Chelsea's 0-0 draw with Liverpool in the last league fixture failed to take advantage of the chance to level points with a game in hand, so Blues boss Simeone made a rare statement after that game that Chelsea had fallen behind in the race for the league title this season.

Lu Ling naturally didn't believe that the Argentines really thought so. However, it is also a strategy. It's just that she and Nick don't like to play this strategy. Personality dictates.

The league situation now is that QPR has a replay at Middlesbrough in hand, two points ahead of Chelsea and four points ahead of Everton. However, on 17 April, the QPR travels to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea directly. Lu Ling believes that the ownership of this season's Premier League title may not be really clear until after that game.

On 6 March, the QPR rested Gonzalo, Phil and Benjamin for the 27th round of the league against Newcastle United, certainly in preparation for the second leg against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

In the first half, QPR led 2-0 at home thanks to goals from Leon and Patrick. In the second half, Lu Ling replaced the two goalscorers and John, and the opponent did not resist much, and the score of 2:0 remained until the end.

Immediately after the game, the QPR coaching staff had a meeting. The team won Newcastle well in this round to maintain the advantage in the table, and many important players were rested. Glenn recovered quickly after his return, and Lu Ling was very satisfied with it. However, Jacob suffered a minor concussion and will not be able to return for about two weeks.

The season has gradually entered the late stages, the team is still in good physical condition and mental condition, and the Carabao Cup victory has also boosted the morale of the whole team.

Everything is ready, just head to the Allianz Arena for the second leg against Bayern.

****

On the afternoon of March 8.

When the plane landed at Munich Airport, Lu Ling still hadn't made a final decision.

Outside the window, the weather is sunny in Munich.

Just yesterday this time, the QPR first team was training at Harrington Training Base with modest intensity. But soon after the training began, Lu Ling found that JT's state was not right. She immediately stopped training. It turned out that JT had a cold and had a high body temperature.

The unexpected change, combined with Jake's concussion in the Carabao Cup final, left her back three/back five two out of the line. One person can be adjusted, but if JT is also absent...... Perhaps this game will require a switch back to a back four, with Glenn and David Luiz in central defence. As a result, Gonzalo, John, Ian's positioning, David's duties, and so on had to be rearranged.

The team arrived at the hotel shortly after. The players and coaches will go back to their rooms to settle in, and after a short break, they will go to Allianz together.

During this time, Lu Ling had other jobs, and she needed to go to the conference room of the hotel for a press conference.

'JT has been doing well lately and this game he was sick and it was a loss for us because our new style of play has taken shape. But I think we'll respond appropriately. ”

"We know very well what awaits us at the Allianz Arena. Trust me, so do my players. They haven't forgotten last season's defeat. ”

'What formation is used, a back four or a back three? I don't think it matters. The important thing is that the players are 100 per cent. However, the three centre-backs are clearly the more secure style of play and John is now comfortable in his new position, which we have played a number of games in the past month and it will be difficult to give up. ”

When he left the press conference, Lu Ling had a mysterious smile on his face.

Julian Nagelsmann, can you take any useful information from what I said?

She knows that if the opponent is Nick Flores, the answer is yes.

****

Evening of March 9. Allianz Arena.

As soon as Lu Ling walked out of the locker room, he heard the rumbling in the stadium. The live announcer was broadcasting the list of QPR players, and each name was accompanied by a huge boo – the loudest when Patrick Amber was read. Then there is the list of Bayern players. The announcer pronounced the player's first name, and tens of thousands of voices followed by their last name.

The prelude to the Champions League theme song has sounded. Players from both teams step onto the pitch.

Lu Ling walked out of the player's tunnel behind him. 70,000 people. She smiled. It's oppressive. She looked at the stadium and it seemed that every detail was proclaiming dominance, the glory and pride of German football.

A year ago, Bayern Munich easily crushed the blue and white here.

But a year later, it was her blue and white legion that came here.

It may not be the same.

Lu Ling has already shaken hands with the Bayern coach. When she sat down, the whistle blew.

QPR kicks off first. Tsunami-like boos shook the audience.

****

Julian Nagelsmann looks at the situation on the field.

The QPR is lined up with a back four.

Kristen Lue's words in the pre-match press conference, while ambiguous and somewhat confusing, mean little to him. Anyway, he has prepared two sets of plans to deal with the QPR's three central defenders or four defenders.

However, this formation of four defenders still surprised him a little.

As a result, all four attackers in the QPR team start. This means that they have less protection at the back. She could have put Henk de Graaf on the bench as a backhand. Bayern is 2-1 down on aggregate, so why doesn't she choose to be conservative away from home?

Nagelsmann thought.

Genk De Graf continued up and down the right and Leon Ferreira was constantly moving up and down the left. Phil Beasley was at the front of the formation.

In the center is Patrick-Amber. He doesn't stay in the middle, but moves left or right from time to time, and everywhere he goes, he is sure to attract the tightest attention of the Bayern line.

This is probably the best combination of attacks in the world. Speed, skill, strength, archery, cunning, scrappy, tenacity, and inspiration. And the player in this group also has the ability to lead the team to destruction.

Patrick Amber got the ball in his own half, and as soon as Tolisso tried to get his strong body up, Patrick dodged wide and then held the ball close to the touchline with Felix Gotze and Koeman in front and back. The scene took place on Bayern's right flank, a little up the halfway line, and Nagelsmann could see it up close.

