Rise of a Football God

After the victory against Mallorca away from home where Sam got another goal and assist, FC Barcelona's next game was against an in-form Real Betis led by an imperious Anthony.

Last season, when Anthony, the Manchester United winger made a loan switch to La Liga, fans jokingly called his transfer the arrival of the G.O.A.T.

Well, that joke aged well.

This was because a season on from then, Real Betis managed to go all in to get Anthony's signature, pricing him from Manchester United's grasp due to Anthony pushing for it, thereby heralding the rise of the Brazilian G.O.A.T.

In recent months, Anthony was one of the most in-form players in Spain. Continue your journey on My Virtual Library Empire

For Real Betis, he finally seemed to play at his full potential, dazzling in almost every game as he took Real Betis to the top 4 of La Liga.

Currently, the top 4 of the Spanish La Liga table was like this.

(Updated Spanish La Liga table:)

(1. FC Barcelona)

(2. Real Madrid)

(3. Atletico Madrid)

(4. Real Betis)

And there was only 1 point separating Real Betis from Atletico Madrid!

Having beaten Real Madrid earlier in the campaign already, this was why the game against Real Betis was predicted to be a big challenge for FC Barcelona.

Sam did not care about all of that though, he trained, prepared, and approached the game like every other game.

Alongside his training buddies, they continued their daily training.

Like this, in no time, it was already D-day.

On the 7th of December, alongside his teammates, Sam went to the Estadio Benito Villamarin in Seville, Real Betis' home stadium.

For this game, Hansi Flick rotated his team, clearly in preparation for the tough champions league showdown that would take place in England next week, a game that was especially important to Sam.

Today, at the Estadio Benito Villamarin, Hansi Flick started with a starting XI that was led by Sam in attack as usual, but this time, he was flanked by Raphinha and Gavi from the left and right respectively.

Lamine Yamal was rested for this game.

Behind the attack, Dani Olmo started as the attacking midfielder while further behind him was the duo of Frankie De Jong and Marc Casado.

For this game, Hansi Flick decided to rest Pedri also, a decision that did not sit well with the FC Barcelona fanbase.

Behind the midfield in defense was an unchanged quadruple of Alejandro Balde, Pau Cubarsi, Ronald Araujo, and Jules Kounde in defense. Marc Andre Ter Stegen naturally started in between the posts for the visitors.

As for Real Betis, they started with their strongest XI in a 4-2-3-1 formation just like FC Barcelona's for this game.

The no. 1 goalkeeper, Adrian started in between the posts for the home side, while ahead of the goalkeeper was a quadruple defense comprising Sabaly, Bartra, Diego Llorente, and Rodriguez.

Ahead of the defense was the midfield duo of Cardoso and Altimira.

In attack, led by Anthony, the G.O.A.T who started in the right-wing position, his supporters in attack were Isco in attacking midfield, Rodriguez in the left-wing position, and Hernandez starting as the striker.

From the atmosphere in this stadium created by the fans, to the look in the eyes of the Real Betis players, it was clear that they lined up today for an upset.

In recent months in La Liga, FC Barcelona was the team to beat.

Led by a rampant Samuel Moses, they were imperious, unbeatable and now, led by their very own Anthony, Real Betis wanted to beat the unbeatable.

With Anthony on their side, nothing was impossible!

FWEEEE!

From the first whistle, the Real Betis players showed their intentions.

They would not cower before FC Barcelona!

Unlike other sides in the Spanish La Liga this season who almost always played a low block against the rampant Catalan side, Real Betis decided not to cower, taking the game to the visitors, and that was what they did.

Bam! Bam!

Real Betis played their football with confidence.

On the right wing especially, a driven Anthony played like a man possessed, determined to prove his doubters wrong.

The ex-Manchester United winger was electric this game, repeatedly burning Alejandro Balde with his dribbles as he turned the Spaniard inside out.

The first half was a tight affair.

Real Betis caught Barcelona off-guard with their intensity and aggressive attacking play this game, but this did not mean the Catalans cowered either.

Afterall, they were the predators here.

Real Betis were just challengers hoping to topple and injure the predator.

Well, when Real Betis pushed, FC Barcelona bared its fangs, unleashing their incredible weaponry in attack.

With Sam and Raphinha leading the attack, they dazzled up front.

