It can only be said that the young Iniesta had already perfected the art of the La Croqueta!
Just as Fàbregas and Kanté moved in to intercept him, Iniesta swiftly flicked the ball between his left and right feet.
Effortlessly, he broke through the two defenders without giving them any chance to react!
In fact, Kanté even tried to grab Iniesta's shirt to slow him down, but it was already too late.
There was nothing they could do.
At that moment, Iniesta moved like an elusive eel, slipping past his opponents without leaving them a chance to stop him!
In the blink of an eye, Iniesta had reached the edge of the penalty area all on his own.
Of course, Chelsea's players weren't about to let him advance any further.
Christensen and Marcos Alonso, two key defensive players, quickly stepped up to block his path.
Yet, Iniesta remained unfazed.
He had already planned how to counter Chelsea's defense.
Just as Christensen and Marcos Alonso closed in on him, Barcelona's midfield maestro calmly delivered a pinpoint pass—without the slightest hesitation!
A scalpel-like through ball.
It found Messi on the right with surgical precision!
Messi controlled the ball effortlessly!
At that moment, tens of thousands of Chelsea fans inside Stamford Bridge held their breath, their nerves on edge.
It was obvious.
Chelsea fans feared Messi.
After all, his individual performance tonight had been nothing short of phenomenal.
Every time Messi received the ball in the attacking third, he immediately posed a threat to Chelsea's goal.
This time was no different.
At the edge of the penalty area, Messi took possession once more.
There was no doubt about it.
Chelsea's defense was under immense pressure!!
Even Chelsea's head coach, Antonio Conte, looked visibly tense.
He quickly leaped up from the bench.
Then, rushing to the touchline, he shouted at his players with urgency:
"DEFEND!! DEFEND!!"
"Don't give Messi any space!!"
"Put pressure on him!! Don't let him shoot!!"
Conte's desperate cries echoed across the pitch.
Chelsea's remaining defenders responded immediately, closing in on Messi.
Gary Cahill and Rüdiger—both strong, physical defenders—positioned themselves to stop him.
With two defenders in front of him, they hoped to at least slow him down.
But!!
The very next second, something unbelievable happened!
Messi suddenly shifted directions with his left foot, repeatedly twisting and turning in quick succession.
Combined with his explosive acceleration, it was clear—Chelsea's defenders had no chance against him.
Like a magician, Messi weaved past them in the blink of an eye!
Before they could react, Messi had already broken through!
Cahill and Rüdiger could only stand there, stunned, powerless to stop him.
Just like that, Messi glided into the penalty area.
Now, all the pressure fell on Chelsea's goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can visit my Patreon page:
Patreon.com/PhoeniXcel
There are 500+ advanced chapters available for you to read.
Your support would be greatly appreciated.
Check out my new Marvel fanfic!
[Marvel: A Video Editor]