Chapter 223: Second Leg Against Lyon Again, Charging for the Europa League Quarterfinals!

"China Media Group! This is the live broadcast coming to you..."

"The referee is checking his watch!"

"Match start!"

The second leg of the Europa League Round of 16 between Villarreal and Lyon kicks off at the Estadio de la Cerámica.

Having led Lyon 2-1 in the first leg, Villarreal enters today's match with an advantage.

"After winning the Copa del Rey title, Villarreal has shifted from fighting on three fronts to two, which means they will now focus more attention on the Europa League."

Just as He Wei analyzed, having tasted the sweetness of a championship, Villarreal will inevitably crave more.

They will not be satisfied!

The Europa League is even more difficult than the Copa del Rey, but after winning the cup, Villarreal's momentum has been strengthened.

The status of Copa del Rey champions will accompany the team for at least twelve months!

"Villarreal!"

Boom! Boom!

"Villarreal!"

Boom! Boom!

The fans' morale is soaring; at the very top of the east stand, a group of Villarreal supporters has unfurled a banner.

【The Copa del Rey is not the end; Villarreal will make history this season】

The fans can obviously see that this is their team's most promising season, whether in the Copa del Rey, the league, or the Europa League.

They aim to strive for even more this season!

"Push forward, push forward!"

Crack!

Bruno plays a low, long pass brushing the right touchline forward.

Bakambu sprints forward; under Gonalons' marking, he uses his right heel to knock the ball onto his left foot.

"Controlling the ball while dribbling past the defender!"

"Beautiful."

"Bakambu!"

Bakambu's highly imaginative maneuver creates an attacking opportunity for the team; Tang Ye runs up from behind, preparing to provide support for Bakambu.

Valbuena, tracking back, immediately sticks tight to Tang Ye!

Escriva waves his hand.

All teams are like this; during the first encounter, they thought Tang Ye was just a kid and easy to handle.

But in this second meeting, they have started to intensify their marking on Tang Ye again.

The reason is simple: because in the first encounter, they got blown apart by Tom!

Realizing he cannot find an opportunity to receive the ball, Tang Ye immediately directs Rodrigo to make a forward run into the penalty area.

With both Haller and Rodrigo, two aerial experts, entering the box simultaneously, Lyon's defensive line immediately begins to retreat.

Crack!

Bakambu passes to Bruno; Tang Ye shields with his back against Valbuena and immediately calls for the ball from Bruno.

The pass comes over; Tang Ye kicks it back immediately.

Then he suddenly turns and sprints forward!

Crack!

Bruno's through ball arrives perfectly; Tang Ye strikes directly toward the penalty area!

Boom!

Tang Ye's shot hits Diakhaby and rebounds out.

"Damn!"

Exhaling deeply, Tang Ye is clearly dissatisfied with that shot just now.

If his finishing skills were just a bit better, that ball might have had a chance!

Just as Tang Ye prepares to track back, the referee Cassa runs over, pointing to the penalty spot.

"Wow?"

"Haha!"

Bruno runs up from behind and slaps Tang Ye, who finally realizes what happened.

His shot hit Diakhaby's hand!

It's a penalty kick!

"Damn, I should have checked."

Tang Ye slowly walks toward the edge of the box as cheers from the fans erupt behind him.

"It's fine, it's a penalty, no doubt about it!"

Villarreal's primary penalty taker, Haller, holding the ball, walks into the penalty area.

"Haller!"

"Facing goalkeeper Lopes, let's see how Haller handles this penalty."

"Back during his time at Utrecht, Haller preferred violent power shots; let's take a look..."

Haller begins his run-up!

Shot!

Boom!

This was a powerful shot from Huang Huang Qian's center forward, Alai, and the ball steadily entered the net.

1:0!

Villarreal takes the lead!

"Haha!"

Having completed the penalty, Alai spread his arms wide; the next second, Tang Ye ran over and collided with him.

Huang Huang Qian earning a penalty first left Lyon's head coach, Genesio, suddenly at a loss.

In Genesio's plan, Huang Huang Qian, having just won the cup championship, would surely become complacent, and when they did, that would be Lyon's opportunity.

But what Genesio didn't expect was that while Huang Huang Qian's mindset had indeed become complacent, they still maintained excellent performance.

The King's Cup championship made the cooperation among this batch of Huang Huang Qian players even more tacit!

"We should attack through the center, penetrating through the middle!"

