After Paris Saint-Germain was removed from the list, I led England to victory!

A few days later, the plane's engines roared as they pierced the warm air above Barcelona, ​​Spain.

Arsenal have arrived in the world-renowned football capital, where they will face their second International Champions Cup opponent, Barcelona, ​​at the Camp Nou.

For Yan Yuan, this was his third time setting foot on Spanish soil.

His first experience was during his time with Hoffenheim when he visited Seville for a Champions League group stage match, where he experienced the vibrant atmosphere of Spanish football for the first time.

The second time was at the Bernabéu stadium, where Hoffenheim faced Real Madrid in the Champions League semi-final. The deafening roar and the firsthand experience of playing against a top club are still unforgettable for him.

However, stepping into Camp Nou was a first for me.

As Arsenal's team bus slowly drove into the iconic passageway of Camp Nou.

Yan Yuan watched through the car window as the magnificent football temple gradually revealed its full form.

The enormous stands are stacked like bowls, and the red and blue ocean seems endless.

Despite being just a preseason friendly, the magic of this world-famous stadium on match day was undiminished.

The air was filled with a unique energy, the passion and pride of thousands of Catalan fans.

Stepping off the bus, the echoes in the tunnel and the faint singing and drumming coming from the stands gave Yan Yuan a sense of pressure unlike any other stadium.

The atmosphere here was truly "shocking," even more so than he had imagined, enough to instill awe in his opponents.

Barcelona's attitude toward the International Champions Cup is clearly different from Arsenal's, which aims to train and integrate their new lineup.

Because the fierce competition of the World Cup in Russia had just ended not long ago.

Barcelona prefers to protect its key players.

Therefore, Barcelona benched key players like Messi, Suarez, and Busquets.

Seeing Messi wearing a substitute's vest and chatting casually with his teammates, the Arsenal players felt less worried during their intense preparations.

At the start of the match, Barcelona II, with the advantage of playing at home, continued to display their "passing and possession football" style of play.

But they lack a true offensive core.

Facing Arsenal's increasingly solid defense, a mix of veterans and newcomers, which had been honed in the previous match, Barcelona II did not create many substantial threats.

Arsenal played aggressively and proactively.

The pressure in the attacking third and the combination play in close quarters began to show their effectiveness.

Yan Yuan's combination play with Achraf on the right wing is getting better and better, and Ødegaard's orchestration in midfield is becoming more and more relaxed.

In the 22nd minute, Arsenal had a counter-attack opportunity.

Pique was trying to pass the ball forward from the backfield, looking for a winger making a run down the flank.

Yan Yuan, who had been roaming in the attacking third and looking for an opportunity to intercept the ball, keenly spotted this passing lane!

He started like an arrow released from a bow, accelerating instantly, and cleanly intercepted the ball before Barcelona's full-back Semedo could receive it!

The ball was intercepted and landed at Odegaard's feet.

Without pausing, the young Norwegian looked up and unleashed a precise and swift through ball with his left foot, instantly tearing apart Barcelona's midfield defense.

The ball skimmed along the grass, rolling rapidly towards the space on the left side of the Barcelona penalty area.

At the same time, the young Saka started like lightning, using his amazing speed to shake off the Barcelona players who were marking him.

He charged straight into the penalty area!

Ødegaard's pass and his starting timing were perfectly matched.

Saka receives the ball in the penalty area and faces Barcelona's second-choice goalkeeper Cillessen who comes out to challenge him.

Unlike a newcomer, he didn't panic; instead, he calmly used the instep of his foot to launch a low shot.

The ball skimmed the ground, precisely gliding past Cillessen's falling legs, and rolled into the far corner of the net.

1-0!

Saka opened his arms and roared as he charged toward the corner flag.

This was Saka's first official goal for Arsenal's first team.

Even though it was a preseason cup match, scoring against Barcelona at Camp Nou was of great significance to Saka.

Yan Yuan, Odegaard, and other teammates rushed forward excitedly and embraced the Gunners' youth academy prodigy tightly.

Professor Wenger on the sidelines also raised his arms in celebration, a rare occurrence for him.

