God Of football

Chapter 208: Opponents

The Copa del Rey semi-final second leg against Mallorca loomed large. The first leg had been tightly contested, with Valencia scraping out a 2-all draw in the last minute, but this return leg at Mallorca’s home ground was bound to be a battle.

Once out on the pitch, the focus was entirely on football.

The team ran through tactical drills, emphasizing defensive organization and quick transitions—key strategies for holding onto their aggregate lead.

Baraja emphasized discipline, reminding the squad to stay compact and patient against Mallorca’s pacey and wing-prone attacking style

After an intense training session at Paterna, the Valencia CF squad gathered in the media room.

The players, sweaty and still catching their breath from a session designed to fine-tune their tactical approach to the second-leg Copa del Rey semi-final against Mallorca, were now preparing to watch the other semi-final clash between Atlético Madrid and Athletic Bilbao.

The first leg had ended in a 2-2 draw, so this match was pivotal, and head coach Rubén Baraja thought it would be valuable to observe the other semifinal to draw insights for their own upcoming match.

As the players filed in, there was a quiet buzz of excitement. The room was a mix of young talent and seasoned experience.

José Gayà, Pepelu, and the rest of the veterans, alongside rising stars like Javi Guerra, and of course, Izan, the team’s star player, all found their seats.

While Gayà, as the captain, was a source of leadership and focus, all eyes inevitably turned to Izan.

At just 16, the young forward had been carrying Valencia through a remarkable season, earning praise not only for his goals but for his ability to influence every aspect of the game.

He was now the standout player, and his presence was undeniable. Even the veterans deferred to him, often looking to him for direction on the field.

Izan settled in his seat, taking a moment to glance around. He was no longer just a hopeful teenager; he was now Valencia’s most reliable performer, their creative spark, and the player everyone relied on.

The match between Atlético Madrid and Athletic Bilbao kicked off with a raucous atmosphere from the San Mamés crowd, a vibrant mix of colors and noise.

As the game unfolded, the Valencia players leaned forward in their seats, eager to see how their potential final opponents—should they get past Mallorca—managed the high stakes of a Copa del Rey semi-final.

The first 15 minutes showcased the high-pressing style of Athletic Bilbao. Nico Williams, the dynamic winger, immediately caught the attention of the Valencia players.

In the 12th minute, he made a dazzling run down the right wing, leaving Atlético’s defenders scrambling. His perfectly timed cross was almost met by Álex Berenguer in the box, but Atlético’s José Giménez cleared it just in time.

”That’s how you stretch a defense,” Gayà said, turning to Izan. ”They press high and use the flanks to exploit space. If Mallorca presses us, we need to stretch them like that.”

Izan nodded, his eyes fixed on the screen. ”They’re smart about it. It’s not just the wingers; their full-backs push up to support. If we move quickly, we can do the same.”

Baraja, who had been watching closely, paused the video. ”Izan’s right. Pay attention to how Bilbao uses the full-backs and their midfielders to flood the wide areas.

This is the kind of play we’ll need to replicate against Mallorca. Move the ball quickly, get it out wide, and keep the pressure up”

After a while, the match grew boring but then the first goal of the match came.

In the 28th minute. Dani García intercepted a loose pass in midfield and slid the ball perfectly into the path of Iñaki Williams.

Racing through on goal, Williams showed poise and precision as he slotted the ball past Atlético’s goalkeeper Jan Oblak to give Bilbao a crucial 1-0 lead on the night.

”That’s clinical,” said Pepelu, nodding. ”He saw the opening and didn’t hesitate. If we get those chances, we need to be just as ruthless.”

Izan watched closely, already thinking ahead. ”That’s the thing with Williams. He’s not flashy, but when the moment comes, he’s deadly.

We have to be the same in the second leg against Mallorca. Don’t waste chances. Take them when they come.”

Baraja, clearly impressed by Izan’s maturity, said, ”Exactly, Izan. You’ve been showing that kind of composure all season. We need the entire team to think like that in these moments.”