Calling the players to the sideline, Genesio quickly directed: "Have you forgotten what I said before? We should penetrate through the center, so what are you doing? We are being penetrated!"

Lyon now trails by two goals over two legs and must make quick adjustments.

Otherwise, qualification will be out of their reach!

Bang bang, bang bang!

The match reaches the 31st minute!

Currently, Huang Huang Qian leads comprehensively in both possession and attack.

However, Lyon still found some opportunities; Yalai completed a tackle against Sansone on the wing and then passed the ball to Tousart.

Uh!

Tang Ye reacted quickly, running directly toward Tousart, who was less than three meters away.

At the moment Tousart lifted his foot...

Slide tackle!

Bang!

Tang Ye quickly moved down the line, but unfortunately, Tousart was still one step faster.

That was close!

Even after passing the ball to the opponent, Tousart still felt a panic in his heart.

Damn it!

Everyone says Villarreal's number 10 doesn't press, but once he uses this sliding interception, it's truly deadly!

Fortunately, Tousart's reaction was still quite fast!

Tolisso turns with the ball!

Running straight toward the front field!

Lacazette!

Lacazette ran forward while looking back to observe.

He was waiting for the moment Tolisso would pass him the ball!

Tang Ye got up from the ground and ran back, signaling Alai to pay attention to Morel's position.

Tolisso reached near the baseline, and Ruiz came out of the penalty area to stop him from advancing further.

Seizing this opportunity, Tang Ye quickly retreated to defend in the backfield.

"Over there!"

Tang Ye pointed toward the area near the baseline, and Gaspar quickly ran out.

As expected, Tolisso passed the ball to Valbuena.

Valbuena dribbled down the line!

Moving into the penalty area!

A standard cutback routine; Tang Ye ran directly toward Tolisso!

Snap!

Tang Ye suddenly accelerated, rushing in front of Tolisso to intercept the ball.

"Wow!"

Cheers erupted from the stands; at this moment, Tang Ye prepared to find a passing point, but Tolisso behind him suddenly exerted force, knocking Tang Ye aside!

!

The sudden impact caused Tang Ye to lose his balance and fall; at this moment, Tolisso adjusted his step and passed the ball to Lacazette.

Lacazette shoots again!

Goal!

"Hey!"

Bruno rushed directly to referee Cassa, pointing at Tang Ye, who was still on the ground near the arc: "Foul! Offensive foul!"

"Beep beep beep beep beep!!!"

"Beep beep beep!!!"

The home fans in the stands began to stir restlessly.

They saw very clearly that Tolisso gained possession only through a charge from behind!

The goal should have been disallowed one hundred percent, but the referee simply refused to accept Bruno's protest.

"The referee points to the center circle, ruling the goal valid!"

"This is a bit strange; I don't know what the referee's angle was, but from our live broadcast perspective, this was definitely a foul by Tolisso; he took Tang Ye down from behind!"

"They're not calling that?"

Tang Ye, who had just stood up, was completely stunned upon learning the goal was valid, so he too ran toward the referee.

If even Captain Bruno's protest failed, there was even less hope for Tang Ye.

"Hoo..."

Tang Ye hugged his head, frowning while using rapid breathing to quickly adjust his current emotions.

【This referee probably took a bribe.】

【UEFA doesn't want Yellow Submarine to win, is that it?】

【UEFA: Villarreal still wants to win two trophies; we must suppress them a bit.】

【Brothers, I get it now; this is revenge from Barca!】

【They're clearly targeting me, Tang Tang Qiuwang; right now I just want to rush onto the pitch and beat the referee to a pulp.】

The Yellow Submarine fans were now under considerable pressure.

The form displayed by both teams today was a 60-40 split, and with Yellow Submarine leading by two goals, logic dictated they should have been secure.

Yet at this moment the referee suddenly took sides, directly buffing the away team, Lyon!

"Fuck your mother!"

The fourth official was unwilling to relay Escrivá's complaint to the main referee, so he was directly cursed at by Escrivá.

Well, now he could relay it to the main referee.

For insulting the referee, Escrivá was shown a yellow card by the main referee, Cassé.

"What the fuck!"

Escrivá still wanted to fight, but he was pulled back by the rational Martí and Cheryshev: "No need, Ferran, no need!"

"Damn!"

Escrivá sat back on the substitute bench chair in a sullen mood, thrusting his hands out: "That was definitely a foul; Tom was knocked down, damn it!"

