Camp Nou

Messi is in his peak form, seemingly about to perform another solo dribble.

Guardiola’s tactical setup is very targeted; when Chen Zhong is not around Messi, they give the ball to Messi, letting him break through with sparks and lightning.

Khedira and Pepe couldn’t stop Messi; they seemed like mere background props before him.

However, they still accomplished their tasks.

On the stands, Barcelona fans only had eyes for Messi, while Real Madrid fans also kept their eyes on Chen Zhong.

Even if Messi outplayed Khedira and went past Pepe.

Yet, some people’s eyes were still following the approaching Chen Zhong.

Closer, closer, even closer!

Just as Messi took a slight detour to control the ball, a trace of ferocity and determination flashed in Chen Zhong’s eyes.

He raised his arms and threw himself down.

This was a textbook slide tackle, and his massive body also increased his "attacking range."

Messi sensed danger, but it was too late.

He could only jump as the ball was tackled away, and then awkwardly roll on the grass, not to fake an injury but simply to release force and for protection.

But when linked with the scene of Chen Zhong’s tackle, it was enough to make the entire Camp Nou explode.

Barcelona fans were furious, angrily cursing Chen Zhong, thinking it was a dirty and brutal move, wishing the referee would give him a red card, wishing Chen Zhong would drop dead on the pitch.

"You damned Oriental monkey!"

"You butcher, murderer, you son of a *****!"

"Die! How dare you, how dare you!"

Real Madrid fans, however, laughed heartily; the relationship between the two teams wasn’t exactly a friendly one, and seeing Chen Zhong make such a move, they only cheered and applauded.

"Well done!"

"That’s right!"

"Tackle that shortie!"

The voices of the fans from both teams echoed at Camp Nou, and this fervent atmosphere directed the cameras onto Chen Zhong and Messi.

Messi sat on the grass a bit awkwardly, frowned, and glanced at Chen Zhong, seemingly waiting for him to help him up. In previous Derbies, sometimes Chen Zhong would pull him up after tackling him, sometimes he wouldn’t.

He had heard Guardiola talk about Chen Zhong, and he was somewhat curious about this player who inspired Guardiola’s tactics and was praised by him.

Of course, there was also a bit of competitiveness.

After all, last season, he was overshadowed by him and became the "Four Silver Boot" in Europe, the Champions League, the league, and the King’s Cup.

Chen Zhong didn’t give Messi another glance; instead, he looked at the Barcelona fans rushing over to him. That cold stern gaze made Pedro run an S-shaped path.

Pedro-Eliseo-Rodriguez-Ledesma, nicknamed "Pedro," a member of the 2010 South Africa World Cup winners, a product of Barcelona’s youth academy.

This 167cm Spanish player originally charged angrily to reason with Chen Zhong but felt a shiver when seeing Chen Zhong stylishly get up after his tackle and the fierce light in his eyes.

He recalled Bojan talking about his first encounter with Chen Zhong within the team.

Thus, a smooth S-shaped path led him to the referee, where he loudly complained, "This is definitely a foul."

"He should definitely be carded."

The referee was very close to the incident spot, and Chen Zhong’s slide tackle was well-known in La Liga.

The referee shook his head, rejecting Pedro’s suggestion but verbally warning Chen Zhong, and not booking him but only verbally warning him left Barcelona fans very displeased, and boos almost drowned out the entire Camp Nou.

Chen Zhong tackled the ball out, Barcelona’s throw-in.

Chen Zhong stuck closely to Messi, Messi pushed slightly but couldn’t move him, somewhat helplessly looked at Chen Zhong, then tried to pull away by running, but Chen Zhong kept sticking closely to Messi, his strong hand tugging at Messi’s jersey.

Seeing this, his teammates chose not to pass the ball to Messi.

"Barcelona throw-in."

"Chen Zhong sticks closely to Messi."

"With such defense, even Messi finds it hard to break free."

"Throw-in taken."

"Villa receives the ball."

"Looks to pass to Messi."

"Chen Zhong."

The ball reached Villa’s feet, Villa and Messi were already in sync, directly aiming to pass the ball to Messi, but Chen Zhong’s long legs completed the interception in advance.

Messi stumbled and barely managed to avoid falling to the ground.

Villa and Iniesta tried to help, but Chen Zhong spun past them with a Marseille Turn, seemingly clumsy but with exquisite timing, avoiding Iniesta and adjusting his position, allowing him to comfortably adjust his position.

He locked onto a nearby teammate and made a direct pass to Alonso.

Alonso received the ball and, facing Barcelona’s players, returned the ball to the advancing Chen Zhong.

At this point, Chen Zhong had already shaken off the Barcelona players’ entanglement and gallantly moved forward with the ball, while Barcelona exposed a large open space, much like a beast showing its soft belly.