash said calmly. "Sevilla's attacks down the flanks are very threatening, and we need to provide more protection in midfield."

He also specifically praised Yan Yuan's goal: "Yan, your counter-attack was very well executed. We need to continue looking for opportunities like that in the second half."

Meanwhile, in the Sevilla locker room, Machín was giving a stern pep talk:

"We can't let these Germans launch counter-attacks so easily! The midfield needs to apply more pressure!"

He specifically instructed Banega and Nzonzi to strengthen control over the second landing point.

When the players emerged from the locker room again, the lights at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium were still bright.

The fans in the stands welcomed the second half with songs and applause, and everyone was looking forward to an even more exciting match.

Yan Yuan took a deep breath, adjusted the position of his shin guards, and stomped hard on the grass.