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

(Two chapters, 10,000 words each. Xiao Yan experienced the taste of minor injury for the first time during a competition in Russia.)

The happy time in Munich was truly memorable.

After a two-day vacation, Yan Yuan's rest allowed his body to recover from its fatigue, and he regained his energy. He was filled with an unprecedented sense of anticipation and excitement to return to the competition and training.

On the first full team training session after returning to the team, the strength and conditioning coach first conducted a detailed physical assessment of Yan Yuan, who had just returned.

"Hmm... Excellent cardiopulmonary performance, stable lactate threshold. It seems the festive atmosphere in Munich is really good, Yan." The physical trainer joked with a smile. The report showed that Yan Yuan's physical condition was even better than before his rest period.

"Of course, sir, Munich is a wonderful city, and the people there are wonderful too," Yan Yuan replied with a smile, recalling the friendly Munich folks.

Yan Yuan was rested in Hoffenheim's last away game against Wolfsburg, but he did not miss the live broadcast.

He watched the match live from his hotel in Munich.

Gnabry capitalized on a classic Hoffenheim-style counter-attack, slotting the ball into an empty net. Substitute Amiri then calmly converted a penalty late in the game to seal the victory.

2-0, a clean and decisive victory.

Yan Yuan was gratified and encouraged by his teammates' steady and efficient performance.

However, this happened shortly after the match ended, shortly after Yan Yuan returned.

Another news item pushed to his phone suddenly stirred his emotions.

Bayer Leverkusen pulled off a stunning upset against Bayern Munich!

"Thomas and his team...lost?" Yan Yuan could hardly believe it.

The giant that he considered the Bayern Munich team to be almost perfect actually stumbled on their home turf?

He immediately sent Müller a brief message of support to cheer him up, but a more complex emotion was churning within him:

Was it shock? Regret? Or a glimmer of immense hope that even he himself hadn't anticipated?

He immediately opened his phone and looked up the Bundesliga standings.

After 9 rounds:

Bayern Munich: 7 wins, 0 draws, 2 losses, 21 points (first place)

Hoffenheim: 6 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss, 20 points (second place)

Only one point difference!

Bayern's two defeats (the other being an away loss to Hoffenheim) were like two huge cracks, instantly making the seemingly unattainable top spot within reach!

What does this mean?

This means that Hoffenheim truly has a chance to reach the highest honor in the Bundesliga!

Once the idea took hold, it spread like wildfire throughout the entire Hoffenheim team.

"Guys! Check out the leaderboard!" Rupp's voice rang out first in the locker room, filled with unbelievable excitement.

"My God! We're only down by one point?" Gnabry's eyes widened.

"The pharmaceutical company has done something big!" Amiri slammed his fist into his palm, his face beaming with barely suppressed elation.

Even the usually composed Vogt and Hübner broke into bright smiles.

Nagelsmann walked in with light steps today, and the locker room fell silent instantly, but the burning light in everyone's eyes did not diminish in the slightest.

The young head coach glanced around, a knowing, slightly mischievous smile on his face:

"I think you've all seen the latest rankings already? Well, Bayern has generously opened a crack for us... a very tiny crack." He gestured with his thumb and forefinger to make an extremely small distance.

"The current standings definitely mean an opportunity for us. The league landscape is never an unchanging fortress."

His tone suddenly became serious:

"But put the celebrations and fantasies aside! It's the beginning of the season, only nine rounds have been played. What's one point? It can be wiped out or we can be overtaken at any time!"

From this moment on, every league match is a decisive battle! We must treat every opponent as if they were Bayern! We must take every point we deserve! He tapped his fingers on the tactical board as he spoke.

"Your consistency is important regardless of any information outside the match. Keep playing our way and focus on the next game—that's the mindset of a true champion!"

Nash's speech was like a bucket of cold ice water, extinguishing everyone's momentary enthusiasm.

