Chapter 486: Paradox and Truth (Everyday Transition)

The match ended.

The Bedsheet Legion and the Blue Army's fight to the death came to an end at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.

This young stadium witnessed a great legendary moment.

A Sky-Shattering Echo worth remembering.

Li Kang was once again voted Man of the Match.

He led Chelsea to break through Atlético Madrid's siege, his stunning overhead kick volley dazzling Europe!

The story isn't over yet; seven days later, Atlético Madrid will head to Stamford Bridge for a do-or-die battle.

The ESPN commentator picked at his toes.

He savored Li Kang's overhead kick winner repeatedly.

It felt as if the ninety minutes of strangling foreplay and fierce switches were all just waiting for that final goal.

Distant Stamford Bridge.

Fans gazed at the huge screens of the four LCD broadcast devices on the center circle line of the green field.

Their emotions remained unsettled for a long time.

The thunderous applause was like an avalanche.

VIP box.

Abu's cheeks flushed, he loosened his clenched fists, and shouted: "Where is Li's statue? I want to see it as soon as possible! He will spend his twilight years at Stamford Bridge! He is a Blue Army legend!"

The staff nearby wanted to speak but held back.

Who builds a statue for someone who's been with the club less than a season?

Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.

Security personnel escorted the Chelsea fans out.

Whenever Atlético Madrid plays in European competition, the local government attaches great importance to it.

In an off-field clash a few years ago, Atlético Madrid fans beat someone up and then threw them into the Manzanares River; the victim ultimately died from severe injuries.

The Bedsheet Legion's violent fan organization has continually changed with the times.

In the last century, it was 'Fortress 1903'.

Today, the 'Athletic Front' is Spain's largest extremist organization, boasting several thousand active fans.

This organization is quite special.

Occasionally they do good deeds.

Not long ago they also dismantled a pillaging criminal gang called the 'Black Panther Gang'; the gang's wicked leader had his pants stripped and was hung from a tree.

Li Kang and Koke exchanged jerseys.

Covered in mud, Samuel examined him closely and said, "How does Li not look tired at all?"

A natural talent.

Koke held the dry, clean Chelsea No. 10 jersey and remarked.

Li Kang bent down to take off his shin guards and loosened his shoelaces.

Perhaps influenced by the 'Iberian Hero's Achievement,' he felt he could still play at high intensity for another forty-five minutes.

In the distance.

Morata tidied his hair, stood before a massive billboard, and accepted media interviews.

My whole family are Atlético Madrid fans; I've worn their jersey since I was three.

If I break through Atlético Madrid's goal, I won't celebrate.

As Li's best partner, I am happy, always able to closely admire his splendid performance.

Post-match press conference.

Simeone's expression was calm, but his mind was filled with worry.

Several veterans in the team were exhausted and re-injured from fighting hard in the second half; in the second leg, playing away at Stamford Bridge, Atlético Madrid faces a hellish level of difficulty.

Oblak is in great shape; he is Atlético Madrid's future.

We were just a bit away from taking the lead, but unfortunately the opposing goalkeeper is Buffon.

Our midfield strangling tactic failed; Kanté's tackles and Li's dribbling were astonishing to behold.

Yes, I was stunned; Li completed a high-difficulty shot.

Atlético Madrid is confident of turning things around in the second leg! Being behind by one goal is no big deal.

His tone was firm.

He felt melancholy inside.

Moments later.

Tuchel appeared in the hall.

He brushed off the grass from his baseball cap and put it back on.

Facing the microphones and cameras, the Chelsea head coach looked in good spirits, his tone relaxed:

This match was very tough.

Li's overhead kick volley winner in the final moments was heart‑stirring.

Atlético Madrid's tactical coordination in the second half was splendid; the Spanish media dubbed it Cholo-taka, and our luck was good because it is still being refined.

Thanks to Simeone, I've seen something different; the Chelsea coaching staff's preparation for the second leg will be even more thorough.

Let's meet again at Stamford Bridge.

The Wanda Metropolitano Stadium is very young, and its surrounding facilities are also very complete.

The hotel where Li Kang and his teammates are staying is none other than the Wanda Hotel right next to the stadium.

Li Kang returned to the room.

Standing by the floor-to-ceiling window, Li Kang could faintly see a set of large illuminated signs at the flagpole beside the stadium's main gate.

【CorajeyCorazon】

Courage and sincerity.

A system notification suddenly sounded in Li Kang's mind.

【Ding, mission completed: Escape the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.】

【Mission feedback: How was it? Didn't I get it wrong this time? That's a desperate prison, but unfortunately Atlético Madrid, plagued by injuries, couldn't let Simeone complete his tactical system transition.】

【Mission reward: Simeone's "Timing" module!】

【Back when I was a player, I never liked swapping jerseys, because Atlético Madrid's jerseys are the most precious.】

【We must keep fighting, one match after another, one minute after another.】

Faint stars flickered in midair.

Li Kang felt no discomfort.

Dozens of fragments of Cholo's forward runs and retreats were added to his memory.

Although Simeone wasn't a top-tier midfielder in his playing days, his grasp of timing in both attack and defense had reached perfection.

A slight numbness tingled at the base of Li Kang's skull.

God's perspective spread out eleven red lines, frantically simulating the perfect form of Cholo-taka.

That night.

One piece of UEFA Champions League news after another topped the hot searches on major online platforms.

Li Kang's hooking V-shaped cannon made all of Europe tremble slightly.

《Atlético Madrid, playing something entirely new: Cholo-taka. 》

《Cruyff: This thing can't be dealt with by Li for now. 》

《Beckenbauer: A splendid match full of football paradoxes, Li is the truth. 》

《Locking in the Puskas Award? Sky-Shattering Echo, hooking cannon! 》

Comment counts, reposts, and likes surged wildly.

【Li the truth?】

【I could brag about this shot for a year!】

【Oblak had been the world's number one goalkeeper for a year, but Li Kang blasted him into becoming an eternal background panel.】

【Boateng: I was first! Obviously I am Li's dedicated background panel.】

【Look at Kanté's tackle and interception stats—truly abnormal.】

【Li Kang has strictly limited the fourth role of whatever Cholo; just wait to see Kroos and Maguire's post-match analysis.】

【I predict Atlético Madrid won't overturn the tie in the second leg; the old, weak, sick, and disabled have already given their all tonight—if only the summer transfer window weren't blocked by a transfer ban, how great that would be.】

The story splits into two.

Guardiola was clutching his head, dazedly gazing at the other bald figure in the opposing dugout—Zidane:

The opposing side hardly made any in-game gestures, yet how do Real Madrid players always adjust in time and easily equalize the score?

Zidane, fearing a repeat of the trousers‑ripping incident, kept his celebrations restrained.

Santiago Bernabéu.

This white palace is staging a goal‑fest of exhilarating abundance.

In midair, the LED screen showed an exciting score: Real Madrid 3:3 Manchester City.