"Boooooo—!!!"

The referee's bias provoked dissatisfaction among the home fans.

From the camera footage, it was clear that the Yellow Submarine players were in poor spirits!

"Adjust, adjust, don't rush!"

Martí shouted a few times, then sat down in his spot on the substitute bench.

The match reached the 43rd minute of the first half!

Gonalons took the corner kick!

Tousart!

Making a run forward from the edge of the arc!

Jumping up to head it directly!

Bang!

Asenjo jumped up on the spot, pushing the ball over the crossbar with his right hand.

"Oh!"

Tang Ye on the pitch breathed a sigh of relief.

At this moment, Bruno shouted loudly: "Pay attention, pay attention to your positioning, there's another corner kick!"

Lyon had consecutively earned a third corner kick, making the fans in the stands somewhat apprehensive.

This ball was once again given to Gonalons to handle!

Crack!

The corner kick was taken.

At the far post!

Valbuena!

Valbuena jumped up preparing to head the ball, but Aleix got there a step earlier.

Directly completing the clearance!

Fortunately, Yellow Submarine's defensive work in the penalty area was quite solid today; otherwise, Lyon might have leveled the aggregate score!

"Beep—!!"

The first half ended!

"Bruno!"

Tang Ye and Bruno high-fived, and the two walked together toward the player tunnel.

"Crush them!"

"Damn!"

"Those petty villains relying on the referee!"

The Yellow Submarine fans were now furious, catching hold of Lyon players and cursing them relentlessly.

"Holy crap."

Although they weren't cursing him personally, Tang Ye still quickly ran into the tunnel.

He dared not imagine what kind of abuse the fans would hurl if Yellow Submarine had benefited from the referee's calls in an away match.

Back in the locker room, Tang Ye, while dealing with the trash in his pocket, grumbled: "I should have passed the ball out earlier; then that number 8 wouldn't have scored."

"No, this isn't your fault."

Escrivá, who had just walked in, heard Tang Ye's words: "This is that referee's fault; fuck him!"

Tang Ye:...

"Okay, alright."

Escrivá, whose temper had been beaten out of him, moved quickly, yanking the tactical board sharply in front of himself with one hand.

"We have two away goals; they currently have one, but I must tell you: if they score in the second half, they will also have two away goals."

"This absolutely! Absolutely cannot happen!"

With another match to play in a few days, Escrivá did not want to see Yellow Submarine forced into extra time today.

They should end this match within regular time.

"They benefited from the referee's decisions, but I don't think that's the problem."

"We are more than just a little stronger than them. Remember the final? We didn't need extra time against Barcelona, so we certainly don't need it against Lyon. They cannot be our match."

"..."

Escrivá's speech ignited the players' fighting spirit.

Anger could be transformed into a desire for victory, and at this moment, Yellow Submarine desperately needed to win this match.

They had to crush Lyon at home to advance to the quarter-finals!

And, incidentally, slap the referee squarely in the face!

Rubbing his hands together, Tang Ye followed Musacchio out of the player tunnel.

Mr. Ferran had given them their mission: they must win today's match!

"Beep!"

"Alright, the second half has begun. The current on-field score is 1-1; due to their advantage from the first leg, Villarreal leads by one goal on aggregate."

"But Lyon still has a chance to equalize the score!"

Just as the second half started, Yellow Submarine actively slowed the pace, while Lyon, unsurprisingly, accelerated theirs.

Due to special tactical requirements, Tang Ye was playing quite conservatively.

As the clock hit the 65th minute, Génésio made two forward substitutions; at this moment, Escrivá moved to the touchline, shouting incessantly for an attack.

"Tom!"

Bruno shouted Tang Ye's name from close range; following the direction Bruno pointed, Tang Ye looked toward the substitutes' bench and finally noticed the gesture Escrivá was making.

They were going to change strategy!

According to Escrivá's halftime arrangements, Lyon would definitely substitute their attacking players in the second half; this was Yellow Submarine's opportunity.

Yellow Submarine intensified their attack as well.

They were aiming to catch them completely off guard!

Cheryshev stood on the sideline preparing to enter the match when Martí approached him with a notebook: "Just run directly when you find an opening; Tom can find your position, right?"

Cheryshev suddenly turned his head: "Are you sure he can find it?"

"I'm sure."

Martí patted Cheryshev with the hand holding the notebook: "Just be careful not to get caught offside!"

