Rise of a Football God

26th October, 2025…

(La Liga:)

(Real Madrid – Barcelona)

(Date: 26th October, 2025)

The first El Clasico of the season.

The game was dubbed a clash of behemoths, and for good reason, after all, both clubs were currently in the forms of their life.

After a full season of settling down in the Spanish Capital, Kylian Mbappe already embraced his role as a superstar in Madrid, jointly leading the new Galacticos era alongside his electric teammate, Vinicius Jnr.

This season, just like FC Barcelona, Real Madrid was balling.

Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jnr. were both having terrific seasons domestically, the former being the current leader in the Pichichi race for the highest goal scorer in the Spanish league come season end while Vinicius led in the most assists race.

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Sam was directly behind both superstars in the race but for now, it was the Madrid superstars who had the advantage.

Not just Vinicius and Mbappe either. In the Spanish Capital, other superstars like Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, Brahim Dias, and Federico Valverde were also having terrific seasons already, making Madrid a formidable side to face this season.

Besides, both of the big 2 clubs fought neck to neck at the top of the table.

FC Barcelona had the lead currently, but they led their eternal rivals by just 1 point, which would undoubtedly evaporate if they lost the upcoming El Clasico match.

It was a game of high stakes and emotion.

Even before the game started, as the blue and red FC Barcelona team bus arrived in Madrid, the Real Madrid fans gave their archenemies a sufficiently hostile welcome as they unveiled banners of Sam painted like a clown.

Not just that, they unveiled banners of Sam edited to look like an Ape…, racism!

The Spanish La Liga and football in general frowned at racism but sometimes, the passion of the fans could not be curbed no matter how many rules are put in place to keep them in line.

To win, football fans are ready to do anything, no matter how unethical, no matter how much it would affect their opponents negatively.

In the face of victory in the El Clasico, to them, nothing else mattered.

FC Barcelona was surely going to file a complaint to the league at the end of the game due to the racist-inspired banners, but for now, they had the biggest game of their season so far to play.

In the team bus, staring at the banners, Sam could already feel his blood boiling hot. 'These bastards…!'

This was his first time facing racist abuse since his professional career started.

Sam was no stranger to racist abuse, having watched other black professional football players suffer it over the years, including Real Madrid's own Vinicius Jnr. against Valencia that caused a storm in the football world seasons ago.

In the end though, football fans don't care, they'd do anything to help their teams win.

"Don't worry, we're with you". Raphinha said as he noticed his heightened emotions, trying to calm him down.

Sam flashed the Brazilian a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine, thanks".

And in truth, after that, he was fine.

Yes, he still felt some lingering anger but he did not let it affect him anymore.

Rather, he turned it into a smoldering fire that burned in the furnace of his heart, turning into tangible motivation that pushed him to a state of defiance.

'Tonight is my night!'

'Tonight, let's go crazy!'

'Tonight, let's set the Bernabeu on fire!'

'You dare abuse me racially?' He grinned. 'Fine, I'll make sure that you never forget me easily, I'll leave my mark in your goddamn stadium!'

Matching into the dressing room alongside his teammates, Sam didn't feel like a footballer entering a stadium at all, rather he felt like a gladiator entering a notorious coliseum where he was to fight a bloody battle with his life on the line.

'It's now or never!'

In the dressing room, uncharacteristic of the German coach, Hansi Flick went on a lengthy lecture, emphasizing the importance of getting a result out of this game.

He didn't put unnecessary pressure on his players, going about that they must win, rather, he just told them to try their best and get a result.

But that simple speech, it left Sam's blood boiling already.

By now, the lineup for the 2 squads was already revealed long ago.

The visitors, FC Barcelona started in their regular 4-2-3-1 formation.

Marc Andre Ter Stegen started in between the posts for the visitors, with a quadruple defense comprising Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Pau Cubarsi, and Alejandro Balde sitting ahead of him as his protectors.

Ahead of the defense was the midfield duo of Pedri and Frankie De Jong.

As for the offense ahead, like expected, Sam started as the striker with the role of a false 9 again with Raphinha and Lamin Yamal flanking him from both left and right. Sitting behind him was an energized Gavi.

As for the home side, Real Madrid's starting XI was just as formidable if not even more formidable.

Starting in a 4-3-3 formation, a fully-fit Madrid side had Thibaut Courtois, the Belgian wall in between the posts with the quadruple of Ferland Mendy, David Alaba, Antonio Rudiger, and Trent Alexander Arnold protecting him in defense.

Ahead of the defense was a midfield trio, the new Madrid midfield stars of Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, and Federico Valverde.@@novelbin@@

Further ahead of the midfield trio was the all-star attack comprising the trio of Vinicius Jnr. at the left, Kylian Mbappe through the middle, and Rodrygo through the right flank.

It was a formidable Real Madrid team.

No wonder the game was dubbed a clash of behemoths.

The atmosphere at the Santiago Bernabeu was absolutely electric even as the Real Madrid fans made a lot of noise, trying to unnerve their archrivals.

When the Madrid anthem started being played, the tens of thousands of fans flooding this stadium sang at the top of their lungs, setting the atmosphere for the epic clash that was about to take place in this iconic stadium.

And then, the players came out into the pitch amid a cauldron of noise.