Chapter 242: Champions League opening match kicks off

Champions League match day has arrived.

A red-and-white bus bearing the Arsenal crest slowly entered Camp Nou.

The atmosphere was relaxed.

There was no suppressed negative emotion.

Wenger thought for two days and gave the simplest tactical idea: play counter-attacks.

Play counter-attacks against Barcelona, who possess the South American trident!

Li Kang had an extra bottle of Green Tangerine Fizzy Candy in his hand.

He gently shook it, and the candies in the transparent glass made a collision sound only he could hear.

It was the Premier League treasure chest reward for defeating Hull City.

He roughly reviewed Enrique's tactics, then silently put the fizzy candy back into his backpack.

He wouldn't need it.

Bellerin couldn't help but pop his head out the window; upon seeing the Barcelona crest outside the stadium, he struggled to suppress his excitement and whispered: 'Li, we two have come home!'

This guy has been longing day and night to return to Camp Nou.

Morata thought for a moment, then comforted:

"Even if you rejoin Barcelona, you won't get many playing opportunities."

Bellerin's expression was awkward; he quickly explained: "I'm just expressing my feelings about returning to my homeland."

Sanchez remained silent.

This winger, currently ranked among the world's top six, also suffered many humiliations during his time at Barcelona.

The exterior of Camp Nou stadium showed a sea of red and blue.

Many Catalan fans held up posters of Li Kang: the Arsenal jersey in the picture was painted red and blue.

They also unfurled a huge banner: 'La Masia heir returns home.'

Teammates couldn't help laughing, unable to fathom the thought process of those fans.

Li Kang swiped his tablet, opened MSN's goal highlights: the combination of Messi, Neymar, and Suárez had no set pattern.

It could not be deconstructed.

He simply found it highly entertaining.

CTV5 livestream.

The production crew was interviewing female fans on the street.

The viewers in front of the screen... had lost all interest in the off-field atmosphere.

They eagerly wanted to witness this highly anticipated Champions League opening match.

-【Waiting for kickoff is agonizing; after watching the match I'll have breakfast and go to work.】

-【Good news, Messi has recovered from injury and returned! Barcelona will field almost its full starting lineup.】

-【Great, Xiao Dennis is truly the worthy successor to Harvey; Barcelona has solved its midfield problem, and in this match Arsenal might not touch the ball.】

-【Our Arsenal is invincible!】

-【Standing and dying.】

Pre-match press conference.

Enrique was biased against Wenger.

He had also revealed his feelings when facing public interviews before.

How to put it?

He had held a bias since long ago: believing that Arsenal's pass-and-cut was copying Barcelona.

What's Wenger's football philosophy? He can't even win a Champions League.

Whenever he thought of this, the Barcelona head coach completely forgot how he had once screwed over Roma and Celta...

Even so.

Enrique still politely extended his hand to Wenger.

Immediately afterward, he began answering the media reporters' questions in a flawless manner.

"I have always respected Arsenal as an opponent; we are all pursuing the essence of football."

"Both sides have many excellent players; tonight they will surely play a match of high value."

Player tunnel.

The players from both sides did not greet each other.

The grudge between the two clubs is hard to explain in a moment, let alone the precedent of Fabregas.

Nevertheless, someone couldn't hold back and was the first to break the silence.

Xiao Dennis.

This was Li Kang's good partner during his time in the Spain national team second squad.

"Li, how did you grow so tall in just half a year?"

"Last year you were only a little taller than me..."

Upon hearing this, even the referee crew couldn't help but smile.

The players from both sides also seemed to temporarily set aside their grudges at this moment, and began greeting each other.

"CTV5! CTV5! Good evening, viewers!"

"Now broadcasting live is the first round of the 2016/17 Champions League Group C!"

"Barcelona hosts Arsenal!"

"The Champions League opening match with the highest global viewership!"

Reporters from 76 regions have arrived at Camp Nou!

There are many highlights in this match; pulling out any one could fill a newspaper's front page.

I am the commentator for this match, Duan Xuan!

I am He Wei!

Camp Nou Stadium.

The center circle line reflected the UEFA Champions League logo.

The referee team and players from both sides stood in a line on the field.

Accompanied by the stirring UEFA Champions League anthem.

The close-up camera slowly swept over the players' faces.

Li Kang gazed at the massive stand divided into two colors.

The system notification sounded softly.

【Ding, mission triggered: The fall of a dynasty.】

【Mission brief: The weather forecast says it won't rain tonight.】

【Mission reward: Barcelona Legend·Dark Gold Treasure Chest.】

Next, let me introduce the starting lineups of both sides!

Barcelona has deployed the eternal 4-3-3 formation!

Goalkeeper: Ter Stegen!

Defenders: Roberto, Piqué, Umtiti, Alba!

Midfielders: Busquets, Little Dennis, André Gomes!

Forwards: Neymar, Suárez, Messi!

There are three young newcomers signed in the summer window, appearing for the first time in the squad!

According to Barcelona's publicly released training match footage...

Live broadcast room.

The number of viewers surged.

-【Barcelona's lineup is awesome, especially the Go Ball King, last season at the Bat Legion he was invincible, a super core!】

-【Mascherano is too short, Umtiti is more well-rounded!】

-【Super utility Roberto, never mind having driven away Alves, even if Yinniesita left the team we wouldn't be afraid!】

Arsenal also deployed a 4-3-3 formation.

Goalkeeper: Čech.

Defenders: Monreal, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Bellerín!

Midfielders: Ramsey, Li Kang, Cazorla!

Forwards: Sánchez, Morata, Walcott!

-【Trivia: Over the past nine years they've met eight times, Messi has never scored past Čech's goal, a super curse!】

-【What is Wenger thinking? Why let the in-form Maguire and Mustafi sit on the bench?】

-【Don't understand, Zakaria isn't playing either, how to withstand the attack of the beautiful girls combo?】

-【Don't panic, the professor wants to play counter-attack!】

-【I just admire Arsenal, even in death I'll stand!】

The head referee blew his whistle.

The match officially began.

Barcelona possession.

Suárez kicked off and passed back to Little Dennis.

Camp Nou instantly erupted with a cheer like a landslide and tsunami.

Barcelona fans watched the football's passing lanes on the pitch.

It seemed as if they saw Xavi's presence.

The pride-inducing extreme passing control has returned!

Little Dennis and André Gomes' passing and receiving are in sync.

The two young players are implementing La Masia's football philosophy at Camp Nou.

Steady progress.

Grasp the rhythm well, make good use of the space on the field.

Smooth passing control, extremely rational positioning, every partial space has three passing and receiving points...

Arsenal can't win the ball...

The ball has just crossed the midfield line.

Camp Nou then burst into waves of exclamations.

Gomes's pass... was easily intercepted by Li Kang!

The dense passing network was suddenly torn apart.

Little Dennis looked bewildered.

The authentic La Masia number four... how familiar is he with Barcelona's passing control?