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Chapter 344 Another blow
In Hoffenheim's locker room, there was the sound of players panting. For Hoffenheim players who have always been physically fit, the running in the first half was not enough to make them tired to this point. What's more, the first half of the game was more of a walk in the midfield. What was really tired was their psychology.

All the hard-earned advantages in the away game have been lost. With a 10-[-] deficit at home, if Hoffenheim wants to advance after [-] minutes, they have to get at least a draw.

This is not an easy task. Based on Benfica's experience, they can use many ways to take the initiative in the second half-they can shrink the defense and then use a quick counterattack to deal with Hoffenheim.

Even Rangnick was in a difficult situation. The blow of conceding two goals in the first half made him feel at a loss. The defeats he had suffered in European competitions were like a mountain on his body.

Now Hoffenheim’s situation is already very bad. If they change to a team with rich experience in European games, they will know that although they conceded two goals, the situation is not so bad. As long as they can score a goal in the second half, the two sides will return to the same starting line.

Because if another goal is conceded, the balance on the field will be completely broken. If Hoffenheim wants to win, they can only get at least one draw, which means they must score at least three goals in the second half. Compared with scoring one goal, the former task is obviously much more difficult.

"I should apologize to everyone."

Rangnick said vigorously: "My misjudgment of the game situation led to our passiveness in the first half." He said this with emotion. If Hoffenheim can attack the slow opponent like the away game in the first game, even if they can't score, they can still make the opponent mess up.

But now Benfica's state has been fully played out, and the team dominated by veterans is like this. Once the state of these old players is stimulated, they can often perform better than when they were young-because they are now more experienced than when they were young!

"I think everyone should be aware of the current situation. We have already faced a very dangerous situation. Fortunately, it has not reached the point of no return." Rangnick sighed: "So in the second half we have to be more proactive in attacking! The pressing in the frontcourt should be tighter, so that they have no chance to pass the ball behind. Gustavo, keep an eye on Aimar. Unless he is off the court, otherwise you should not leave him two meters away, just like he is your intimate lover, and you cannot relax at any time."

The players laughed, and the gloomy atmosphere loosened a little. Gustavo flattened his mouth: "Boss, I'm not interested in men, but in these 45 minutes, I will try my best to stay close to him."

"Li, you were late in the second half, I think you should understand what you have to do." Rangnick turned to Li Jie again, and Li Jie nodded. He was a late player when he was playing against Wolfsburg, and he was the only one who turned around the fastest among Hoffenheim's defenders.

"Ibi, Long, I'll leave the task of scoring goals to you. You don't need to take care of the organization. That's the job of Carlos and the others. All you have to do is stand in front of the goal and hit the ball for me!" Rangnick said, waving his fists.

Long Bisheng and Ibisevic nodded at the same time. They didn't want to stop at the top 32, and they didn't want to be humiliated by Benfica at home!
"Okay, guys! We have no way out in the second half. I know the second half will be tough, but I hope you can persevere until the last moment! Otherwise, we will miss Europe in the next season. Are you willing to leave the European arena so early?" Rangnick waved his arms more frequently, and the players did not let him down. They all roared in unison: "No!"

Of course, no one is willing to leave the European arena so early. For players like them who already have a certain strength but are not too famous, the European arena is a good opportunity for them to make a name for themselves.
Whether it is for Hoffenheim or for themselves, they all hope to go as far as possible in the European arena!

Rangnick felt a little relieved, and he didn't want Hoffenheim to go further in the Europa League, even if they didn't have a chance to win the championship, but one step forward, the players' European experience will increase a lot, which will have a more positive effect on the Champions League next season (if they can participate)!
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The shouts above the stands at Rhein-Neckar Stadium did not weaken, on the contrary, they were louder than in the first half. At the beginning of the second half, Hoffenheim put on a posture of breaking the boat and launched a fierce attack. Their actions gave the fans hope!

So what if you trailed by two goals in the first half?As long as one more goal is scored, the two sides will return to the same starting line!

