Chapter 260 Breaking Through Camp Nou! Messi Can't Hold Back!

"Su, I finally get to see you on the field."

"Oh? Yeah, let's hope it's a good match."

"Definitely. I want to play at my best too."

The last time Su Luo had seen Messi was at the UEFA Champions League draw. Now, they were finally meeting on the field. Su Luo, having learned German, Italian, and Spanish, could easily communicate with Messi.

Su Luo didn't have anything against Messi. In fact, he didn't dislike Ronaldo either. As long as they didn't mess with him, both were outstanding players in his eyes.

As Su Luo stood in the player tunnel, he found himself momentarily dazed. In his previous life, he could only watch Messi wearing the Barcelona jersey on TV. But now, here he was, standing face-to-face with the football legend in real life. It felt surreal, like a dream.

When Messi saw Su Luo, he greeted him with a smile. This was notable, considering Messi's typically quiet and introverted nature. They shook hands briefly and returned to their teams. Though they were competitors, there was no personal rivalry or bad blood between them. It was a friendly gesture before the battle on the field.

However, Rudiger wasn't as calm. He leaned in, glaring at Messi's back.

"Did he say anything to you? Did he threaten you? I'll take him down later!"

Su Luo chuckled, a bit caught off guard by Rudiger's intensity.

"Relax, don't go overboard. You don't want to foul in the penalty area, do you?"

Chelsea's vice-captain Azpilicueta smiled at the exchange.

"This guy's just anxious."

"Nervous? Me? It's just a Champions League semi-final. It's not like I haven't played before," Rudiger retorted, but everyone could tell he was on edge.

The memory of last year's semi-final was still fresh. Su Luo had been injured, and Union Berlin was eliminated by Atlético Madrid, leaving Rudiger feeling devastated. Now, here they were again, in another semi-final. The question hung in the air: Could Chelsea get past Barcelona this time and secure their spot in the final?

Rudiger wasn't sure.

"Fifty-fifty at best…" he muttered under his breath. "Bah! No chance!"

On the Barcelona side, Piqué walked over to Messi.

"Did he provoke you? Don't worry, I'll take care of him."

Messi shook his head, looking slightly amused.

"Come on, focus on the game. We're about to go out there."

Messi hesitated for a moment, not wanting to dampen his teammates' spirits, but still gave a quiet warning.

"Don't underestimate him. You'll regret it if you do."

Piqué nodded. "Got it."

Messi then turned to Umtiti. "Samuel, stay sharp, okay?"

Umtiti looked confused. "Huh? What did you say?"

Messi sighed, placing a hand on his forehead. "Never mind, it's fine."

As he stared at Umtiti's clueless expression, Messi couldn't help but hope their luck in scoring was better today. They would need it. If their attack faltered, things could get ugly.

"Welcome to the 2016-17 UEFA Champions League semi-final!" boomed the voice of the commentator. "These four remaining teams represent the pinnacle of today's football!"

"Barcelona and Chelsea have a long history of intense rivalries, especially in the Champions League semi-finals, where they've faced off in some classic encounters. But both squads have changed since then. The addition of Su Luo this summer has turned Chelsea into Europe's most fearsome team. With a market value of £155 million, Su Luo is worth every penny."

"It's thanks to Su Luo's extraordinary performances that Chelsea have made it this far."

"Now, the world will witness two of the best players face off in this showdown. Perhaps after these two matches, we'll finally have a clearer answer to the age-old question: who is stronger?"

CCTV 5 commentator He Wei was electrified by the moment. A Chinese player was about to go head-to-head with Messi, something that would have been unimaginable just a few years ago. Now, it was a dream come true.

In just four short years, Su Luo had gone from a little-known youth player to a football superstar, rivaling Messi's status. The rise of such a player, coming from a country with a third-rate national team, was nothing short of miraculous.

He Wei knew that despite it being 2:45 in the morning, millions of people across China were staying up to cheer for their compatriot.

At this moment, there were no Chelsea or Barcelona fans in China. There were no Real Madrid, Manchester United, or AC Milan fans. Everyone watching shared one identity: they were all Su Luo fans.

The commentator felt a surge of pride as he became lost in thought, only to be pulled back to reality by the referee's whistle. He instantly switched back into his professional mode, ready to guide fans through this monumental match.

"Barcelona kicks off, and the game is underway!" He Wei announced.

"In the opening minutes, both sides are taking a cautious approach, feeling each other out. The pace is slow for now, but that's expected in a game of this magnitude. No one wants to make an early mistake."

"A single error could give the opposition the upper hand, and in a match like this, it could be game over..."

He Wei's words were suddenly cut short. Barcelona, known for their precision passing and ball control, made a rare mistake!

In the first few minutes, most of the action was concentrated in the midfield and defensive areas. Every time Barcelona advanced close to Chelsea's 30-meter line, their attack would be met with resistance.

