Barcelona's high-level executives were wavering in their confidence.

A month ago, in the Spanish Super Cup,

Barcelona 1-5 Real Madrid.

The *Blaugrana* were completely suppressed by the *Galácticos*.

A group of new signings were utterly humiliated.

The four-hundred-million-dollar "universe team" couldn't compare to Real Madrid, whose transfer investments over the past two seasons were close to zero.

What a disgrace.

Although they had achieved three consecutive victories at the start of the La Liga season, the opponents were all mid-to-lower-ranked teams.

"Why not field the young stars we just signed?"

"Don't interfere this time; we'll listen to Valverde. Barcelona can't afford to lose."

Club President Bartomeu adjusted his glasses and sighed.

After investing so much money, not only was a peak dynasty not born, but the new signings couldn't even match the 'old and frail' original lineup!

Having played football himself, he knew that new signings couldn't perform to their full potential until they had fully integrated with the team.

Letting Valverde field the veterans might at least give them an advantage in the first 70 minutes.

The football moved back and forth across the green field.

The night breeze ruffled Tuchel's Mediterranean hairstyle.

"Boss, just as we predicted, Barcelona has changed their formation during the build-up!"

"3-4-1-2."

Dino stood up, overjoyed, and continued, "Once they advance past the forty-meter mark, their formation will definitely become 3-2-3-2! We have their entire plan in our grasp!"

Tuchel pressed his hands down, his expression not revealing too much excitement.

Plans were just plans.

But Barcelona possessed a top-tier variable: the number 10 midfielder, Messi.

Not Explosive Messi, not False Nine Messi, but the Number 10 Messi who could bring about a qualitative change in the team's overall attack.

Who was the strongest attacking midfielder on Earth?

Perhaps it was Messi, who would soon be completely transformed.

Barcelona had possession.

Li Kang's God's-eye view frantically deconstructed the situation, and countless red lines spread out.

He and Kanté pressed forward together, crossing into Barcelona's half and initiating a high press.

Iniesta, under pressure, could only pass the ball backward.

The back wasn't safe either.

Diego Costa harassed Piqué relentlessly.

Busquets had to fall back to protect the defense.

Piqué and Umtiti widened the space.

The football was moved to the midfield.

Facing a pack of ferocious Chelsea men, Barcelona's two full-backs quickly advanced, adding passing options in midfield.

Barcelona's formation also changed from 4-5-1 to 3-4-1-2.

"Messi drops back to receive the ball with his back to the goal!"

"He deceived Azpilicueta."

"The football is like a part of his body, a perfect backheel flick!"

"Paulinho is now surging into the forward position, using his strong body to hold off Bakayoko, a beautiful wall pass!"

"The ball returns to Messi's feet!"

Messi was now the '1' in the 3-4-1-2.

His running posture was unique, diving forward when accelerating!

He surged past the forty-meter zone.

Li Kang and Kanté completed their positioning and quickly double-teamed to intercept.

There was no expected one-on-two dribble.

Barcelona's two full-backs arrived to support.

With a *smack*, Messi passed the ball to Roberto.

Suddenly, he slowed his pace and began to stroll. A few seconds later, he sprinted again!

At the Camp Nou stands,

The cheers of the Catalan fans grew more intense as Roberto advanced!

"Paulinho hasn't come back; he and Suárez are at the forefront of Barcelona's formation!"

"It's hard to imagine that a Chinese Super League utility player has been reborn under Valverde! Able to perform on the top stage of the Champions League!"

"His biggest role is still to rotate with Messi and provide a passing and receiving safety net!"

"Roberto goes inside!"

"He connects with Messi, causing the Chelsea defense to start retreating!"

"A beautiful pass!"

"Messi is surging up the flank again!"

"Going outside?"

The combat characteristics of Number 10 Messi ignited the atmosphere at Camp Nou.

A sudden burst of speed after strolling to receive the ball.

Chelsea's two defensive lines quickly merged, concentrating their forces to confront Messi!

In an instant, Barcelona's Number 10 displayed unmatched footwork.

Dribbling horizontally!

His left foot landed three times in quick succession!

Accelerating!

Decelerating!

Accelerating!

Dreamlike rhythm.

Continuous changes of direction.

Even though the nearby Chelsea players could see his movements clearly, their bodies couldn't react!

"He's through!"

"A streak of *Blaugrana* cuts through the white sea."

"Only when the moon falls into the mountains will the stars shine!"

