Once again, Javier was on the opposite side of the pitch. His calm and confident demeanor was almost intimidating. People knew him for his tactical intelligence and ability to remain calm under pressure; these attributes made him a natural candidate for captain.
Lucas knew that, for many, Javier was the obvious choice. But that didn't mean he would give up easily.
During the start of the match, Lucas commanded the ball and guided his teammates. He noticed that Javier, playing further back, was organizing the defense and shouting precise instructions to his teammates to make it easier for them to read the game. It was as if the two were playing mental chess.
In the 15th minute, Lucas received a pass from Miguel and saw an opportunity. He dribbled past a marker and, with a millimetre pass, put Raphael face-to-face with the goalkeeper.
Raphael shot, but the ball was saved.
