Chapter 275: Another

The exit of the passage is a bit far from the pitch.

Louis II Stadium is not just a football pitch; it also has a wide running track and hosts various international athletics meets each year.

The players' eyes were inevitably drawn to the sunset sinking below the western stand.

Monaco's home ground, with its unique scenery, was packed with spectators.

The UEFA Champions League theme floated over the azure coast.

A huge star‑spangled logo flag was laid flat on the center circle, fluttering in the wind.

"Both teams' main colors are red and white!"

"The frantically waving scarves and banners in the stands make it impossible to tell which side the home and away fans are on!"

"Li Kang is wearing Arsenal's dark‑blue second away Champions League kit today... visually it looks more like black!"

"The broadcast camera gave him a close‑up of his shoes... Puma!"

"Arsenal's kit sponsor no longer has to wonder why the 200‑million‑euro man always wears boots from other brands..."

The guessing‑the‑winger segment ended quickly.

Li Kang took up his position.

The system prompt sounded softly.

【Ding, mission triggered: Butterfly 4‑4‑2!】

【Mission brief: A highly demanding match; this Monaco side possesses devastating attacking power... the eternal 4‑4‑2, the dark horse formation! Defeat them!】

【Mission reward: George Weah's blessing.】

What is the blessing?

In the system panel, Baggio's "Golden Left Foot" module trembled slightly...

"Now let me introduce the starting lineups for both sides."

"Monaco lines up in a 4‑4‑2 formation."

"Goalkeeper: Subasic."

"Defenders: Mendy, Jemerson, Glik, Sidibe."

"Midfielders: Lemar, Fabinho, Bakayoko, Bernardo Silva!"

"Forwards: Falcao, Mbappe!"

The live stream.

The number of viewers gradually increased.

-【Fun fact: Monaco recently beat Paris Saint‑German 3‑1 in league play, breaking PSG's Ligue 1 monopoly!】

-【It's not just their attack that's strong; their defense is solid too. This old‑school 4‑4‑2 is the perfect formation for this group of young players!】

-【With an average age of only 22, they're a genuine youth storm!】

-【Next summer transfer window, how many of them will Monaco actually keep? Word is Liverpool, PSG and Manchester City have already provisionally snapped up most of this squad's midfield and attack!】

-【Mendy might also head to Manchester City; Guardiola really likes him.】

-【They haven't even proven themselves yet and they're already snapped up? You're making Monaco sound so amazing that Barcelona couldn't possibly qualify from the group? Impossible!】

"Arsenal lined up in a 4‑4‑2 formation as well!"

"Goalkeeper: Cech!"

"Defenders: Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal!"

"Double pivot: Li Kang and Cazorla!"

"Attacking midfielders: Sanchez and Oxlade‑Chamberlain!"

"Forwards: Morata and Giroud!"

-【Does the professor also play 4‑4‑2?】

-【Holy cow, meme‑king Oxlade‑Chamberlain is starting!】

-【Oxlade‑Chamberlain? Zhang Zhizhong!】

-【This match is Zhang Juanzheng.】

-【All day dreaming of going to Liverpool, Zhang Zhijun!】

-【Injured all last season, Zhang Manyu!】

-【Stop messing with the nickname memes, it's boring. Arsenal this match is more defense‑oriented, letting Xiao Li Zi return to his original role as a holding midfielder; Zhang Zhilin may be slow‑witted, but defensively he's more well‑rounded than Walcott.】

-【Why isn't the professor playing Xhaka?】

-【Xhaka is too clumsy right now; give him a few more years. Against midfielders like Lemar and B‑Silva he'd really struggle.】

Accompanied by the referee's whistle.

The match officially began.

Falcao kicked off and passed the ball back to Bernardo Silva.

He, thanks to his superb technique, now has many fans in Asia and has earned the friendly nickname B‑Silva.

People call him a reduced‑radius attacking version of Messi.

Yes.

