January 2019, Saturday. In Leganés, south of Madrid, the temperature was below ten degrees Celsius, and the air was bitingly cold.
However, the training ground next to Butarque Stadium was exceptionally lively due to a special match.
This was Leganés B Team's first warm-up match after a short winter break, and their opponent was the city rival Getafe B Team.
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Despite being just a friendly match and during the League break, many keen local fans still showed up.
Hundreds of people sparsely filled the stands, bundled in thick winter clothes and drinking hot coffee, eager for the long-awaited sound of football.
Most notably, Leganés' first-team head coach, Mauricio Pellègrino, was also present in the stands.
He had clearly come with a specific purpose—to scout for potential talent in the B Team as the winter transfer window and the second half of the season approached.
In the locker room, Coach Chema Rico was setting up tactics.
His gaze lingered on Lu Chuan for a few extra seconds.
This was Lu Chuan's fourth day in Spain, and his first time stepping onto the field as a Leganés B Team player.
"Guys, even though it's a warm-up match, we need to show the right attitude and competitiveness!"
Chema said, "Getafe B Team are our old rivals, and they won't go easy on us.
Today, Coach Pellègrino is also here; this is your chance to show what you can do. Especially you, Lu, the newcomer, play freely and show your abilities!"
Leganés B Team Starting Lineup (4-3-3):
Goalkeeper: Alberto
Defenders: Sergio, Juanjo, Lalo, Javi Hernández
Midfielders: Luis Pereya, Dani García, Pedro Moreno
Forwards: Lu Chuan, Carlos Morales, Pablo Sánchez
Getafe B Team Starting Lineup (4-4-2):
Goalkeeper: David Soria
Defenders: Juan Iglesias, Marcos Ríos, José García, Raúl García
Midfielders: Rubén García, Xavi Robles, Pablo Gómez, Iván Martín
Forwards: Hugo Duro, Darío Ramos
With a whistle from the referee, the match officially began.
Getafe B Team clearly got into the rhythm earlier, starting with aggressive pressing, trying to limit Leganés B Team's ball distribution through high-pressure tactics.
As a left winger, Lu Chuan felt the intensity of a Segunda División B level match on his first touch.
The opposing right-back, Juan Iglesias, stuck close to him, and midfielder Xavi Robles quickly formed a double-team, cleanly breaking up his first attempt to dribble past them.
"It's okay, Little Lu! Take your time!" Captain Javi Hernández shouted encouragement from behind him.
Lu Chuan took a deep breath. He could feel the long-lost excitement of the game, and at the same time, his brain was rapidly analyzing the opponent's defensive habits and his teammates' movement patterns.
He began to consciously adjust his positioning, no longer sticking rigidly to the wing, but moving more towards the center to find space to receive the ball.
In the 25th minute, the deadlock was broken.
A Getafe B Team attack was precisely anticipated by Luis Pereya at the edge of the box; he slid sideways like lightning, dispossessing the ball from the opponent's forward, Hugo Duro.
It was a textbook interception, clean and decisive, instantly turning possession into an attacking opportunity.
The ball was poked to the left by Luis Pereya.
Leganés B Team's captain, Javi Hernández, quickly surged forward to receive it. Without a moment's hesitation, he looked up and immediately spotted Lu Chuan, who had pulled into space on the right side of the box.
He didn't opt for a blind cross but delivered a precise diagonal long pass. The ball, with an inward spin, soared over Getafe B Team's defense, flying directly into Lu Chuan's running path.
Lu Chuan understood perfectly, accelerating his sprint and controlling the ball about 25 meters from the goal.
The ball was perfectly stopped at his feet.
In front of him was the retreating Xavi Robles, and to his side was Juan Iglesias; both were closing in, forming a pincer movement.
Lu Chuan had little time to deal with the ball, but he showed no panic.
Just as he was about to adjust his shooting angle, a "ding" sounded in his mind,
A system prompt popped up: "Detecting that the host's current position and posture meet the trigger conditions, do you want to activate [Guaranteed Long Shot Card]?"
Lu Chuan silently murmured "Activate" without hesitation.
A strange power instantly filled his right leg. His gaze locked onto the top-left corner of the goal, the goalkeeper's blind spot.
His right foot tensed, his body leaned slightly back, and he suddenly unleashed a powerful shot—a thunderous strike!
The ball, with intense spin and incredible speed, tore through the cold air, heading straight for the top corner of the goal!
Getafe B Team's goalkeeper, David Soria, didn't even have time to react. He only managed a symbolic dive as the ball slammed fiercely into the net, sending white ripples through the netting!
"GOOOOOOL!"
The entire training ground instantly erupted!
Hundreds of fans in the stands all jumped up simultaneously, letting out deafening cheers.
This goal, with its tricky angle and immense power, was simply a world-class strike!
Pellègrino abruptly stood up, even forgetting the notebook in his hand, his eyes filled with incredulous shock and wild joy.
He stared intently at Lu Chuan and Xavi on the field; he had come to scout Xavi.
Currently, the first team in La Liga was conceding too many goals, and the defensive line was unstable. Xavi's recent performance indicated he could already hold his own in La Liga. However, seeing Lu Chuan's performance this time piqued his interest.
"Great job, Lu!" Lu Chuan, who had scored, was surrounded by his teammates. Captain Javi Hernández excitedly patted his back,
"That shot! It was a work of art!" Luis Pereya also ran over, smiling and giving a thumbs-up.
Chema Rico enthusiastically waved his fists on the sidelines, an uncontrollable smile on his face.
He gave Lu Chuan a thumbs-up and then pointed to Pellègrino in the stands, signaling that Lu Chuan's performance had been noticed.
In the remainder of the match, Lu Chuan played with even more confidence.
He no longer confined himself to the wing but frequently interchanged positions with Pedro Moreno and Dani García, creating chaos in the attacking midfield.
His speed and dribbling caused Getafe B Team's defense considerable trouble, and several breakthroughs created threats.
Once, he even dribbled past two players consecutively at the edge of the box, but unfortunately, his final shot went slightly wide.
Getafe B Team did not get discouraged. Their striker, Hugo Duro, began to drop back more to receive the ball, trying to link up attacks.
His physical presence and ball-holding ability put considerable pressure on Leganés B Team's defense.
Getafe's wing attacks also became more active, attempting to create chances through crosses.
However, Leganés B Team's defense was very solid; center-backs Juanjo and Lalo made several crucial headed clearances, and goalkeeper Alberto also made two brilliant saves.
And Luis Pereya's interceptions and coverage in midfield remained Leganés B Team's strongest barrier.
His positioning and fierce tackles repeatedly thwarted Getafe's offensives, making it difficult for the opposing midfielders to comfortably distribute the ball.
The first half ended with the score at 1-0. Leganés B Team went into halftime with a one-goal lead.
Lu Chuan walked towards the players' tunnel with his teammates. He could feel the curious and excited gazes of the fans in the stands, as well as Coach Pellègrino's burning stare, as if he had already been targeted.
"Great job, Lu!" Javi Hernández patted his shoulder, his eyes full of admiration, "Keep it up in the second half!"
Lu Chuan smiled and nodded, filled with an unprecedented sense of satisfaction. This was the football he wanted.