Chapter 72: The final push before Christmas
Awards ceremony didn’t disrupt the schedule of football, they were just a slight glitch in the matrix of football fixtures available for professional football clubs in Europe’s top 5 leagues.
By now, it was already dipping into late December and the nights bit colder now. Muscles screamed louder and minds drifted to family, to fireplaces, and to holidays. But football allowed no mercy.
There was one last match before Christmas, Matchday 18.
One last ninety minutes before the rest of Christmas. For Barcelona and Real Madrid, perfection still clung to them, the pressure of their unbeaten records and the pressure of being league leaders weighing on them.
But fatigue gnawed, whispering for them to stumble now. Afterall, stumbling was very easy compared to holding on and fighting on.
It was already late December, and the question was still simple and the same since the beginning of the season... who would break first?
[La Liga – Matchday 18:]
Barcelona vs Rayo Vallecano (Spotify Camp Nou)
The Spotify Camp Nou was festive as green and red banners swirled, carols remixed into chants in the mood of Christmas.
Yet when Sam jogged out, he felt the weight in his calves like shackles. He also felt in the mood of Christmas, but unlike the fans who had the luxury to enjoy it, they didn’t have that luxury till the end of this final 90 minutes.
He wasn’t alone in feeling the weight; Pedri moved stiffly, and Gavi rubbed his hamstring. Even Yamal yawned through warmups.
Hansi Flick knew it. Despite trying his best to raise the energy and motivation levels of his players, knowing what Christmas meant to most of them, he knew that he couldn’t do too much and that he couldn’t force it.
This was part of the reason why he rotated heavily for this game.
Barca started in their regular 4-2-3-1 formation. The fullbacks remained the same, Kounde and Balde, but the center back duo for this game was Andreas Christensen and Pau Cubarsi.
Frankie de Jong and Marc Casado played as the double pivot, Gavi in attacking midfield, Yamal in right wing, Raphinha on the left, and Sam leading the line as the striker.
Rayo Vallecano arrived to spoil the party. They were brave, organized, amd patient and from the first minute, they pressed hard, slicing at Barça’s tired legs.
For thirty minutes into the game, Barça struggled as they could not string a couple of passes together without making mistakes. Sam misplaced passes, Yamal’s dribbles fizzled, and even Raphinha skied a clear shot at goal.
The crowd groaned.
In the 42nd minute, Rayo Vallecano finally punished the complacency as they struck, Palazon drifting between lines, curling beyond Garcia to silence the Spotify Camp Nou.
0-1 Vallecano at halftime.
It was a shocker.
Barcelona’s locker room during halftime was full of heavy breaths and doubt, but Hansi Flick’s voice cut through the gloom.
"It’s the last one, men," he clapped. "I need you to go out there and empty the tank. Give me forty five minutes of everything you have, and you’re free to enjoy your Christmas anyway you want".
"Just don’t come back obese".
The players laughed.
Hansi Flick’s joke lightened the mood in the dressing room as Sam stared at his boots, his fists clenched.
’Legacy doesn’t rest,’ he thought. ’One more’.
As soon as the second half started, Barça rose.
In the 55th minute, they exploded as Raphinha burst wide with the ball before whipping a vicious cross into the box. Sam darted in, rising between defenders before planting a power Header.
Bam!
GOAL! 1-1.
Barcelona fans erupted in relief, pumping fists in celebration.
That goal was the switch that flipped the momentum. In the 71st minute, Yamal danced past his fullback, and fed De Jong at the edge.
The Dutch player took one stride, then struck.
Bam... GOAL!
2-1.
Just like that, the game turned on its head.
Rayo Vallecano threw men forward late, but Barça clung to their lead. Bodies crashed, lungs gasped, and finally, the whistle blew.
[FULL-TIME: Barcelona 2-1 Rayo Vallecano]
Barcelona remained unbeaten still as they secured their Christmas, making sure that it was a happy one with good vibes with a much-needed win.
Sam collapsed to his knees at fulltime, feeling the weight of expectations leave him as Raphinha hauled him up.
Kayla cheered Barcelona on from the stands.
...
On the other side of town, Real Madrid took on
Real Madrid vs Girona (Santiago Bernabéu)
At the Bernabéu, it was no easier. Girona came fearless, their red wall pressing Xabi Alonso’s men deep.
For the final game before Christmas, Xabi Alonso held nothing back as he started with his strongest starting XI, but still, it didn’t make it any easier.
Madrid looked sluggish.
Mbappé grimaced with every sprint, and Vinícius sulked at misplaced passes. Bellingham’s touch was heavy, and Girona pounced.
In the 29th minute, Stuani pounced on a loose ball and punished the home side with a lethal strike. 0-1.
The Bernabéu hissed in shock.
On the touchline, Alonso barked. "Wake up! C’mon, one last push!"
Madrid were tired, but they responded like champions.
In the 44th minute of the game, Bellingham ghosted into the box undetected, before flicking a header past the keeper.
1-1, just like that.
The half ended with fists pumping, and lungs burning.
The second half started and it became trench warfare. Girona resisted, but Courtois denied twice to keep Madrid in the game as the Bernabéu grew restless.
Then, the savior arrived in Kylian Mbappe.
In the 77th minute of the game, the Frenchman found half a yard, his legs heavy but lethal. A sharp cut into the box, followed by a thunderous drive undid Girona’s defense, beating their goalkeeper.
GOAL! 2-1.
BOOM!
The Bernabéu roared.
Kylian Mbappe didn’t celebrate wildly. He just pointed to the crest, chest heaving. "We don’t break," he mouthed.
The final minutes of the game seemed to stretch for an eternity as Rüdiger and Huijsen were forced to work overtime, clearing off the line.
Courtois clawed a few shots away, and Madrid survived the scare.
[FULL-TIME: Real Madrid 2-1 Girona]
They were tested at home right before Christmas. Real Madrid didn’t exactly pass with flying colors, but they remained unbeaten still and that was all that mattered. They were stumbling, bleeding, but unbroken.
At both stadiums, the whistles blew. The points were secured and records intact as the crowds roared with relief.
But the players told a different story.
At the Spotify Camp Nou, Sam sat against the advertising board, sweat soaking his suit, chest pounding.
Hansi Flick walked past, clapping him on the shoulder. "Rest, Samuel," he smiled at him. "You’ve earned it."
At the Bernabéu, Mbappé slumped into the bench, ice already strapped to his ankle. Alonso shook his head. "You’ll kill yourself if you keep this up".
Mbappé only muttered. "We can’t stop now."
The world saw numbers, the players felt exhaustion.
This was how the La Liga table looked at Christmas.
Position/ Team/ P/ W/ D/ L/ Pts
1. Barcelona/ 18/ 16/ 2/ 0/ 51
2. Real Madrid/ 18/ 16/ 2/ 0/ 51
3. Atletico/ 18/ 13/ 2/ 3/ 41
4. Sevilla/ 18/ 11/ 3/ 4/ 36
Barca and Real Madrid remained level on points, both unbeaten, neither blinking. What a first half of the season it was.
Christmas arrived. Rest, finally.
But everyone knew... in January, when football resumed, the war would truly start. And the toll would only get heavier.