The trailing players' pulling could not stop Messi, who had already started his run. In the next second, he was completely left behind. Facing a double-team, Messi was about to shoot with his left foot!
The ball would arc beautifully above the penalty area, slicing into the upper corner of the goal like a scimitar!
Cao Baiming watched, the script already playing out in his mind, because he had indeed seen it before!
Facing Messi, defending alone was no different than not defending at all; this was a universally understood and clear truth for any team and any player. Perhaps, with two players, there was still some hope.
Following the coach's instructions, the two players would cover front and back respectively.
The player in front would exert as much pressure as possible to force Messi into an error and seize the ball, or block his shooting lanes, preventing Messi from using his left foot.
The other player would provide support from behind, never rushing forward before Messi made his next move, lest he be easily outmaneuvered. If necessary, they would use their bodies to obstruct Messi's shooting path and angle!
However, even their most perfect arrangements were as fragile as paper in front of Messi. With just a feint, Messi successfully bypassed the first defender.
Here, Cao Baiming knew, he was about to create space and shoot!
With only one defender left, he also knew Messi was about to shoot. The chance of him successfully blocking it was slim, but he still wanted to give it his all and fight for it!
He rushed forward, closing the distance to increase the success rate of his block and force an error from Messi. Simultaneously, the goalkeeper prepared himself. The two coordinated perfectly, one blocking the near post, the other the far post.
But in the next moment, Messi lightly tapped the ball with his heel. Henry, sprinting from the side nearby, received the pass and, without stopping the ball, unleashed a shot!
The ball successfully found the net!!!
Right up until the last moment, the goalkeeper was still staring at Messi's left foot, not making any move to save it!
The stadium erupted in an uproar. The play was breathtaking, unexpected, and caught everyone off guard!
Cao Baiming stood up abruptly. The scene before him deviated significantly from what he had anticipated.
Although a goal was scored, in his memory, the goal was scored entirely by Messi himself, with no involvement from Henry.
But now, the situation had changed. It was different from what he remembered...
One point had to be admitted: this approach was indeed better than shooting himself, because the defenders had not yet fully positioned themselves. Only one center-back remained, and he could only cover one side, unable to guard both left and right simultaneously.
And with Messi in possession, no one dared to divert their attention elsewhere, not even for a second.
Messi's presence itself possessed a certain gravity. It not only attracted the ball, making it cling to any part of his body like a magnet, but more importantly, it also drew in the defenders, including their attention.
Looking at other matches, one could see how strong Messi's draw was. This also indirectly explained how easily Henry had scored.
"Arsenal temporarily leads Bayern Munich 1-0! Messi assists Henry to score the first goal!"
"This was a direct connection between Messi and Henry! We see that the two geniuses still have enough ability to create opportunities!"
"One dares to pass, one dares to score!"
Cao Baiming sat back down in his seat.
The current situation was precisely the first clear proof of this tactic's success.
Messi's restriction was still insufficient. The reason was that the opponent's tactics were all built around Cao Baiming, and the entire team was dedicated to setting traps, and they couldn't change it in time.
Even if Cao Baiming was not on the field, they would still have no solution. After all, football was not a one-person game; it was a team sport!
How could the minds of so many people change instantly and move in unison?
Bayern Munich's coaching staff felt like crying at this moment. Although they were only trailing by one goal, they could clearly see that the real situation could only be described in four words: unbearable to watch.
They could no longer bear to look. The situation could only worsen.
Arteta wished he could rush over and hug Cao Baiming. The current situation was entirely thanks to him.
After Henry's goal celebration, both teams returned to the center circle.
Bayern Munich's overall strength was beyond question. Despite not getting many chances, their attacks were still as sharp as ever!
After several attacking attempts at the start, Arsenal's defense seemed like an amateur team against their offense.
However, thanks to the goalkeeper's brilliant saves, Bayern Munich had not yet managed to score a truly effective goal.
In the twenty-seventh minute, the game's situation became even clearer. This time, the initiator of Bayern Munich's attack was the fast winger Davies.
This opportunity was almost created by his run.
Cao Baiming did not recall this particular attack, but he soon realized it was just forgotten.
Davies easily bypassed Vieira, then combined with a teammate who overlapped on the wing. After a simple cross, the ball was passed into the middle, and a scramble ensued.
The outcome of this scramble was entirely up to fate.
Ultimately, fate did not favor Arsenal. After the ball was parried by Ramsdale, it slipped from his grasp and rolled about a meter in front of the goal, where Sané struck it directly into the upper part of the net.
The score was thus leveled!!!
Cao Baiming was not surprised at all. Listening to the passionate shouts of the fans, he remained incredibly calm.
It was okay. It was just a 1-1 draw. At least most of the situation was still under control up to this point. Honestly, if he could use the time bubble function more proficiently and master some techniques in the future, his vision would not be limited to this single match.
A bright future awaited him!
As time went by, Bayern's tactics gradually adapted to the situation on the field. The players of top professional teams possessed the most elite on-field adaptability in the world, undoubtedly.
At this moment, the game had entered a state of balance, waiting for a breakthrough.
By the fortieth minute, both teams were exchanging blows. Although no more goals were scored, the match was still incredibly exciting, captivating the fans.