Chapter 1 The Key Battle

“As long as we beat Arsenal 5:0, there’s still hope for us to advance!”

“Barça can’t be eliminated! They can’t play in the Europa League!”

“Messi has never played in the Europa League in his life!”

Barcelona’s sporting director’s office.

Robert's hair was disheveled as he muttered to himself.

The draft paper in front of him was covered with dense numbers: goal difference, head-to-head record, qualifying points.

Since when did Barça have to calculate points to qualify from the group stage?

Barça's legal director, Ponti, threw the newspaper on the table.

“Take a look yourself…”

Robert’s eyes swept across the front-page headline, and he cursed, “A sinner? What a joke! I and Enrique only sold a mute, and it's exaggerated to the point of 'burying the future of Barça's Dream Team Four'?”

Ponti adjusted his black-rimmed glasses and smiled, "Oh! My friend, you don't need to be angry, that's just a sewer rat..."

“La Masia nurtured him, but he doesn’t even know how to be grateful! He even rejected Barça's transfer negotiations back then!”

“This should all end!”

Bang!

Robert's fist slammed heavily on the table.

Li Kang's photo on the newspaper left a deep dent.

In certain extremely dangerous situations, humans will use anger to mask fear.

This crucial life-or-death battle became what Robert, Ponti, and a group of Barça executives feared most.

If they lost the game, the consequences would be unimaginable.

...

English Premier League and La Liga media outlets have analyzed this key battle:

Barça has shown signs of recovery: Messi, Iniesta, and Busquets have recovered from their injuries. After Enrique "abandoned" the €150 million new lineup, the situation on all fronts is excellent.

Arsenal has no worries about qualifying, the main lineup has suffered significant injuries, and they may send a substitute lineup to save their strength for the Premier League's mid-season finale.

Most conclusions were consistent: Barça would win, and with a large score, gaining a goal difference advantage.

The odds offered by Joy Bean Company also confirmed these views.

...

London.

Barça stars walked out of the arrival hall.

Outside the cordon, the red and blue crowd let out bursts of screams.

“Messi!!!”

“Messi!!!”

“Barcelona!!!”

Barcelona fan organizations from all over Europe rushed over, wanting to personally witness the club win this life-or-death battle.

Messi looked up at the gloomy sky and then down at the damp ground.

His expression couldn't help but become serious.

Iniesta comforted him, "The weather forecast says it won't rain, and the Emirates Stadium has a great drainage system..."

Neymar took a deep breath and waved his hand, interrupting, "Barça will reverse the situation, and I will score two goals."

Some time ago, he used the same words to deny the ridicule of his Brazilian friends.

After the players boarded the bus one after another.

Enrique stood up, his expression serious, and pointed out the window.

"Do you see that?"

"There are tens of thousands of Barça fans outside supporting us!"

"They believe Barça will win!"

"We must not lose our belief in victory!"

"Yes, Barça has been lost before, but we must learn to overcome difficulties!"

"If Arsenal can score five goals against us! We can score six against them!"

"This is not a miracle! This is something we can easily do!"

"Barça cannot be eliminated in the group stage! And it's even more impossible for us to fight in the Europa League!"

"Use a big victory to break all doubts!"

Assistant coach Unzué immediately applauded.

The players responded in agreement.

How could a depleted Arsenal withstand the onslaught of the MSN trident?

...

As Arsenal continued their triumphant progress on all fronts.

Islington fans have also become more "tolerant."

The CCTV5 crew was wandering around the Emirates Stadium, conducting pre-match interviews.

That's right.

The two clubs facing off have a huge fan base worldwide.

Barça's life-or-death battle.

The Gunners' depleted lineup.

The combination of various elements... has made the attention on this group match even surpass the Champions League quarter-finals last season!

It also gave Duan Xuan the opportunity for a publicly funded trip.

He was leading his crew of minions, interviewing a group of hot Arsenal female fans.

"Do you think an injury-ridden Arsenal can withstand Barça's offensive?"

"We've already qualified."

"Messi is back! The attacking firepower of the MSN combination is the greatest in European history..."

"We've already qualified."

"Enrique has recently gradually abandoned his long-ball counter-attack tactics, and he is letting Barça restore its memory..."

"Arsenal will defend their home honor! They cannot be massacred by Barça!"

Duan Xuan finally got the answer he wanted.

Suddenly, a red and white club bus appeared on the road.

The fans were excited and rushed over!

...

Livestream room.

-[That's right, Arsenal has already qualified! No matter how much Barça restores its combat power, it has nothing to do with me.]

-[No, we have to help the Professor avenge his shame!]

-[Can't help it, Mertesacker, Koscielny, and Mustafi are all injured in the defense, and Sanchez and Walcott in the front line can't play either.]

-[I still hope Arsenal can win.]

-[How many times has Arsenal been eliminated by Barça? The closest they came to the Champions League title, the final was also in front of Barça.]

-[Still have to respect objective reality, right? Arsenal has to save its strength for next week's mid-season finale; they have to get the mid-season title!]

...

Emirates Stadium.

Li Kang changed his shoes and jersey, adjusted his shin guards, and walked out of the locker room early.

In the system panel.

The "Turn the Tide" module was glowing with a faint white light.

[Sanchez strained his thigh muscle, the injury is minor, triggering the buff: a slight increase in explosiveness, a slight increase in change of direction ability.]

[Walcott suffered a severe knee injury, triggering the buff: Speed 90 → 95, "Swift as the Wind" module!]

[Koscielny fractured his jaw, triggering the buff: Defense 88 → 94, "Precise Prediction" module!]

[Mertesacker sprained his ankle, triggering the buff: "Tiger Tank" module!]

[Mustafi injured his toe, triggering the buff: "Aggressive as Fire" module!]

[...]

[Comprehensive bonus: "Perpetual Motion Heart" module (incomplete), Stamina: 84 → 90.]

The more severe the teammate's injury, the stronger the buff.

Li Kang felt like he had become a "super hexagon warrior"...

"Li, wait a minute!"

Maguire rubbed his palms, holding a mirror under his elbow, and strode up.

"Your hairstyle is a bit messy."

As he spoke.

Old Ma's big hand rubbed against Li Kang's hair.

"Xhaka, come over and hold the mirror!"

"Okay! Looking handsome!"

Li Kang felt Maguire's hands trembling slightly, a kind of barely concealed nervousness.

No way.

Even with the premise of qualifying in advance, the MSN combination is a nightmare for defenders, not to mention Barça's attacking system... is the most effective against heavy center-backs like Maguire.

...

Emirates Stadium.

Crowded, with every seat filled.

Red and white slogans and scarves, flags printed with the team emblem, conveyed the passion of Arsenal fans.

Barça fans were not to be outdone, with a mighty momentum, determined to make North London become Camp Nou.

"CCTV5! CCTV5! Good evening, viewers!"

"Now we are broadcasting live the last round of the 2016/17 season group stage."

"Arsenal vs. Barça at home!"

"A highly anticipated showdown!"

"A key battle that will determine the Champions League knockout stage!"