Dominating Football with Perfect Ball Control

Chapter 116: 116. Messi was numb!

Check out advanced Chapters on P@treon: [email protected]/CosmicKaminari

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”Bayer Leverkusen is requesting a substitution; Emre Can is coming on for Stefan Kiessling! At the same time, Julian Brandt is being substituted, along with the yellow-carded full-back Giulio Donati, a like-for-like change!”

”In the final few minutes of the match, Bayer Leverkusen intends to set up a defensive block to counter FC Barcelona’s frantic counter-attacks! Lionel Messi’s several shots just now almost went in, but Bayer Leverkusen managed to keep them out!”

”Actually, FC Barcelona could have been content with scoring 2 away goals, but as a global powerhouse and one of the biggest favorites to win this Champions League, they clearly found it hard to accept giving up their lead! But they forgot how terrifying Bayer Leverkusen’s resilience is.”

”Just like the script of the Round of 16 knockout match, Arsenal also led by 2 goals in the first half, only for Lance-led Bayer Leverkusen to come back and win by 3 goals. FC Barcelona might not want to follow in Arsenal’s footsteps!”

Zhan Jun also felt it was a bit of a coincidence. Facing two teams that focused on possession and pressure, Bayer Leverkusen always fell behind by 2 goals at the start, then strongly equalized. Last time, Bayer Leverkusen defeated Arsenal 3-2 at home, and in the second leg, they beat Arsenal 2-1 at Emirates Stadium, eliminating them 5-3 on aggregate.

Now, FC Barcelona might become the next Arsenal! It’s unclear if others are resigned, but at least Lionel Messi looks very unwilling! He uncharacteristically wasn’t strolling around in the front third; instead, he was running frantically to find opportunities.

Left wing, central, right wing, center circle, defensive midfield position—Lionel Messi’s presence could be seen everywhere! It’s just a pity that all of FC Barcelona’s players seemed to have their confidence shattered by Lance’s two explosive plays, and everyone else’s performance was rather lackluster.

No matter how hard Lionel Messi tried himself, it was difficult to create enough threat. The fans and experts who had hyped up FC Barcelona before the match were all stunned.

”No way? FC Barcelona is playing like this?”

”Could it be...”

”Impossible, FC Barcelona is still FC Barcelona; they’ll definitely win in the end.”

”Two away goals are already very good. Back at Camp Nou, Bayer Leverkusen won’t know what hit them.”

”FC Barcelona will definitely win!”

Some stubborn FC Barcelona fans were still holding out hope. But had they asked Lance?

98%

99%!

100%!

The difficulty of accumulating rage value for the Bachira Meguru template is almost twice that of the Nagi Seishiro template. However, the full-rage effect of the Bachira Meguru template is equally terrifying, allowing Lance to directly cut through FC Barcelona’s entire team!

Sergio Busquets and Xavi Hernández intensified their marking on Lance. Gerardo Martino even substituted Pedro, bringing on defensive midfielder Alex Song specifically to mark Lance. To deal with Lance alone, he didn’t hesitate to push Andrés Iniesta up to play as a left winger, forming a trident with Lionel Messi and Neymar.

Alex Song, Sergio Busquets, and Xavi Hernández formed a three-man midfield to restrict Lance. This self-defeating setup had some effect. Lance was fouled multiple times by Alex Song.

Pulling jerseys, pushing, dragging, dirty tackles—Alex Song used every trick in the book. When the referee looked over, the tough defensive midfielder would grin and raise his hands, feigning innocence.

Logically, doing this should infuriate Lance, causing the young player to lose his composure and thereby create opportunities for FC Barcelona. Unexpectedly, Lance managed to remain calm. His counter-attacks were few, but they always threatened FC Barcelona’s goal!

”Damn it!! Is he really only 16 years old?”

Gerardo Martino was dumbfounded; anyone who didn’t know would think he was a veteran who had dominated the pitch for 10 years! He didn’t even bat an eye when Alex Song was constantly harassing him?

In fact, Lance wished his opponents would be rougher! I’m waiting for rage, what are you waiting for?

100% full rage!

With the time already reaching the 86th minute, it was Lance’s time to shine! One of Lionel Messi’s shots, slightly central, was caught by the excellent goalkeeper Bernd Leno. He originally wanted to kick a long ball to the front to waste time, but then he saw Lance suddenly drop back and raise his hand.

”Could it be...”

Bernd Leno excitedly threw the ball out with a sudden hand pass!

”Quick! Quick! Press! Press!”

Xavi Hernández was frantic, quickly directing his teammates. Alex Song and Sergio Busquets simultaneously closed in, intending to commit a tactical foul and keep Lance in the backfield at all costs!

S-rank template full state — Activate!