"An unexpectedly horizontal, ground-hugging shift!"

"A single sword cuts through Chelsea's steel defense!"

Number 10 Messi's organizing, connecting, and killer pass abilities were nearing their peak!

The purpose of breaking through horizontally to the left was to create an excellent attacking environment for his teammates on the right!

The football was like a sharp blade.

In an instant, it tore through Chelsea's two defensive lines!

The home atmosphere at Camp Nou soared to its highest point at this moment!

Valverde trembled with excitement.

Tuchel smiled.

Buffon was eager to try.

"Iniesta!"

"Li Kang!"

"A head-on confrontation between two generations of La Masia's genius midfielders!"

The breeze from the banks of the Riachuelo River lifted black hair and clothing.

The phantom of Baresi in his vision roared furiously.

Li Kang stood in front of his opponent.

His movements didn't overlap with the phantom.

Why?

Iniesta didn't have time to think about why.

He quickly adjusted his shooting stance after receiving the ball.

The shooting angle was already blocked by Li Kang.

But that didn't stump Barcelona's big-game player.

He moved his feet slightly.

Iniesta took a shot towards the only path to goal.

Hesitation meant defeat.

Hesitation would waste the opportunity that Messi had created.

Rüdiger was already coming over!

*Thwack!*

The football skimmed the grass and roared towards Chelsea's goal.

Buffon adjusted his position slightly.

Although he had everything under control, he vaguely felt as if he had become a few years younger.

He quickly knelt on one knee and squatted down to catch the ball.

He didn't fumble.

Suárez, who was trying to follow up for a shot, almost crashed into the goalpost.

"Oh no!"

"Buffon accurately predicted Iniesta's shooting path!"

In the livestream,

The comments flew thick and fast.

-

[Messi is awesome! Half-step towards becoming a king!]

-

[Iniesta's tank is still full; his diagonal forward runs are in perfect harmony with Messi!]

-

[Buffon also has a prediction cheat activated.]

-

[Li Ming's God-level positioning.]

-

[Looking at the replay, Kanté and Bakayoko worked hard to defend the inside, leading Messi to the "matrix" on the flanks, various double-teams protecting Chelsea also took into account Messi's horizontal breakthrough to the outside, his ability to transfer the ball to the weak side, and so on, Tuchel had prepared a very traditional "weak-side protection" plan, Li Ming and Rüdiger promptly limited Iniesta's shooting angle and adjustment time, allowing Buffon to enter a familiar defensive state.]

-

[This is the best way to limit a half-step king.]

-

[Does Buffon still have time to joke with the other side?]

Buffon didn't continue to squat.

After taking a few steps to gain momentum,

He swung his right arm in a circle!

Making a move to smash the ball hard towards the front!

Barcelona's forwards were suddenly shocked.

*Smack!*

The football landed at Li Kang's feet outside the penalty area.

*Thwack!*

In the night sky above Camp Nou, a long rainbow pierced the sun!

"Buffon and Li Kang's counter-attack coordination caught Barcelona's high defensive line a little off guard in terms of rhythm changes."

"Here it comes!"

"Chelsea's attack!"

Diego Costa started quickly.

He wasn't as fast as Umtiti!

The two of them, one in front and one behind, rushed towards the landing point and jumped into the air.

The close-up sound equipment allowed the audience to hear a muffled thud.

Umtiti had improved a lot, but he couldn't compete with the beastly Chelsea center forward!

"No foul!"

"Umtiti was knocked over!"

"Diego Costa turns and sprints after stopping the ball!"

"The raging blue beast!"

"..."

"Busquets can't catch up!"

"Diego Costa, carrying Piqué, pulls his leg back and shoots furiously!"

*Thwack!*

Chelsea's sharp shooter swung his leg slightly!

Camp Nou seemed to tremble gently, recalling the fear of being dominated by Atlético Madrid's Number 19.

The football, like a cannonball, roared and smashed open Barcelona's goal!

0:1!!!

The Catalan fans were stunned.

The cheers of the Chelsea fans, like a blue storm, swept through Camp Nou!

The audience in front of the TV screens were dumbfounded.

Barcelona's forwards performed a series of fancy maneuvers but couldn't score.

Chelsea launched a counter-attack... and scored.

"World-class forwards."

"The high defensive line of a mid-to-lower-ranked team."

"I'm saying it here, Messi will work himself to death and still not win the Champions League."

(End of this chapter)