Soccer System: All the Skills, One Player!-Chapter 207 - 206 - Champions League Final (Part 1)

The ball rolled from Arthur's feet to Lucas, who quickly played it to Javier. That was the start of the 2017-18 Champions Youth League final.

From the first touch, everyone realized this was no ordinary game. The ball glided differently across the pitch because of Wembley's great turf, which was nothing like the pitches at the training centers where they used to play. In addition, Lucas' heart was pounding, but he wasn't the only one.

His teammates were feeling the pressure of playing in a legendary stadium, surrounded by thousands of fans who turned the atmosphere into something almost suffocating.

Felix, the Brighton midfielder, received a pass from Javier and immediately felt the difference in pace. Two Bayern players went to press him, forcing him to speed up his touch to Raphael on the left wing. The No. 11 tried to advance, but was pressured by Alexander Nitzl who, with a precise tackle, stole the ball and started a fast counter-attack.

Bayern Munich was strong, both physically and technically.

Lars Lukas Mai, the team captain, led the defense, organizing his teammates with firm commands.

Lucas spotted Nishida running into the box and then receiving a pass from Torben Rhein. The Japanese player masterfully controlled the ball and turned quickly, leaving Luiz Fernando behind before unleashing a low shot.

Anton, Brighton's excellent goalkeeper, dived to make a difficult save. The ball deflected off his arm and out for a corner.

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Bayern's first attack showed the danger that Lucas and his teammates would face that night. If they weren't careful, in the blink of an eye, whether it was a steal of the ball or a cross on this play, the Bayern players would use Nishida's great finishing ability to end this game.

Arthur, close to Lucas at one point, muttered: "These guys are monsters."

Lucas nodded, watching Nishida, who was now walking towards the box to position himself for the corner. His friend had come a long way since they played together in Japan. He had always been talented, but Lucas could sense that Nishida was much stronger, faster, and more technical than he had ever been.

The promise they had made years ago was finally coming true.

Seven years ago...

In the heat of a summer afternoon in their small town, two boys were running across a field of short grass. Their T-shirts were soaked with sweat, but they didn't stop.

Lucas Tanaka and Tsuyoshi Nishida played as if the world depended on that moment.

"You'll never stop me, Tanaka!" Nishida shouted, dribbling with speed.

Lucas smiled, gliding across the pitch and stealing the ball with a perfect dribble. Nishida sat up, looking at his friend with a surprised expression before bursting into laughter.

"I told you not to always brag!" Lucas laughed.

"When we grow up, we'll definitely play in Europe," Nishida said, holding out his hand to stand up with Lucas's help. "And one day, we'll be rivals in a final."

Lucas squeezed his friend's hand in agreement. "And I won't let you win."

That brought them to this moment... The present. Wembley. Brighton against Bayern.

Meritan Shabani took the corner with a dangerous turn into the box. Nishida rose high, his header timing impeccable. He hit it on target, but Daniel Riber was on the line to block the shot with his knee and send it forward.

Lucas, who never stayed inside the box to defend, saw the ball coming towards him. However, when he looked at his teammates, he saw Loki was running too.

If Loki picked up the ball and passed it to Lucas, a promising counter-attack would be formed. So that's what Lucas did, and he just ran forward to get the ball early.

Loki also saw the opportunity and didn't hesitate. With a strong, low pass, he sent the ball to Lucas, who was already advancing at speed through the middle of the pitch.

As soon as he felt the touch of the ball, Lucas raised his head and saw a vast space in front of him.

The Bayern players had gone too high for the corner kick, and now was the perfect chance for Brighton to counter-attack.

Lucas ran with the ball stuck to his feet, feeling the wind cut across his face as the deafening sound of the crowd filled Wembley. An unconscious smile appeared on his lips. Soccer... This was the moment he had always dreamed of. A legendary stadium, a Champions Youth League final, a perfect counter-attack in his hands.

But then something happened.

A shadow appeared in front of him, moving with surreal speed and the sensation was like a tape rewinding.

"Why are you smiling, Tanaka?"

Lucas blinked, surprised, and in an instant, he heard Nishida's voice.

The narrators were surprised. "What's that?! A second ago, Nishida was inside the Brighton box to head the corner, and now he's with Lucas on the counter-attack!!!"

"That's incredible! He's run the length of the pitch in a matter of seconds and is already catching up with Lucas Tanaka!" exclaimed one commentator.

Lucas's eyes widened, but he didn't have long to react. Nishida launched himself at him, using his body to push him away and steal the ball. The impact was brutal. Lucas felt Nishida's force slamming into him like a freight train, and his left leg sank into the turf.

However, he had already activated a skill.

<Titanic Weight>!

Instead of being pushed, it was Nishida who felt the shock. His eyes widened as he realized it was as if he had hit an insurmountable wall.

But Nishida was no ordinary player. Even though Lucas weighed as much as 150 kg, he threw him slightly off balance. Lucas sensed the danger of falling with this weight and deactivated the skill just before he fell. At the last moment, before he lost his balance, he made a long, low pass forward to Raphael on the left wing.

Raphael, who has always been one of Brighton's fastest players, shot before the ball even arrived.

The pass was perfect, bringing him face to face with the Bayern goalkeeper.

That was a shot that defined finals. Raphael knew it. His heart was racing, his mind recalling all the moments that had brought him to this point. From the grueling training sessions to the games in which he excelled, everything had led him to this moment. This is what he fought for to stay in the starting line-up.

He could hit a shot into the corner, as he had done so many times. He could try a placed shot, looking for precision. But then he remembered.

'Lucas...'

In one of the recent games, Lucas scored a brilliant goal. A perfect dig over the opposing goalkeeper, and Raphael remembered how everyone had been impressed by his coolness. If Lucas could do it, so could he.

Without a second thought, Raphael chose the dig. He approached the ball, and with a light touch from below, lifted it over the goalkeeper.

Time slowed down as he dodged the goalkeeper. The ball was traveling, and Bayern's goalkeeper was already beaten, and the net seemed destined to bulge.

But then... Lars Lukas Mai appeared at the last moment. He recovered from the play and, with a shot in the air, cleared the ball off the line!

The fans erupted in mixed reactions - the Bayern fans cheered at the heroic save, while the Brighton fans threw their hands up in disbelief.

This game had started in the best possible way. With chances for both sides.