Eduardo has played at the highest level since the beginning of the season. This small man with a height of only 1.7 meters is still able to organize the game with ease under the defense of the opponent's two midfielders. Under his organization in the middle, Marin and Salihovic on the two wings began to break through frequently, and Baker and Simunić also began to attack frequently. When the two midfielders of Benfica were restrained by Eduardo, Benfica's wing defense began to be tight. Suo was forced to return to the half court to participate in the defense. In addition to the two small men Saviola and Aimar in the frontcourt, even Quaresma also helped defend on the side.

Facing the pincer attack of Quaresma and Shaffer, Marin, who was holding the ball, had no fear at all. He dribbled the ball in small steps so that neither of them dared to take a free kick. After seeing Quaresma rushing up rashly, he immediately dunked the ball, dodged Quaresma's outstretched foot, and quickly dribbled the ball through the gap between the two!
Schafer turned to chase Marin, but was blocked by Quaresma who lost his balance. When he bypassed Quaresma, Marin had already gone far.

Marin dribbled the ball to the bottom line in one go. Seeing that a midfielder from Benfica had returned to defend and cut off his inward cut route, he looked up to observe the situation in the penalty area, and kicked the ball into the penalty area!
Marin's cross is not high, and the speed is relatively fast. Even if Moreira has a large control range, he dare not attack easily, especially when there is a dragon in the penalty area.

Long Bisheng blocked Miranda tightly behind him, and then he saw the ball and jumped high. When he was jumping, he felt Miranda hit him from behind. Long Bisheng did not swing his head to attack the goal when he lost his balance, but pushed the ball forward!
Ibisevic rushed up from behind, grabbed the ball in front of Luisao!

Beautiful alley-oop!The ball flew into the goal like a cannonball, and Hoffenheim pulled it back!
Suddenly there was a huge cheer from the stands. Ibisevic rushed into the goal to pick up the ball, and then ran to his own half, high-fiving his teammates along the way!
"You shouldn't be in such a hurry..." Ning Xi, who had just finished cheering in the stands, saw this scene and couldn't help muttering to herself.

In her opinion, since the total score has been equalized, the next game should be played steadily, instead of thinking about killing the opponent with a stick - but the fans of Hoffenheim don't think so. In their view, since they have pulled back one point, they should continue to attack and lead again until the victory is secured!

In fact, Rangnick's agitation at half-time put the players in a state of extreme excitement. At this time, they thought like the fans, leading the total score again, and then leading the game!

A positive attitude on the court is undoubtedly advisable, but in the two knockout matches of the Europa League, calmness and judgment seem to be more important!
After the re-kick-off, Hoffenheim launched a crazy press in the frontcourt. As soon as Aimar took the ball, Gustavo knocked him down with a side impact. Although he was sentenced to a foul, the atmosphere in the stadium was even more intense!
Quaresma dribbled the ball from the side and was blocked by Baker with an unceremonious block steal. Quaresma hit Baker's back and fell to the ground. He waved at the referee, but the referee ignored him-the game continued!
Hoffenheim immediately organized the offensive to the frontcourt. Salihovic's furious advance on the wing forced Patrick to fight and retreat. After advancing to the 30-meter area, Salihovic suddenly made a cross from a 45-degree angle!
Long Bisheng made a feint shot before, and Ibisevic followed the same pattern, and once again headed the ball to the top!
This time the ball was thrown by Moreira, and Luisao immediately made a big kick!

The ball flew far to the frontcourt, Cardoso overwhelmed Compo with a header to ferry, and Quaresma began to dribble the ball to break through from the side!

This time he chose Simunić's side again. When he dribbled the ball to the corner of the penalty area, Quaresma suddenly raised his foot and made a pass!

Simunić rushed over and tried to block the cross with his body, but the ball hit his back and changed its line. The ball flew straight to the goal. Hildebrand was about to attack and intercept the ball, but he just ran two steps forward and saw the ball flying towards the goal behind him!

Hildebrand, who turned around, slipped, and at this moment, the ball flew into the gate with a strange arc!

(End of this chapter)