God Of football

Chapter 146: Back With A Bang

After getting to the byline, Diego López raised his leg to cross but a figure suddenly blocked his path.

The Valencia fans were screaming for him to pass but Diego López wasn’t passing. With a flick, he tried to evade Araujo but the latter held onto Diego’s shoulder.

Trying to get free, Diego López shifted his weight to his right but the scream that sounded the next moment made the referee blow his whistle.

The next moment the Valencia fans began shouting, asking the referee to send Araujo off.

”That doesn’t look good for Diego López,” the commentator exclaimed, the concern evident in his voice.

”It’s his shoulder—looks like he might have done some real damage to the rotator cuff there.”

The referee stopped play as Valencia’s medical team sprinted onto the pitch. Diego lay on the grass, grimacing while fans in the stands murmured anxiously.

”This could be a pivotal moment,” the commentator added. ”Diego López has been a key player for Valencia this season, and losing him now would be a huge blow.”

The medics assessed him quickly, their serious expressions confirming the gravity of the injury.

The referee signalled toward the bench—a substitution was inevitable.

Gasps rippled through the Valencia crowd. Conversations broke out among fans, their faces etched with worry. ”López can’t continue,” one murmured. ”Without him, who steps up?”

As Diego was helped off the pitch, his right arm immobilized in a sling, the stadium broke into applause, a show of support for their winger.

On the sidelines, Valencia coach Rubén Baraja turned decisively to the bench.

”Izan!” he barked, his voice cutting through the tension. The 16-year-old phenom looked up, wide-eyed but ready. ”Warm up, you’re going in.”

The moment hit like a thunderclap. Izan grabbed his training bib and jogged toward the touchline, the weight of expectation settling on his young shoulders.

”You too, Pietro”, Baraja added after Izan had gotten up.

The fans’ murmurs shifted to cautious optimism as they watched Izan warming up.

”If anyone can bring some spark now, it’s the kid,” one supporter said, rallying behind the prodigy.

After a couple of minutes playing a man-down, the ball went out for a throw. The referee signalled for the substitution to go on.

Donning his number 21 jersey, Izan stepped onto the pitch. The Valencia fans applauded Izan’s first steps onto the pitch after his injury.

”There he is. 16 years of age and already a commanding presence in the team. It has been a month since the fans saw him play after his injury, and tonight they can see him show what he’s always done”.

After coming on, Izan filled Diego López’s position while Pietro filled Javi Guerra’s position after a lacklustre performance from the young defensive midfielder.

After, the substitution, the throw for Barcelona ensued. The match continued with Valencia retreating to their half ready to strike on the counter.

Reminiscent of Pep’s Barcelona, the youngsters played around Valencia’s setup.

After coming on, Izan didn’t rush into the game but took his time, scanning the field and adjusting to the rhythm.

The Barcelona midfield, led by Pedri and de Jong, moved with a calculated elegance, trying to dominate possession.

Izan drifted into pockets of space, content to play simple passes and keep the ball moving.

”Smart play from the youngster,” the commentator noted. ”He’s not trying to do too much too soon, showing remarkable composure for his age as always.”

In the 75th minute, his first spark of brilliance came. Receiving a pass just outside the centre circle, he turned swiftly, leaving his marker flat-footed.

The crowd reacted to his move roaring in approval as Izan went om

With a deft touch, he surged forward, drawing gasps from the crowd. The commentator’s voice rose:

”Izan’s on the move here! Look at that pace!” He glided past two defenders, his balance and control almost poetic.

He combined with Andre Almeida, who had been out of the squad for some time, to free himself in front of the box.

Dragging his right leg back, Izan powered through the ball, sending a thunderous shot towards Marc Andre Ter Stegen, but the keeper put up a strong hand to deny Izan his first goal in the match.

Though the attack ended in a corner, the crowd erupted, sensing something special brewing.

Minutes later, he seized his moment. A loose ball in midfield found its way to Izan, and with a quick flick, he evaded an onrushing opponent.

He played a one-two with his teammate, accelerating into space. The Barcelona defence scrambled, but Izan was already in full flow.

”This could be it! Izan is in!” the commentator exclaimed.

Charging toward the penalty box, he feigned a shot, sending the last defender the wrong way.

The keeper rushed out, but Izan coolly chipped the ball over him. Time seemed to slow as it floated toward the net before nestling in the top corner.

”GOAL! What a strike from the teenager!” the commentator shouted as the crowd erupted.

Izan stood still for a moment, arms raised, soaking in the adulation.

