Chapter 67: Nights of routine, a show of power
After the International break, club football resumed in all its glory.
For FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, the Champions League returned midweek, but this time, the spotlight felt softer.
There was no clash of titans, no stadiums trembling under heavyweight duels. Instead, what followed the weekend league game were two fixtures where giants were expected to roll.
But when Barcelona and Real Madrid walked out, the world still watched. Because even in routine, legends are forged.
[UEFA Champions League – Matchday 7:]
Barcelona vs Union Berlin (Spotify Camp Nou)
The Spotify Camp Nou glowed under floodlights, banners fluttering with "Ballon d’Or Winner" scrawled across them. It was already more than a week, but Barca fans were yet to move past Sam’s achievement.
Union Berlin though, they came to the Spotify Camp Nou stubborn and compact, lined up in an expected low block.
For tonight, Hansi Flick rotated his lineup.
Marc Andre Ter Stegen finally returned to the lineup as the starting goalkeeper for this game. For the defense, Eric Garcia replaced Kounde in right back, and Gerard Martin also replaced Balde in the left back position.
The centerbacks remained Araujo and Cubarsi, while in midfield, De Jong returned to the lineup, partnering with Pedri as the double pivot.
The attack didn’t change though as it remained Gavi in central attacking midfield, Yamal in right wing, Raphinha in left wing, and Sam leading the line as the striker in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
FWEEE!
From the first whistle, it was men against boys.
Union Berlin sat deep, digging trenches of five and four as they defended right from the onset while praying for scraps.
Only time would tell if they would get scraps, but for now, Barça responded with patience as they circulated possession, probing, waiting for the crack.
In the end, Barcelona’s fluid attacking shape found the crack, and it came in the 18th minute of the game. Pedri held on to the ball, waiting, scanning till the space opened before threading the needle into the box, straight to Sam.
Sam dummied, rattling the defensive shape and opening up space for Yamal who ghosted into the box to curl home.
1-0.
The fans celebrated like 1 goal was not enough. They wanted more.
After the first goal, Union Berlin clung on for a while, but the cracks in their defense widened as Barca increased the tempo.
In the 34th minute, Raphinha skinned his full-back, squared low, and Sam tapped home with ease to make it 2-0.
By halftime, it was done.
The Spotify Camp Nou turned into a festival rather than a battle.
During second half, Hansi Flick rotated, giving minutes to youngsters and fringe players, as he also let Lewandowski back to the lineup while giving Sam a rest. The goals didn’t stop though, rather, they surged.
In the 58th minute, Raphinha found Pedri who blasted into the top corner to make it 3-0.
By now, Union Berlin already gave up on their game plan as they finally came out with the hopes of getting a consolation goal. That opened them up more.
In the 71st minute, Balde who was finally introduced into the game overlapped after a mazy run down the left, cutting through 3 players before squaring to Raphinha who tapped in.
4-0.
In the 82nd minute, Lewandowski carved his name to the scoreboard for the first time in what felt like forever after a thunderous volleyed strike.
That goal capped off a vintage FC Barcelona performance at home.
[FULL-TIME: Barcelona 5-0 Union Berlin]
It was dominant and effortless for the Spanish giants. Despite coming off early, Sam maintained his goal-scoring streak and fans sang his name at the end of the game.
...
Real Madrid vs Feyenoord (Santiago Bernabéu)
Real Madrid also welcomed underdogs to their infamous stadium for their UEFA Champions League Matchday 7 game.
If the Spotify Camp Nou had been a festival, the Santiago Bernabéu was a machine; cold, efficient, and ruthless.
Feyenoord came brave, pressing high early. For ten minutes, they rattled Madrid’s backline, even forcing Courtois into a reflex save.
But then Madrid struck.
With the likes of Courtois, Arnold, Rüdiger, Huijsen, Bellingham, and the front trio all in the game, Xabi Alonso didn’t hold back any punches as his team gave it hard to Feyenoord at the Bernabeu.
It was Bellingham who broke them first in the 22nd minute.
Jude Bellingham sliced them apart with a driving run through midfield, used a one-two with Mbappé to set himself up, before slotting a calm finish into the bottom corner.
1-0.
After that, Feyenoord’s spirit cracked, and Kylian Mbappé took over.
In the 37th minute, Mbappe received the ball and after a lightning sprint past his marker, rifled it into the roof of the net to double Madrid’s lead.
The first half came to an end 2-0.
Real Madrid got a penalty in the second half, and Mbappe buried it with nonchalant ease in the 55th minute to make it 3-0.
He completed his hattrick in the 78th minute after Rodrygo’s square pass set him up one on one with the goalkeeper.
Just 2 minutes later, in the 80th minute, Jude Bellingham got his second as he thundered in a header from Alexander Arnold’s pin-point cross.
5-0.
But Madrid was not yet content as late in the game, Vinícius finally got in on the act, dancing through defenders before slotting coolly to get 1 over Barcelona.
6-0.
[FULL-TIME: Real Madrid 6-0 Feyenoord]
The Bernabéu clapped their gladiators off the field. Mbappe claimed the match ball, and he was also hailed as man of the match with his hat trick.
Two games, two routs from the two rivals who seemed incapable of losing. They were two giants flexing, both refusing to blink.
The Champions League league-phase table updated, and both Barca and Real Madrid kept their places at the top of the pile.
Pundits raved. "We are witnessing a season where perfection is the standard, Barcelona and Real Madrid have won all their 7 Champions League games!"
"Samuel Moses scores one, Mbappé scores three. They’re pushing each other higher".
"The question is no longer who wins on a given night, it’s now a question of who survives to the end."
In Spain’s bars, the debates grew fiercer.
"Sam has the Ballon d’Or, he’s the best in the world!"
"No! Mbappé just scored a hat trick!"
"Messi vs Ronaldo is gone, but Sam vs Mbappé is here."
...
That night, as Sam left the Spotify Camp Nou, cameras swarmed. "What did you think of Mbappé’s hat trick?" one asked.
Sam smiled calmly. "He’s brilliant, but I don’t play to match him. I play to help Barcelona, I play to win."
And in Madrid, Mbappé said nearly the same.
"Sam is incredible, but for me, it’s simple. We’ll see who is standing taller in May."
Two victories, two statements of power made.
The rivalry burned brighter, and the league phase marched on. And somewhere in the shadows of Europe, every other giant shivered.
Barcelona and Real Madrid weren’t stumbling, they were soaring.