Soccer: Maxed-out ball control, the skill is too overpowered.

Commentator Zhan Jun V:

After a hard-fought midweek league victory, Arsenal need to immediately switch gears for the Champions League. This first leg of the Round of 16 is particularly crucial, as they will travel to Germany to face Bayer Leverkusen. Can the Gunners overcome their long-standing weakness in European competitions?

Bayer Leverkusen has had a strong season, keeping the league title race close to Bayern Munich's. Can their league form carry over into the Champions League?

It is worth noting that Lu Xiao, the 16-year-old prodigy who is currently a rising star in the Bundesliga, should be a key player that both teams are paying close attention to.

His creativity in the attacking third and his ability to control the ball and evade defenders near the penalty area are world-class! Lu Xiao, starting in the first half, may be the key to victory in this match!

首都时间明晨（2月19日周三）3:45，我和张指将在@新浪视频带来这场欧冠16强焦点战——勒沃库森VS阿森纳的解说。」

Zhan Jun's Weibo post had already attracted a lot of interaction from fans.

It's clear from the comments section on Weibo that domestic fans are still relatively nervous about Bayer Leverkusen.

"Can they beat Arsenal?"

"If I win tonight, I'll quit for a month."

"Arsenal is, after all, a strong team in the Premier League, while Leverkusen's overall fighting strength is still inferior."

"Forget it, they're weak in European competitions, a team that collapses every spring. What's so strong about them?"

"I haven't watched much of Bayer Leverkusen's Champions League campaign, but Arsenal fans say you can rest assured, our team's Champions League performance will be absolutely amazing, Lukaku is a sure thing."

"Maybe not, what if Nana suddenly unleashes her full power?"

"Hard to say, we can only wish Lu Shen good luck!"

"Nobody's filling up my factory's gas tank? Lu Xiao doesn't even have an ID card."

"Is it wrong to support Luka Doncic? Putting nationality aside, we simply enjoy watching his matches!"

"Exactly, I don't care about nationality, it's just that Lukashenko's playing style is so entertaining."

"+1 Lu Xiao is synonymous with the art of football."

"He's handsome, that's all. Just tell me, isn't he handsome?"

"Hey, are you talking about looks or ball skills?"

"They're all handsome!"

……

Lu Xiao had no idea that there were still two hours until the match, when he arrived at his familiar home stadium, the Bayer Arena, by bus.

Even at 1 a.m., many fans in the Eastern powerhouse were still staying up to watch his game.

Some people even set their alarms for 3:30 a.m. to get up in the middle of the night to watch Lu Xiao.

University students are doing well; most of them are on vacation right now.

Unfortunately, office workers can only go to bed early and endure the pain of going to work the next day to get up and watch the game.

If it were just because of the Bayer Leverkusen vs. Arsenal match, few people, except for die-hard Arsenal fans, would choose to stay up all night to watch such a game.

The only reason most fans watched this game: Lu Xiao!

There is no suitable playing field at their home stadium.

Lu Xiao has played a lot here, and sometimes he even trains directly at the home stadium.

He could feel the texture of every patch of grass under his feet even with his eyes closed.

An hour before the match, the stands at the Bayer Arena were almost full.

When Lu Xiao and his teammates entered the stadium in their training uniforms, they were greeted by thunderous cheers from the packed stadium of 5 people.

"What should I do? I'm getting a little nervous."

Julian Brandt is at it again, being his usual antics.

Lu Xiao was too lazy to pay attention to him.

"It's not like it's their first time playing in the Champions League, is it really that big of a deal?"

"But this is my first Champions League knockout match in my professional career!"

The problem is...

Lu Xiao's tone was calm, but it boosted critical hit damage.

"You're not a starter either."

"Damn it! Lu! You've changed. You're no longer the humble and kind Lu you used to be."

"??"

To use a term from a future internet user, this guy is a total drama queen!

But it wasn't just Julian Brandt,

When the Arsenal players entered the pitch, they saw players such as Özil, Giroud, Arteta, Ramsey, and Vermaelen.

Even Son Heung-min's expression seemed a little off.

"Sun, it's one thing for Julian to be nervous, but why are you nervous too?"

