God Of football

Chapter 133: Half-time At The Bernabéu

The LED that wrapped around the stadium interior displayed the scoreboard which showed a goal for each team as Bellingham stood over the ball.

After everything was set, the referee blew his whistle once more to restart the match.

The cheers around the stadium were deafening, and the excitement boiled over.

The fans of both sides began their chants, each side looking to inspire their team to score.

For a while, there was a back-and-forth between the fans who were trying to one-up each other, as well as the players on the field who were trying to put the ball at the back of the opponent’s net.

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From the 19th minute onward in the first half of a match between Real Madrid and Valencia, both teams engaged in a dynamic attacking play.

After a relatively subdued couple of minutes, Real Madrid began asserting themselves through midfield dominance.

Jude Bellingham, supported by Luka Modric and Kroos, orchestrated most of their forward play.

In the 21st minute, Bellingham made a surging run through the centre, slipping a precise pass to Vinícius Júnior on the left.

Correia from Valencia trailed behind him but ultimately caught up with Vinícius after the latter showed a bit.

In a battle between the two, Vinícius displayed his trademark flair slipping past Correia with a la Croqueta before cutting inside and unleashing a shot aimed at the far post.

His shot was destined for the net, and the fans around the Bernabéu believed so, but the Valencia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili dived sharply to parry the ball away.

Heaves of relief were heard around the Valencia stand before they began cheering for their team again.

Seeing as they were not getting any attacking edge, Izan dropped back and helped in defence, waiting for the opportune moment to strike on the counter.

The momentum stayed with Real Madrid as Dani Carvajal combined with Rodrygo on the right flank.

This particularly incisive sequence in the 27th minute saw Rodrygo deliver a low cross into the box, narrowly missing Jude, who lunged but failed to make contact.

Madrid’s reliance on their wide players was evident as they struggled to penetrate Valencia’s compact central defence.

Valencia, under pressure for extended periods, sought to catch Madrid off-guard with rapid counter-attacks.

Pietro and Hugo Guillamón played critical roles in intercepting Madrid’s passes and quickly transitioning the ball forward.

In the 31st minute, Izan raced down the right wing after getting away from his marker. Gaya, who held the ball centrally, smacked it diagonally to Izan’s location.

The ball found its way towards Izan but Ferland Mendy was also approaching

Izan and Ferland Mendy locked horns on the right flank in a gripping battle that highlighted their speed.

Izan, who saw this, immediately burst into a sprint to control the ball. However, Mendy, known for his defensive prowess and quick recovery runs, matched Izan stride for stride, closing the gap with an aggressive yet controlled approach.

As the ball dropped into a contested area, both players jostled for position, their arms brushing as they leaned into each other.

Mendy attempted to use his body to shield Izan from getting to the ball, but Izan’s relentless drive and sharp acceleration allowed him to slip past.

With a deft touch, Izan flicked the ball just out of Mendy’s reach before pivoting sharply to maintain possession.

The moment was a testament to Izan’s agility and raw pace under pressure, drawing cheers from the crowd as he pushed forward.

A moment later, Izan delivered a dangerous cross into the box with Hugo Duro, Valencia’s forward, meeting it with a powerful header that forced Thibaut Courtois into a spectacular save.

The away fans sighed as Thibaut Courtois pulled off this save.

Moments later, Valencia’s José Gayà initiated another break, threading a pass to Diego López, whose curling effort from the edge of the area skimmed just wide of the post.

Valencia’s strategy relied on quick switches in play and exploiting spaces left by Madrid’s advanced fullbacks so their fullbacks were also advancing, especially Gaya.

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On the sidelines, Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti was visibly animated, barking instructions at his players to move the ball faster.

His frustration grew in the 35th minute when a promising Madrid attack broke down due to a miscommunication between Modric and Vinícius.

Ancelotti’s gestures highlighted his emphasis on precision and composure in the final third.

In contrast, Valencia coach Rubén Baraja maintained a calmer demeanour, occasionally stepping out of his technical area to direct his team’s defensive structure.

