Chapter 202 Luzhniki, The Hometown Of The Blue Army, Su Luo's Russian-Style Violent Aesthetics!

Conte had long suspected that Chelsea might be targeted. The scheduling for the upcoming fixtures seemed almost intentional: two away games in just three days, with one of those games in distant Moscow. Adding to the challenge was the third-round League Cup match, which would be played just four days after Chelsea's clash with Liverpool. This schedule would test the team's bench strength.

If Union Berlin faced such a situation, they would likely have to forfeit one of the competitions. Conte, along with the coaching staff, carefully reviewed the lineup and made a decisive choice:

They would rely heavily on the bench.

The starting lineups in previous league matches had been relatively fixed, with limited opportunities for substitutes. The bench consisted of players like:

Goalkeeper Begovic

Defenders Marcos Alonso, Zouma (returning from injury), old captain Terry, Gary Cahill, and Chalobah

Midfielders Fabregas, Moses, Loftus-Cheek, and Kennedy

Forwards Pedro, a former Barcelona player, and heroes from past teams

The bench also included younger players such as Solanke and Kennedy. Although this lineup wasn't luxurious, it was competitive within the Premier League.

The positions were easier to rotate, but forward roles required top players.

"Su…" Conte began.

Before Conte could finish, Su Luo responded eagerly, "Coach, I can handle it. I'm fine playing three times a week. Just leave it to me."

Conte chuckled, "I haven't even finished speaking yet. Well, I'll thank you in advance."

Su Luo had become accustomed to such conversations. It wasn't just about working harder and running more; with his experience linking to the "illusion," he could quickly recover from fatigue. He eagerly anticipated the extra games.

The Champions League group stage match was important. Although it wouldn't decide qualification, winning would set a positive tone.

So, Su Luo boarded the flight to Moscow with the team. Some key players like Aqiu Wang, Lukaku, and Matic stayed in England to rest, showing Conte's trust in Su Luo for this critical match.

Moscow's media were already buzzing with anticipation.

"Chelsea's substitute lineup faces their first Champions League match, led by the captain from China!"

Although Su Luo had never faced a Russian Premier League team, his reputation preceded him.

"What kind of weather is this? Snowing in September?"

"It's freezing! I hope nobody catches a cold."

"Just get used to it. It's not cold when you're running."

"Wow, this stadium…"

At Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium, Chelsea players were warming up. By late September, Moscow had already started to snow, but the stadium's good protection meant the game wouldn't be played in snow.

Russian stadiums are typically equipped with artificial turf due to the freezing climate. Luzhniki Stadium was no exception, featuring a mix of natural and artificial grass, making it more durable and comfortable.

Chelsea players were adjusting to the new pitch conditions. Every detail in the game had a significant impact.

The Luzhniki Stadium had been a place of past misfortune for Chelsea. In the 2008 UEFA Champions League final, a rainy night saw old captain John Terry miss a crucial penalty, leading to Manchester United's victory and Chelsea's disappointment.

By the summer of 2012, Chelsea finally won the Champions League, but Terry was nostalgic returning to the scene of past regrets. The team had changed significantly since then, with leaders shifting from Drogba and Lampard to younger players like Su Luo and Ajar.

Watching Su Luo warm up, Terry reflected on his initial skepticism about Su Luo's record-breaking transfer. At first, he doubted whether Su Luo's Bundesliga success would translate to the Premier League. But now, Terry could only admit that Su Luo's arrival was a brilliant move.

"Brothers, let's warm up properly! Don't regret it if you pull a muscle later!" Terry called out, snapping everyone out of their thoughts.

The Champions League journey was about to begin!

"Welcome to CCTV Sports Channel's live coverage of the first match of Group E in the 2016-17 UEFA Champions League!"

"Spartak Moscow hosts the Premier League giants Chelsea!"

"Last season, Premier League teams struggled in the Champions League, with no team reaching the quarter-finals."

"This time, Chelsea made headlines by signing Su Luo, the top scorer in the Champions League, showing their determination for a strong performance!"

"Chelsea, facing Liverpool in the Premier League just three days later, has rotated their squad for this match."