Son Heung-min scratched his head, unable to explain:

"Shiba, Aigoo—I don't know either, maybe it's the first elimination round."

"No, it's possible that the other side is your future mortal enemy."

"What?"

"It's nothing, just do your best today, and get it done."

Lu Xiao almost gave himself away.

The possibility of Son Heung-min joining Tottenham Hotspur and becoming Arsenal's arch-rival in North London...

He didn't want to spoil the plot for the other party so early.

Getting back to the main point,

Under current Champions League rules, the Champions League knockout stage consists of two-legged home-and-away matches.

Bayer Leverkusen will first host Arsenal at home, and then travel to the Emirates Stadium in North London for a decisive battle against Arsenal.

The two sides will compete for a spot in the quarterfinals based on the scores of the two-legged knockout stage.

If the score is tied, away goals will be considered.

If the away goals are tied, then we'll have to play extra time and penalties.

Away goals are undoubtedly one of the reasons why the Champions League has become so exciting in recent years.

Every goal scored by either side could potentially foreshadow a second leg.

In the first leg, Leverkusen played at home. If Arsenal scored a few more goals, Arsenal would undoubtedly have an advantage in terms of both the game and their psychology in the second leg.

Lu Xiao found that she also felt the nervousness of participating in the elimination round for the first time.

It wasn't so much nervousness as a little excitement!

That feeling of a slight tingling sensation on the scalp and a slight increase in heart rate.

……

In the players' tunnel, Lu Xiao got a close look at the Arsenal players and manager Arsène Wenger.

For some reason, Wenger seemed to know him very well and took the initiative to go up and greet him.

"Lu, we finally meet. I've been watching your matches since your debut, and you've been performing very well... Keep up the good work today, and good luck."

"Thanks?"

Until Wenger left, Lu Xiao was like Louis XVI with Head & Shoulders—completely baffled.

"You know him?" Captain Rolfes behind him asked curiously.

"I don't know him."

"It feels like he wants to poach you."

"Never mind him, focus on the game."

Accompanied by the familiar Champions League theme song, Lu Xiao and his teammates walked out of the player tunnel.

The cheers from the Bayer Arena were like a hurricane on the sea, overflowing with passion and sweeping over us.

"Welcome to Sina Sports! Today we bring you the first leg of the 2013-2014 UEFA Champions League Round of 16!"

Bayer Leverkusen!

Hosting a strong Premier League opponent at the Bayern Stadium

Arsenal, the Gunners!

Lu Xiao, a rising star of Chinese descent this season, made it into the starting lineup in such an important game.

This also demonstrates the coaching team's trust in this 16-year-old player.

Given his previous outstanding performances, everyone is eagerly anticipating whether he can put on a good show against strong European opponents.

Arsène Wenger, the world-renowned manager who ran Arsenal for 20 years and created a 49-game unbeaten run for the club.

His tactics may pose a challenge to Leverkusen.

Okay, let's take a look at today's starting lineup.

Many fans, woken by their alarm clocks, groggily forced their eyes open.

They either lay in bed and opened their tablets, or struggled to crawl to their computers and clicked on the live stream link.

Hearing Zhan Jun's passionate voice finally cheered me up a bit.

The lineups for both teams were displayed on the screen.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Bayer Leverkusen 4-4-1-1, Head Coaches: Sasha & Hyypia

Goalkeeper: Leno

Defenders: Donati, Spašić, Toprak, Bonisch

Midfielders: Robbie Kruse, Rolfes, Lars Bender, Son Heung-min

Forwards: Kiessling, Lu Xiao

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Arsenal 4-2-3-1, Manager: Arsène Wenger

Goalkeeper: Szczesny

Defenders: Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs

Midfielders: Walcott, Ramsey, Arteta, Özil, Cazorla

Forward: Giroud

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

After the two teams posed for photos, shook hands, exchanged team flags, and tossed a coin to decide possession,

Many fans either opened a beer or made a cup of tea to sober up.

I'm already filled with a mix of trepidation and excitement as I wait for the match to begin.

"Alright! With the Italian referee's whistle, this crucial Champions League Round of 16 match between Bayer Leverkusen and Arsenal kicks off!"