The Rise of the Iron Wall!

The referee also stood close to the center, checking on everything first before getting a subtle nod from all of his assistants around the pitch. Once everything was ready, with the whistle on the tip of his lips...

FWEEE!

The first game of the season finally began!

Bayern Munich, the title holder last year, fought against Schalke, who managed to escape from the relegation zone at the last second!

Just this alone was enough to let everyone know that the federation wanted to make everything perfect for the first game of the season, letting all the fans in the world see the dominance of Bayern Munich from the very first second of the season.

"Come on, Bayern! Come on, Lewy!"

"Thomas, we will rely on you! Score two goals at least!"

"Don’t show mercy here! Kill your opponent!"

Even though the federation allowed at most 10 percent of the capacity to attend the game, only around 300 to 400 people attended today’s game live in the stands. Well, not that anyone could blame the other supporters, as the COVID-19 virus was still raging in Germany.

Still, with a lower number there, it made every shout loud and clear, and Higo himself couldn’t help but feel the corner of his lips twitch when he heard that.

’Yeah, having only a small group of supporters is definitely way weirder than playing in an empty game like before.’ He thought inwardly.

Of course, it was only for a brief moment that Higo let his concentration slip. In the next second, his gaze went back to the pitch again, especially when Leroy Sane and Benjamin Pavard started to do a combination pass that would let one of them escape to the touchline.

’A cross... No, a cutback!’ Higo realized immediately without even relying on his clairvoyant image, knowing full well what Leroy Sane wanted. "Omar-san! Get ready for a cutback! Keep an eye on the midfield!" He shouted before the opponent even acted.

Thud!

True enough, a second later, the ball went to the half-arc area of the penalty box, and while Omar still couldn’t comprehend how Higo knew where to go, the command came in time, and his body also reacted instinctively, which allowed the captain to deflect the pass away from Josua Kimmich, who was trying to sneak from behind.

"YES, CAPTAIN! What a defense!"

"Good job, Omar! Keep your guard up until the end!"

The rest of the defenders came to the captain to give a high-five after seeing that the ball went out of bounds. Still, that didn’t mean Bayern’s offense was over just like that. No, if anything, it was only the start of this long day.

With the free throw being given to them, Alphonso Davies played it quickly, and somehow, Thomas Muller switched side with Serge Gnabry, as the speedy winger suddenly arrived on the channel space inside the penalty box.

Thud!

This time, a Trivela pass through the ground was sent by the Canadian fullback, taking advantage of the fact that Muller managed to drag Sead Kolasinac to his side so that Serge Gnabry could escape there.

Unlike Leroy Sane, though, Serge Gnabry didn’t have it in his bones to pass the ball, not when he himself was already inside the box. With a quick glance at the penalty box, he locked in Higo’s position before delivering a decisive shot to the far post of the goal.

BAM!

It was fortunate that Higo had already reacted before the ball was coming. He just extended his left foot, letting it deflect the ball away from his goal. Even though it still gave the home team a corner kick, at least the goal was still safe, and he managed to maintain his clean sheet in the first 5 minutes of the game.

"Nice save, Higo!"

"Hah! Whoever told the media that you are just a one-season wonder is blind, I tell you that!"

"Come on!"

Higo snorted as he accepted everyone’s help to get up from the ground. Still, he didn’t dare to lower his guard right now, not when the two wingers started to change their gazes to him. It was as if two predators suddenly had their eyes on him, and as a little prey here, the boy couldn’t help but shudder even just for a second.

Well, how could they not, when the attempt from those two wingers had just stopped by Higo, from Sane’s cutback to Gnabry’s ground shot. Coupled with Lewandowski, who was still being so curious about scoring a goal against him...

’Yeah, fuck! I really paint a big target on my back, huh?’ The boy cringed inwardly.

Unfortunately, this was not something that he could change easily, not unless he conceded a goal here. However, Higo didn’t intend to let any ball get through him today, so the boy had to accept that he was going to be prey today.

’Oh, well, not the first time I get this treatment. Come on, let’s see how far you can break me!’ Higo licked the corner of his lips unconsciously.

After this, Bayern had a corner kick for them, and Benjamin Pavard sent a quick cross high to the center of the penalty box. It was definitely a targeted pass, aiming at the crowd so that Higo would never dare to rush in, while still sending the ball to where Lewandowski, Jerome Boateng, and even Niklas Sule, three of the strongest players on the pitch when it came to aerial duels, gathered.

However, Schalke’s defense also didn’t stay idle. They fought for the ball as well, and...

𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

BAM!

A collision occurred!

However, the commotion didn’t stop just like that. No, the ball was still in the penalty box, and everyone around was fighting to get it first. Hell, some shots were made, and the ball just bounced all over the place, making it hard for the players there to track.

Higo himself was also sweating bullets, shifting his position a lot to keep up with whatever was in front of him right now. Fortunately, though, his cheat code suddenly flared at the last moment, as the boy widened his eyes after an image flashed inside his head.

’Middle, between my legs! Low!’

BAM!