He was notably vocal during Madrid’s set-piece situations, urging his players to stay tight and clear their lines.

Both managers seemed acutely aware of the stakes, with neither willing to concede an inch.

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The Bernabéu crowd played its part in fueling the energy on the pitch. Every counter-attack was met with raucous cheers, while defensive clearances drew applause.

The away fans, on the other hand, relished their team’s ability to frustrate Madrid’s high-profile attackers.

Online, Real Madrid fans expressed mixed reactions. Many praised the creativity of Bellingham and Modric, while others criticized the lack of a finishing touch from Vinicius and Rodrygo.

Valencia fans on social media celebrated Mamardashvili’s standout performance, with several calling him the ”wall of Mestalla” for his series of crucial saves while others continued fawning over Izan.

As the half drew to a close, both teams continued probing for the lead, and it came a goofy manner.

In the 38th minute, Modric attempted a spectacular long-range strike, but Mamardashvili once again proved his worth, tipping the ball over the bar.

From the ensuing corner, Antonio Rüdiger rose highest and headed the ball towards goal. Marmadashvili lunged left and caught the ball.

In a way that left the away fans speechless, Marmadashvili couldn’t hold on and dropped the ball, causing a scramble that ultimately left Vinicius poking the ball inside the Valencia net with his right foot.

The goal wasn’t very nice, but a goal was a goal which led Vinicius to run to the corner flag, his teammates behind as they celebrated it.

Marmadashvili raised his hand in defeat as he apologised for his mistake. The players were hurt by the goal but Gaya clapped, bringing them back to their senses.

The ball returned to the halfway dot, with Diego López kicking off this time. The match went on for a while but not much happened.

Valencia, however, had a final chance in stoppage time of the first half when a quick one-two between Izan and Lopez created a shooting opportunity for Guillamón.

His shot, however, was blocked by a sliding David Alaba, preserving the lead of Real Madrid.

The referee blew his whistle immediately after the added time was up.

The players walked towards the tunnel, the home fans vocal about their lead as they continued chanting while a few fans went out for some snacks.

”Half-time here at the Bernabéu and what an exciting first half. Blows were traded, with Real’s Bellingham drawing first blood, but Izan equally proved exciting as he curled the ball into the opposing side.

The two sides have gone blow for blow but ultimately, Real Madrid lead from a gruelling mistake by Valencia wall, Giorgi Mamardashvili which saw Vinícius put his name on the score board.

It’s Real Madrid 2, Valencia CF 1”

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The tunnel buzzed with a mix of hurried footsteps and voices echoing off the concrete walls. Izan, drenched in sweat, clutched a water bottle as he adjusted the collar of his jersey.

As Izan turned a corner, there he was: Bellingham, towering slightly over him, his signature confident stride softened by a warm smile.

The Englishman had just finished a quick exchange with a teammate but paused when he saw the young Spaniard.

”Good first half,” Bellingham said, his voice steady but friendly. ”But we got the edge”. Izan froze for a second before chuckling a bit.

Caught off guard by Jude’s words, Izan composed himself before speaking. ”It’s... it’s just the first half. The match isn’t over yet”.

”And remember, we’ve both got a goal, so, in terms of performance, I’d say I’m ahead since my team performed better than yours this first half. You just got lucky”.

”Luck is also part of the game,” Jude said. ”Keep that attitude up; I’ll be waiting in the second half.” He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice and said.

With a posh English accent, Izan spoke, ”I’ll do my very best, Sir Bellingham”. ”Hey, that’s not how we speak”, Jude said as he walked off.

Izan shook his head with a smile before walking off. He entered the away locker room, sat down and waited for his massage.

Ruben Baraja entered and left them instructions for the second half. Izan listened intently while getting his massage.

After Baraja finished, a text message from his phone saw Izan smile. He typed a reply to the text before putting his phone down.

As the second half approached, the players came out of their locker rooms, locking a bit refreshed.

They walked through the tunnel and were met with another wave of cheers as the fans awaited eagerly for the second half to start.

A/n: [Golden ticket chapter]. Have fun.