At this point in history, his step frequency, ball protection, and vision have reached European top‑tier level.

His only shortcoming is that his attacking radius is too short; his long‑passing skill isn't maxed out, nor is his long‑distance running and pushing forward.

But in Monaco's butterfly 4‑4‑2 formation, it's more than enough.

Who is B‑Silva's idol? Messi!

"Receive the ball side‑on."

"Bernardo Silva, who stands only 1.7 meters tall, can actually fend off Giroud's close‑in challenge with his arms!"

"Spinning in place, consecutive two feet... no, it's four feet touching the ball... step frequency too fast!"

"We seemed to see Messi dropping back to the midfield position!"

"Beautiful!"

"Even Morata joining in couldn't take his ball away!"

"Lightning steps!"

Louis II Stadium.

Applause thundered.

"The petite B. Silva, amidst the entanglement of two Arsenal strongmen, deftly maneuvered... and found the most suitable passing lane."

"With a slap."

"The ball clung to the grass, slipped through Giroud's legs, and rolled toward the diagonally forward Bakayoko."

"Li Kang did not easily lose his position to press."

"He was still analyzing B. Silva's intention from God's perspective: boldly using his own advantage, one person attracting Arsenal's front-line pressure, helping teammates relieve pressure, and still able to find in the chaos the nearest teammate with the most suitable run."

"This Monaco team is a bit crazy."

"Bakayoko is not a traditional-type defensive midfielder."

"Beneath his rugged exterior lies a delicate heart."

"Even before receiving the ball, he constantly observed and found the most suitable advancing route."

"He lightly guided the ball with his right foot."

"He charged straight toward Arsenal's half."

"At the same time."

"Monaco's two full-backs, Sidibe and Mendy, also maintained parallel runs with Bakayoko on the left and right flanks."

"Butterfly 4-4-2 formation."

"Begin to flutter its wings."

"Sanchez quickly moved laterally, attempting to intercept."

"Can he stop it?"

"He can stop it!"

"Thud!"

"His short, stocky frame violently collided with the hulking black shadow."

"Possession did not change as expected."

"The heavier Bakayoko staggered, bringing the ball out."

"Oh dear!"

"He's a French beast standing 1.9 meters tall and weighing 190 jin; his physical advantage is too obvious!"

"Monaco's formation is pushing forward faster and faster!"

"Should he carry it a few more steps?"

"He passed it to the right flank's Sidibe!"

"He's charging forward!"

"Sidibe's talent is inferior to that of B. Silva and Mbappe."

"But his task in the match is easy: helping the two on the right flank with odd jobs."

"He dribbled forward into Arsenal's half, the 40-meter area."

"The little black egg slightly slowed down, realizing he had attracted many Gunners players, and decisively kicked!"

"Cazorla ran wildly, attempting to cut off the connection between them and Mbappe."

"With a slap."

"The ball was not passed to the wide Mbappe."

"Instead, it was given to B. Silva, who had swapped into the central position."

"The pass was a bit too strong."

"The teammate couldn't stop it... beautiful!"

"What incredible ball feel; Bernardo Silva steadily trapped the ball."

"Li Kang!"

"A face-to-face talk between the two number-10 players."

"B. Silva still side-footed to settle the ball."

"He had anticipated Li Kang's pressing tendency."

"He prepared to use a reasonable arm lift with his upper body to create distance."

"With both feet, he nudged the ball in the most basic, simple way."

"His brain raced: as long as he got past Li Kang... increasing the lead pass to Lemar, he could in one fell swoop break Arsenal's defense..."

"It's not about delaying the attacking rhythm."

"\"In a first-attack state, \" Monaco's central thought does not pursue speed."

"The next moment."

"He realized he was wrong."

"His arms couldn't push out, couldn't move."

"With a slap."

"B. Silva's unmatched step frequency came to an abrupt halt, his unstoppable bodily inertia still making him spin in place."

The football had already stuck to the left foot of Arsenal's number 10.