"Welcome, viewers, to this match between Tottenham and Arsenal. The two teams currently sit at second and first place respectively in this season's Premier League standings!"
"An absolute clash of titans, a battle for the top spot!"
As night fell, fans across China gathered in front of their screens, eagerly awaiting the kickoff.
It was a peculiar phenomenon how people's moods often became more excited at night, an anomaly that was hard to fathom.
On the pitch, Cao Baming had already taken his position, calmly awaiting the referee's whistle.
In these few seconds, he could see the opposing players all wearing fierce expressions.
Son Heung-min, in particular, had pinned him down twice before, and still seemed unconvinced. The look on his face clearly screamed 'I want revenge!' Truly an unkillable cockroach!
Today's lineup featured all their core starters from both sides. No matter which team, this match was of utmost importance. The league leaders and the runners-up both possessed considerable skill, otherwise, they wouldn't have reached these positions on luck alone.
Soon, a loud, clear whistle blew!
The entire stadium erupted like it had been set ablaze, fans cheering, screaming, and dancing in celebration of the opening whistle!
Tottenham kicked off. Harry Kane passed back to Romero before making a forward run.
The match didn't immediately descend into the tense, heated affair the audience expected. Both sides were aware of the opponent's ball-handling capabilities and chose not to expend too much energy on tackles, instead waiting for better opportunities.
At this moment, the commentators couldn't find much excitement to latch onto, so they began discussing the history between the two teams and their current form.
"You can tell both teams are playing cautiously, mainly opting for back passes!"
"Yes, indeed!"
Minutes passed on the field, and neither side had managed a single shot. The most attention-grabbing player, Cao Baming, was currently positioned at the back, playing as a center-back.
"Tottenham can be considered the absolute leader of the new era, especially their knife-like playing style, which is truly unique in the league!"
"Unlike other teams, they seem to have rarely experienced significant downturns, always maintaining a very high level of performance! It seems their floor is already higher than most teams' ceiling."
"Arsenal's past is also incredibly glorious, especially during Wenger's decade-plus tenure. They won countless honors and set numerous records in the Premier League!"
"Even today, many of those records remain unbroken!"
"That's right!"
"Henry's return, his presence on the field, inevitably evokes nostalgia in the fans. At times, it even feels like stepping back into the past!"
...
As the on-field situation gradually became clearer, the commentators' discussions became more animated.
Ten minutes into the match, Cao Baming knew it was time for him to make his own judgment call!
The head coach had prepared numerous tactical arrangements. At this juncture, he could choose to move to midfield and orchestrate the tempo. In his opinion, this was indeed a better direction at the moment.
The possession rate for both teams was currently a five-five split, with Tottenham holding a slight edge.
After switching positions with his teammate, Cao Baming personally moved into midfield, and the situation immediately changed.
The Tottenham midfielders instantly became alert. In their eyes, Cao Baming was like a monster; not only was his tackling ability top-tier, but his passing, control, and attacking transitions were utterly bewildering!
After arriving in midfield, Cao Baming didn't immediately start running. Even though the ball was still at Romero's feet, he showed no signs of panic.
From the spectators' perspective, he seemed to be strolling.
But from the Tottenham players' point of view, Cao Baming was like a predator lurking in the shadows, observing its prey, ready to strike at any moment to deliver a fatal blow!
He wasn't known for his high tackling intensity, but rather for his frighteningly high tackle success rate and his strategic positioning.
A ninety percent success rate essentially meant that nearly nine out of ten promising attacks would be shut down. Anyone would get sick of it.
Moreover, his positioning was as if he could predict where the ball would be in a few seconds, always appearing there in advance.
Within thirty seconds, possession had changed hands, with Son Heung-min ultimately losing the ball.
Facing Cao Baming, he had intended to trick him with a dribble and then send a through ball to Harry Kane upfront.
However, he failed once again!
After losing the ball, Son Heung-min quickly chased back to press, but Cao Baming passed the ball away in two steps and then shrugged helplessly at Son Heung-min behind him.
Both were Asian players, arguably countrymen. Why the animosity?
Son Heung-min displayed a look of defiance and hurried away, while Cao Baming remained in place, still strolling.
"A brilliant interception! Possession has changed hands again, and the pace seems to have quickened!" The commentator's words made the fans' hearts race with renewed tension.
"Ever since Cao Baming moved to midfield, things have been different!"
"His thinking always seems to be one or even two steps ahead of everyone else, forcing others to rack their brains to improve their reaction speed, naturally speeding up the tempo."
"But keeping up with his thought process is not something an ordinary person can achieve!"
At this moment, the ball happened to reach Messi's feet, and the commentator's eyes lit up, spotting another player worthy of praise.
"Exactly! In today's football world, perhaps only Messi can keep up with Cao Baming's thought process!"
"These two are destined to be teammates!"
Cao Baming's casual pass eventually led to a header attempt by Henry!
Although it didn't hit the target, ten minutes into the match, this was the first shot!
The passes from Cao Baming and Messi, each piercing through two or three defenders with sharp through balls, caused Tottenham's defense to lose its usual solidity.
However, soon, Tottenham gradually showed everyone that their defense was still reliable!
Only one shot in ten minutes was enough to illustrate the point!
When possession once again fell to Arsenal, they intensified their pressing, quickly forcing an error from their opponents.
Vieira's pass, intended for Messi, was deflected by interference and went wide with a semi-high trajectory.
It was only due to Messi's exceptional anticipation and ball control that he managed to stretch out and hook the ball towards himself. However, Bissouma, right behind him, didn't hesitate and lunged in, making a tackle!
He managed to block the ball, but Messi was simultaneously tripped and fell to the ground. The referee promptly awarded a free kick.
The fans' hearts skipped a beat. Messi had fallen, let's hope he wasn't injured!