Chapter 37: A genuine Bundesliga debut?

Four days later.

Another wonderful Bundesliga match day.

After finishing training, Li Kang boarded the club bus with his teammates and headed to Gelsenkirchen.

They were set to challenge Bundesliga powerhouse Schalke 04 away.

Over the past two years, the league table and historical records of Bundesliga's upper-middle teams cannot serve as a reference.

Although Schalke 04 finished sixth in the Bundesliga last season, they lost every high-stakes clash in a respectable manner.

He gazed out the window at the beautiful farmland.

Li Kang lowered his head, flipped through the map, and got a rough impression of the locations of the several clubs in the Beilaiyindiq region.

"Li, the football anime you recommended isn't rigorous at all."

"Schalke 04 and Lewokusen are only a few dozen kilometers apart; why would the protagonist need to fly?"

"However, Raul's appearance is quite handsome!"

Brandt held up his tablet and complained.

Bender laughed: "Now Schalke 04, without Raul, only has Huntelaar left; their strength remains strong. Have you seen any top-tier club where the center-back is the team's top scorer?"

Kramer pondered for a moment, then said: "This year's Champions League lacks Schalke 04; our Bundesliga's European points are a bit precarious!"

Schalke 04 also has a trait: respectable in domestic matches, godlike in foreign ones; whenever they face La Liga or Premier League clubs in the Champions League, their combat power spikes several tiers.

Thanks to the strong performances of Bundesliga powerhouses and Bayern Munich in past Champions League editions.

In the 2015/16 new season, the Bundesliga's European points surpassed the Premier League's, rising to second place.

What use is this points?

It determines how many teams from each league qualify for the Champions League and Europa League.

One and a half hours later.

Lewokusen's club bus drove into Gelsenkirchen.

Li Kang discovered that this city and Lewokusen are like two different worlds.

He didn't see the Glass Waterfall Science Park that had been reported on TV.

He saw no elements related to a 'green city'.

The roadsides were filled with a wasteland vibe.

Amidst the noise.

Several drunk men brawled on the ruined street.

Son Heung-min said: "Don't be so surprised, Li; we're taking a shortcut. Next time we come to play, if we take the main road, you'll see a beautiful little town."

"These men's tattoos... they must be the Hydra Organization. Good grief, even our own people fight each other—you can see that in Gelsenkirchen."

Brandt wondered: "What is the Hydra Organization?"

Son Heung-min was momentarily at a loss, unsure how to explain it to a 19-year-old player.

Kramer explained: "It's a women's protection organization; the city collects entertainment tax from girls... I hope there won't be too many Lewokusen fans at the venue, as Schalke 04 fans are notorious brawlers..."

Half an hour later.

Lewokusen's club bus arrived at the Veltins-Arena.

Schalke 04's home ground!

Former name: Auf Schalke Stadium!

The Veltins Brewery splurged and secured the naming rights.

This magnificent stadium, its exterior brimming with artistic flair, seems out of place in Gelsenkirchen.

It gathers countless new technologies and can accommodate 60,000 spectators.

Lewokusen's BayArena has only a third of its capacity.

The bus drove into the parking lot.

Tuopu Laotou led Dino, familiar with the route, toward the press conference site.

"I attended this stadium's inauguration ceremony back in the day! President Mister also came and shook my hand."

"Schalke 04 is crazy—they borrowed 1.9 billion euros to build this stadium; when will Lewokusen have such boldness?"

Pre-match press conference site.

Braitenreit stood up and warmly shook Tuopu Laotou's hand.

He is Schalke 04's new head coach.

His coaching style is very bold.

Reporters began to ask questions enthusiastically.

"Lewokusen and Schalke 04 have a very good relationship; both were founded in 1904 and have never won a Bundesliga title."

Braitenreit's comment drew loud laughter from the media.

Reporters quickly directed their questions at Tuopu Laotou.

"Mr. Tuop, have Li Kang and Lewokusen completed their contract renewal?"

"What kind of question is this?"

Tuopu Laotou's face darkened; he calmly said: "This question should be directed to Lewokusen's sporting director. You should focus more on Schalke 04's Sané—he's already scored four goals in two Bundesliga rounds, an absolute phenomenal talent!"

"He scored against Real Madrid's goal in last season's Champions League! He set a historical record for a young player in the Champions League!"

"Also, in the match against Wolfsburg, his 80-meter long run, dribbling past four defenders before scoring, was stunning—I believe he has a brilliant future!"

Now it was Braitenreit's turn to be unsettled.

"No no no! Sané just has strong dribbling; his other abilities are average. Yes yes yes, the club and he have completed the renewal."

Damn it.

Don't even think about targeting our Schalke youth training gem!

Europe's top clubs have long had their eyes on Sané.

Especially Bayern...

Inside the player tunnel.

Players from both sides warmly greeted each other.

There was not a hint of hostile tension.

Many players had formed deep friendships during their youth training days.

For example, Sané spent three years in Leverkusen's youth academy before returning to Schalke 04's youth setup.

Li Kang looked over the tunnel's walls and ceiling, feeling as if he were inside a mine.

He then turned his gaze toward Schalke 04's lineup.

The opposing team's starting lineup today.

They are all elite players who will later establish themselves at Bayern, Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, and Manchester City.

Brandt suddenly patted his shoulder: "Li, this is your Bundesliga debut!"

Kramer quickly corrected: "Li played in the first Bundesliga round, but he barely took a few steps on the pitch before the match ended."

Veltins-Arena.

Packed to the rafters, every seat taken.

Blue-and-white flags fluttered in the wind.

Schalke 04 fans sang in unison the stirring anthem that gets the blood pumping.

The referee crew led the players from both teams out of the tunnel.

The four large LED boards around the stadium immediately displayed the starting lineups of both teams.

"CTV5! CTV5! Good evening, viewers! We are now broadcasting the third round of the 2015/16 Bundesliga season!"

"Schalke 04 host Leverkusen!"

"A clash of Bundesliga giants! Their encounters never lack goals!"

"Next, we'll introduce the starting lineups of both teams!"

"Schalke 04 lines up in a 4-3-3 formation!"

"Goalkeeper: Fahrmann!"

"Left back: Ogo!"

"Center backs: Matip partnered with Höwedes!"

"Right back: Riether!"

"Midfield: Hojbjerg, Goretzka, and Meyer!"

"Left wing: Choupo-Moting!"

"Striker: Huntelaar!"

"Right wing: Sané!"

"Leverkusen also lines up in a 4-3-3 formation!"

"Goalkeeper:..."

"...."