At the moment when the pace of the Englishman's action just slowed down, Gotze and Koeman on the right side of Bayern also subconsciously stopped their steps. Probably because he was afraid of Amber's ability, Gotze didn't dare to get close completely, and Koeman was a little hesitant. Nagelsmann felt for a split second that his opponent wanted a touchline ball as he kicked the ball towards Felix Gotze's leg.

Only one meter from the sideline. Gotze subconsciously stretched his leg, but the moment he touched the ball, Patrick Amber also reached out again—a speed that was absolutely unresponsive. The ball collided between the feet of the two men, knocking out an unpredictable bounce. Nagelsmann's heart skipped a beat as he looked at the bouncing ball. Patrick Amber didn't stop, slotting the bouncing ball forward with his right foot while overtaking himself from outside the white line. The fourth official next to him stumbled and almost fell, and Patrick Amber took a few steps past him, and in an instant he had soared more than ten meters.

Götze nailed in place. Coman couldn't reach it.

Patrick cut through the opposition's two-man defence in the tight touchline area and immediately dribbled to the middle. In the corner of the penalty area, Jule couldn't make a decision on whether to step forward in that short second. Patrick didn't give him more time to think, and slotted the ball flat with his left foot between the legs of the tall centre-back—

The ball shuttled across the box to the far post, Phil Warren stretched out his long legs and scrambled to shoot from close range!

This attack by QPR caused the Bayern fans at the Allianz Arena to exclaim in unison. They probably rejoiced too. And, shocked by what happened in those few seconds. Patrick Amber's skills made it impossible for the home fans to keep their mouths shut.

Nagelsmann gritted his teeth. The game is not a round, it is not an attack. Bayern haven't started playing yet. You know, today I also lined up a back four and strengthened on the offensive end.

Nagelsmann set his sights on the player, Bayern's No.10, Robin Schaffle, and he spat on the ground and looked at the manager at the same time.

The little man showed slightly crooked white teeth, and a smile flashed in his dark brown eyes.

If you want to win or lose offensively, then come.

*****

Lu Ling noticed that Bayern's pressure had increased.

Pate's supernatural ability can intimidate any opponent, but the thousands of shouts that rang out at the Allianz Arena seemed to inspire Bayern to keep going.

It makes sense that this is suicidal.

Lu Ling knows Nagelsmann's logic of letting the team let go of forward pressure. It would be irrational to expect not to concede a goal against this QPR team. Then, it is better to take the initiative to create chaos by attacking when the deadlock has not yet been broken.

Nagelsmann was also battling for that first goal – a crucial one.

This strategy of attacking against attack is based on the fact that the QPR backline is not perfect. In JT's absence, David Luiz and Glenn Mitchell partnered in double centre-backs...... It is undeniable that the Brazilian is not fully qualified for this position right now, and he needs more protection.

The reason why Lu Ling finally chose a back four instead of the more secure back three/back five switch was because he didn't want to drag the rhythm in Allianz and give Schaffle a chance to settle down and gradually break down his defense.

So the game became like this: ten seconds before the ball was in the Bayern penalty area, ten seconds later the ball was in the QPR penalty area.

It's a crazy matchup, with plenty of opportunities on both sides.

In twenty minutes, QPR had five shots on goal and three in goal range, while Bayern had four shots on goal and two in goal range. Strangely enough, there were no goals, and the performance of the two German goalkeepers was incredible.

Like two warriors poking each other with bayonets, neither side cares about their flaws and just wants to kill their opponents as soon as possible.

If it was just luck that didn't score...... Lu Lingshang is acceptable. But the reason why she feels that QPR is always a little bit worse is not just because Neuer plays well.

Whenever the QPR came up on one side, she saw the little German guy bouncing to the same side, very similar to how he moved in the last game. The difference is that this Robin Schauffer showed his edge from the start. He will directly threaten the end of the QPR momentum with the ball. The player is so young that he has learned to use his offensive deterrence to contain the opposition's attacks. Tim was right, she would have a list of players she regretted not signing, and Saffle was on that list right now.

Saffle takes the ball on the field. He was able to get the ball because the QPR had conceded a goal on his side of the attack.

John, who had reverted to the right-back position, should have stepped in to support Genk, however, he was hesitant to do so under Schafre's control. As a result, Genk, who lacked support, made a mistake, forced a pass that was blocked by Alaba and caught by Shafre, who had been prepared for a long time.

Saffle dribbled in front of John O'Connor and controlled the ball with his delicate touch and superb pace, making it impossible for the QPR players to judge the direction of his movements. Only Benjamin seemed to have guessed, and he reached for his opponent's straight through the gap – but guessing doesn't mean he can do it. Saffle temporarily changed the pass from a close ball to a half-high ball, and the ball flew into the QPR penalty area.

Moussa Dembele followed up with a left-footed volley that flew just over the crossbar. Now, the number of shots on goal for both sides has become five against five.

Lu Ling frowned on the sidelines.

The 70,000 people at the Allianz Arena create an atmosphere like a red purgatory. In the current state of attack, the physical exertion on both sides will be much faster than in the average game. It should soon be a physical ** neck period. The QPR playing away from home is clearly in a more dangerous situation. 166 Reading Network