At 2:45 in the morning, fans in China finally saw Su Luo's game.

The commentator's voice came through the TV:

"Goalkeeper: Begovic; Defenders: Chalobah, Zouma, John Terry, Marcos Alonso; Midfielders: Kante, Loftus-Cheek, Cesc Fabregas; Forwards: Su Luo, Pedro, Moses!"

"Coach Antonio Conte has boldly chosen a 4-3-3 formation. We'll see if it works out today."

Kante and Su Luo were expected to ensure the team's balance between offense and defense. Conte was inspired by the chemistry between Fabregas and Su Luo from their last Premier League match. Their creative play could potentially lead to more dynamic attacks.

The game had just begun, and Spartak Moscow, taking advantage of their home field, launched a fierce attack on Chelsea.

"Spartak Moscow makes the first move with Zobnin's long shot from outside the penalty area!"

"Begovic barely manages to save it! The home team earns a corner in the first minute!"

"The corner is swung into the penalty area... a thrilling header by Popov!"

The Luzhniki Stadium, packed with nearly 80,000 fans, roared with excitement, putting Chelsea's players under immense pressure. The cold climate added to the challenge, making Chelsea appear somewhat sluggish.

Spartak Moscow took full advantage, relentlessly attacking Chelsea's goal.

Terry felt as if alarm bells were ringing in the defensive area.

"Another cross from the wing! Terry clears it with a header!"

"The 36-year-old still stands strong as the cornerstone of Chelsea's defense!"

"Hey! What are you doing? Focus!"

After clearing the danger, Terry quickly clapped his hands, rallying his teammates.

"It's normal to be under pressure early on. We just need to hold out for the first 15 minutes..."

Terry believed that if Chelsea could weather the storm, Su Luo would eventually have the opportunity to make an impact.

"Come on! We've held off Barcelona and Bayern at their peak. We can handle this!"

Despite his off-field persona, Terry was a tough player on the pitch. Under his leadership, Chelsea's defense slowly began to organize.

Meanwhile, Kante was everywhere on the field, showcasing his exceptional defensive skills.

"Spartak Moscow maintains possession. Grushakov dribbles forward... Kante with a brilliant tackle, pushing the ball out of play!"

"Kante again! Another crucial interception!"

"70% of the Earth's surface is covered by water, and the remaining 30% is covered by Kante! He seems to be everywhere!"

Once Chelsea stabilized their defense, Spartak Moscow's attacks became less threatening.

With 20 minutes played, Terry felt the time was right for Chelsea to take their chance.

As predicted, the home team's offensive intensity waned, and Chelsea seized their opportunity.

"Clean interception by Kante! Passes to Cesc Fabregas!"

"Chelsea is on the counter-attack!"

In the 19th minute, Chelsea quickly advanced through midfield. Su Luo was in the center, Pedro on the left, and Moses on the right. The trio advanced together.

Fabregas dribbled forward. Though his pace was slow and he was about to be overtaken, he made a daring decision, passing directly to the center.

Su Luo, positioned between two central defenders, was ready to make a move.

Just as the commentator was about to speak, Su Luo made a sudden burst of speed, evading one defender and facing off against the towering Gikia, who stood 188 cm tall and weighed 180 kg.

Su Luo's slight frame didn't falter; he used his strength to push past Gikia and approach the goal.

The goalkeeper had already committed to the ball, but Su Luo managed to poke it past him and then deftly jumped over the goalkeeper. Maintaining his balance with a deft touch, Su Luo caught up with the ball and, instead of opting for a simple finish, delivered a powerful volley into the net!

"Su Luo! Unstoppable like a tank!"

"Chelsea leads by 1 goal! The Champions League campaign starts with a bang!"

In the freezing Moscow cold, Su Luo's goal displayed a raw, Russian-style intensity.

Chelsea fans in the away section roared in approval:

"Woo-"

At the VIP table, Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich watched the match and nodded with satisfaction at Su Luo's performance.

The Moscow Spartak boss beside him smiled ruefully:

"Congratulations. You've found a formidable player. The Premier League title should be within reach."

Abramovich grinned:

"And the Champions League is ours too!"

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