Rise of a Football God-Chapter 430: Season decider

(Valladolid – Barcelona)

(Date: 3rd May, 2026)

…

(UEFA Champions League:)

(Semifinal:)

(Leg 1 of 2:)

(Inter – Barcelona)

(Date: 6th May, 2026)

…

(La Liga:)

(Barcelona – Real Madrid)

(Date: 11th May, 2026)

5 games, but they were not just any 5 games.

This was a fixture of 5 games that had the capacity to decide the success or failure of FC Barcelona's season, the season decider games.

If FC Barcelona win all 5 of these games within a period of 16 days, then, this season would be on course to becoming their most successful season in over a decade as they would be on course to another historic treble win.

Winning the Copa del Rey final would add another trophy to their cabinet for the season, and an important one too.

Another reason why it was important to win the game was the fact that the final opponent was their eternal rivals, Real Madrid.

It was an El Clasico final.

Winning the final that way would add an extra touch of joy to it, and so the FC Barcelona players, fans, and their coach were determined to make it happen.

Winning the 2-leg semifinal game against Inter Milan would push FC Barcelona to the final of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in over a decade. The last time they made the final was in 2015 when they went all the way to win the tournament.

Then, FC Barcelona still had the MSN front trio of Messi, Suarez, and Neymar.

Then, in midfield, Barcelona had the likes of Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquests, and Ivan Rakitic holding the fort, all Catalan legends.

This was a vastly different FC Barcelona side with different faces, but this season, the fans were optimistic of their chances of going all the way.

Afterall, this season, it was prime Hansi Flick ball in play.

Most importantly, this season, they had Sam.

As for the league games; the season was not over yet. They were leading the league race, but Real Madrid was hot on their heels having been knocked out of the UEFA Champions League already.

If they blundered in multiple games, their archrivals could do the impossible and snatch the league title from them.

This was why for the next 5 games, FC Barcelona did not just have to maintain maximum focus, they also had to play at their best.

This was the time to play their best football of the season.

The moment of truth was here.

…

For the next few days after the Mallorca game, Sam retreated into himself.

The only constants in his life during this time was his girlfriend, his family, and his workout friends. He cut everything else off, everything media related so he could fully focus on his football.

This season, Sam was having the best season of his life but he knew that a moment of complacency was all it took to lose it all.

Afterall, in a war, the most dangerous period was most often when victory was in sight. Because then, enemies forget everything for a last desperate stand, and not just that.

When victory is in sight, the heroes tend to become complacent. And in war, complacency was a tried and tested pathway to failure.

This was why in the days following the Mallorca game, Sam threw himself fully into training more than ever before.

His schedule was simple; training, training, and training again.

On a Friday morning…

With his headset blocking his ear, loud music blasting to his hearing, Sam forgot everything else, only cognitive of his jogging partners as they jogged the length of the city of Barcelona.

For the final 50 meters, today, he was merciless.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Sam dug in, turning into a mirage and ruffling dust in his wake as his legs carried him like the flash, giving his friends a sizeable distance in the race today.

At the end, they panted heavily, looking at him like he was a monster.

Sam simply chuckled, leading them deeper into the stadium.

That morning, they worked out, straining their muscles to maximum effect. And at the end, all 5 of them felt some fatigue but physically, they felt invigorated.

Their bodies were as light as a feather.

That day's team training, the 5 of them were the best players in training by a mile and finally, Hansi Flick did his last team talk with his players.

Tomorrow was the big day, the moment of truth, one of the big finals that they've been working hard towards all season.

The El Clasico Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid.

Hansi Flick faced his players.

"Tomorrow, we'll be one step closest to achieving one of our big dreams for the season," he smiled. "Winning the Copa del Rey trophy".

"I know you can do it, so let's do it".

"Yes coach!" They cheered in Spanish.

By now, Hansi Flick was already proficient in Spanish enough to communicate directly with his players.

He did his last tactical talk with them. He didn't tweak anything; he already perfected the formation for the final long ago. And he already did his best to drill it into the subconscious of his players.

As for the starting XI? It was a familiar one.

Arranged in a 4-2-3-1 formation, Marc Andre Ter Stegen protected the goal as the goalkeeper, while ahead of him was a defensive quadruple of Alejandro Balde, Inigo Martinez, Pau Cubarsi, and Jules Kounde.

Further ahead of them in midfield was the duo of Pedri and Frankie De Jong. In attacking midfield was Gavi, while the attacking trio comprised of Raphinha in the left, Sam in the middle as the striker, and Lamine Yamal on the right.

This was vintage Barca, the best Barcelona starting XI this season.

The game would be played at the Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla in Seville.

The next day, hours before the game, the FC Barcelona squad arrived in the city of Seville.