Chapter 82: Miracle Night!

Enrique did not shake hands with Tuopu Laotou.

Each led their coaching staff into the tunnel.

The Barcelona players looked a bit down.

Nobody expected that Lewokusen, this minnow, would suddenly turn into a tough bone.

For Barcelona, is there any difference between a rout, a draw, and a loss?

Busquets said helplessly, "Did the youth academy originally train Li Kang as a number four? I remember he hardly played any youth-team matches at all!"

Yinniesita sighed, "I asked Lula about it—Li's positioning awareness and vision are excellent; back then it was just because his physical condition was poor… Could it be that Asian players develop late?"

Neymar's expression was displeased.

Suarez wore a smile on his face.

Messi stood with his hands on his hips, gazing from afar at Li Kang's back.

Barcelona locker room.

Enrique stood to the side, his face full of worry.

Wensusai tapped the tactical board and said loudly:

"Lewokusen's overall strength hasn't undergone a qualitative change; if they keep up the high-intensity pressing up front like Atletico, then after seventy minutes the game will belong to us!"

"We must patiently wait for a counter‑attack opportunity."

Counter‑attack.

That phrase popping up in the Barcelona locker room is a bit laughable.

After Xavi retired.

In high‑profile matches, Barcelona sometimes abandons possession play in certain phases and switches to defensive counter‑attacks.

"When the opponent has possession, Rakitic, you don't need to join the press—just stick tight to Li Kang! As long as you contain him, Lewokusen can't threaten our thirty‑meter zone!"

Lewokusen locker room.

Tuopu Laotou didn't talk tactics.

He clenched his fists, his face flushed.

His small stature trembled slightly.

"Lads, you did great! Especially Li!"

"Present‑day Barcelona is worthless!"

"Knock them over!"

"Tonight! We'll avenge our shame at Camp Nou!"

Dino chimed in, "We'll defend well in the second half—we'll definitely make it out of Camp Nou unscathed!"

"Defense be damned—keep attacking!"

The fifteen‑minute halftime break flew by.

Both teams' players returned to the pitch.

The four stands of Camp Nou buzzed with rising noise.

"Good evening, friends, and welcome back."

"Now broadcasting live is the second round of the 2015/16 UEFA Champions League group stage, Group E."

"The second half of Barcelona versus Lewokusen!"

"After forty‑five minutes of fierce fighting in the first half, the score remained 1‑1!"

"Lewokusen made its first substitution, bringing on Brandt for Bellarabi!"

"This is a like‑for‑like substitution!"

Beep!

The chief referee blew his whistle!

The second half officially began!

Lewokusen had possession.

Kiessling kicked off and passed back to Li Kang!

No unnecessary buildup.

Li Kang met the ball and took a touch.

Leading his midfield‑forward teammates, he launched a fierce attack!

Barcelona's formation, contrary to habit, quickly fell back.

"What a rare sight."

"Barcelona wants to complete a short‑range exchange in the thirty‑meter zone."

"Enrique has brought many changes to Camp Nou."

The forty‑meter zone.

After a few quick passes,

The ball came back to Li Kang's feet.

Barcelona began to win the ball back.

Regarding the coaching staff's restrictions on Li Kang, they took experience from the Bundesliga Mönchengladbach match footage:

They sent out a player strong in physical duels to engage Li Kang in a one‑on‑one!

Rakitic, he's the perfect choice!

The other Barcelona players were tasked with blocking Lewokusen's number ten's passing lanes.

So he'd have no space to organize and build up play.

Rakitic quickly closed in.

Press but don't tackle!

He was simultaneously observing Li Kang's touch rhythm and step frequency.

He doubted: How could this kid's ball feel be so weak compared to the first half? Too many loopholes! No feints at all? My grandma could steal his ball!

In his mind, he unconsciously plotted the counterattack route!

Rakitic couldn't hold back and stretched out his right foot, poking at the ball.

Li Kang pushed the ball forward.

His body surged forward fiercely.

The close-range audio equipment transmitted a burst of flesh-on-flesh sound!

An astonishing scene occurred again!

Rakitic's legs were suspended in midair!

His whole body was flung into the air!

The stands at Camp Nou erupted in bursts of amazement.

What are you messing up, Zakka? Herrera would've been fine too!

Today you even flipped Rakitic?

"What's going on!"

"A strong Eastern European star, actually got lifted by Li Kang's acceleration!"

"Totally unexpected!"

"Barcelona's midfield defense was just broken through like that!"

Suarez and Neymar looked completely bewildered!

Yinniesita wanted to curse someone.

The three each marked their opposing Lewokusen players.

For a moment they couldn't retreat to form a double-team!

No!

Li Kang kid's speed is getting faster and faster... faster than in the first half!

By the pitch.

Enrique looked somewhat flustered: "What did Rakitic do? His tactical duty is to press but not tackle! Wait for Lewokusen's attacking organization in the front to make a mistake! What the hell is he playing?"

Wensue remained silent: Enrique back then, to help Rakitic rise, could harden his heart and press Harvey onto the bench...

On the other side.

Dino excitedly said: "Boss, this must again be your tailor-made tactic for Li! Look! Brandt and Son Heung-min have already widened the attacking width in the front! A perfect fan shape! Barcelona's defensive line is flattened!

