The locker room was quiet.
No music. No chatter.
Just focus.
Luca laced his boots in silence, listening to the echo of cleats tapping the concrete floor. Around him, his Barcelona B teammates stretched and prepped, each of them knowing this wasn't just another league match.
The opponent: Deportivo de La Coruña.Tactically rigid. Physically tough. Known for frustrating talented squads.
Coach Rafa Márquez walked in with the match plan.
"Today, you'll need more than talent. You'll need fight. Every duel. Every sprint. Every second matters."
Luca met his coach's eyes. He could feel the message: They're going to target you.
He was ready.
Kickoff – A Storm Begins
The first ten minutes? Chaos.
Deportivo came out pressing high, bodies flying, no space to breathe.
Luca barely touched the ball before he got sandwiched by two midfielders and crashed to the turf.
"Play on!" the ref shouted.
His teammates looked frustrated. They couldn't connect three passes. Every time Luca received, a defender was already at his back.
Minute 17 — a turnover in midfield, Deportivo countered and scored.
0-1.
Luca picked himself up again. His elbow was grazed. He didn't care.
Breaking Point or Breakthrough?
Minute 30.
Luca dropped deeper to find more touches. One-two with Barberá. He sprinted forward—but again, taken down harshly from behind.
Yellow card.
Márquez yelled, "Keep calm! Keep moving!"
That's when it clicked.
Luca stopped chasing the ball.
He let the ball come to him.
Minute 37 — he ghosted between lines, received a pass, spun away with a la croqueta, and sent a through ball to Rodríguez. Shot. Blocked.
But the crowd saw it.
The camera caught it.
Luca was heating up.
Second Half – Turning the Tide
Márquez didn't sub him.
"It's your fire now, Luca. Let it burn."
And he did.
Minute 52 — Luca took the ball at midfield, glided past one, then two, then nutmegged a third. Fans stood up. The bench stood up.
Shot from 25 meters — saved.
But Barça B kept possession.
Minute 59 — corner kick. Luca floated at the edge of the box. The clearance dropped to him. One touch, a flick over a defender, and BAM — a half-volley missile into the top left.
1-1.
He didn't celebrate.
He just pointed at the club crest on his chest.
A Star Is Born
Minute 71.
Counterattack.
Luca picked up a loose ball near the sideline, did a no-look elastico, and sprinted down the wing. Defender on his back. Crowd on its feet.
He cut inside. Another challenge came — he spun, stayed up, sent a diagonal pass to Darvich who curled it in.
2-1. Barça B leads.
The players mobbed Luca.
"Madre mía, he's possessed today!" one shouted.
Final Minutes – Standing Ovation
Minute 85.
Coach called his name. Substitution.
The fans stood. Every clap echoed.
Even Deportivo's bench nodded in respect.
As he walked off, he looked toward the stands. His father was there, standing, clapping. Eyes full of pride.
Post-Match Buzz
Final Score: Barcelona B 2 – 1 Deportivo
Luca: 1 Goal | 1 Assist | 8 Dribbles Completed | 4 Key Passes
On social media?
#LucaMagic trending again.
A tweet from an ex-Barcelona player read:
"The kid is the truth. Keep your eyes on Luca this season."
System Notification
[Match Rating: 9.4 – Man of the Match]
+1 Vision+1 Balance+1 DribblingPassive Perk Unlocked: Crowd Energizer – Perform better when fans chant your name.
"Through chaos, you stayed calm. Through pressure, you danced. Through fire, you rose."