Calm and calculated at first, he had burst into life when it mattered most, leaving an indelible mark on the game and proving why the world had its eyes on him.

He tried to go back and take the ball, but something was up.

Before they could celebrate any further, the referee blew his whistle distracting the Valencia players who were rushing towards Izan.

The referee raised his hand before pointing to the Valencia goal.

”Oh No, seems like there was an offside infringement during the process of the goal”.

The screens around the stadium showed Almeida’s offside position before he laid the ball off to Pepelu, who sent the ball over to Izan.

The Valencia fans booed but the referee’s decision was right. After the offside was called, Izan put the ball down and gave it back to the Barcelona players.

After the match continued, Barcelona churned out a few substitutions, hoping to waste some time. The referee knew what they were doing but it wasn’t illegal.

As the time ran out, Barcelona decided to go for one last attack after Valencia settled on not conceding any more.

With a quick succession of passes, Barcelona broke into the box of Valencia. Pedri, who now had the ball, passed to his right.

Lamine Yamal, who was rushing from behind, met the ball with a curler, but his effort was blocked by Mark, whose performance had been the only light in Valencia’s defence.

After Mark blocked the shot, the ball was still not out of the danger zone.

Frenkie de Jong, who had closed down on the loose ball, sent a cross in, but the ball was headed out by Cenk, who was contesting for it with Lewandowski.

The loose ball once again fell to Ferran Torres, who shot towards goal, but Izan put his body in the way.

The ball ricocheted off him but Izan wasn’t going to give them another chance to shoot. After the loose ball got further and further, Izan turned on the jets.

Ferran, who was going for the ball, got to it, but Izan immediately tackled from behind.

Ferran tried to put his body in the way but Izan shoved him slightly before going around him.

The Barcelona winger tried to grab Izan but he slipped. Free from any obstacles, Izan made the whole Barcelona team chase after him.

He went left, then right, weaving in between the Barcelona players. Izan made his way towards the Barcelona goal but he felt a tug on his shirt.

Glancing beside him, he saw Pedri holding onto his shirt. Izan tried to get him to let go but the latter tightened his grip on the shirt.

”Well if you won’t let go, then let me use you” Izan thought as he weaved left. His sudden movement caused Pedri to tighten his grip on the shirt further causing Izan to fall while the shirt ripped.

The referee blew the whistle after seeing this before shoving a yellow card in Pedri’s face.

Pedri smiled wryly and looked at the ripped shirt in his hand while Izan sat on the floor, fixing his socks while smiling at him.

”This guy” Pedri chuckled. After Izan got up, he went to the touchline for a change of clothes before getting back to the pitch.

He saw the referee dealing with the Barcelona players who were making the wall, so Izan put the ball slightly away from the referee’s designated spot before glancing at the goal.

[ Pinpoint Accuracy LV2 activated] The system sounded.

The stadium watched in anticipation as Izan stood over the ball, just outside Barcelona’s penalty area. The Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys was a cauldron of noise, with fans chanting and waving banners, but Izan was undeterred.

He exuded a calm confidence that belied his age. He took a few measured steps back, his eyes scanning the wall and the goalkeeper’s position.

”It’s a free-kick in a dangerous position, and the youngster, Izan, is stepping up to take it. What a moment this is for the 16-year-old at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys!”

”He lines it up, the Barcelona wall looks solid, and the keeper is positioning himself. Can the teenager produce something special here?”

The referee blew his whistle, and the world seemed to hold its breath. Izan sprinted forward, his body perfectly balanced as he struck the ball with his left foot.

The connection was flawless, the ball arcing over the wall with a whip of swerve and dip.

Ter Stegen renowned for his reflexes, dived at full stretch, but the ball was unstoppable. It nestled into the top corner, just brushing the underside of the crossbar on its way in.

”Izan steps up... OH MY WORD! WHAT A GOAL! Izan has done it! That is absolutely sensational!”

”The ball curled perfectly over the wall, dipped at the last second, and kissed the underside of the crossbar on its way in. The keeper had no chance! That is pure class from the young man!

He’s been out for a while and now the youngster is back with a Bang!!”

A gasp of disbelief swept through the crowd, followed by a roar of applause—even from some Barcelona fans.

Izan would have loved to celebrate but they were still a goal down. After scoring, he went into the opponent’s goal and picked up the ball before running to the kickoff spot.

The Valencia crowd cheered him on at the thought of equalising as Izan placed the ball on the spot.

To them, he had saved them time and time again so he may be able to do it again today.

A/n: Two for the day, have fun.