Barcelona didn't force their way through. Instead, they chose to shift the play or pass back, reorganizing their attack. Chelsea, meanwhile, didn't press high up the pitch. Instead, the entire team maintained a disciplined defensive shape, waiting for Barcelona to make their move.

The game, at first glance, appeared uneventful—far from the intense battle one would expect from a Champions League semi-final. To the casual observer, it might even seem boring. But seasoned football fans knew better; beneath the calm surface, tension was building.

"Do you notice Chelsea's positioning? They're creeping forward," one spectator pointed out.

"Huh? I don't see it," replied another.

"No, really. They're not as passive as they seem."

Barcelona's coach, Luis Enrique, sensed something off. A feeling of unease weighed on him. Throughout the season, Real Madrid had been ahead of Barcelona in the league, and their early exit from the Copa del Rey had only added to the pressure. The Champions League was their only hope for redemption. If they failed here, Enrique feared he would lose his job.

As he was about to warn his players, a costly mistake unfolded. After a pass back from Suarez, Rakitic took too long on the ball. He hesitated, glancing up several times but failing to make a decision.

Sensing the opportunity, Chelsea's players pressed forward. Su Luo, Lukaku, and Ajar surged up the field, their pace and aggression catching Barcelona off guard.

Suddenly, the slow tempo of the game exploded into action.

"Get back! Get back!" Busquets shouted urgently, but it was too late. Rakitic, with his back to the play, realized the danger too late. His intended pass to Busquets was blocked by Su Luo, who pounced on the ball.

Roberto, stationed nearby, was quickly cut off by Ajar, who also kept an eye on Piqué. Lukaku applied more pressure, and with little time to react, Rakitic hurriedly passed the ball to Umtiti, the only open player.

This was classic La Masia football—keeping the ball moving and maintaining a triangle of options. Even when under pressure, there was always a safe passing route available.

Umtiti had several choices. He could pass it back to goalkeeper Ter Stegen for safety, attempt a diagonal pass to Piqué, or, if he was feeling bold, he could look for Messi up front to break Chelsea's press. But Umtiti played it safe, opting to pass to Jordi Alba on the left.

What he didn't realize was just how fast Su Luo had become.

"Umtiti… he's looking for Alba!" the commentator called out.

"Su Luo's closing in fast! Like a gust of wind, he's intercepting the pass!"

"Chelsea are launching an attack!"

Umtiti's hesitation had put Barcelona in a perilous situation. Alba tried to catch up, but Su Luo activated his fusion possession of Ronaldo and Gareth Bale. In an instant, he accelerated like a turbocharged machine, sprinting from midfield to the edge of the penalty area in the blink of an eye.

One second, Alba was close enough to grab Su Luo's shirt; the next, Su Luo was 10 meters ahead.

"Que? What the hell?" Alba muttered, unable to comprehend what had just happened. The Nou Camp fell silent, while the traveling Chelsea fans erupted in excitement.

Every time Su Luo took off like this, he seemed to defy the limits of human ability.

As Su Luo cut into the penalty area, Umtiti desperately tried to recover, but his pace was no match. With little time left to stop him, Umtiti made a desperate choice: he lunged into a sliding tackle, fully committed to taking Su Luo down, even if it meant conceding a foul.

"Umtiti goes for the slide tackle!" commentator He Wei exclaimed. "This could be bad if Su Luo gets injured so early in the game!"

But Su Luo was prepared. Seeing Umtiti's reckless slide, he skillfully stopped, allowing the defender to slide past him. Then, with a burst of acceleration, he continued dribbling towards the goal.

"Brilliant! Su Luo now has a clear path to the goal! But the angle is tight…"

Piqué, realizing the danger, sprinted towards Su Luo with all his might, while Ter Stegen nervously positioned himself to cover the near post. Su Luo's speed had left his teammates Lukaku and Ajar behind, meaning there was still a chance for Barcelona to block the shot.

At that moment, Su Luo's eyes sharpened, his focus like a sword cutting through the air. Ter Stegen felt a chill as Su Luo prepared to shoot.

Boom!

"If you're a real man, you take the shot!" Su Luo thought to himself.

Ter Stegen had closed off the near post, but Su Luo had something else in mind. He struck the ball hard, aiming for the top corner, far from the goalkeeper's reach. Though Su Luo hadn't activated any special abilities, his fusion of Haaland, Ronaldo, and Inzaghi ensured his shot was fast, precise, and unstoppable.

Ter Stegen could only hear the ball whizzing past his ear. For a moment, he thought he might go deaf.

It was like a cannonball on a battlefield.

But what was even more crushing for Barcelona was Su Luo's precision. The ball hit the net right under the crossbar, perfectly placed in the narrowest of spaces.

"Goal!!! Su Luo scores!" shouted the commentator. "Just five minutes into the game, and Su Luo has used his incredible individual ability to put Chelsea ahead!"

"That's Su Luo's 20th Champions League goal this season!"

"He's unstoppable! Whether it's man or god in his way, Su Luo will take them down!"

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