"

Tuopu Laotou coughed heavily twice: "Hmm... Li now has many ball distribution options!"

On the field.

All Lewokusen front-field players are serving Li Kang.

Busquets is very calm.

He is conducting analysis by unraveling the silk.

In a short moment, he made a prediction of the attacking direction!

"Traditional fan-shaped attack, Lewokusen can't play too many variations."

"It must be the flank!"

"Li Kang will surely pass the ball to the flank from the rib area, then bomb Barcelona's penalty area via the wings."

Barcelona's midfielder turned and gestured to Mascherano and Pique.

He himself then went toward Li Kang.

Pressure.

Using his top-notch frontal defensive ability.

Make Li Kang complete the pass early.

"Everything is under my control, simplifying the complex!"

In God's perspective.

Brandt, Son Heung-min, Borges, and Gilbert four people, on the two flanks, attracted a lot of defense.

Barcelona's defensive line was pulled into a line.

Pique and Mascherano shrank into the penalty area, waiting for Kiesslin...

Li Kang didn't continue thinking.

Busquets blocked in front of him.

"Precise positioning! The most reasonable interception spot!"

"Busquets, the ball-blind filter!"

"He is the most important link in Barcelona's attack-defense transition phase... oh no!"

Another breathtaking scene.

Li Kang didn't change direction, didn't pass,

Accelerated again!

Like a fierce beast.

Crazily slammed into Barcelona's midfielder,

Busquets was dazed.

I didn't kick!

I'm pressing you!

You didn't even care about the ball and still came crashing?

Thud!

Intensely bodily contact.

Busquets had just bent his knee when Li Kang shoved him with his shoulder.

He fell backward and sat on the turf.

Barcelona fans fell silent instantly.

Is he kicking a football?

Or rugby?

VIP box.

Krulin widened his eyes in surprise: "A perfect template... too perfect..."

Robert wore a bitter expression.

Even though he had been away from the pitch for many years.

At this moment he also realized.

Barcelona's defense was shaking, on the verge of collapse.

The beast-like Lewokusen number 10.

It will tear open the defense from the weakest central channel.

The two Barcelona center-backs inwardly cursed Busquets ten thousand times.

Pique couldn't let Kießlin go.

All we can rely on is Mascherano!

"If he's even a step later, Li Kang will finish a long shot!"

"Mascherano is very timely! Fast speed! He turned and ran out of the penalty area!"

"He should be able to stop Li Kang!"

"Yes! His low center of gravity! His one-on-one defending ability is world-class!"

Li Kang had no confidence he could overwhelm Mascherano.

Even with cheats activated, he had no confidence.

The Barcelona little guy's physical condition and center-of-gravity control are terrifying, and he also has bloody combat experience from the South American league...

Even if he doesn't lose the ball, he'll be slowed in attack, and other Barcelona players will quickly chase back!

This cheat, even when activated, isn't crazy enough.

In God's perspective.

Brunt shook off Alves and cut into Barcelona's penalty area.

Mascherano is very short.

After grasping these two pieces of information.

Li Kang slowed his speed.

He was about to loft the ball over.

In his line of sight.

The Barcelona little guy unleashed his secret technique!

Slide tackle!

A killing intent came rushing at his face.

Slender calves.

Before Li Kang could finish his pass.

The football that was poked!

Mascherano, in the defensive midfield position, is T0 tier.

Relying on his slide-tackle skill, he switched to center-back and is also T0 tier.

Modern football has developed to this day.

Slide tackling has developed into a discipline.

After Maldini.

Mascherano is the pinnacle.

At the edge of the field.

Enrique is going crazy; he most dislikes his own defenders making slide-tackle moves!

Wansue quickly raised his hand to soothe his own head coach!

In his view, Mascherano made a precise interception, defusing Barcelona's crisis!

That Lewokusen kid is too terrifying; he almost single-handedly overturned Barcelona's back line!

Dino and Tuopu Laotou were so anxious they wanted to jump up!

The soles of Barcelona's defenders' feet!

It will surely slide-tackle Li Kang's supporting foot!

Thud!

The football wasn't poked far.

But it struck Li Kang's supporting foot.

It bounced high.

Mascherano's sliding tackle reached Li Kang.

At this moment, everyone thought Barcelona's crisis had been resolved.

Busquets was about to give Mascherano a thumbs-up!

His hand raised halfway.

His gaze froze!

Li Kang stumbled, his knee hitting the turf, then quickly got up!

He nudged the ball forward with his chest.

He charged toward Barcelona's penalty area!

The whole stadium erupted!

"Too terrifying!"

"What kind of physique is this!"

"He single-handedly took on Barcelona's back line!"

"He's going to shoot!"

"Here it comes!"

Barcelona's penalty area.

The wind sounded like crane cries.

Bravo gazed at Li Kang, as if facing a formidable foe.

Pique clung to the Bundesliga header monster!

Lewokusen's little blond suddenly burst in again, his run was too sneaky!

Two defenders versus three!

How to play?

Li Kang stepped into the penalty area.

The motion of swinging his leg.

Made all Barcelona fans shudder.

The terrifying power at his feet turned the ball into a cannonball!

Once again blasted open Barcelona's goal!

1:2!

!