Rise of a Football God-Chapter 402: A Pedri masterclass
In the dressing room, Hansi Flick raged, berating his defenders for switching off in the 1st minute of the game and letting that goal in.
The German coach was understandably furious.
Valencia's strategy was clear. After getting that first goal, they were content with playing with 10 men behind the ball, defending for their lives.
Hansi Flick calmed down; he knew that raging won't solve the problem.
After his initial rant, the German coach focused on his strategy board, identifying the defensive strengths of the opposition team, highlighting their best defensive players, including devising a plan to break down that defense.
To win, Hansi Flick knew that he had to create a tactical masterpiece specially targeted at the opponent's strategy, and that was what he did.
He already did his best; the rest was up to his players.
The players returned to the pitch and this time; a tense Sam could no longer hold his nerves.
From the VIP stands, he cheered them on. "Come on boys!"
"You can do this!"
Sam's sudden cheer changed the energy in this stadium, not just among the players on the pitch, but also among the fans in the stands.
If Sam could cheer, who were they not to cheer?
And then…
BOOM!
The noise at the Spotify Camp Nou rose even more, hitting a crescendo.
FWEEEE!
The referee's whistle sounded again, and all hell broke loose.
The whole FC Barcelona team jerked to life like an ancient slumbering beast that finally awoke from its ancient slumber.
This 2nd half, buoyed by the loud noise being made by their fans, the Barca team played entertaining football like a well-oiled machine.
They overwhelmed Valencia, dominating possession.
And Raphinha was the Starman at first.
Leading the attack, the energetic Brazilian led his teammates by example, pressuring the Valencia defense for every ball, unleashing dangerous shots at every opportunity he got, stinging the palms of the Valencia goalkeeper.
Valencia was hanging on for dear life, and it was working despite the pressure.
At this point, it was literally 80%-20% possession but it didn't matter because FC Barcelona could not score.
50 minutes, no goal…
60 minutes, no goal…
70 minutes, no goal…
And then, Pedri Gonzalez erupted.
From the beginning of this game, all the way from the 1st half, Pedri had been having an amazing game, controlling the tempo of the game as he pinged perfect passes left and right, absolutely bossing the midfield.
And yet, in the 2nd half, as the desperation for a goal increased, Pedri finally entered the zone state, taking his game to the next level.
In the 72nd minute, Lamine Yamal started a mazy dribble from the right, turning 2 Valencia players inside out before passing to Pedri just outside the ball.
Bam!
Pedri's first touch reminded of a prime Andres Iniesta!
This content is taken from fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm.
The Spaniard's first touch enabled him to nutmeg Barrenechea, the Valencia midfielder before skipping into the Valencia 18-yard box.
Challenges came immediately but keeping his cool, Pedri cut through 2 more players with a perfect la croqueta and just as Tarrega, the Valencia centerback was about to crash into him with his tall frame, Pedri spun like a roulette wheel.
Literally rotating on top of the ball, with a roulette skill, he ditched the center back for no man's land, now one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
Mamardashvili charged out of his post to confront the midfielder.
Instead of being intimidated, Pedri taunted the goalkeeper, feinting a shot.
That was enough for the Valencia goalkeeper to drop to the ground, and that was when Pedri finally hit it, lobbing the goalkeeper to score an outrageous goal.
"GOALLLLLLLL…!!!"
The Spotify Camp Nou seethed like a boiling sea!
Pedri celebrated by punching a fist at the fans in excitement but then quickly rushing into the box, he picked the ball and ran off, eager to continue the game.
Pedri was eager for a reason.
He was already in the zone state.
The game restarted, and then just 3 minutes after his goal, Pedri did it again, sliding a pass for Dani Olmo who without missing a beat slotted past the goalkeeper.
"GOALLLLLLLL…!!!"
The Spotify Camp Nou seethed with even more noise.
2 goals in 4 minutes, and just like that, Valencia's advantage was gone.
Barca was leading now!
Valencia finally decided to come out of their shell, eager to attack and get a second goal to even the score line but coming out left them open.
In the 78th minute, Gavi replaced Dani Olmo.
In the 80th minute, Gavi assisted Lamine Yamal, playing the ball for the teenage wonder to cut into the middle before unleashing a deadly curler into the net, thoroughly beating Valencia's goalkeeper.
80 minutes, 3-1…
From 0-1 to 3-1 in how many minutes, but Barca was not done yet.
In the 87th minute, just before coming off the pitch, Pedri added the final nail to the coffin, playing a ridiculous defense-splitting pass that cut Valencia open like a hot knife through butter, setting up Gavi one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
Gavi hit the ball first time, sending it in-between the legs of the goalkeeper to score Barcelona's 4th goal of the match.
By the 4th goal, having lost his composure in the passion of the sport, Sam was screaming at the top of his lungs in the VIP spot, celebrating exuberantly.
At the end of 90 minutes, FC Barcelona had already thoroughly defeated their opponents, teaching them an unforgettable lesson in their home grown.
Valencia was schooled, and humbled.
FC Barcelona won the game 4-1.
Pedri Gonzalez won the man of the match award with his 1 goal and 2 assists. He was unplayable this game, especially the 2nd half.
And with that, FC Barcelona secured another win, strangling their hold on the La Liga title race battle against Real Madrid.
After the game, Sam entered the pitch to an explosion of cheers and applause.
"Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"
Sam didn't play but the fans sang his name at the top of their lungs still. Hearing his name being sang, Sam smiled, blowing a kiss at them.
He would be available for FC Barcelona's next game.
He was back.