Under the shocked gaze of the entire stadium, Lance, with his back to goal, didn’t chest-trap the ball; instead, he flicked it backward with a scorpion kick! He turned and became a blur, bypassing Alex Song!

A bold and audacious nutmeg left Sergio Busquets momentarily stunned, a half-beat slow! As he stepped forward to challenge for the ball, Lance had already extended his toe, executing a first-touch nutmeg with seamless fluidity!

He kept moving! Striding powerfully towards FC Barcelona’s half! That killing god who went 1v8 across the entire field was back! Directly facing FC Barcelona’s defensive line!

Gerard Piqué and Javier Mascherano were both flustered! Dani Alves couldn’t hold back and rushed forward first, joining Javier Mascherano to double-team Lance. Gerard Piqué stayed behind to cover, seemingly marking Son Heung-min, but his gaze never left Lance!

As Lance was about to be surrounded by the two, he performed a step-over and pushed the ball to the right, attempting to break through Javier Mascherano’s side!

”So arrogant?!”

This kid wants to force his way through?! He’s completely disregarding the FC Barcelona players! Javier Mascherano was furious, lowering his shoulder and crashing into him with a powerful challenge. Dani Alves also quickly circled to the other side to assist, both of them drawn to the right by Lance.

Gerard Piqué simultaneously tightened his steps, preparing to converge on that side. In his view, Lance was again attempting to force his way through alone! Being tricked once by him was understandable, but being tricked multiple times in a row by the same person, did FC Barcelona’s defense still have any pride left?

Several players had already made up their minds to stop him, even if it meant fouling! At that instant, while dribbling, Lance’s right ankle subtly flickered! While looking to the right, the ball took an opposite diagonal path, flying towards the left!

”???”

”Oh no!”

Lionel Messi and Xavi Hernández were chasing back frantically behind him; they saw it clearly! This move, they had seen it before from a certain old acquaintance! No-look pass! Ronaldinho’s signature move, cleverly adapted by Lance!

”This ball!! Lance!! Through ball behind Gerard Piqué!!”

”Son Heung-min, one-on-one!”

Gerard Piqué instinctively raised his hand, signaling offside, but the referee completely ignored him! At the moment Lance passed the ball, Son Heung-min was still several meters behind! It was simply that the pass was too disguised, fooling everyone on FC Barcelona!

By the time Gerard Piqué reacted, Son Heung-min had already created a 2-meter gap and was dribbling into the box!

”Son Heung-min!! One-on-one—”

With Lance’s rise, Son Heung-min also felt a strong sense of crisis. He knew his title of ”Asia’s No. 1” was likely to be lost. With Lance around, no one could compete with him. Unless Lance was considered Belgian.

Even so, Son Heung-min didn’t want to be outdone by him! Facing the onrushing Víctor Valdés, Son Heung-min calmly curled the ball with his right foot to the far corner! The ball quickly hugged the turf, bypassing Víctor Valdés’s gloves, and nestled into the net!

In the 87th minute of the match! Bayer Leverkusen once again came back from a 0-2 deficit, scoring 3 consecutive goals to make it 3-2!

”For two consecutive Champions League knockout home games, under Lance’s leadership, Bayer Leverkusen has shown its resilience to the whole world! A clean and decisive counter-attack! Lance drew everyone’s attention in midfield and delivered a brilliant pass! Son Heung-min finished it off in one go! A perfect link-up between two East Asian players!”

In the close-up shot, Lance and Son Heung-min excitedly high-fived in celebration. Bayer Leverkusen’s Asian duo unleashed their power! They actually overturned strong opponents FC Barcelona! Overturned the biggest favorite to win this year’s Champions League!

Now, FC Barcelona fans on Twitter were completely speechless, their previous comments backfiring.

”Keep talking! Did they turn it around or not? Speak up!”

”Favorites to win? What a joke! I think they’re favorites to be overturned!”

”How many times has a 16-year-old player dribbled through the entire field? Shameful!”

FC Barcelona players were completely numb. The players on the field also couldn’t accept this outcome, appearing dazed. So much so that when the referee held up the injury time board, and it entered the first minute of stoppage time, FC Barcelona actually made a passing error!

Sergio Busquets’s pass to Xavi Hernández was intercepted by Lars Bender’s press! The calm Lars Bender immediately played a through ball down the middle! A bold and incisive through ball caught FC Barcelona’s defense off guard!

Lance took it in stride, nutmegging Gerard Piqué with the outside of his foot and carrying the ball into the box before unleashing an unstoppable thunderous shot!

Bang—

With a cannonball-like roar! The ball slammed into the net with immense force!

Bayer Leverkusen 4-2 FC Barcelona! Sealing the victory! A crazy second half, a crazy comeback!