Review
Hello and welcome back to another chapter review ! Today we will jump into the intense match between Bastard München and the Ubers as we go over Chapter 228. I know that I made a big jump between the chapters, but I thought that starting off at the latest one would be the best thing.
Chapter Overview: Baru’s Dominance
We start Chapter 228 off with Baru in control of the ball as he stands in front of both Kaiser and Isagi. Isagi thinks that Baru only has two options: to either shoot the ball near the post or far from the post. Gagamaru is already in position, so if he manages to get the timing right, he can stop it. Not to mention, Kaiser is also here, which makes both of Baru’s shooting angles weaker.
Leaving Isagi with a huge 50-50 gamble, he is still confident that he can crush Baru. But then, Baru makes a cut to the side. As he does that, Snuffy comes out and asks him what’s wrong, telling him to shoot and calling him a delusional wannabe king, adding that it would be a shame if Baru was looking for help from Snuffy and that he won’t achieve anything if he goes down that route.
Baru’s Response and Unyielding Determination
However, Baru tells Snuffy to shut up and says that since coming to Blue Lock, he’s painfully aware of how he wants to change the world. If there’s no thorny or destructive path for him to walk on, then he will simply create one himself. Isagi is quickly on his tail as he realizes that what Baru did before wasn’t a cut inside but instead a setup for his shot.
We get back to Baru, who’s still rambling on and says, “I don’t live for some lukewarm, predetermined future, but instead, I will become king while still being an unruly brat. If in the future I still can’t become the world’s number one king, then I will at least die an honorable death.”
The Incredible Triple Nutmeg
Baru doesn’t shoot anywhere Isagi predicted. Instead, he shoots the ball under both Isagi’s and Kaiser’s legs, resulting in a mind-blowing double nutmeg. Gagamaru is shocked, saying there’s no way he can save it, and even Aiku adds that this wasn’t a designed play but rather a total gamble shot.
The ball is quickly arriving at Snuffy, but Baru tells him to move as this is his future. Snuffy does move, putting his strong core against Noa’s, which makes him useless and allows the ball to go under his leg, achieving an astonishing triple nutmeg that Gagamaru has no way of saving. The ball goes in, giving both the Ubers and Baru his second goal of the match.
Baru: The Protagonist and Villain
As the world reacts to that fantastic goal, King Baru emerges as the game’s leading protagonist and villain. The next chapter is called “Underdog,” which doesn’t give much away. I’m not sure if they want us to think of Baru or the Ubers as the underdog, but they have been showcased as a strong team with Baru always shown as a top striker.
My guess is that it’s someone who isn’t currently playing, possibly Hiori. If he could come onto the pitch in the next chapter, I would be so happy as I’ve been dreaming of this day ever since he and Isagi played together in the third selection arc.
Final Thoughts on Chapter 228
Surrounding this chapter, I would say that I’m honestly at a loss for words. Every goal we’ve seen in these past matches has been incredible, but this might just take the gold medal. Nutmegging three people is beyond crazy, and the fact that all of this was just a gamble created by Baru is astonishing.
I’ve seen speculations about Baru scoring another hat-trick and leading the Ubers to win. Personally, I don’t believe this theory, but I’m interested in hearing your thoughts on it. Let me know in the comments if you think the Ubers will come out as the winners.
What Lies Ahead
I also thought that Noa has been kind of missing in this match. He hasn’t really done much yet, but I feel like he has to do something in this match. However, when Isagi asked him how to beat Snuffy, he straight-up said that he had no idea, which was funny but also a bit disappointing.
On the topic of Snuffy, I really liked his psychological strategy with Baru, as he was trash-talking him to fire him up. It was also interesting how Snuffy let Baru take the glory of the goal instead of stealing it for himself, which shows his quality as a mentor.
The Need for More Scorpion Kicks
One thing I realized is that the series has been lacking Scorpion Kicks. The only one I remember is Gagamaru’s during the first selection arc. I’d love to see more Scorpion Kicks, and I hope we get one soon, possibly from Shidou or Nagi.