I am satisfied with this perfect combination of Yan Yuan's interception, Odegaard's brilliant pass, and Saka's calm shot.

For the remainder of the first half, Arsenal maintained a 1-0 lead and continued their solid defense, with Martin making a crucial save.

The match wasn't particularly fast-paced, but Arsenal's cohesive play and attacking efficiency left a lasting impression on the fans.

As the halftime whistle blew, Arsenal players walked toward the locker room with satisfied smiles.

However, a subtle incident occurred on Barcelona's bench.

Messi took a few sips of water and walked over to head coach Valverde.

His eyes no longer held the relaxed look of someone resting, but instead shone with a hint of eager anticipation.

"Ernesto (Valverde's name)," Messi said calmly, but with a hint of anticipation.

"In the second half, I want to go up and play for a while to get a feel for the game. This new Arsenal... looks quite interesting, especially that young man named Yan."

Valverde raised an eyebrow in surprise.

As head coach, he naturally wants to protect his star player, especially after the intense summer of the World Cup.

But seeing the familiar hunger for football in Messi's eyes, and the opponent's unusual energy, he finally nodded.

"Alright, Leo, you can warm up now." Valverde agreed, but then a hint of worry appeared on his face, and he deliberately lowered his voice to remind him.

"But be very careful, take care of your health! Especially... watch out for Pepe! Heaven knows what Professor Wenger was thinking, bringing him to Arsenal!"

Valverde clearly remembered Pepe's past aggressive defensive style, his tone tinged with a hint of helplessness.

Seeing Messi warming up, Busquets couldn't resist and wanted to test the toughness of this new Arsenal.

Meanwhile, the Arsenal coaching staff keenly noticed the commotion on the Barcelona bench.

Messi and Busquets took off their substitute vests and began to stretch and warm up seriously!

The news quickly reached Wenger and the players' locker room.

The professor's relaxed expression was instantly replaced by a serious one.

He knew all too well what it meant for Messi to step onto the pitch.

Even if it's just a warm-up match.

The professor immediately made a decision and adjusted the lineup:

In midfield, Xhaka was replaced by Ramsey to partner with Rodri.

The striker replaced Lacazette with Aubameyang. With the team leading and the opponent's key player on the field, they needed speed to launch counter-attacks and keep pressure on Barcelona's defense.

Aubameyang's absolute speed was key to breaking the deadlock and intimidating Barcelona's defense.

Next, the professor quickly emphasized to the players the importance of strengthening the defense, especially the coordinated protection of Barcelona's right flank.

The atmosphere was noticeably different when the players returned to the field.

The stands at Camp Nou were reignited by Messi's impending arrival, with a huge roar of cheers foreshadowing a completely different scene in the second half.

Yan Yuan deliberately walked over to Saka, who was in charge of defense on the left flank and was about to face Messi.

"Bukayo," Yan Yuan said seriously, "Messi is coming up. He's marking you and he's coming for you. You need to concentrate and be careful of his changes in rhythm. Don't rush in to tackle him. It's more important to defend against his cut inside. If you find it difficult, call your teammates for help."

After hearing Yan Yuan's instructions, Saka took a deep breath and nodded with a firm look in his eyes.

"Understood, Yan, I will be careful."

The young Saka is both nervous in front of superstars and eager to take on the challenge.

As expected, Messi came on as a substitute at the start of the second half.

He positioned himself on the right wing, directly marking Arsenal's left-back Cancelo and left winger Saka.

Messi's arrival was like throwing a boulder into a calm lake.

The moment he touched the ball, the entire Camp Nou erupted in a deafening roar of cheers.

Just minutes later, Messi made his presence known in the most direct way on the field.

He received the pass on the right wing and faced Cancelo's defense.

Cancelo is strong offensively but weak defensively, and is better at using technique and aggressive pressing.

Messi simply flicked the ball inside with his left foot, followed by an incredibly subtle shoulder drop, and then flicked the ball outward with his right foot.

Cancelo's center of gravity was instantly lifted and then lost!

He didn't even manage to make an effective interception move before Messi left him behind in his signature move!

