At the start of the second half of the game,
Although Brighton's players remained highly active, their forward line struggled to capitalize on opportunities. Their finishing ability was far from impressive.
Especially Hamid.
For most of the match, he was practically invisible, failing to create any meaningful threat to Chelsea's goal.
In the blink of an eye, the second half had already reached its midway point.
At this moment, coach Conte made a significant tactical adjustment by bringing on Cesc Fàbregas.
This was a crucial substitution.
The moment Fàbregas stepped onto the field, Chelsea's attack instantly became more dynamic.
After all, Fàbregas was widely regarded as the team's midfield maestro.
His passing and vision were top-notch!
Thanks to Fàbregas's outstanding playmaking ability, Chelsea effortlessly took control of the game.
In the end, Chelsea maintained their 1-0 lead until the final whistle.
They secured a hard-fought victory at Brighton's home ground.
With Brighton behind them, Chelsea now had to shift their focus to the Champions League.
In just three days, they would travel to Camp Nou to face Barcelona in the quarter-finals.
Based on their current squad depth, Barcelona appeared to have a stronger lineup than Chelsea.
Before the match, a significant number of fans believed Chelsea would struggle at Camp Nou and likely suffer a defeat.
The stadium was packed to capacity, with a massive crowd filling every seat.
For Barcelona fans, this match was of utmost importance.
Winning the Champions League had always been their goal, and tonight's game was a crucial step toward that ambition.
At the pre-match press conference, Barcelona's head coach, Ernesto Valverde, shared his thoughts with the media.
"Chelsea is definitely a tough opponent," Valverde admitted. "Defeating them within 90 minutes will not be easy."
"But no matter what, I believe in my players!"
He then specifically mentioned Su Luo:
"Su Luo is an extraordinary player. He delivered an incredible performance last season and is also the first-ever Ballon d'Or winner from his country.
Tomorrow, Su Luo will put tremendous pressure on our defense.
However, I am confident that we can beat Chelsea and contain Su Luo!"
As the referee blew the whistle, the cheers of the Barcelona fans echoed throughout the stadium.
The Champions League quarter-final between Chelsea and Barcelona had officially begun!
From the very first minute, Barcelona, playing at home, dominated possession.
There was no denying it—while they were no longer as dominant as they once were, Barcelona remained one of Europe's elite clubs.
Soon, their star player, Lionel Messi, showcased his brilliance.
On the right flank, Andrés Iniesta delivered a pinpoint pass to Messi.
The moment Messi received the ball, Camp Nou erupted in excitement.
This was the power of Messi's presence.
In Barcelona, almost every fan was a Messi fan.
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