Free Web NovelChapter 524: Chapter 105: Record Reaper! The Battle for Wang Shuo! Best Start in History! Even God Is Helping Dortmund
This ranking was clearly unsatisfactory.
The calls for Van Gaal to be sacked had grown louder and louder.
In its special league edition released after this round of Bundesliga matches, Kicker Magazine pointed out that Dortmund’s 10-game winning streak had set a new record for the best start in Bundesliga history, while also extending their lead to six points.
After just 10 rounds, they were already ahead by six points, and a full 12 points ahead of third-place Hoffenheim.
"This might even be the most predictable Bundesliga season in history!"
Kicker Magazine believed that Dortmund’s winning streak was astonishing, but what lay behind the streak was even more important.
"When we look back at all the past winning streaks or incredible season starts, we find that the success of these teams was never a coincidence."
"Behind the winning streak is the result of a combination of factors: the tactical wisdom of a top-tier coach, the peak form of key players, the united effort of the entire squad, and the mature system of the club’s overall operations."
"Look at Dortmund this season. Klopp has spent over a year imprinting his tactical mark on the team. He has shown everyone that this is his team."
"As Dortmund’s core player, Wang Shuo has been in peak form during this winning streak, scoring 20 league goals in 10 matches. This is the highest goal-scoring efficiency in Bundesliga history."
"And let’s not forget his nine assists."
"Dortmund has scored 41 goals in the first 10 rounds of the season, making them the team with the most potent attack at the start of a season in Bundesliga history. Wang Shuo was directly involved in 29 of those goals."
"That’s not even counting the chances he created that led to indirect assists."
Kicker Magazine argued that the winning streak was about more than just statistics; it signified Dortmund’s powerful resurgence.
"Perhaps, many years from now, when people talk about Bundesliga history, they will inevitably talk about this Dortmund team of Klopp and Wang Shuo. Together, they have overturned the established power structure of the Bundesliga!"
...
Wang Shuo recalled an old poem that went something like this.
"When fortune smiles, the world lends its strength; when luck runs out, even heroes are helpless."
This verse perfectly described the current Dortmund side.
After the team secured its 10-game winning streak, nearly everyone in Germany considered Dortmund the top favorite to win the title this season. It was almost a sure thing.
And miraculously, their luck in the Champions League group stage draw had been truly excellent.
Lyon, Benfica, and Spartak Moscow. While all were mid-tier teams, Dortmund had a great chance of winning against each of them, creating a favorable opportunity to advance from the group stage.
Even the dreaded November trip to Moscow, which everyone feared, seemed to be working in their favor. Just as Dortmund was about to travel to Russia after playing Mainz, the Russian meteorological station announced that a warm air current had arrived in Moscow.
Moscow was expected to experience an unusually mild winter for November, the likes of which hadn’t been seen since 1927.
Of course, a "mild winter" in Russia referred to the daytime; the temperature at night was still quite low.
On November 2nd, the daytime temperature was around 7 to 9 degrees Celsius, and at night, it was about four or five degrees.
The current temperature in Dortmund was around 12 or 13 degrees Celsius during the day and seven or eight at night.
And here was another miraculous thing: in most European countries and regions, Champions League matches were played at 7:45 PM.
But in Moscow, to avoid the extreme cold at night, winter matches were generally scheduled for 5:30 PM.
In other words, the entire match would basically be played within Dortmund’s comfort zone, temperature-wise.
The extremely cold weather and the brutal, icy conditions the team had imagined did not materialize.
It was just as Klopp said during his pre-match pep talk.
"When Barcelona was grounded by volcanic ash, we come to Russia and are greeted by a warm front!"
"Even God is on our side!"
Everyone at Dortmund, from top to bottom, was fired up.
Wang Shuo naturally felt this energy too.
In the 24th minute of the match, Dortmund’s center-back Hummels sent a long ball forward, trying to play it directly behind the Spartak Moscow defensive line. The Argentine center-back, Pareja, tracked back quickly and, just outside the Arc Top District, got to the ball first, heading it down.
Wang Shuo, who had been following the play, immediately changed direction and rushed forward. Before the ball could hit the ground, he planted his right foot and unleashed a furious shot with his left.
A volley from outside the penalty area, to the left of the Arc Top District, curved through the air before drilling into the right side of the Spartak Moscow net.
The goalkeeper had absolutely no chance and could only watch helplessly as the ball found the back of the net.
"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!"
"What a worldie!"
"Another absolutely brilliant world-class goal!"
"Wang Shuo breaks the deadlock for Dortmund in the 24th minute of the first half!"
"1-0!"
"That was a very decisive strike."
"Pareja got to the landing spot, but his headed clearance was a bit weak. He didn’t get enough distance on it, which gave Wang Shuo the chance to pounce on the second ball."
"Wang Shuo went for it without a moment’s hesitation, just swung his leg and hit it. So decisive!"
"A beautiful world-class goal."
"Looking at the result, Pareja’s headed clearance looked more like a setup for Wang Shuo."
And just before the end of the first half, Dortmund launched another wave of attack.
The attack came down the left flank again, but they couldn’t find Wang Shuo and were forced to pass it back to Shahin.
Shahin then passed to Götze.
Götze quickly distributed the ball with a pass to the left side of the penalty area.
