The Prince of Inter Milan starts with Brother Xiaosa

Chapter 72 Halftime Lead
  On October 2008, 10, Inter Milan ushered in the second round of this season's UEFA Champions League group stage at home.

Leo and his opponent today, Werder Bremen, performed well last season and qualified for the Champions League as second in the Bundesliga.

In this game, the Magic Birds still used the 4312 formation from the previous game.

The goalkeeper is still Cesar. Zanetti replaced Chivu who suffered a muscle injury and played at left back. Cordoba and Materazzi partnered as central defender and right back Maicon.

Leo continues to serve as the attacking midfielder, with Muntari, Stankovic and Vieira protecting behind him.

Adriano's condition has improved slightly recently and he got a starting opportunity to play alongside Ibrahimovic.

"It doesn't matter, you are better than him, the coach will realize it soon, but you have to find a way to score!"

Balotelli, who was very unhappy with the substitute, glared at Adriano fiercely and nodded with Leo's comfort.

The visiting team's head coach Schaaf also arranged a 4-4-2 starting lineup.

Swedish forward Rosenberg, who scored 14 goals on behalf of Werder Bremen last season, and Pizarro partnered up front.

Their core midfielder Diego scored 12 goals and six assists in only 21 appearances last season, and was listed as a key target by Mourinho.

The other three midfielders are Frings, Frank Bowman and... Ergou is a dead man with big eyes.

The center back combination is Mertesacker and Nardo, and the goalkeeper is Wiese.

Judging from the lineup, Inter Milan is still better at home, and everyone is optimistic that they will continue to win at Meazza.

The game just started, Leo scored the ball, Ibrahimovic passed from the left, and Ade flew from the penalty spot with his left foot and volleyed slightly over the crossbar!

Both forwards seemed to be in good condition today, and Leo was relieved.

That is, if Adriano really recovers, Balotelli's playing opportunities may be squeezed to a considerable extent.

Can Ade, who has been depressed since his father's death, really be able to regain his former state? It's hard to say.

However, the visiting team soon entered the rhythm of the game. Werder Bremen captain Frank Bowman, who served as defensive midfielder today, faced off against Leo.

Inter Milan knows to focus on marking the opponent's offensive core, and of course the Bundesliga teams will also target Leo.

The fierce defensive Germans caused a lot of trouble for Leo.

"You don't want me to get the ball in a dangerous area again. Didn't they watch the last game?"

But when Leo went to the wing to get the ball and Bowman still followed him, he was completely speechless.

"You have to target me regardless of your formation, right?"

After being double-teamed and intercepted by Bremen full-backs Pasanen and Bowman, Leo stood helplessly with his hands on his hips.

Leo didn't want to get entangled with the opponent at the beginning of the game, so he took the initiative to give in.

Don't tell me, Bremen coach Schaff's targeted arrangements really worked.

It restricted Leo's performance and also weakened Inter Milan's aggressiveness to a great extent.

Instead, they got some space to attack.

Ergo passed through the Nerazzurri's defense with a direct pass. Diego's long shot from the edge of the penalty area was blocked by Cesar falling to the right.

There was no need for Mourinho to shout personally, Leo made a gesture to his teammates.

Since his opponent valued him so much, he could only switch from the main attack point to a feint attack for the time being.

Leo attracted the attention of defensive players on the outside and created space for other Inter Milan players.

Muntari took the ball to the back post, and Ibrahimovic stopped the ball on his chest and volleyed the ball but was blocked from the baseline.

"It doesn't smell like that!"

Ibrahimovic clicked his tongue. He was used to Leo's precise passes. Naturally, he felt a little uncomfortable when he received a pass of Muntari's level.

Bremen could not tell that they were on the road at all, so they boldly continued to attack. Diego passed the ball diagonally, but Rosenberg's push shot failed to gain momentum and was blocked by the Inter Milan goalkeeper.

Leo only had a comfortable passing opportunity when he was counterattacking. He sent a long pass from the backcourt!

Adriano catches the ball and drives into the penalty area!
  However, it is a pity that the Brazilian's shot was blocked by Mertesacker who struggled to catch up.

Although fewer and fewer people call Adriano king now, because his performance is no longer worthy of this title.

But Leo is still a little awkward. Why does his agent insist on helping him get the title of "Prince of Inter Milan"?

Leo only hopes that Ade will leave as soon as possible. On the one hand, it can make room for his little friend Balotelli, and on the other hand, it can just happen that he can take off his prince's hat as soon as possible.

Continuing to be pressed by the opponent's defense, Leo's position became further and further away from the opponent's goal.

In the 23rd minute, Ibrahimovic broke through the frontcourt and the ball was intercepted by Bowman.

How did Bowman get there? Wasn't he responsible for guarding Leo?

It turns out that Leo was still hanging around the center circle at this time, with no defensive players around him at all.

Although the Nerazzurri's attack was stopped, the crisis was not truly resolved.

The ball was taken by Maicon on the right, and the Brazilian right back broke through with the ball into the hinterland of the penalty area!
  In the chaos, Bremen's players rushed back to defend, and it was inevitable that some mistakes would be made.

Just when they focused all their attention on Maicon and the two Inter forwards, Leo had unknowingly reached the top of the penalty area.

Leo, who had no outstanding performance for about ten minutes, was ignored by his opponent, which was very good.

There were defensive players in front of him, and Maicon, who had lost his chance to shoot, knocked back to the penalty area.

There was no one marking Leo, so he went up and fired a low shot!
  The ball hit Mertesacker's feet against the turf, changed direction and rolled into the goal!
  One to zero!

Leo's goal helped Inter Milan break the deadlock on the field!

Smiling, he ran to the north stand and facing the die-hard Inter Milan fans, Leo bent his bow and arrow and received warm applause from the audience!

It has to be Leo, he has scored in two consecutive Champions League games!
  After scoring, Leo was once again entangled by Bowman. The Bremen captain felt that it was his carelessness that caused the team to concede the goal.

Vieira tackled Ergo and successfully stole the ball and handed it to Leo.

Inter Milan's frontcourt playmaker dribbled the ball into the penalty area close to the visiting team.

This time when faced with Bowman, Leo didn't want to be polite to him. Do you really think I'm afraid of you?

He pretended to pass the ball and lured the German to stretch his legs to intercept. Leo quickly pulled the ball and turned around, speeding up to get rid of the candy-like Bowman and breaking through to the edge of the penalty area.

Did you see that it is as easy for me to pass you as it is to pass a wooden stake?
  After passing through, Leo passed the ball without stopping and sent an exquisite through ball into the open space in the penalty area. Adriano was half a step slower, and the ball was cleared by the visiting team's center back Nardo first.

Mourinho frowned.

Adelaide's performance in training was actually good, but why was he like this again on the field?

The Portuguese turned his head and glanced at Balotelli, who was sitting on the bench with his chin in his hands, and sighed inwardly.

As the head coach, Mourinho definitely hopes that the former "King" in the team can return to his peak, or at least 70% to 80%.

But it looks like it’s going to be difficult.

Leo's pass couldn't have been better, but Adriano still spit out the "cake" that his teammates put to his mouth.

Ergo launched an attack in the middle. Prodel and Rosenberry hit the wall and cooperated with each other before passing a low pass from the right. Pizarro shot in front of the small penalty area!

The ball hit the bottom of the right goal post and bounced back into the field!

Before the end of the first half, the visiting team almost scored to equalize the score, but fortunately, the goalpost was successful.

(End of this chapter)