As the clock reached the 72nd minute, Yellow Submarine's players were passing the ball consecutively in their own half.

It wasn't that they were unwilling to kick the ball forward, but rather that Lyon's three forwards were exerting immense pressure on Yellow Submarine's players.

They were unwilling to take risks!

"Lacazette!"

"Together with Tolisso!"

"Run toward Gaspar's position!"

Now there was truly no way out.

The spaces in front of and to the side of Gaspar were both blocked, and by close-range markers; he didn't even have a chance to send a long pass directly to the front field.

"Quick, quick!"

Boldly, Asenjo ran straight out of the penalty area, positioning himself behind Gaspar to provide support.

"Oh!!!"

Asenjo's maneuver caused the spectators in the stands to suddenly erupt in screams.

Gaspar hurriedly kicked the ball backward.

Lacazette decisively abandoned Gaspar and sprinted toward Asenjo!

At this moment, Valbuena was already ready inside the penalty area!

Yellow Submarine currently had no goalkeeper!

"Woww!!!"

Boom!

Asenjo launched a big kick, successfully completing the clearance.

"Phew..."

Génésio shook his head.

What a pity; if they had seized that opportunity, Lyon could have equalized the score!

But it didn't matter.

This attack at least demonstrated that Lyon's current tactics were correct.

Lyon's pressing had placed enormous pressure on Yellow Submarine's defenders.

They failed to seize this opportunity, but Lyon could still create the next one.

The next opportunity...

On the open ground in front of Génésio, Bakambu powered a header directly to Tang Ye in the center.

?

!

"Go up and grab it!"

Genesio shouted loudly, and captain Gonalons hurriedly ran toward Tang Ye's position.

Fortunately, the distance between Gonalons and Tang Ye was already relatively close, and he quickly closed in.

Genesio breathed a sigh of relief.

Just then, Tang Ye turned his back to shield Gonalons' position and extended his right foot.

Slap!

He sent the ball straight to the front field!

Combined with the 【Fernandes First-Touch Passing Module】!

Boom!

The ball slammed onto the empty ground in front of Cheryshev.

【Holy crap】

Fans who don't understand football might think Tang Ye's pass was incredibly awesome.

Fans who do understand football have already dropped to their knees!

"Tang Ye!"

"Another direct long pass without looking!"

"This is a chance for Cheryshev!"

"Tang Ye didn't try to control Bacambu's header flick-on; instead, he chose to hit the ball directly to the front field, which means Lyon's defenders haven't reacted yet."

The defenders have only just started retreating!

This is a chance for Villarreal!

Cheryshev accelerates!

He steps onto the edge of the penalty area!

Feinting a shot on the left flank, he forces goalkeeper Lopez to stay put.

Cheryshev continues, stepping precisely onto the penalty spot before moving to the right side of the box.

Diakhaby reaches out to pull, but Cheryshev has already completed his shot!

Goal!

"Oh, amazing!"

Tang Ye ran toward Cheryshev.

Top-tier ability to handle one-on-one breaks!

This is his good friend Cheryshev!

【You have obtained Counterattack Points *10】

Gathering near the corner flag, the Yellow Submarine players shouted in unison.

"Vamos!"

Lyon tricked their way into a goal with the referee's help.

But what does that matter?

Villarreal still leads by two goals!

Check Dongqiu Di live match report: Tang Ye makes a blind pass without controlling the ball, finding Cheryshev directly; Cheryshev dribbles consecutively inside the box before shooting. Villarreal 2:1, aggregate score 4:2 in the lead!

【UEFA still wants to help Lyon beat the Yellow Submarine, hilarious】

【Right now in Ligue 1, probably only PSG and Monaco can beat the Yellow Submarine; Lyon is still too weak】

【Quarter-finals!】

【Manchester United next door has already advanced; don't tell me the Yellow Submarine will actually meet Man Utd in the final?】

A comment in the live stream quickly captured the fans' attention.

The Yellow Submarine and Manchester United to meet in the Europa League final?

Previously, everyone thought this was impossible because the Yellow Submarine's overall strength wasn't particularly outstanding among the entire Europa League Round of 16.

But now the situation has changed somewhat.

The fact that the Yellow Submarine defeated Barcelona to win the King's Cup silenced many haters.

Under the leadership of Tang Tang Qiuwang, Villarreal absolutely has the strength to challenge for the Europa League final!

Just like the mighty Manchester United!

(End of chapter)