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#More than 10 chapters ahead on my : /TrikoRex
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[21/12/2019 | Time: 15:28| Location: MEWA Arena]
The players jogged into their respective formations under the brisk winter sky of MEWA Arena, boots crunching softly against the frosted grass as the final echoes of the national anthem faded into the air. The stadium buzzed with anticipation—fans wrapped in scarves clapped, chanted, and stomped as the tension of the last matchday before the winter break settled in.
"Welcome one and all to a chilly but electric MEWA Arena here in Mainz, where Match week 17 concludes with what promises to be a compelling encounter between Mainz 05 and Bayer Leverkusen. I'm Derek Rae, joined in the commentary booth as always by Stewart Robson." He stated as his by-now Iconic voice resounded through the live broadcast, instantly capturing everyone's attention.
"Thanks, Derek. Leverkusen has had a rollercoaster past few weeks — highs like that phenomenal win over Bayern and lows like the collapse against Hertha. But today is crucial. A win could re-stabilise their trajectory heading into the winter break." Stewart Robson said as he did his job of keeping the conversation flowing.
"Let's take a look at the lineups, starting with the home side, Mainz 05, lining up in a 4-2-3-1," Derek stated as the Mainz starting lineup appeared on the screen with corresponding pictures for the viewer's visual ease.
Mainz 05 Starting XI (4-2-3-1)
CB: Jeremiah St. Juste
CDM: Edimilson Fernandes
CAM: Jean-Paul Boëtius
"Robin Quaison leads the line, and Boëtius just behind him is one to watch — tricky on the ball and sharp with his final pass." Stewart Robson analysed, sounding genuinely intrigued by his conjecture, prompting the viewers to follow that same line of thinking.
Derek Rae didn't delve deeper into analysing the Mainz squad and directly moved on to the visiting side. "Now let's shift over to Bayer Leverkusen. They're in a 4-1-4-1 today — a setup that gives them great fluidity in transition and control in midfield. A mix of youth and experience."
Bayer Leverkusen Starting XI (4-1-4-1)
GK: Lukas Hradecky (Captain)
CDM: Charles Aránguiz
Bench: Ramazan Ozcan, Daley Sinkgraven, Aleksandar Dragovic, Exequiel Palacios, Paulinho, Moussa Diaby, Lucas Alario, Kai Havertz, Nadiem Amiri.
"Rakim Rex gets the nod again on the left, fresh from his heroics in Poland, while the ever-dangerous Leon Bailey starts wide right. But keep your eyes on young Florian Wirtz," Stewart Robson added with a knowing tone. "This is his first Bundesliga start, and what a platform to make a name for himself."
"And Charles Aránguiz as the lone holding midfielder," Derek Rae continued, "tasked with anchoring the side and giving those attacking talents ahead of him the freedom to roam."
The two commentators continued analysing how each player on paper could impact the match, but down below, the captains had finished their coin toss. Volland won the toss and decided to attack from left to right, shooting into the goal in front of the Mainz home stand. Shortly, today's referee, Hanz Muller, stepped just outside the centre circle and went through his mandatory checks with the keepers and other officials.
(FWEEEEt!) "There you have it, folks, the match is on the way with a Mainz kick-off," Derek Rae stated, closely followed by Robin Quaison knocking the ball into his own half.
The opening exchanges were tight, as expected. Mainz pressed aggressively in their 4-2-3-1 shape, trying to disrupt Leverkusen's rhythm early. Öztunali and Onisiwo pushed high, harrying Wendell and Weiser on the flanks, while Pierre Kunde tracked Wirtz like a bloodhound through the middle. The Leverkusen youngster had made a name for himself throughout the league for his effectiveness in linking up play and creating scoring chances.
But Leverkusen remained composed. With Aránguiz commanding the midfield with ice-cold efficiency, he operated like a metronome just in front of the defence, calmly redirecting pressure and linking play with short, calculated passes. No matter how the Mainz midfielders or defenders tried to link up with Robin Quaison, he was there to break it up.
"Charles Aránguiz doing what he does best," Robson noted. "Simple passes, smart positioning, nothing too extravagant, he's the glue in that midfield."
By the 7th minute, Leverkusen began asserting themselves. A flowing sequence from the back — Tah to Demirbay, who split the lines with a pass into Rakim's feet. He took one touch to bring the ball under his control, another to beat Riddle Baku to the inside after selling a feint inward.
"Rex, gliding like silk!" Derek Rae exclaimed.
He quickly sped down the flank, crossing into the final third as Baku caught up to him. The Mainz right-back made a move to get into his path, but Rakim reacted almost instantly, coming to a quick stop. He cut in on his right, ignored Wirtz's darting overlap, and cracked a curling effort toward the far post.
"Robin Zentneeeerrrr!" Rae shouted in excitement as Zentner sprang into the air, fully stretched out as he managed to do just enough to tip it wide for a corner. The Leverkusen fans roared in excitement at what was to come, cheering their boys on as they prepared for the corner.
From the resulting corner, Demirbay whipped it to the edge of the six-yard box. Sven Bender rose, but it deflected awkwardly off St. Juste and bounced to Bailey at the back post. "Leon Bailey shoots… of he's blocked by Aarón Martín!" shouted Robson. "That's a brave intervention!"
Mainz tried to respond, and they managed to get their first real chance in the 15th minute. Fernandes intercepted a lazy pass from Wirtz that was meant for Rakim out wide. Fernandes didn't dawdle, and unlike Wirtz, his pass moved with purpose and power, launching a quick break. Boëtius collected it centrally, skipped past Aránguiz, and threaded a pass through to Quaison.
He went shoulder-to-shoulder with Tah as he turned with the ball's momentum, managing to unleash a low strike across the goal. "Quaison! Oooh, not far wide!" Rae's voice lifted with tension. Hradecky dove but let it roll past the far post, knowing it had curled outside by inches.
That moment snapped Leverkusen back into action as the tempo of the game continued to accelerate. Wirtz began to find his rhythm despite his new bodyguard by drifting into pockets of space between the lines, linking cleverly with Volland, who dropped deep to disrupt the Mainz centre-backs' shape.
Then, in the 23rd minute, the breakthrough came after Aránguiz won the ball cleanly with a ruthless slide tackle just outside the Leverkusen box that sent Karim Onisiwo tumbling to the ground. Not holding onto the ball, he played a sharp ball to Wirtz, who flicked it first time to Demirbay. The midfielder nudged the ball down and drove forward, carrying it 30 yards up the pitch before sliding it out wide to Bailey as they entered the final third.
Bailey hesitated, feinting a cut backwards only to dart past Aarón Martín with a burst of pace, before squaring the ball into the box. "Kevin Volland!!!" Derek Rae roared as the striker wrestled with both central defenders, bursting into the box. To everyone's surprise, the striker skipped over the ball, letting it slip through the open legs of Moussa Niakhaté and curving out to the right side of the box.
Baku, who had been racing ahead of Rakim, was forced to turn on his axis in an attempt to interfere with the clinical winger. Especially with his goal conversion rate being as high as 60% inside the box, as 9/10's he would choose to shoot even if there is a better option open. His greed for goals is probably one of the major faults in his game, since as long as he feels like he can beat a man to score, he will take his chances.
This just happened to be that 1 time he did not try to beat his man and go for the goal as he deftly stopped the ball with his left foot. In that same motion, he pulled it behind his right foot and swept it across, sending the ball skidding to the edge of the box. Wirtz, who had been racing ahead since initiating the attack, now found the ball rolling his way unmarked with the nearest defender more than 2 meters from him.