Indeed, the Hoffenheim players have seen hope, but precisely because they have seen hope, they need to be even more grounded.

With the Bundesliga season temporarily over, the battle for European dominance has begun again.

After a short rest, the Hoffenheim team will embark on another journey, this time to the distant and unfamiliar destination of Moscow, Russia, at the Spartak Stadium.

Hoffenheim will face Spartak Moscow away from home.

When the itinerary was announced, many team members, especially the younger ones, unconsciously frowned slightly.

The atmosphere on the chartered plane to Moscow this time was noticeably different from the previous Champions League trip.

During the team's tactical preparation meeting before departure, Nagelsmann devoted a significant portion of the meeting to emphasizing that this would be the first time the team had faced a truly "adverse away environment" this season.

"Gentlemen, forget about our previous away games," Nagelsmann said seriously, standing in front of the tactics board. "Moscow will be a completely different level of away game. First of all, there's the weather."

Nagelsmann pulled up the local weather forecast map, which showed that the high temperature would barely be a few degrees above zero, and would be close to zero at night.

"Although we are not competing in the snow, the temperature will still have a real impact on your physical performance. Therefore, you need to be more thorough in your warm-up, make sure you have the right warm clothing, and the substitutes should bring plenty of warm clothing as well."

He pointed a laser pointer at a picture of Luzhniki Stadium on the screen: "Secondly, the pitch. They might play on artificial turf, or even if it's not pure artificial turf, the pitch conditions, especially the bounce and roll of the grass, are very different from the natural grass we're used to."

Remember, the quality of the turf affects the ball's trajectory, impacting your ball control and passing accuracy!" He emphasized every technical detail.

"Therefore, when playing here, passing should be more concise, reducing complex ground passes, using simpler methods, and handling the ball more directly!"

Finally, Nash's tone became more serious:

"The third point, and the most important point, is the opponent's style and the competition environment."

Russian players are very physically strong and extremely aggressive in their tackling, creating a very passionate and intense atmosphere at their home games.

Be prepared for a lot of physical contact, and there may be quite a few collisions that go beyond what is reasonable.

He looked around at all the team members, his gaze landing on several key players, especially the attackers in the frontcourt, including Yan Yuan.

"Everyone needs to protect themselves, not only to win the game, but also for your health. Don't get involved in unnecessary conflicts, and don't try overly flashy dribbling moves or risky breakthroughs that could lead to retaliatory fouls."

If you sense something's wrong, pass the ball immediately! Understand? Your health is the foundation for us to go further this season!

Nagelsmann's words weighed heavily on the players' hearts.

Cooling down from the excitement of Bayern's defeat, the reality of facing a tough opponent in Russia away from home put everyone's expressions on edge again.

Facing intense competition, low temperatures, a poor playing field, and a fervent home crowd, this is the first time they, as a whole, are going to conquer such a new challenge.

On the chartered flight to Moscow, the German landscape, which was originally ablaze with the vibrant colors of autumn, was gradually replaced by a deep and expansive gray-brown.

As we descended the gangway, a brisk but not yet biting wind immediately swept up, carrying a dry, chilly feel to the air.

Yan Yuan unconsciously took a deep breath, feeling a cool sensation in his nasal cavity.

The sky in Moscow is a hazy white, with the sun hidden behind thick clouds, casting a cold, desolate light.

The competition venue wasn't great, but the hotel was nice and the heating was excellent.

However, during the brief acclimatization training session held at a training ground next to Luzhniki Stadium, Yan Yuan personally experienced his mentor's warning.

The slightly stiff feel and rebound of the artificial turf underfoot, different from natural grass, made it necessary to find the right feel for every stop and pass.

The low temperatures in Moscow mean that muscles need more time to reach their optimal state.

During training, there was more deliberate physical contact between teammates, simulating the impending impact.

On the day of the match, the temperature seemed to drop a little.

The atmosphere on the bus to Luzhniki Stadium was quieter than usual.

