Rise of a Football God-Chapter 413: A blockbuster clash at the Metropolitano Stadium [2]

And just like that, Barca survived the scare.

After that scare though, the game became more even, Atletico Madrid slightly coming out of their shell to attack more.

But it was still more or less the same Diego Simeone football.

Nothing exciting, just plain, boring, old-school football. But it was effective. Like they say, if it ain't bad, don't fix it.

But then, today, it was not so good.

After repeated knocking at the door of the fearsome Atletico Madrid defense to no avail for more than 40 minutes, hit by a stroke of luck, FC Barcelona finally broke the duck, scoring the first goal of the game.

It came in the 42nd minute.

And once again, Sam was at the heart of the action.

Just like in the Lille game, Atletico Madrid gave one of their defenders the task of man-marking Sam on this game. Like most other teams that faced FC Barcelona this season, they were wary of the threat posed by their striker.

Clement Lenglet, the ex-Barca player man-marked Sam and he was doing an amazing job at it so far.

He was not alone in doing that unenviable job though.

It was just too easy for Sam to dribble past him though he also stood his ground most times. So, in most occasions, as soon as Sam received the ball, Clement Lenglet's role was not to stop him but to slow him down.

Slow him down long enough for any of his teammates to join him as fast as possible, double-teaming Sam to stop him.

The rest of the Barca attack was being shackled like this, even Lamine Yamal was tamed by an especially ferocious Cesar Aspilicueta this game.

The young Spaniard uncharacteristically lost the ball too many times.

The only player that played his normal game, dictating the tempo in the middle of the park was Pedri.

And yet, Pedri alone could not make Barca win.

This was why Atletico Madrid focused on the game changers, Sam, Raphinha, Lamine Yamal, locking them out of the game.

For over 40 minutes, it worked, till it no longer worked.

After more physical harassment from Clement Lenglet, Sam left his marker, leaving the striker position and dropping deep.

That was when Pedri played a pass to him.

As soon as the ball rolled towards him, Sam heard it…

Thud! Thud!

The sound of Lenglet's boots behind him, the defender clearly ready to do anything, no matter how dirty or rough to stop him in his tracks.

Knowing this, Sam didn't keep hold of the ball, he didn't even try to control it and rather flicked it on immediately.

Bam!

Bending his boots slightly, he flicked the ball, passing it on as soon as he arrived to the right, making Lenglet hesitate.

In that hesitation, Sam bent his body, using one hand to shove Lenglet's outstretched arms out of the way to avoid being grappled.

He escaped Lenglet's hold.

With Sam's back to the goal when he received the pass, to his right was Raphinha. The Brazilian was the recipient of Sam's pass and like Sam, he didn't receive a lot of time to settle on the ball.

As soon as the pass came, Raphinha didn't hesitate as noticing Sam's run after evading Clement Lenglet, he passed to him.

Pablo Barrios, the Atletico Madrid midfielder charged in, trying to stop Sam but having seen his shadow before he arrived, Sam reacted instinctively, hitting the ball, pushing it in between his legs.

As Sam was about to charge past him after the ball, desperate, Barrios tried to react but he was already too out of balance.

So, he slipped… and fell to his butt.

Thud!

Without looking at him, Sam kept moving, but then…

Whoosh!

A sliding tackle from Conor Gallagher.

Bam!

Reacting swiftly, Sam pushed the ball with the outside of his boot towards Lamine Yamal while jumping at the same time, narrowly avoiding Conor Gallagher's dangerously outstretched legs.

Bam!

Tiki taka!

Lamine Yamal didn't hold on to the ball either. Showing his flare, as soon as he received the ball, he quickly sent it back with a silky backheeled touch.

The ball rolled into Sam's path in the 18-yard box.

By now, he was already dangerously close to Jan Oblak, the Atletico Madrid goalkeeper. And that was when a 2nd sliding tackle came in!

Whoosh!

This time, Sam didn't pass, neither did he jump.

He was moving with speed since, but as soon as Sam noticed the shadow movement first, he showed incredible technique, bringing his body to a halt immediately, killing all the momentum of his run.

He was only able to do this due to countless hours of training with the ball, mastering his physicality to an unreal level.

By stopping so abruptly, Sam allowed Robin Le Normand's sliding tackle to slide harmlessly past him, and then he moved again.

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Thud!

Jan Oblak finally charged out as Robin Le Normand quickly inclined his head, looking, waiting to know their fate.

Jan Oblak's reaction was fast, but Sam already expected it, and so…

Bam!

He hit with the ball outside of his boot again, calmly nutmegging the goalkeeper as the ball rolled towards goal.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Nahuel Molina who had been charging back since increased his speed, chasing after the ball, trying to execute a goal line clearance but he was not fast enough. The ball just crossed the line when he arrived, hitting it outside.

But then…

FWEEE!

Goal line technology sealed Atletico Madrid's fate.

It was a goal.

BOOM!

The Metropolitano erupted, Barca fans roaring at the top of their lungs even as Sam charged towards the corner flag, doing the Cole Palmer Cold celebration.

'Damn!'

The Atletico Madrid fans were quiet, they truly felt cold.

That goal… decided the game.

The first half ended 0-1 in Barca's favor.

The second half was even more boring and at the same time more tense than the first. Atletico Madrid came out more to attack, this time Barca being forced to defend. Even Sam went back to defend at times.

After 90 minutes, the game did not provide a second goal.

The game ended 0-1 in Barca's favor.

Another 3 points for the Catalan giants, another man of the match award for Sam in his milestone 40th game of the season.

Sam was living the life.