Chapter 252 Champions League Life And Death Battle! Real Madrid And Barcelona Are Waiting For Su Luo!

"Su, are you sure you're okay after coming back so late last night?" Azpilicueta asked, concern evident in his voice.

"No worries, it won't affect my performance," Su Luo replied with a calm smile.

"Good... we're really counting on you today."

The tension was palpable as the second leg of the 2016-2017 UEFA Champions League quarter-finals loomed. On the day of the match, Chelsea's squad gathered at their five-star hotel, enjoying a brunch buffet before heading to the gym for some light exercise. They knew that the battle at the Calderón Stadium would be a fight for survival.

Despite their recent 5-0 thrashing of Manchester United at Old Trafford, the mood within the Chelsea camp was anything but confident. Atletico Madrid had secured a 2-0 victory in the first leg, giving them two crucial away goals. Chelsea now needed at least two away goals to have any hope of leveling the tie—a daunting task against Atletico's notoriously strong defense.

Azpilicueta, Su Luo's roommate and the team's vice-captain, was particularly anxious. Even after lights out, he found it impossible to sleep, his mind racing with thoughts of the upcoming match. His worries only grew when Su Luo sneaked back into their hotel room at two or three in the morning. Azpilicueta knew Su Luo had been out at a nightclub and feared that the young star might have overexerted himself, distracted by the allure of Spanish nightlife.

Sensing his teammate's unease, Su Luo flashed a mysterious smile. "Don't worry, I just caught up with a friend. Nothing that'll affect the game."

In truth, Su Luo had restrained himself, mindful of the critical match ahead. A brief encounter with Erica in a dimly lit VIP booth was as far as he went. Had there been no game, the night might have lasted until dawn, but Su Luo knew his priorities.

Erica, though disappointed, had reluctantly agreed to continue their rendezvous after the match.

"By the way, I missed the Leicester City game last night. How did it go?" Su Luo asked, quickly changing the subject to avoid any lingering thoughts about Erica.

"Oh, you missed a good one," Azpilicueta replied. "Barcelona played really well, as strong as Real Madrid this season. If we make it to the semi-finals, they'll be tough to beat."

Azpilicueta's respect for the La Liga giants was clear. Chelsea's clash with Atletico Madrid was the last of the quarter-final matches, with the other ties already decided.

In the all-Italian battle, Juventus had no trouble dispatching Napoli. After a 3-0 victory in the first leg, they secured a 1-1 draw in the second, advancing to the semi-finals with a 4-1 aggregate score.

The much-anticipated showdown between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich had also concluded. Bayern had fallen 1-2 to Real Madrid at the Allianz Arena in the first leg, despite an early lead from a Franck Ribery penalty. Javi Martinez's red card in the second half had tipped the scales in Madrid's favor, allowing Cristiano Ronaldo to score twice and secure an away victory for the Spanish side.

In the second leg at the Bernabeu, Bayern fought back with all they had. Lewandowski's penalty and a Ramos own goal gave them a 2-0 lead, putting them 3-2 up on aggregate. But Real Madrid's infamous luck seemed to kick in at the last moment. A fluke cross from Casemiro found the back of the net, leveling the aggregate score at 3-3 and forcing the match into extra time.

Controversy struck when Benzema, clearly offside, scored the decisive goal. Despite Bayern's protests, the goal stood, and Real Madrid advanced to the semi-finals with a 4-3 aggregate win.

"Real Madrid's luck is something else," Azpilicueta commented. "It's hard to beat them when they have the officials on their side."

Su Luo nodded. The controversial goal had reignited the debate over the need for VAR technology in football.

Real Madrid would now face Juventus in the semi-finals. Meanwhile, Barcelona had easily handled Leicester City, winning 2-1 in the second leg and 3-0 on aggregate. Vardy's lone goal for Leicester was little more than a consolation. Though Leicester's Champions League debut had been impressive, reaching the quarter-finals, they had ultimately fallen short against the Spanish giants.

As Su Luo reflected on these results, he felt a surge of determination. Union Berlin, the team he had led to the Champions League before his injury, had gone far but not far enough. Now, with Chelsea, he had a chance at redemption.

