Chapter 69: The breaking point
By December, the glow of autumn had faded.
Muscles felt heavier, recovery sessions longer, and sleep more precious than ever before. The international break felt like years ago. Now, every game was a test of willpower as much as talent.
The gauntlet had no mercy.
[La Liga – Matchday 15:]
Levante vs Barcelona (Estadio Ciudad de Valencia)
A game against Levante was supposed to be joy. For Sam though, it was dread. His thighs ached before kickoff, his system chirping coldly.
DING!
~----~
[Penalty for failure: -2 attributes.]
~----~
With his physical conditioning elixirs, he had it easier than other players. But the truth was that other players didn’t do as much as he did on the pitch.
Because of his stamina, he ran kilometers more than most players every game. And the willpower and effort it required to maintain such a goal scoring streak like the one he had was just insane, and hence the accumulating fatigue.
His standards were so high now that low grade physical conditioning elixirs were no longer enough to keep him in optimal state for every game.
He had no choice, he had to go again.
Levante showed intent though as soon as the game started. Under the influence of their loud fans, they played like rabid dogs, kicking ankles, pressing lungs. The Estadio Diudad roared, desperate to wound the Catalan giants.
Barça staggered.
Yamal missed a sitter, Pedri’s passes lacked zip, and Sam’s first half was a blur of fouls and grimaces.
But tight games like this are decided by brilliance. In the 63rd minute of the game, Gavi fought through a double-team, slipped it wide to Sam, who, despite pain, drilled a low cross across goal.
Raphinha arrived like a ghost, smashing it in to silence the stadium.
Barça clung on. Sam was subbed off after 70 minutes, limping as he suffered a knock after a clash with one of the Levante center backs.
[FULL-TIME: Levante 0-1 Barcelona]
It was an ugly and narrow, but they remained unbeaten.
...
Real Madrid vs Valencia (Mestalla)
At the Mestalla, Madrid were drowned under hostility. The whistles rained like daggers, chants of "Mbappé fuera!" echoing in venom, meaning "Mbappe out!".
After losing their first leg game against the Spanish Capital giants already, Valencia were prepared this time in their home as they pressed them ragged.
Courtois saved early, and Rüdiger bailed Huijsen with a last-ditch tackle. At some point, Mbappé argued with the ref, Vinícius waving his arms in frustration.
Then Bellingham calmed the storm.
Like a savior, in the 42nd, he surged through midfield, rode a foul, and picked out Vinícius with an inch-perfect pass at the far post.
All Vinicius had to do was tap in, and he did it flawlessly.
0-1 Madrid.
The second half was survival. Valverde’s lungs kept them steady, while Arnold’s recovery sprints helped stem the Valencia tide as Xabi Alonso paced the touchline like a general on the edge of war.
Eventually, Madrid saw the game out.
[FULL-TIME: Valencia 0-1 Madrid]
Just like Barcelona, it was ugly and hostile, but they won.
...
[La Liga – Matchday 16:]
Barcelona vs Atlético Madrid (Camp Nou)
And here it was, another clash of titans.
This was no ordinary clash. Atlético, snarling and ruthless, arrived determined to be the first to break Barça this season. The game started and Diego Simeone’s men pressed, fouled, and snarled like wolves on the hunt.
The first half was war. Sorloth clattered Balde, and Julian Alvarez tested Garcia multiple times. Sam barely had room to breathe as he was choked out of the game by three markers.
Yet in the 57th minute, space appeared as Yamal darted down the right before slipping Sam free on the edge of the box.
It was tight, but Sam thrived in tight moments.
Bzzz!
With one touch, he killed the ball’s momentum and without turning to face the goal, with an acrobatic shot, he unleashed a cannon into the roof of the net.
BOOM!
The Spotify Camp Nou exploded. The Ballon d’Or winner had carved gold from granite one more time for the Catalans.
But Atlético refused to die.
In the 80th minute, Alexander Sorloth bullied Cubarsí with his physicality before nodding in the equalizer to make it 1-1.
The last ten minutes were chaos as red cards threatened amid a rain of fouls. Hansi Flick screamed himself hoarse, but Barca survived the surge.
[FULL-TIME: Barcelona 1-1 Atletico Madrid]
Two more points dropped, but unbeaten still.
...
Real Madrid vs Real Betis (Santiago Bernabéu)
Madrid had their own war.
This was their chance to truly forge ahead after Barca dropped points again. But Betis were fearless, and they came to play. The Bernabéu bristled as Isco of all people bossed the midfield, stinging Courtois with venomous strikes.
Mbappé looked heavy-legged, while Vinícius was more or less anonymous throughout the game. Alonso cursed, arms folded.
Eventually, the breakthrough came from a surprise. Arda Güler, ignored by many, curved in a 25-yard rocket to stun the world as the Bernabéu gasped.
The boy wonder had arrived.
Madrid held firm after that as Rüdiger bulldozed, Valverde carried, and Courtois clawed header after header off the line.
But in the 90th plus 3 minute, the old Madrid man, Isco shattered Madrid hearts around the world as he scored a screamer from 30 yards out.
The game ended in a draw.
What... a... game!
[FULL-TIME: Real Madrid 1-1 Real Betis]
Another grind, and though they failed to win, they survived again.
...
[La Liga – Matchday 17:]
Barcelona vs Almería (Away)
By the time Barça landed in Andalusia, fatigue was carved into every face. Flick rotated heavily, Ferran, Lewandowski, and Christensen all starting.
Sam still played. He had no choice, he was the engine that made Barcelona tick. Besides, the system never let him rest.
Almería pressed, buoyed by home fans. For an hour, Barça looked lifeless, misplacing passes, wasting chances.
But then in the 72nd minute, Sam broke through. Collecting from De Jong, he went on a mazy solo run, beating one, two, and three defenders before firing low into the corner.
0-1 Barcelona.
Relief for Catalan fans.
Ten minutes later, Lewandowski poached another to make it two. Barça limped to victory.
[FULL-TIME: Almeria 0-2 Barcelona]
Sam’s goal saved them again.
...
Real Madrid vs Getafe (Coliseum Alfonso Pérez)
Cold night, hostile ground, and small pitch.
Madrid struggled as Getafe fought like wolves.
Mbappé was tripped, Vinícius shoved, Bellingham fouled at every touch, and they had to rely on Courtois who bailed them out twice.
But Madrid’s ruthlessness never vanished even in struggles. In the 68th minute of the game, Valverde burst through midfield, slipped Mbappé in behind, and the Frenchman buried low.
Madrid held on. Xabi Alonso rotated, time-wasting as he screamed at his players to stay focused.
But they still stumbled, as a reckless Rudiger tackle gave up a penalty. Getafe scored, and the game ended 1-1.
[FULL-TIME: Getafe 1-1 Real Madrid]
Real Madrid and Barcelona were back to level points at the top of the league table. What a season!
But while the world saw perfection in points, the players felt the breaking point in flesh. And still, the table read...
1. FC Barcelona/ 17 games/ 15 wins/ 2 draws/ 0 losses.
2. Real Madrid/ 17 games/ 15 wins/ 2 draws/ 0 losses.
Both clubs were neck and neck.
Two machines of flesh and bone, grinding toward Christmas.