Barja Provokes Camp Nou (Seeking Collection and Recommendation)

The entire Camp Nou erupted in a chorus of panicked shouts.

Osasuna's number 11 striker, Barja, lunged forward like a lion that had just spotted its prey; with a single flick of his foot, he poked the ball past Busquets.

A vast expanse of open space lay ahead, and aside from Ter Stegen, there wasn't a single soul left in Barca's half.

Barja sprinted forward with the ball in a frenzy, while Barca's defensive line scrambled back in a desperate, life-or-death pursuit.

However, a hurried retreat was no match for the momentum Barja had already built up; they simply weren't on the same level.

Though Barja wasn't known for his speed, the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of a one-on-one against the Barca keeper sent his adrenaline surging, making the defenders behind him feel as if they were chasing Li Mingyu.

Ter Stegen retreated into the six-yard box, cursing under his breath; it wasn't the time to rush out just yet.

Covering the 40 meters from midfield to the penalty area in less than five seconds, Barja reached the edge of the box with Alba, the closest Barca defender, still two or three meters behind—it seemed there was no stopping his shot.

Ter Stegen suddenly charged out of the six-yard box, attempting to narrow the shooting angle.

Barja's expression remained resolute, unfazed by Ter Stegen's charge; with a steady foot, he fired a low shot that nutmegged Ter Stegen.

Damn it, why is it always me getting hurt!

Ter Stegen looked back to see the ball rolling obediently into the net.

Boos rang out across Camp Nou.

To concede a goal in such a manner on their own home turf was nothing short of a disgrace.

After scoring, Barja sprinted wildly to the sidelines and made a "shut up" gesture toward the home fans.

In an instant, the entire Camp Nou was ignited with fury.

The fans closest to the pitch looked like demons, eager to vault over the railings and beat Barja to a pulp.

Terrified, Barja scrambled back onto the field.

Offended by Barja's provocation, the Barca players swarmed over, surrounding him in the center.

The Osasuna players, naturally unwilling to let their teammate suffer, rushed in as well, and it looked as though a brawl was about to break out between the two sides.

The referee stood not far away, watching coldly and blowing his whistle incessantly, trying to get everyone to calm down.

However, the players on both sides remained quite rational; they merely exchanged verbal greetings regarding each other's relatives while keeping their hands behind their backs, terrified of being accused of flopping.

If someone from Northeast China were watching, they would look on with disdain, thinking, "They're face-to-face and still can't get a fight started?"

Seeing that neither side had any real intention of throwing punches, the referee finally stepped forward, separated the crowd, and ordered everyone back to their respective halves.

In the end, Barja received a Yellow Card for provoking the home fans, and on the Barca side, the impulsive Alba also received a Yellow Card for his initial shove.

A slap on the wrist for both sides.

After the restart, Barca began a frantic assault on Osasuna's half.

But after only one step, the referee blew his whistle—the first half was over.

Messi walked over to the referee, clearly dissatisfied, and began to argue his case.

However, the referee shook his head, picked up the ball, and quickly left the pitch alongside the two linesmen.

The two minutes of stoppage time had already elapsed; although the commotion had wasted some time, it was up to the referee whether or not to add more, and there was no arguing with his decision.

The referee, wanting to avoid further complications, had simply blown for the end of the first half.

Go back to the locker room and cool off!

However, Barja's earlier provocation had left the Barca players feeling deeply aggrieved.

To think that some nobodies and small-timers dared to run wild at Camp Nou.

The Barca players returned to the locker room with grim expressions.

To concede a goal just before the end of the first half, and to be humiliated by the opponent on their own home ground—how could they endure this?

Even Li Mingyu, who had been sitting on the bench, was seething with rage.

Head coach Koeman walked into the locker room, his face expressionless, and stared coldly at the men sitting there stewing in their anger.

"I feel ashamed. The entire Camp Nou has been humiliated! I don't want to say anything more for the second half—go out there and return the humiliation they brought upon you!"

With that, Koeman pushed the door open and left.

But after stepping out, hearing the roar of fury from inside the locker room, Koeman allowed a triumphant smile to touch his lips.

Messi stood up, and all noise vanished; everyone looked at the "bearded man," short in stature but brimming with presence.

"Gentlemen, in the second half, I need everyone to attack their defensive line without sparing any energy. Let them know the consequences of humiliating Barca!"

"Barca cannot be insulted!"

"Barca cannot be insulted!"

"Barca cannot be insulted!"

Feeling the fanatical energy in the locker room, Li Mingyu couldn't help but stand up and shout along with them.

The halftime break passed in the blink of an eye.

The players from both sides returned to the pitch.

A deafening chorus of boos erupted inside Camp Nou, directed, of course, at the Osasuna players, especially their forward, Barja.

Whenever Barja touched the ball, or whenever Barca bypassed him, a massive wave of jeers would sweep through the stadium.

Barja felt a measure of regret; that goal in the first half was largely due to him getting too carried away, leading him to pull off such a stunt.

Although no one said anything when they returned to the locker room, Barja could still sense the confusion in his teammates' eyes.

"Big brother, have you lost your mind?"

"Why would you pull a move like that at Camp Nou?"

"Do you think they weren't awake yet, and you had to wake them up like that?"

"There was no need!"

"A ship isn't just a ship, you're a battleship!"

"The waves aren't just waves, you're riding them!"

Barja felt deeply displeased.

As soon as the second half kicked off, he felt he was being heavily targeted by Barca.

Whenever he dared to take the ball, at least two Barca players would swarm him, making his Osasuna teammates afraid to pass to him at all.

Jordi Alba, in particular, was like a shadow, sticking to him like a piece of adhesive plaster.

The mistake in the first half had left Alba extremely frustrated, so from the start of the second half, he shifted his defensive focus entirely onto Barja.

Barja was supposed to be the sole attacking pivot for Osasuna; with that pivot neutralized, the team went completely silent, forced to retreat into a shell of defensive play.