On the day of the match, Vicarage Road Stadium was packed to the rafters.
Although it could only hold just over 20,000 people, the sunken design of the English stadium still created a very passionate atmosphere.
The players from both teams were already waiting in the tunnel to come out. Gao Bo appeared in the technical area, and at this moment, Ranieri also walked over. As the host, Gao Bo proactively stepped forward and shook hands with Ranieri.
"You're doing well in the English Championship, young man."
Ranieri looked at Gao Bo, who seemed even younger than the players on the field, and remarked with emotion. Ranieri was an old-school coach with a very rich coaching history, but he had never encountered an opponent younger than Gao Bo.
Gao Bo blinked. To be honest, he still felt a little guilty towards Ranieri—Kante, Drinkwater, and Vardy were all key players who would help Ranieri create the Premier League miracle at Leicester City in the future. Now that Gao Bo had poached these three, he wondered who Ranieri would bring in to fill the void left by them.
"But I will be the one who wins this match."
Ranieri admired Gao Bo, but they were still opponents in this match, so the Italian still expressed his competitive spirit before the game.
"Then let's wait and see, Mr. Ranieri!"
After shaking hands, the two returned to their respective seats.
"Roma's recent form hasn't been great. I wonder what kind of performance they can put in for this match," John was already sitting in the technical area.
"Ranieri hasn't been in charge of Roma for long, so the previous matches aren't very indicative. This team is slowly stabilizing under Ranieri," Gao Bo shook his head.
Roma's form had indeed been very poor recently.
Consecutive losses in the first two rounds, including a defeat to Juventus, led to coach Spalletti's resignation. After Ranieri took over, Roma had notable victories against Fiorentina and Napoli, but also suffered three consecutive losses against AC Milan, Livorno, and Udinese. Both coaches at Roma had a very poor start to the season, but considering that Roma barely made any moves in the transfer market during the summer and even sold key player Aquilani, and with injuries to players including Totti affecting the team's strength again at the start of the season, Roma's difficult start was essentially paying the price for their inaction in summer recruitment.
However, Gao Bo knew that this was just a painful transitional period after Ranieri took over Roma. After their loss to Udinese, Ranieri's team would start to get back on track. Gao Bo vaguely remembered that this season's Roma had an unbeaten run of twenty-four league games and even had hopes of competing for the Serie A title towards the end of the season.
This was a Roma team that was gradually recovering and absolutely not to be underestimated.
...
At this moment, the referee had already led the two teams of players out of the player tunnel.
In the commentary box, the commentators were also ready, prepared to commentate on this crucial match in Group E of the Europa League group stage!
"Alright, dear viewers, the players from both teams have entered the field!!!"
Wright Atkinson also came to the stadium. This season, Wright Atkinson had visited this small stadium many times, and he was now very familiar with it.
"Look at the cheers of the Luton fans! Here, at their home ground, they are fearless!!!"
"Let's first look at the starting lineups for both sides. First, let's look at the home team, Luton. They are still in a traditional 4-4-2 formation. The goalkeeper is Schmeichel, and in the defense, due to Sol Campbell twisting his ankle in the previous league match, today Luton's central defensive partnership is Jeffrey and George Parker. This was Luton's main central defensive partnership last season. The left-back is the young Brazilian Alex Sandro, and the right-back is our young local player Carl Jenkinson. This is this young player's first start in the Europa League. In midfield, the starting players in front are Adam White, Drinkwater, Kante, Kevin Keen,
And up front is the pairing of Vardy and Griezmann."
"For Roma, Ranieri has deployed a single-striker formation for this match, a 4-2-3-1 setup. Vucinic appears up front, so it seems Ranieri still chooses to trust this Montenegrin striker. Lobont starts in goal, the central defensive partnership is Mexes and Juan, Burdisso is at left-back, Cassetti at right-back, the central defensive midfield pairing is Brighi and De Rossi, Taddei is the left attacking midfielder, Perrotta the central attacking midfielder, Menez the right attacking midfielder, and the striker is Vucinic."
Wright Atkinson rattled off the starting lineups for both teams in one breath.
"Although they are only from the third tier, I don't know why, but I always have an inexplicable confidence in them. Even Roma, I'm afraid they can't win at this stadium," Redknapp said from the side.
"Of course, Luton has successively defeated teams from the Premier League's top four!"
Wright Atkinson chuckled from the side.
At this moment, the players from both teams were already shaking hands, and the match was about to begin.
Meanwhile, in China, it was already three o'clock in the morning.
The Europa League matches don't have much influence in China, at least compared to the Champions League. Fans willing to stay up late to watch the Europa League are definitely die-hard supporters of that team.
The Champions League is different. For example, Real Madrid versus Manchester United, even if you are not a fan of either of these two teams, you would probably be willing to get up and watch such a match.
But Roma versus Luton?
In the past, it probably wouldn't even be broadcast live in China.
But this match attracted the attention of many fans.
This was purely because of Gao Bo.
In a small village in Meizhou, Old Chen quietly turned on the television.
Click....
The television that had just been turned on suddenly turned off.
Power outage?!!!
Immediately after, Old Chen saw his wife's frowning face.
"How old are you, still staying up late to watch TV like others?!!!"
Old Mrs. Chen said with her hands on her hips.
"Just watch for a little while, just a little while! I'll go to bed as soon as I see a goal..."
Old Chen put his hands together in a pleading gesture, "This is Little Gaozi's team's match."
"Little Gaozi's match?" Old Mrs. Chen thought for a moment, "How long does it take for a goal?"
"Very quickly, how hard is it to score a goal..."
Old Chen lowered his head and finally managed to turn on the television again.
In China, only Guangdong Sports and Shanghai Five Star Sports have the broadcasting rights for the Europa League. Both stations were broadcasting this match live.
Old Chen was watching the commentary from Guangdong Sports.
As soon as the television was turned on, He Hongfa's voice immediately came through.
"The players from both teams have entered the field, the match is about to begin!"
At this point, the live TV broadcast screen switched to a close-up of Gao Bo.
"It really is Little Gaozi, Little Gaozi is on TV!!"
Old Mrs. Chen simply sat down next to Old Chen.
"Little Gaozi, when are you coming back to see Grandma…."
Old Mrs. Chen waved at the television.
"He can't hear you... Little Gaozi is in England now, do you know England?"
Old Chen glanced at his wife next to him disdainfully.
"I want to... Can you control me…"