A few of the players shook their heads at Baraja’s glazing, even Izan but they had gotten used to it at this point.

After some time, the first half came to an end causing some of the players to go to the snack bar for some snacks, though Baraja had those limited to 1 per player.

As the second half began, Atlético pushed for an equalizer, but Bilbao’s defense stood firm. Their pressing and defensive structure made it difficult for Atlético to break through.

Despite Atlético’s attempts to control the game, Bilbao’s compact shape and quick transitions continued to frustrate them.

”Look at how Bilbao defends as a team,” said Gayà, observing their defensive shape. ”They never give Atlético any time on the ball. Everyone is involved, even their forwards are dropping back to help.”

Izan, whose mind was always on how to improve, added, ”It’s a unit. The midfield drops in to cover, and the forwards never stop working.

They’re always in the right place, always ready to press when the ball turns over. That’s something we can bring into our game, especially when we’re playing against teams that sit back like Mallorca.”

[show off] ,the system sounded causing Izan’s expression to falter before regaining his composure.

Baraja smiled, clearly pleased with his star forward’s input. ”Exactly. We need to press high and make it difficult for Mallorca to play out from the back. It’s all about winning the ball quickly and moving forward at speed.”

In the 61st minute, Nico Williams struck again. Picking up the ball halfway into Atlético’s half, he took on three defenders in a dazzling solo run.

With a burst of pace, he carved through Atlético’s backline and finished with a clinical strike into the top corner of Oblak’s net.

”That’s a fantastic goal,” said Correia. ”But we’ve also got players who can do that. Taking on defenders and making them pay.”

Izan’s eyes never left the screen as he spoke. ”It’s all about timing. He knows when to accelerate and when to go for it.

That’s the kind of confidence we need to show, especially when we have a chance to break on Mallorca.”

Baraja nodded approvingly. ”Exactly, Izan. Confidence and timing are key. But don’t forget—this doesn’t happen without hard work and knowing your teammates.

When we break, we have to move together, and we have to make it count.”

As Atlético pushed forward in the latter stages of the game, they left themselves exposed at the back.

In the 84th minute, Gorka Guruzeta sealed the victory for Bilbao, tapping in a rebound after Oblak had parried an effort from Iker Muniain.

The 3-0 scoreline on the night effectively ended the tie, with Bilbao advancing to the Copa del Rey final with a 4-0 aggregate score.

”That’s a killer instinct,” said Paulista, watching as Bilbao celebrated. ”Even when they had the game in hand, they didn’t stop pushing.”

Izan leaned back in his chair, contemplating. ”You never know when another goal can change the course of a match.

We have to be like that—relentless. Even if we’re ahead, we keep pressing for the next goal.”

Baraja looked at the group, his eyes locking on Izan. ”Izan’s right. This game is about never settling.

Whether we’re ahead or behind, we must keep that intensity. And that’s what I expect from every single one of you in the second leg against Mallorca.”

As the match ended, the room was silent for a moment. The players absorbed the lessons from the match, seeing how Athletic Bilbao’s pressing, defensive organization and clinical finishing had been the difference in their commanding 3-0 victory.

”We’ve seen what it takes to get to the final,” Baraja said, breaking the silence. ”Bilbao showed us the right mentality—aggressive in attack, relentless in defense.

That’s what we need to bring to the second leg. If we do that, Mallorca will be in for a tough game.”

”I agree,” Gayà said. ”If we press like they did, take our chances, and stay disciplined, we have every chance of winning. Mallorca won’t know what hit them.”

Izan, now fully locked into the mindset of a player who carried his team, added, ”We need to show them we’re the better team.

We press, we score, and we don’t let them breathe. We’ve been here all season. Let’s finish what we started.”

With that, the Valencia players, inspired and united, headed into the club’s recovery rooms on orders of Ruben Baraja, his reasoning, well to recover and manage any cramps that had affected his players.

A/n: Second of the day