Cancelo's face showed a hint of surprise and helplessness.

This "fried ball" was simple and direct, but Messi's unparalleled speed and ball control made it difficult for Messi to defend against.

Cancelo's loss of position is just the beginning.

Once Messi gets space, his threat increases exponentially.

Arsenal's left flank defense immediately faced increased pressure.

Messi frequently received the ball in the flanks, either passing or dribbling, and each time he handled the ball, he attracted multiple Arsenal players to double-team him.

Ramsey's relentless coverage and pressing played a role.

Pepe repeatedly used his skillful positioning and precise tackles to thwart Messi's through balls to the advancing players.

However, Messi is Messi after all.

In the 68th minute, Barcelona won a throw-in on the right side of the attacking third.

The ball was thrown to Messi's feet, and he suddenly started moving from a seemingly still position!

He first pretended to walk towards the inside, then made a quick change of direction to break through to the outside.

Saka did his best to mark Messi closely, but Messi's explosive power in that instant was still top-notch.

Saka was left half a body length behind. Just as Cancelo and Ramsey were about to close in, Messi delivered a brilliant diagonal pass with his left foot.

The ball skimmed along the grass, tracing a precise path, and pierced the gap between Pepe and Monreal!

Inside the penalty area, striker Malcolm, anticipating the move, arrived in a flash and, without stopping the ball, fired a shot with his left foot.

Big Martin reacted.

But the ball was too fast and the angle was too tricky, and the ball went into the net.

1-1!

The entire Camp Nou was in an uproar.

Messi's orchestration made this goal a vivid demonstration of what Ballon d'Or-level on-field influence truly means.

Seeing the situation instantly leveled and Barcelona's attack gaining momentum, Professor Wenger decisively made tactical adjustments.

He adjusted Yan Yuan's position, no longer simply fixing him on the right wing, but starting to move him more inward, with his position somewhere between a right winger and an attacking midfielder.

The professor's goal was clear: when Barcelona had possession and were attacking, Yan Yuan would drop back to participate in the midfield defense, increasing coverage of the midfield and harassing Messi's attacking routes.

At the same time, once Arsenal successfully intercepts the ball, they can transition from defense to attack.

By having Yan Yuan, who possesses both sharp dribbling skills and excellent passing vision, take possession of the ball in the central and right-hand areas to launch quick counter-attacks, he can penetrate deep into Barcelona's territory!

This adjustment took effect quickly.

Pepe made a crucial interception in the backfield, and possession returned to Arsenal.

Pepe didn't blindly launch a long ball; he spotted Yan Yuan retreating to the top of the center circle!

A precise ground pass was made to Ramsey, who then passed the ball to Yan Yuan.

Yan Yuan received the ball with his back to the goal, facing Busquets who was rushing towards him.

He used his strong body to protect the ball, then with a clever pull-back and turn, he dribbled right past Busquets.

It must be said that Professor Bu is already 30 years old, and his efficiency has indeed declined somewhat compared to a few years ago.

Busquets tried to intercept Yan Yuan with his leg, but it was too late.

They have overcome the first barrier.

Yan Yuan immediately accelerated and dribbled forward!

The Barcelona defense is right in front of us!

Barcelona's two center-backs, Pique and Lenglet, dared not be complacent, and fought back while retreating, trying to compress his space.

Yan Yuan was extremely fast, dribbling the ball at breakneck speed into Barcelona's 30-meter zone.

During his high-speed run, he spotted the gap between Pique and Lenglet.

Just as the two center-backs hesitated about whether to press and block, Yan Yuan made his decision.

He suddenly slowed down and gently touched the ball to the right front with his right foot.

This slight change in rhythm caused Lenglet, who was right next to him on the left, to instantly lose his best defensive position.

Langley thought Yan Yuan was going to continue his advance towards the middle, so he shifted his focus forward to block the inside.

But in the instant Langley shifted his weight, Yan Yuan's left foot swiftly followed.

Just before the ball was released...

He slammed his left foot into the ball!

This wasn't a powerful shot, but a low, powerful shot.

