While Barcelona’s fireworks echoed from Santander, Real Madrid handled their own Copa del Rey business at the Estadio Butarque against Leganés.
Like most Real Madrid coaches before him, for this cup ga, Xabi Alonso rotated heavily but the spine of his team remained deadly with Thibaut Courtois in goal, Federico Valverde driving midfield, then both Mbappé and Bellingham up top.
The atmosphere in the stadium was electric.
Just like the Racing Santander fans against FC Barcelona, the Leganes fans prayed for a miracle, and so they turned the stadium into a cauldron.
The roar of their voices turned the stadium into a constant, humming buzz that could rattle the nerves of most professional football players out there, but not Real Madrid players, not the gladiators of the Santiago Bernabeu.
The Real Madrid players ca to this stadium and under pressure from the ho fans, they kept their head in the ga and patiently played the ga, following their coach’s ga plan.
The Christmas rot also seed to affect them, but even at that, Real Madrid’s defense was as stalwart as the Ancient wall of China like usual.
Leganés fought hard, threatening relentlessly within the first two dozen minutes of the ga, and yet they couldn’t get the end product as the duo of Eder Militao and Dean Huijsen frustrated the living hell out of the Leganes attackers.
And when they eventually forced a shot out, the towering figure of Thibaut Courtois in goal smothered every challenge that was thrown at him.
Within the first 20 minutes, Leganes managed 3 shots on target, but all 3 tis, Courtois picked up the balls in a display that slled of bad on to the Leganes supporters, and they were right.
Leganes indeed fought hard, but Madrid’s class was just overwhelming even with the rotations that Xabi Alonso made.
In the 22nd minute of the ga, against the run of play, Real Madrid broke the deadlock in typical fashion, and it was the Englishman, Jude Bellingham.
As sharp as an eagle, Bellingham spotted the loose pass as soon as it was played and pounced on it. Faking a pass, he cut the other way and glided through midfield, before slipping a silky one-two with Rodrygo.
It was pure elegance from the Real Madrid talisman as receiving the ball back, as the goalkeeper charged out, he rolled it in, finishing with calm precision.
0-1 Real Madrid.
Bellingham jogged to the corner flag to celebrate amid a chorus of boos. Doing the shush celebration, he soon reverted to his trademark celebration as he spread his arms as if announcing to the Leganes fans, ’I am here’.
Cold.
Leganes didn’t let that goal affect them though as they kept on pressing and creating half-chances, but like before, they couldn’t get the end product.
And before halfti, Real Madrid piled on their misery as the enigmatic Frenchman, Kylian Mbappé finally doubled the lead, bursting through with ruthless pace before slotting low past the goalkeeper.
0-2 Real Madrid.
The decibel levels of the ho fans finally reduced after that, as their hopes of making a coback now hung by a thread.
The first half ca to an end with Madrid leading 0-2.
When the second half started, it brought more control than chaos as Real Madrid finally gained bearing and control over the ga.
And in control, it was only inevitable that they added to the scoreline.
In the 67th minute, Valverde made it a triple kill as he drilled one from distance, his trademark thunderbolt rattling the net to make it 0-3.
Madrid coasted to full ti without fuss; professional and clinical like a team of surgeons.
Alonso clapped his players off at the final whistle. Another step, another win.
But when the headlines rolled that night, Madrid were background noise.
The frenzy was around FC Barcelona, and Sam.
Spain, Nigeria, England, Brazil, every corner of the football world lit up with one na... Samuel Moses.
Four assists in one ga! A 5–1 rout made in his vision, his passes, and his command. The numbers scread louder than any comntary.
38 goals and 22 assists in 28 gas for club and country!
El País wrote: ["We are witnessing a phenonon unseen since ssi’s peak. Samuel Moses isn’t just playing football, he’s bending it to his will."]
Marca called him: ["La Máquina — The Machine. Every touch becos a weapon, every run creates destiny.
ESPN plastered his stats across their broadcast, the pundit grinning. "This isn’t normal. Twenty-one years old, yet he’s already on track for his second Ballon d’Or."
The reactions across the world were crazy.
In Nigeria, streets buzzed with chants. Viewing centers replayed his assists on loop; the outside-foot flick, the disguised through ball, the inch-perfect cross.
"Na our boy!" fans shouted, dancing in Lagos traffic.
In Spain, debates flared.
Could Barcelona sustain this? Could Hansi Flick’s pressing keep up under the grind? Or would Madrid’s depth outlast them? But nobody questioned Sam’s role in all of it; he was the heartbeat, the weapon, the phenonon.
Rival players also weighed in like usual.
Mbappé, pressed after Madrid’s win, gave a guarded smile. "He’s special. But the season is long, we’ll see who shines brightest at the end."
Vinícius scoffed. "You guys keep on bugging with this one season wonder thing, yes, I said it, I know, and the season is still long. He hasn’t even finished the second yet."
Raphinha defended his teammate. "You saw it, four assists in one night. He makes the ga look like a video ga."
Lionel ssi, from Miami, added fuel. "Consistency defines greatness, Sam is showing he has it. It’s frightening."
Cristiano Ronaldo also chid in. "Records are broken by players like him, but let’s see if he can sustain it season after season."
...
At ho in Barcelona, Sam scrolled through headlines on his phone. Legacy, records, Ballon d’Or No. 2? The world’s gaze was a fire on his skin.
Kayla’s voice carried from the kitchen in Abuja when they video-called. "Don’t let it get to you."
He smiled softly. "It won’t".
"But... it’s nice, you know? To see the work pay off."
She touched her belly, smiling mischievously. "Just don’t forget the other legacy you’re building."
Sam chuckled. "Ah, ? Never". He laughed.
...
By midnight, pundits were unanimous.
"If Samuel Moses stays fit, if Barcelona keep winning, and if he continues this form... we’re looking at back-to-back Ballon d’Ors."
The Football God was writing another Chapter.
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