Yan Yuan was dressed warmly today, wearing a thermal neck warmer, a black long-sleeved shirt under his jersey, and black gloves. He had just gotten a haircut a few days ago and looked quite handsome today. (Photo of Yan Yuan follows)

"Yan, are you going to film a movie today?" Gnabry asked Yan Yuan, who was standing next to him.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Yan Yuan didn't understand what Gnabry was talking about.

"Forget it... I won't compare looks with you... If I had known you looked so handsome with a neck brace, I would have gotten one for myself today." Gnabry muttered under his breath, thinking that Yan Yuan's handsomeness was enhanced by the neck brace.

Yan Yuan inadvertently touched the small wooden beer mug ornament in the pocket of his down jacket. It was a little trinket that Muller had given him at the Oktoberfest.

A touch of warmth emanated from his fingertips—the warmth of his friends in Munich.

This enthusiasm helped Yan Yuan briefly dispel the gloom of Moscow outside the window and the pre-match tension.

Luzhniki Stadium, this colossal structure that has witnessed countless important battles, stands in the chill of dusk.

The red and white ocean has already surged within it.

As Hoffenheim's team bus slowly drove into the designated player tunnel, a deafening, synchronized, and incredibly powerful wave of Russian cheering erupted like a solid wall.

The sound was filled with the fervor of a battle cry, and even through the thick car windows, it still made one's heart tremble.

The car door opened, and the cold air, carrying even clearer and more intense shouts, rushed in.

The fervor of Russian fans carries a raw and direct sense of power that is overwhelming.

"One for all, all for one!!!" This is the official slogan of Sparta Moscow.

"Red and White reign supreme!!!"

"King of the Russian Premier League!!!"

Some of the more enthusiastic Russian home fans even shouted slogans.

"German devils, get out of here!!!"

"Counterattack Germany!!!"

Fortunately, Yan Yuan couldn't understand Russian.

At the sidelines of the match, the number of security personnel had noticeably increased, and they solemnly separated the players from the reporters and fans.

Yan Yuan pulled his down jacket hood tighter, lowered his head, and followed his teammates quickly into the players' tunnel.

Tall barriers lined both sides of the tunnel, separating the excited fans, but their shouts and the sounds of them pounding on the barriers were still deafening.

Although the temperature inside the passage was higher, the air was thick with tension, and vibrations could be heard occasionally.

Upon entering the relatively safe, spacious, and brightly lit changing room, the deafening shouts were blocked out by the heavy door.

The heating here was also very strong, but when the players took off their heavy coats and trousers and put on short-sleeved and short-sleeved jerseys, many of them quickly developed goosebumps on their arms.

The physiotherapists who accompanied the team moved among the group, handing thick thermal vests or jackets to those who needed to warm up.

Nagelsmann's voice rang out in the locker room, carrying a reassuring calmness:

"Alright everyone, it's noisy and cold outside. Remember my words: This is our game. Don't let the noise distract you. Focus on our rhythm! Be mindful of the competition and protect yourselves!"

Their home record is good, but there's nothing to be afraid of. You have the ability to win!

Nash slammed his hand on the tactics board. "Execute the plan, trust each other! Let this city remember our names!"

"Hoffenheim!" Vogt led the team in shouting.

"Go forward without hesitation!!!" the crowd shouted in response.

After shouting, Yan Yuan became even more excited. He vigorously rubbed his thigh muscles with his palms to make them more active.

He moved his ankles, feeling the cleats rubbing against the locker room floor, trying to adjust his body to the low temperature.

He glanced at Gnabry, who was tidying up his gloves, and then at Hübna, who was looking down and applying antifreeze to his thighs with a serious expression.

The challenge is right here, right in front of us.

Yan Yuan took a deep breath of the air, which was filled with the strong smell of medicinal oil and sweat. His eyes refocused, and all that remained was the desire and composure for the upcoming ninety minutes on the green field.

A tough match was about to begin in the frigid air of Moscow.