Rise of a Football God

BOOM!

The tempo of the game and for the spectators, the excitement value of this game increased exponentially, hitting a crescendo.

Liverpool pressed; FC Barcelona pressed…

Liverpool attacked; FC Barcelona attacked…

The game was incredibly end to end as the players of both sides played at an elite level, constantly doing something that made the fans' jaws drop in astonishment even as they felt their hearts beating rapidly in trepidation.

The tension was too much!

It felt like either side could score at any moment and true to that, a goal finally entered 12 minutes after 2nd half started and it was a Liverpool goal.

No one saw it coming.

Having played an amazing game already, constantly torturing the FC Barcelona backline with his crazy crosses, Trent Alexander-Arnold, the Liverpool right back finally decided to take matters into his own hands.

After receiving a back pass from Salah in the FC Barcelona side of the pitch, the right back went on an inverted run through the middle.

Weaving through 2 players, he set himself up before unleashing an absolute rocket of a shot from outside the box.

He unleashed the shot after spotting Inaki Pena, the FC Barcelona goalkeeper slightly off his lines.

BAM!

As soon as the ball was hit, the FC Barcelona goalkeeper charged back towards his goal but it was already too late as the perfect ball nestled into the top right corner of the net, leaving him no chance.

"GOALLL…!" The away stands in this stadium erupted.

Celebrating with exuberant energy, Trent Alexander-Arnold charged towards the corner flag, sliding on his knees in celebration.

That goal… traumatized the FC Barcelona supporters.

In recent years, Barcelona was having such a crazy rut in the UEFA Champions league that even making the round of 16 was like a task too big for them.

When Xavi eventually broke the cycle in the 2023/2024 season, taking FC Barcelona to the round of 16, they ended up losing a first-leg 1 goal advantage despite the 2nd leg being played in their stadium.

Incredibly, they lost to Paris Saint Germain after Ronald Araujo, the star FC Barcelona defender was sent off for a red card tackle.

This season, when Hansi Flick's FC Barcelona made it's debut earlier in the season, thrashing the likes of Real Madrid 0-4 at the Santiago Bernabeu and Bayern Munich 4-1, the good vibes in the club returned.

But as the season progressed, the lack of depth of the team was exposed as the positive results started dropping.

But as the season approached its end, Hansi Flick's FC Barcelona engine picked up again from where it stopped earlier in the season.

They beat everyone in their path, tearing tyrannical trials through the round of 16 to their first champions league semifinal in 6 years!

But now, all of it seemed to be crumbling again just like how it happened last time out back in 2019 against the same opponents.

They seemed to be faltering again.

But no, this was a different FC Barcelona and they were not satisfied with cowering before their formidable opponents again.

This was the time for them to have their revenge!

FWEEEE!

As soon as the referee's whistle sounded again after Liverpool's goal in the 57th minute of this game, FC Barcelona's intensity changed.

Their intensity became god-tier!

And trust a certain player, it was Raphinha, the Brazilian's incredible energy that led as an example as he ran Liverpool ragged by sheer effort.

With Raphinha leading the charge, the other FC Barcelona players soon raised their level, matching his mojo to tear Liverpool apart.

Liverpool was still playing an amazing game as they didn't let up but Barcelona's intensity just got too high, and then it paid off.

Raphinha started it, going on a powerful run down the left-hand side, turning Trent Alexander-Arnold inside out before charging into the box only to meet a formidable road block in the form of Virgil Van Dijk.

The imposing Dutchman awkwardly cleared the ball before the Brazilian could pose a danger with it, but the awkward clearance ended up falling to the right where a certain 17-year-old Lamine Yamal lurked.

Andrew Robertson quickly closed the teenager down but with a drop of the shoulder, and then a kick of the ball, the Liverpool legend was nutmegged.

Andrew Robertson staggered even as Yamal already charged past him.

In that moment, the teenager seemed to turn into prime Neymar, weaving through Liverpool players like they were not there with incredible flair and just as Virgil Van Dijk was about to clash with him, Yamal intelligently flicked the ball.

The teenager flicked the ball into unmarked space where Barca's striker lurked like an assassin in the shadows, waiting for a chance to strike.

As soon as the ball was flicked in his direction, Robert Lewandowski's eyes shone with fire even as he pounced.

Bam!

Hitting the ball on a volley, his powerful shot was rifled into the net, beating Alisson Becker and giving him very little chance.

"GOALLLL…!!!" The Catalan fans roared to life again, screaming and rejoicing at the top of their lungs even as Gavi charged into the net, picking the ball and charging back towards the half-way line to quickly continue the game.

Lewandowski simply pumped a fist to the fans in celebration and then, they continued the game.

In the 73rd minute of the game, a moment of individual brilliance from Lamine Yamal and a lethal striker's hit from Lewandowski leveled the game.

But then, 5 minutes later, Lamine Yamal did it again.

Receiving the ball in the right in the 78th minute of this game, the 17-year-old teenager once again turned Andrew Robertson inside out on the right wing, leading him one way and turning the other, leaving the Liverpool legend on the floor!

Before Andrew Robertson could recover, Lamine Yamal had all the time in the world already as he set himself up before unleashing a perfect cross into the box with his lethal left foot.

That cross… sparked a brawl in the Liverpool 18-yard box.

All the tall and physical players scrambled and brawled for the ball but in the end all of them canceled each other out, allowing the ball to float past them.

But it didn't float away harmlessly.

With all the big players focusing on themselves, restricting each other, it was Gavi, the small but fiery FC Barcelona player who ghosted into space, erupting at the last moment with a diving header.

Even Alisson did not see Gavi until his head already hit the ball.

Bam!

The Liverpool players only reacted when their net already rippled.

"F*ck!" Van Dijk cursed angrily.

There was silence for a second in this stadium in Spain, but then…

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL…!!!" The ecstatic Catalonian fans erupted, singing, screaming, and rejoicing at the top of their voice.

Charging towards the corner flag, Gavi slid on his knees in celebration even as the home supporters roared his name at the top of their lungs.

Standing up, the midfielder pointed at Lamine Yamal, attributing the glory to where the goal originated from and acknowledging it, the fans also started roaring Yamal's name at the top of their lungs.

Back in Fulham, watching this moment, Sam felt goosebumps.

The first leg of the blockbuster UEFA champions league semifinal came to an end with FC Barcelona taking a minor 2-1 lead to Anfield.