Despite their old-school dogged defending, Sam especially tortured Bartra and Diego Llorente, Real Betis' center backs with his dribbling and playmaking attributes as he combined to devastating effect with Raphinha and Gavi.

Playing as a winger was not Gavi's natural position, but the Spaniard showed his versatility this game as he combined well with Sam.

Dani Olmo was also a constant menace behind Sam, his shot in the 23rd minute being the closest sight of goal that the ball had seen in this game.

The only weak point for Barcelona this game was the midfield.

With Pedri out of the lineup, the midfield struggled to dominate possession like usual. Afterall, nobody could do what Pedri did, no other midfielder could quite dictate the tempo of games like Pedri did.

Despite it, Frankie De Jong and Marc Casado did their best, putting in a solid shift to keep a rampant and motivated Real Betis at bay.

The first half was an end-to-end affair, extremely intense as the fans bore witness to incredible attacking football.

It was crazy that somehow, despite all the attacks packed into the half, the first half still ended goalless.

During halftime, Hansi Flick had a little team talk with his players and whatever he told them definitely worked as after they came out for 2nd half, they played like an entirely different team.

Real Betis was just as defiant in the first half, but then, the FC Barcelona attack finally clicked, entering that unstoppable state that they could break anything.

It happened… suddenly.

Real Betis never saw it coming.

Sam was the anchor, receiving a cross from Jules Kounde with his chest, evading the aggressive center backs as with his chest, he pushed the ball to Gavi who was close to him in the 18-yard box.

It was perfect for Gavi to take a shot but just as he did, multiple Real Betis players put their bodies on the line, jumping in front of him, blocking his shot pathway and so Gavi improvised.

"Gavi!" A certain Barcelona attacker called in the box.

By the time the Real Betis players realized the danger, Gavi already hit the ball towards a suddenly free Raphinha.

Under 0 pressure, the Brazilian did not miss his mark, poking the ball into an empty net to secure the lead for the Catalans, leaving the Real Betis goalkeeper no chance.

"GOALLLLL…!!!" The away fans celebrated excitedly.

Charging towards the corner flag, Raphinha jumped and pumped a fist in celebration as all the tension finally disappeared with that goal.

But, not so fast…, Real Betis said.

Because just 3 minutes after Barcelona's goal in the 56th minute, Real Betis struck in the 59th minute, courtesy of an assist from the G.O.A.T.

In the 58th minute, Anthony suddenly burst to life after receiving the ball.

With a silky touch, he controlled the long pass and then with a body feint and an explosion of speed, he left Alejandro Balde eating dust.

Entering the Barcelona 18-yard box, he twisted and turned, causing chaos, enough to open up space for his attacking midfielder, Isco who was making a late run into the box.

Anthony pushed the ball into Isco's path and the ex-Real Madrid midfielder did not miss his mark, hitting the ball with absolute venom.

POW!

Ter Stegen was rooted to one spot, he didn't even see it coming, the shot.

And with that, this stadium roared to life, Real Betis fans roaring at the top of their lungs as Isco celebrated with Anthony.

"Vamos!!!" The G.O.A.T, Anthony roared excitedly.

8 minutes after that goal, in the 67th minute of the game, the G.O.A.T did it again, dooming Barcelona to defeat.

After beating Alejandro Balde again with his flawless dribbling this game, Anthony cut in before curling a perfect shot in from outside the box.

Ter Stegen dived after the ball but it was not quite enough. The ball went past his grasp, nestling into the net.

"GOALLLL…!!!" Anthony screamed at the top of his lungs like a mad man, charging towards the corner flag and screaming in celebration.

What a game, what a performance from the Brazilian.

A win against Barcelona, orchestrated by him, what a story it was meant to be if only a certain Nigerian didn't bare his ugly fangs.

When it seemed like Real Betis already ran away with the lead, in the 90th plus 2 minutes, Sam struck.

From outside the box, he unleashed an unreal knuckle ball shot that went high and dipped, confusing the Real Betis goalkeeper.

Before the goalkeeper could understand what happened, his net already shook as the ball nestled into its embrace.

2-2!

The traveling FC Barcelona fans wildly celebrated.

The game came to an end 2-2, and Anthony won the man of the match award.

What a game it was.