Rise of a Football God-Chapter 405: Into the deep end [3]
Sam didn't realize how much he missed club football till he was back on the pitch, at the Spotify Camp Nou.
29th January, 2026…
(UEFA Champions League:)
(Matchday 8 of 8:)
(Barcelona – Atalanta)
The Spotify Camp Nou was a cauldron of anticipation, a behemoth of footballing history thrumming with restless energy as FC Barcelona prepared to face Atalanta in a high-stakes UEFA Champions League group phase game.
It was matchday 8 of 8, the final game of the league phase of the new UEFA Champions League format before the playoff games.
For FC Barcelona, the game didn't hold much significance since they already qualified to the round of 16, currently leading the UEFA Champions League table.
As for their Italian opponents today though, Atalanta, their spot in the knockout stage of the UEFA Champions League was not secure yet which made this game a high-stakes game for them.
If Atalanta wanted to make it to the playoffs, from where they could fight for a spot in the round of 16 stage of the UEFA Champions League, they must win this game against the Spanish club in away ground.
The Italian club and its players came to Spain with only one thing in mind, to win and snatch home a victory.
But of course, FC Barcelona also wanted to win even if it meant very little to them. Afterall, this was a club with demands to win every single game.
A big club.
The air crackled with electricity, a symphony of drums, chants, and the deafening roar of nearly 100,000 Cules, their voices merging into a singular, unrelenting force that blasted through the gigantic stadium.
The blaugrana mosaic stretched across the stadium, a stunning display of club pride as fans held up their colored placards, creating a breathtaking sea of blue and red.
The hallowed pitch gleamed under the floodlights, the grass pristine and perfectly manicured, a stage awaiting footballing artistry.
The Champions League anthem soon filled the air, evoking goosebumps as the players emerged from the tunnel, their faces set with focus and determination.
On the touchline, the 2 coaches embraced.
All the while, Atalanta's traveling supporters, though vastly outnumbered, carved out their own defiant presence in the stands, their black and blue banners waving fiercely, singing in unison to remind the world that they too belonged on this grand stage.
The sense of history and expectation was overwhelming; Barcelona, a club with an insatiable hunger for European glory, versus Atalanta, the fearless underdogs from the Italian Serie A known for their relentless attacking football.
Like expected, both squads started with their best starting XI.
Plunging Sam straight back into the starting XI, Hansi Flick's FC Barcelona started in their customary 4-2-3-1 formation with Marc Andre Ter Stegen in between the posts, and the defensive quadruple of Alejandro Balde, Pau Cubarsi, Inigo Martinez, and Jules Kounde ahead of him.
In midfield was the duo of Pedri and Frankie De Jong, while further ahead in attack was the quadruple that the world feared.
Updat𝓮d fr𝙤m ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com.
Gavi started in attacking midfield, while to his left and right respectively were Raphinha and Lamine Yamal. Leading the line was a familiar face, Samuel Moses.
Sam was back in his striker position.
It was a fearsome lineup.
But Atalanta's lineup was also one to cause trepidations in any opponent.
Starting in a 3-4-3 formation, Carnesechhi started in between the posts as the goalkeeper, while ahead of him was the defensive trio of Kolasinac, Hien, and Djimsiti.
The midfield quadruple comprised of Zappacosta, Pasalic, de Roon, and Bellanova. De Ketelaere played as the striker, while to his left and right were Ademola Lookman and Retegui respectively.
This was a team that already built a fearsome reputation for their compact and seamless team play in the European stage.
And tonight, they were to clash against the Catalan giants.
On the stadium, the roar reached a crescendo.
The referee glanced at his watch, and for a brief moment, a tense silence fell before the opening whistle. Then, in an instant, the storm was unleashed.
FWEEEE!
That sound cut through the temporary stillness on the pitch, making the players explode into action.
The game started.
Barcelona vs Atalanta was always going to be an exciting affair, but nobody expected what transpired on the pitch within the next few minutes.
At the Spotify Camp Nou, the backyard of the fearsome Catalan giants, Atalanta showed no hesitation or fear, playing their game to their fullest potential.
Atalanta played fearlessly at the Spotify Camp Nou, making it an exciting spectacle as they played a game of end-to-end football at their opponent's home.
And of course, most of it went through one player, the Atalanta player that was having another electric season, Ademola Lookman.
After winning the AFCON trophy together with Nigeria just about a week ago, now, Sam's International teammate, Ademola Lookman locked horns with him, eager to doom him to defeat.
In the 18th minute of the game, after another dizzying dribble into the box, Ademola Lookman finally did it, making Pau Cubarsi to overcommit in a tackle.
FWEEEE!
As soon as the referee's whistle sounded, he pointed to the spot.
It was a penalty!
The Blaugrana fans protested the decision of course but it changed nothing. Against Marc Andre Ter Stegen, after exchanging an embrace with Lookman who won the penalty, De Ketelaere, Atalanta's striker stepped up to take the penalty.
After a confident short run, the striker sent Marc Andre Ter Stegen one way, sending the ball the other way into the top left corner of the net.
"…!"
Silence, for a few fractions of a second, and then…
BOOM!
The Spotify Camp Nou erupted, at least, the away stands.
The few thousand traveling Atalanta away supporters roared, screaming at the top of their lungs even as Kelelaere celebrated their goal.
Against all odds, in the 18th minute, Atalanta scored in FC Barcelona's home stadium, snatching the lead in this high-stakes UEFA Champions League game.
But their lead didn't last long.
8 minutes later, FC Barcelona made its comeback.
Lamine Yamal scored.
