Rise of a Football God

"GOALLLLLLL…!!!!!!!!"

The Santiago Bernabeu erupted, turning into a cauldron of activity.

The fans in white jumped, screaming for joy, waving their white jerseys with ecstasy written all over their faces as they celebrated.

While Marc Andre Ter Stegen picked the ball out of his own net, Kylian Mbappe already whirled away in celebration as his teammates ran after him, jumping before doing his closed arm celebration.

The Bernabeu was loud and boisterous as Madrid celebrated their goal.

And just like that, 1-0 to Real Madrid.

"…"

Silently, the FC Barcelona players processed the goal, not blaming anybody as they recognized that it resulted from a moment of individual brilliance.

But that brilliance left them looking for their own brilliance.

Their bloods burned with fervor.

'Win!'

The voice was already rearing its head in Sam's head.

'Win!' 'Win!' 'Win!'

Eventually…

FWEEE!

In the 23rd minute of this game, Real Madrid scored but it was just 1 goal and the FC Barcelona players didn't let it demoralize them, making them even more focused and determined to make a comeback.

And when the referee's whistle sounded, they started their quest for a comeback even as once again, Sam led the charge.

That goal didn't change anything.

It was still an end-to-end game, an incredible game of pound-to-pound football.

Madrid attacks, Barca defends…

Barca attacks, Madrid defends…

After that goal, even as Barca attacked, Madrid got the better chances as their attacking players were finally ignited.@@novelbin@@

Vinicius Jnr. went haywire at some point, going on an incredible solo run and shot that ended with his shot stinging the bar before bouncing back only for the rebound to kickstart a further scramble in the Barcelona box 18.

Rodrygo also got one shot on target, a low shot that forced Ter Stegen into making an awkward save.

Mbappe also shone, utilizing his explosiveness to devastating effect.

He dazzled with his pace and quick feet, confounding the Barca defenders anytime he moved and he already let loose 2 more lethal shots that forced the in-form Ter Stegen into making 2 more incredible saves.

Ter Stegen's performance was solid enough to keep Madrid at bay, long enough for his team's buzzing attack to finally get a tangible result.

Before Madrid could double their lead, Barcelona responded!

It happened in the 34th minute of this game.

Pedri won the ball back from Bellingham and immediately, he played a horizontal pass to the left where a rampaging Alejandro Balde lurked.

The rapid FC Barcelona left back quickly took the ball in his strides.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Hitting the ball long, he ate yards of space like they were not there, charging down the left flank and evading challenges in the process.

When he ran into Rodrygo, with a simple shift and an explosion of speed, he erupted past the Brazilian winger.

And when he ran into Trent Alexander Arnold in the Madrid half, Balde's electric dribbling ability reared its head as a few step overs later and a drop of the shoulder and the Englishman was left chasing straws.

BZZZ!

Balde pushed the ball in between his legs, nutmegging him as he rushed past him and then he finally raised his head to look into the 18-yard box.

By the side, close to where he made his run, Raphinha ran, aligning his run with his even as the Brazilian asked for the pass.

But Alejandro Balde looked past him, to the 18-yard box. Experience more tales on My Virtual Library Empire

There, to the right side of the box, Lamine Yamal lurked, Mendy following him closely even as he charged into the box.

Also in the box was Gavi, the attacking midfielder.

But the tallest FC Barcelona player currently in the 18-yard box was Sam.

Despite being the striker of his team, he was the one who was behind, barely inside the 18-yard box but it was a clever move.

This was because with all the defenders preoccupied with marking the runners in blue and red running into their box, anticipating a pass, they had no time to focus on Sam who decided to stay behind just at the edge of the 18-yard box.

'That's it!' Alejandro Balde made his decision, then…

Bam!

He hit an accurate cross with his left foot towards the box.

Whoosh!

The ball floated through the air, rotating. One of the Real Madrid defenders read the trajectory of the ball first…, David Alaba.

As soon as the Austrian did the math, his eyes widened. 'Sam!'

He moved but it was already too late as jumping, Sam cooled the momentum of the ball with his chest just in time as Alaba clattered into him.

Sam's balance was disrupted but spreading his arms in mid-air, he was able to prevent his body from flipping over as he landed on his feet.

His muscles strained as he fought with the Austrian center back, protecting the ball even in the unbalanced stance where he landed.

Bzzz!

Sam noticed Rudiger finally react, rushing to block any possible shot from him but Sam didn't shoot the ball.

Instead, he looked, and noticed him.

Gavi, who was suddenly free due to the attention on him.

Bam!

He hit the ball in a lobbed pass, raising it over Rudiger and towards Gavi who was suddenly isolated in the Real Madrid 18-yard box.

"…!"

Trepidations spread through the Santiago Bernabeu as time seemed to slow down.

Gavi traced the ball with his eyes, calculating its trajectory, having the presence of mind to allow it drop to the optimum position before swinging his leg to take the shot.

But then…

Whoosh!

Somehow, the intelligent David Alaba was able to read Sam's intentions though a bit late, he still reacted.

That sound was the sound of Alaba's last-ditch sliding tackle for the ball and hearing it, Gavi reacted, making a split-second decision to change his action from shooting the ball to cutting it instead.

Bzzz!

That touch sent the sliding David Alaba to the shadow realm, opening him up one on one with Thibaut Courtois, the Real Madrid goalkeeper.

Gavi no longer hesitated.

Bam!

With the outside of his boot, he poked the ball and it moved, flashing past Courtois' side and into the Real Madrid net.

Having risen to their feet from the moment when Sam rose into the air, cooling the ball with his chest, the FC Barcelona fans in the away stands now erupted in their opponent's home with deafening roars of defiance and ecstasy.

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLL…!!!"