The ball skimmed the grass, spinning sharply and curving slightly, passing through the gap created by Lenglet's misposition.

It headed straight for the bottom right corner of the goal.

Goalkeeper Cillessen had already seen the ball coming and quickly dived to the side.

His fingertips barely touched the ball!

But Yan Yuan's shot was at a really tricky angle and had a lot of power!

Even after being touched by the goalkeeper's fingertips, the ball continued its relentless roll towards the goal, slamming hard against the inside of the net.

2-1!

Yan Yuan's goal was a masterpiece. He received the ball in the backfield, got rid of Busquets, dribbled forward at high speed, and then used a change of rhythm and a precise low shot to pierce the goal. It was a complete and seamless performance that showcased his individual ability to the fullest.

After Messi's brilliance, Yan Yuan stepped forward and quickly responded.

Arsenal players excitedly rushed towards Yan Yuan to celebrate, the away goal greatly boosting the Gunners' morale.

Wenger pumped his fist on the sidelines, clearly pleased with Yan Yuan's ability to drop back defensively, orchestrate attacks, and ultimately resolve problems.

Messi looked at the young man wearing Arsenal's number 7 jersey and his eyes showed approval.

However, the tide turned again towards the end of the match.

In the 87th minute, Barcelona won a corner kick.

Pepe bravely headed the ball out of the penalty area!

However, it was Barcelona's midfield stalwart Vidal who controlled the second ball.

Vidal didn't hesitate at all, noticing that young left winger Dembele had already taken a small space on the edge of the penalty area, despite being double-teamed by Ramsey and the tracking Odegaard!

Vidal decisively delivered a perfectly weighted cross pass.

Dembele arrived quickly, adjusting his pace as he surged forward.

He met the ball with his right foot and unleashed a low shot! The ball was traveling at extremely high speed!

The ball pierced through the dense crowd and nestled into the net, passing by Martin.

2-2!

Barcelona fought back tenaciously to equalize in the final moments.

Ultimately, this thrilling match at Camp Nou ended in a 2-2 draw.

This is not just a draw in a warm-up match, but also a promising performance from the new Gunners under immense pressure.

When the final whistle blew, the Arsenal players thanked the away fans and then shook hands and chatted with their opponents.

The most eye-catching scene took place in the center of the stadium.

Yan Yuan took off his sweat-soaked Arsenal No. 7 jersey and walked straight to Messi, who had also taken off his jersey.

Two key players, representing different eras but both shining in the present, exchanged jerseys with smiles.

"You played brilliantly at the World Cup, Yan." Messi patted Yan Yuan on the shoulder with a genuine smile.

"Also, your goal just now was brilliant. Your team is very energetic." Messi spoke in English, assuming Yan Yuan wouldn't understand Spanish.

But Yan Yuan responded to Messi in Spanish.

"Thank you so much, Rio. Playing in front of you is definitely stressful, but I've learned a lot. Hope to see you again in the Champions League."

"You speak Spanish very well. Hope to see you in the Champions League again."

Messi smiled and nodded, the two hugged and exchanged respects, and Yan Yuan successfully exchanged jerseys with Messi.

[System Notification: Player Messi's interaction level +30%]

Under the lights of Camp Nou, in a photo where Arsenal's red and white and Barcelona's red and blue are intertwined, young Saka excitedly talks to Messi and takes a photo together, while Aubameyang, Ramsey and others also have the satisfaction of winning the battle written on their faces.

Pepe was calmly chatting with Cancelo, who wasn't particularly interested in the place.

Pepe actually hopes to have the opportunity to play against Real Madrid, so he can at least catch up with his old teammates.

Although it was a draw.

But the value this match brought to Arsenal far exceeded the victory itself.

On the truly top stage, under the watchful eyes of legends, withstand the pressure, play with your own style, draw with giants, and gain the recognition of legends.

The team's resilience, the combination of veteran and new talent, and Yan Yuan's ability to withstand pressure and his decisiveness as the core all withstood the test that night.

Two International Champions Cup matches – a resounding victory and a challenging away draw against Barcelona – give Arsenal fans reason to expect a new season full of hope and possibilities.