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The Lineup Announcement
The Valencia match day began with the academy team gathering in the locker room. Coach Marc stood at the front, clipboard in hand. The players sat in silence, anticipation thick in the air.
"Alright, listen up," Marc began. "This is a tough test against a well-drilled Valencia side, but if you stick to the plan, we'll come out on top."
He started naming the lineup. Mateo sat at the edge of his seat, heart pounding.
"Starting striker: Lucas Garcia. Left-wing: Jordi Sanchez. Central midfielders: Mateo Alvarez and Victor Molina."
Mateo exhaled in relief and excitement. This was his first start, and he was paired with Victor, one of the academy's most experienced midfielders. Lucas, the star forward, gave Mateo an encouraging thumbs-up.
As the substitutes were announced, Raul was listed as a backup forward. He scowled, shooting Mateo a cold glare.
---
The players gathered around Coach Marc, who pulled up the tactical board.
"Valencia's strength lies in their wingers, especially Diego Lopez," Marc said, pointing to the opposition's formation. "Their attack flows through him. Mateo, Victor, you'll need to dominate the midfield and cut off his supply."
Mateo nodded, absorbing every detail.
"Lucas," Marc continued, turning to the forward, "this is your match to shine. Valencia's center-backs are physical, but slow. Use your pace and exploit the spaces they leave behind."
"Got it, Coach," Lucas said confidently.
"Mateo," Marc said, addressing him directly, "you've earned this start. Keep things simple. Distribute the ball quickly, stay composed, and don't overthink it. Trust your instincts."
"Yes, Coach," Mateo said, determined to make an impact.
---
Warm-Up
The team moved to the pitch for their pre-match warm-up. Mateo worked on his passing drills alongside Victor, while Lucas practiced finishing with the other attackers.
As Mateo settled into a rhythm, Lucas jogged over.
"You ready for this?" Lucas asked.
"Yeah," Mateo replied. "Just need to get rid of the nerves."
"You'll be fine," Lucas said, grinning. "Just get me the ball, and I'll do the rest."
Mateo chuckled. "Deal."
---
During the warm-up, Mateo couldn't help but glance at the Valencia players. They looked sharp and confident, particularly their star winger, Diego Lopez. The system activated automatically, displaying his stats:
Overall Rating: 68
Acceleration: 81
Crossing: 74
Agility: 78
Finishing: 65
The system chimed softly in Mateo's mind:
Special Mission: Neutralize Diego Lopez. Reward: +2 Stat Points and 5 System Points.
Mateo swallowed hard. Diego's pace and crossing ability would be a problem.
---
Back in the locker room, the mood was tense but focused. Victor, Mateo's midfield partner, leaned over.
"Don't let Diego intimidate you," Victor said. "He's quick, but he's predictable. Stay close, and force him to his weaker side."
"Thanks," Mateo replied, grateful for the advice.
Meanwhile, Raul sat a few seats away, glaring at Mateo. As Mateo laced his boots, Raul muttered just loud enough for him to hear, "Don't screw this up, rookie."
Lucas overheard and stepped in. "Cut it out, Raul. We're on the same team."
Raul smirked but said nothing more.
---
As the players lined up in the tunnel, the atmosphere was electric. Mateo stood behind Lucas, taking deep breaths to calm his nerves.
Lucas turned to him. "Remember, it's just football. Play your game, and you'll be fine."
Mateo nodded, feeling a bit more at ease.
When the referee signaled, the players walked onto the pitch to the roar of the crowd. Mateo's heart raced as he took his position in midfield.
This was it. His first real test.
---
---
Kickoff
The referee's whistle pierced the air, and the game was underway. Valencia started with the ball, immediately looking to dominate possession. Mateo positioned himself centrally, scanning the field and tracking the movement of Diego Lopez, who had already started drifting toward the left flank.
Victor barked instructions beside him. "Stay compact, don't get pulled out!"
Mateo nodded, focusing on maintaining his positioning.
---
Early Challenges
Within the first five minutes, Valencia's midfield duo controlled the tempo, forcing Barcelona to defend deep. Mateo chased down loose balls, pressing hard but cautiously, knowing one mistimed tackle could expose their defense.
The ball eventually came to Diego Lopez on the wing. He darted forward with blistering pace, easily skipping past Jordi Sanchez, Barcelona's left winger who had dropped back to help.
Victor slid across to support the defense, shouting, "Mateo, cover the center!"
Mateo quickly shifted, intercepting a pass intended for Valencia's striker. His first touch was steady, and he played a simple pass to Lucas, who had dropped deep to offer an outlet.
System Update:
Interception Rating: +1
Positioning: +1
---
After weathering Valencia's early pressure, Barcelona began to settle into the game. Mateo found himself seeing more of the ball, linking passes with Victor and the fullbacks.
In the 15th minute, Mateo received the ball just outside the center circle. He quickly spotted Lucas making a run behind the defense and lofted a through ball over the top.
Lucas sprinted onto it, but Valencia's goalkeeper rushed out to clear the danger.
"Good idea!" Victor called.
System Update:
Vision: +1
Long Passing: +1
---
Valencia's midfielders weren't making things easy. Mateo found himself in a physical battle with their towering defensive midfielder, Carlos Ruiz.
Carlos shoved Mateo off balance during a 50-50 challenge, winning the ball and launching a counterattack. Mateo scrambled to recover, sprinting back to help the defense.
"Stay strong!" Victor yelled.
The system chimed:
Challenge Unlocked: Win a Duel Against Carlos Ruiz. Reward: +2 Strength.
Mateo made a mental note to be smarter in future duels.
---
In the 23rd minute, Barcelona regained possession deep in their half. Mateo found himself with the ball, a Valencia player pressing him aggressively. Remembering a move Lucas had shown him in training, Mateo feinted to the right before spinning to the left, leaving the defender off balance.
Gasps echoed from the sidelines as Mateo surged forward, breaking through Valencia's midfield line.
He passed to Jordi on the wing, who whipped in a cross. Lucas rose to meet it, but his header was just wide.
Victor clapped Mateo on the back. "That's what I'm talking about!"
System Update:
Dribbling: +1
Composure: +1
---
Raul, warming up on the sidelines, watched Mateo closely. Though he didn't say anything, his expression was clear: he was waiting for Mateo to make a mistake.
Lucas, noticing Raul's glare, jogged over to Mateo during a break in play.
"Don't let him get in your head," Lucas said.
"I'm not," Mateo replied, though he couldn't entirely ignore the tension