Football God; Forging a Legacy

2nd March, 2027…

The calendar read early March, but it didn't feel like an ordinary weekend.

Every player, every fan, and every pundit knew what was coming next; the Champions League knockouts were coming and the final league game felt more like a rehearsal for the explosion of champions.

After 8 grueling matchdays and a subsequent playoffs Round of 32, 16 clubs had made it to the Round of 16.

They were the best of the best among clubs in Europe, and now, they were in that phase of the season that defines the success of the whole season campaign.

The draw had been made, the paths were set, but before Europe's great symphony of chaos, La Liga offered one final rehearsal.

And rehearsals mattered; momentum mattered.

In a season where Barcelona and Real Madrid were still neck-and-neck, unbeaten, and level on points, every league weekend felt like destiny.

[La Liga- Matchday 25:]

>Spotify Camp Nou - Barcelona vs Real Betis<

The evening sun dipped over the Spotify Camp Nou as Barcelona welcomed Real Betis for their final league game before the explosion of champions.

Hansi Flick didn't rotate much; this was more about rhythm, not rest.

Sam started as the striker. Pedri too who started as the captain today; the armband was firm on his arm. Yamal and Raphinha also started, with Gavi pulling the strings in midfield alongside Pedri.

Fermin Lopez started as the attacking midfielder, while the backline remained steady.

From the opening whistle, the blaugrana pressed with urgency and control, the crowd sensing the importance of the game as Betis tried to hold shape, doubling on Sam every time he touched the ball, but the Nigerian wasn't frustrated.

Used to this treatment literally every game, Sam was patient as he drifted deep every few minutes, flicking passes into runners and dragging defenders away like a puppeteer.

Even when man marked and double-teamed, he was good enough to still find a way to impact the game.

Barcelona were in cruise control, and it didn't take them too long before they had the first breakthrough which came in the 17th minute.

A slick triangle between Pedri, Yamal, and Raphinha cut through Betis's press and ended with a sharp cutback into space in the box.

Sam, ghosting into the box and evading his man with his spatial awareness let the ball roll across his body before smashing it low into the corner.

It was a tricky maneuver, but he succeeded.

1–0.

At this point, Sam scoring was more or less law at the Nou Camp.

The fans roared, not just for the goal, but for the statement that Barça were here, and that they were sharp and ready for the UEFA Champions League.

Betis tried to claw back after that goal but they were smothered.

Balde bombed up and down the left hand side, dominating his side of the pitch as Gavi flew into duels, while Lamine Yamal twisted fullbacks into knots.

Just before halftime, Raphinha piled on Real Betis's misery as he curled in a beauty from the edge of the box to make it 2–0.

The second half was played at a slower tempo as Barcelona managed the game with maturity.

Hansi Flick made subs, resting Sam after the hour, but the FC Barcelona machine didn't falter. Ferran Torres added a third in the 78th minute after Yamal torched his marker down the right.

It was a dominant Barca performance at the end; a clean and ruthless display.

[FULLTIME: Barcelona 3-0 Real Betis]

…

[La Liga- Matchday 25:]

>Balaidos – Celta Vigo vs Real Madrid.

The next day, while Barcelona enjoyed the comfort of home, Real Madrid walked into the fiery atmosphere of Celta Vigo's Balaídos stadium.

The Galician fans made sure to turn the stadium into a cauldron to intimidate the traveling Madrid players, and when the game started, they compounded on this as they booed every touch and every whistle, baying for an upset.

Madrid, however, didn't falter. They came with cold intent.

Xabi Alonso sent out a full-strength lineup with the holy trident of Mbappé, Vinícius, and Rodrygo all starting, and with Bellingham anchoring the midfield.

With Trent pushing high from right back, Xabi Alonso went for a bold and aggressive approach, bordering on arrogant.

It irked Celta fans to no end.

Celta fought with courage, pressing high and daring to expose space. For twenty minutes, they held Madrid at bay as Courtois even had to dive low to stop an early attempt from Larsen.

But then came the inevitable. The world knew it, Celta fans also knew it.

A one-two between Vinícius and Mbappé split the backline in the 38th minute. Vinícius accelerated and cut inside before unleashing a thunderous strike into the top corner to give Los Blancos the lead.

0–1 Madrid.

The away end exploded, Vinícius dancing with his teammates in the front of salty Celta fans.

They roared louder only to be silenced again as mere minutes later, Madrid doubled their lead through the elegant Jude Bellingham.

The Englishman always with that ghostlike sense of space arrived unmarked into the box to nod in a Rodrygo cross, sinking the hope of every Celta fan as the stadium as the noise finally relented.

0–2 Madrid.

Celta clawed one back before halftime, a scrappy rebound that saw Courtois furious at his defenders and with it, Celta fans found their voice again.

But Madrid never wavered.

In the second half, they killed the game with precision as Kylian Mbappé finally came to life, tearing past two defenders in the 63rd minute before slotting coolly into the bottom corner to make it 1–3.

From there, it was control for Los Blancos.

Valverde ran the midfield like a metronome, and Rüdiger dominated the aerial duels. When the final whistle blew, Madrid had once again kept pace.

[FULLTIME: Celta Vigo 1-3 Real Madrid]

The aftermath of Matchday 25 was predictable.

The table remained balanced, two heavyweights staring each other down, neither willing to blink as they headed to Europe.

As players walked down the tunnel, the whispers had already begun. Juventus awaited Barcelona, and Milan awaited Madrid.

The Champions League was next.

Finally, the storm was here.