The Champions League semi-finalists were nearly set: Real Madrid, Juventus, and Barcelona. The last spot would be decided in the showdown between Chelsea and Atletico Madrid.

Hours before the match, Su Luo was mentally preparing himself. The Calderón Stadium was a fortress, with Atletico's passionate fans creating an intimidating sea of red and white. The few Chelsea supporters in attendance were relegated to a distant corner, their voices barely audible above the roar of the home crowd.

As the game kicked off, the stadium roared with the sound of fans cheering, but the intensity of the match quickly drowned out their voices. Chelsea fans could only hope that Su Luo would find the back of the net to level the score and give them something to cheer about.

Thirty minutes into the first half, Atletico Madrid's steel defense remained impenetrable. Chelsea had yet to create any clear chances, leaving Blues fans frustrated—especially after recalling Simeone's pre-match interview. The Atletico manager had boldly claimed that his team would attack aggressively at home to secure victory. But instead, they had parked the bus, setting up a defensive wall that was nearly impossible to breach.

"Bloody wanker!" Some of the fans in the front rows couldn't help but hurl British insults at Simeone, expressing their discontent.

Fortunately, Conte had anticipated this tactic from Simeone. He had warned his players before the match, saying, "He talks about attacking, but we know he'll defend. With the advantage they have, Simeone won't take any risks. Stay patient, keep the backline solid, and wait for opportunities. Su, in the first half, you may not get much support. You'll need to link up the front line and create chances on your own."

The first 30 minutes unfolded just as Conte had predicted. Atletico Madrid had deployed their signature move: absolute defense. While Chelsea had been the top-scoring team in Europe that season, Atletico Madrid had brought out the strongest shield in the world. If it weren't for Su Luo's efforts to penetrate their defense, Chelsea might not have had a single shot on target in the first half.

The dull first half left casual fans and onlookers nearly falling asleep, but experts and professionals saw the tactical battle for what it was—a fascinating chess match between two of Europe's top teams. Despite the dreary appearance, the way Chelsea responded to Atletico's dense defense, especially with Su Luo orchestrating from left to right and trying to create gaps, was impressive.

It was clear that these were two of the highest-level teams in Europe, and their performance was worthy of a Champions League final. Unfortunately, Chelsea was still trailing by two goals, forcing them to push forward and speed up the tempo, while Atletico Madrid could afford to sit back and maintain control.

In the locker room at halftime, the tension among the Chelsea players was palpable. "What do we do? We don't have much time left," Pedro said, frustration evident in his voice. "They're so solid, I can't break through!"

"The midfield is locked down, and breaking through their defense seems impossible. Boss, do you have any ideas?" Azpilicueta asked, looking to Conte, who was deep in thought, staring at the tactical board.

Conte knew that any changes he made could be countered by Atletico's organized defense. He was running out of options to break through the iron wall.

Just then, Su Luo spoke up. "Coach, let me take more control of the ball. I want to try a solo breakthrough."

According to Conte's original plan, the team was supposed to rely on quick passing and avoid holding onto the ball for too long, to prevent counter-attacks. Su Luo's suggestion was risky, going against the coaching staff's strategy. But Conte trusted Su Luo's instincts. If Su Luo was confident, there might be a method to his madness.

"Alright, Su. You can take more initiative on the field. I trust your judgment," Conte agreed.

"Yes! Su, go for it! We've got your back!" Azpilicueta encouraged.

"Take them down! Even if you lose the ball, I'll win it back!" added another teammate, rallying the group.

"Crush Atletico Madrid!"

"Hell yeah! Let's f***ing do this!" The team's morale surged, unexpectedly fueled by Su Luo's boldness.

As they prepared to return to the field, Su Luo clenched his fists, feeling the weight of the moment. His decision to take on more responsibility wasn't a spur-of-the-moment idea. Near the end of the first half, Su Luo had entered a zone of intense focus, almost sensing an impending breakthrough, a fleeting window of opportunity.

He hadn't had time to fully understand it before the halftime whistle, but Su Luo was determined to seize that feeling in the second half. He knew exactly what ability he wanted to unleash during that brief window—something he had been perfecting all season.

It was time for the debut of his "Unparalleled Mode."

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