Chapter 91: The Final’s first breath
[Supercopa de Espana- Final:]
>Barcelona vs Atletico Madrid.
[Venue: King Fahd Stadium, Dammam, Saudi Arabia]
The Prince Mohammad bin Fahd Stadium is a multipurpose stadium in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
Built in 1973 and named after Mohammad bin Fahd, the former governer of the Eastern Province, it was the first football stadium in the province.
The venue is used mostly for football matches and has been the home stadium of the local clubs Al Ettifaq and Al Nahda, till Al Ettifaq moved out after the construction of their new stadium.
Then, the stadium’s capacity was just 26,000.
But now?
King Fahd Sports City Stadium was the biggest stadium in Saudi Arabia with a staggering 70,200 seater capacity after the renovation.
And this... was the venue for the Supercopa de Espana final between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid.
The D-day was here, the D-night was here.
The King Fahd Stadium burned bright under Saudi night skies like a beacon, a cathedral of noise split between red and white thunder of Atletico and the blue garnet hymn of Barcelona’s faithful.
The atmosphere in the stadium was electric.
The Supercopa de España final had arrived, and the fans were more than ready to watch their teams go head to head in a history making moment as the decibel levels in the stadium exploded through the roof.
For Barça, it was a chance to defend their title and the chance to lift their first silverware of 2027. For Atlético, it was the chance to remind Spain that grit and blood could still humble brilliance.
For Atletico, it was their only realistic shot at a trophy this season, and this was why they approached the game with a warrior’s mentality.
The interviews, the online posts, the subtle jabs, the fan wars, all of it was in preparation for the one game that they were ready to die for.
In Diego Simeone’s words, they were ready for war.
But when the lineups for the game dropped though, the world was stunned.
After all the psychological warfare and words of bravado that the Atleti players and even their coach said in the buildup to the game, hyping Antoine Griezmann up after his heroics against Real Madrid, the lineup stunned everyone who paid attention to the game.
Once again, Griezmann didn’t start!
This was despite him literally creating the iconic moment that dragged them to the final.
Atletico Madrid started in their typical 4-4-2 formation with Jan Oblak in goal, Hancko, Clement Lenglet, Robin Le Normand, and Marcus Llorente in defense. The 4-man midfield comprised Cardoso, Pablo Barrios, Thiago Almada, and Simeone Jnr., Giovanni himself.
The two strikers up front were Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth.
As for FC Barcelona, they started in their usual 4-2-3-1 with Joan Garcia in goal, Kounde, Araujo, Cubarsi, and Balde in defense. Pedri and Gavi in midfield, while Yamal, Sam, Raphinha, and Lewandowski formed the attacking force.
Once again, the ageless Robert Lewandowski made it to the lineup, meaning that tonight, Sam once again started as the central attacking midfielder.
From the lineups, one thing was clear about today’s game approach...
On one side, a fortress. On the other, a symphony.
FWEEEEE!
The ball rolled, and immediately Atlético’s intentions screamed clear.
Hancko and Le Normand sat deep, Lenglet shadowed Lewandowski, and two midfield lines closed like jaws.
Tonight, Atletico came with a defensive approach to the game, and it explained Antoine Griezmann’s exclusion from the starting XI.
FC Barcelona got their threatening drive of the game with the ball in the third minute when Sam lashed onto a long pass, only for Barrios to slam him from behind with the ruthless intent of a man ready to kill.
FWEEE!
The referee quickly blew his whistle, announcing the first foul of the game.
Diego Simeone clapped furiously from the touchline. "Sí, así, así!"
The game continued and Barcelona recycled possession endlessly. Pedri and Gavi strung thirty passes in a row, Yamal spun tricks on the right, and Balde surged left. But every lane forward met a red wall.
Atletico’s iron cage felt like the ancient wall of China.
By the 15th minute, Sam had been fouled three times. Lenglet shoved him off balance, Cardoso clipped his ankle, and Barrios tugged his shirt.
Every time he rose calmly, dusting himself off, eyes burning brighter.
But Atlético weren’t just kicking, they were compressing. Their block was a perfect geometry of ten men behind the ball, keeping the distances tight, shifting like a single organism.
Barça had possession, but Atleti had control.
But despite Atleti’s approach, Sam refused to vanish.
In the 22nd minute, he dropped deep, dragging Barrios and Cardoso with him. One flick to Pedri split the midfield, and Pedri released Yamal, who cut inside and curled just wide of the post.
The tension was heating up.
Again in the 30th minute, Sam ghosted between lines, drew Lenglet out, and slipped a reverse ball to Raphinha. Raphinha thundered down the wing and crossed low, but Lewandowski’s flick was clawed away by an alert Oblak.
Sam’s passes were daggers, but the net stayed untouched.
Jan Oblak was a wall in goal. Atlético waited.
In the 35th minute, their plan almost paid off as Álvarez burst from deep, beating Cubarsí for pace, before releasing Sorloth.
The Norwegian giant muscled Araújo and cracked a shot, but Garcia parried desperately, his first save of the game.
The Atleti fans roared to that shot, drums pounding. Their first real strike felt like a warning shot.
After that, Barça tightened, slowing the tempo again.
As the first half bled toward stoppage, Sam received the ball again and danced across the top of the box, weaving between Cardoso and Barrios. For the first time, he found space, unleashing a low curler at goal.
Oblak dived full stretch, fingers clawing it wide. The Atleti fans leapt, applauding their captain.
FWEEE!
The whistle echoed, cutting the tension like a blade.
[HALF-TIME: Barcelona 0-0 Atletico Madrid]
Barcelona were dominant but toothless.
Atlético? They were battered but unbroken.
Diego Simeone marched down the tunnel, gesturing wildly to his players, coat flapping like a general. Hansi Flick followed calmly down the tunnel, eyes locked on Sam, whispering.
"Patience, the cracks will come".
Sam exhaled, sweat dripping as his muscles hummed. He knew one thing... Atlético weren’t here to play football, they were here to strangle it.
And he would have to find the key.