Rise of a Football God-Chapter 432: Copa Del Rey Final; Barcelona vs Real Madrid [2]
FWEEE!
The shrill sound cut through the night like a blade.
The game started.
And with it, all hell broke loose.
Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, the 2 biggest clubs in Spain, characterized by a rivalry unlike any other in football, the El Clasico.
Real Madrid, the Spanish Capital Club, the pride of Spain.
Well-known and feared in Europe for their 15 UEFA Champions League trophies, 15! That is twice more UEFA Champions League trophies than any other club in Europe has.
To a lot of football fans, the biggest football club in the world.
A club with a long and deep history of victory, trophies, and fielding some of the best football players in the history of football.
From the earliest Galacticos of Raul, Ferenc Puskas, Alfredo Di Stefano, to the early 2000s Galacticos era of Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo Nazario, David Beckham, and the likes to the just past era of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale.
All these players were some of the biggest offensive players in the history of football, and yet, they were just one part of the big club, Real Madrid.
Afterall, they also fielded some of the best midfielders in defenders in history.
In the middle of the park, renowned world class midfielders like Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Kaka, and Casemiro all plied their trades for the club at some point. In the new era, they had boys like Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde, all elite football players.
In defense? Real Madrid are well-known for their star-studded attack, but they are also renowned for their stalwart no-nonsense defensive lineups through the years.
From the era of Sergio Ramos and Pepe, to Raphael Varane, Marcelo, Carvajal, and now in the era of David Alaba, Antonio Rudiger, Ferland Mendy, and Trent Alexander Arnold, Madrid always fielded the best players in the world.
Afterall, they had the money to enter the market and spend on big players, and the history and allure to attract them to their team.
As for FC Barcelona?
Their history and story were much more modest, but no less legendary.
Unlike their archrivals, the Blaugrana club are Catalan true and true. While Real Madrid are known for spending big on top and already established players, FC Barcelona are more renowned for their football academy, the La Masia academy.
Afterall, the biggest legends of the club all came from the academy.
From the era of Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Puyol, all homegrown academy players of the club. And even earlier in the Yohan Cruyff era, then the Pep Guardiola, Ronald Koeman, and Mikel Arteta eras, Barcelona had history, lots of it.
And then the new era of Lamine Yamal, Raphinha, Sam, Pedri, Gavi, Alejandro Balde, Pau Cubarsi, Jules Kounde, and the likes.
Both clubs were very different.
One wears the pristine white representing their pride and superiority, while the other wears valiant red and blue to show that they are not inferior in any way.
And subjectively, they are indeed not inferior.
Yes, Real Madrid has 15 UEFA Champions League trophies to Barca's modest 5 but Barcelona also made history in their peak. freewebnσvel.cѳm
During the purple reign of the Lionel Messi era, Barcelona won 4 of their 5 UEFA Champions League trophies and the main difference between them and Real Madrid is their style of play.
While Real Madrid are now above playing dirty, doing anything to get the victory, FC Barcelona was more characterized by their unique style of play…, the legendary tiki taka.
Like the legendary Pep Guardiola said, we play not just to win, but to entertain and during their peak years, that was exactly what Barcelona did.
In the 2009 UEFA Champions League final, they beat Manchester United with a 2-1 score line but 2 years later in 2011, peak Barcelona was shown to the world.
That Barcelona team led by Xavi Hernandez and spearheaded by a young Lionel Messi passed Manchester United to death.
That was peak Barcelona, that was peak Catalan football, tiki taka.
During that period, core Barcelona players, Xavi, Sergio Busquets, and Andres Iniesta also led the Spain team to a legendary treble, winning back-to-back Euros, a World Cup, and the Euros tournament again.
Tonight, at the Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla, it was not just 2 football clubs playing in a final, it was 2 distinct football histories clashing.
2 football philosophies, 2 Titans of football clashing.
And the 22 players on the pitch, tonight, they carried this weight that could crush a mountain on their shoulders, playing the game of their lives.
There is El Clasico, and then there is El Clasico final.
Sam had experienced El Clasico before, tonight, he experienced El Clasico final. And it was humbling.
The tension in the stadium was palpable.
The heat, the energy, the noise, Sam felt all of it permeating through his body, invading his bones, rattling him to his core and yet, he forced himself through it all to play his best football.
'This energy…!' He grinned.
It filled him with bloodlust, and Sam embraced it.
The first half was an exciting game of end-to-end football, and it was embodied by high octane attacking football.
Both clubs had a plethora of talent, and they showcased their skill tonight.
For FC Barcelona, Sam, Lamine Yamal, and Raphinha spearheaded a dynamic attack, Pedri feeding them swift and accurate passes.
For Real Madrid, their lightning-fast attack erupted like Predators in a jungle.
Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jnr. and Rodrygo, all speed demons showed what they were made off this game, pushing the Barcelona defense to its wit's end.
And yet, despite the fearsome attacking potential of both teams, somehow, the defense of both sides was able to hold.
After a highly entertaining first half, it came to an end 0-0.
During halftime, Hansi Flick and Carlo Ancelotti gave a piece of their mind to their players, commending the commendable part of their games this first half while criticizing the blunders that they made.
After a fiery team talk, both coaches sent their players back to the pitch.
The second half started.
Just 2 minutes after the second half started, a goal was scored.
Real Madrid scored…
Kylian Mbappe scored.
