Chapter 21 : Olimpico

In the 29th minute, Sevilla made an uncharacteristic mistake in midfield. Grzegorz Krychowiak, under pressure from José Cañas, lost possession as he tried to find Éver Banega. The ball fell straight into the path of Nico Cruyff, who immediately turned with a sharp burst of acceleration.

Ian Darke: "That's a mistake from Krychowiak, and Espanyol are right on it! Nico Cruyff has the ball, and we know what he can do with it."

Àxel Torres: "Excellent quick thinking from Cañas to win it back, and Nico shows his maturity—no panic, just a calm decision to push forward."

Without hesitation, Nico threaded a perfectly weighted pass between two Sevilla defenders, finding Lucas Vázquez on the right wing. Vázquez, with his pace, carried the ball into space and then cut inside, playing a delicate through ball to Sergio García, who was making a darting run toward the edge of the box. García flicked it on for Felipe Caicedo, but the ball was intercepted at the last moment by Daniel Carriço.

The ball bounced loose again, and Nico Cruyff, still in the right position, was quick to pounce on it. In one smooth motion, he controlled the ball with his first touch, set himself up, and then from 27 meters out, unleashed a powerful long-range shot toward the top corner.

Ian Darke: "And now Nico is having a go from distance—this could be spectacular!"

The ball rocketed through the air, with Sergio Rico, Sevilla's goalkeeper, stretching out full length, but it was too powerful, too precise. The shot flew just past his fingertips, clipping the top of the crossbar before bouncing out of play.

Àxel Torres: "Unbelievable effort from Nico Cruyff! That was inches away from giving Espanyol the lead. Sergio Rico did everything he could, but that shot was right in the top corner."

Ian Darke: "You can see how close Espanyol are to breaking the deadlock. A brilliant build-up from them, and Nico almost making it happen with a stunning long-range shot. Sevilla's defense needs to wake up, because this young talent is a constant threat."

The crowd inside RCDE Stadium roared their approval, despite the shot not finding the back of the net. It was a clear statement of intent from Nico, and his teammates were fired up, knowing they were very close to breaking through.

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Just moments after that thunderous shot, Nico Cruyff stood over the corner flag, ready to take the set piece. The crowd inside the RCDE Stadium was still buzzing from the near-miss, but there was a growing sense that Espanyol was about to get their breakthrough. Nico looked up at the box, then back at the ball, his concentration unwavering.

Ian Darke: "And now it's a corner for Espanyol. Nico Cruyff, after that brilliant effort from distance, is ready to deliver the set piece. You get the sense that something special could happen here."

Àxel Torres: "Watch how he takes his corners, Ian. This is no ordinary delivery. He's got the vision to pick out exactly where it needs to go."

With a slight run-up, Nico whipped the ball into the box with perfect curve and precision. It sailed into the near post, right into the path of Sergio García, who leaped up to meet it. But before García could make contact, Sevilla's defenders were caught off guard by Nico's inswinging delivery. The ball bent sharply, curling just inside the post.

It was a brilliant, audacious strike—direct from the corner!

Ian Darke: "What a goal! Nico Cruyff has scored from the corner! It's a sensational delivery that bends past everyone and into the back of the net! Espanyol lead, and the young prodigy does it again!"

The RCDE Stadium erupted in disbelief and excitement. The Sevilla defense could only watch as Nico's inswinger found its way past Sergio Rico, who was helpless to stop it. The ball had dipped with such precision that even the Sevilla defenders didn't realize it was going in until it hit the back of the net.

Àxel Torres: "That is unbelievable! From the corner flag to the top corner of the net! Nico Cruyff, 14 years old, scores direct from the corner! What a set-piece taker he is."

Ian Darke: "That's the quality of a player much older than his years. No fear, no hesitation. That's the mind of a player who knows exactly what he's doing."

The Espanyol players were in ecstasy, celebrating with Nico, who was greeted with high-fives and hugs from his teammates. The stadium was alive, and the young playmaker had once again proven his ability to deliver when it mattered most.

The scoreboard read 1-0 in favor of Espanyol, with the scoreline now 2-2 on aggregate. The match was finely poised, and Nico had given his side a crucial lead in a tie that was still wide open.

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The RCDE Stadium was electrified with anticipation as the clock ticked down towards halftime. Espanyol, who had been pressing relentlessly, were finally reaping the rewards of their persistence.

Ian Darke: "Here it comes again, Espanyol are on the move! They're playing with so much confidence now, and it's like they've taken control of this game in the blink of an eye."

The ball was quickly worked out from the back, with Héctor Moreno starting the move from deep in his own half. The pass found José Cañas, who released Nico Cruyff in space just inside midfield. Nico took a quick glance over his shoulder, saw the space opening up in front of him, and passed it forward to Lucas Vázquez, who had already made a darting run down the right flank.

Àxel Torres: "Look at the speed of the transition! This is fantastic football, Ian. One minute, they're defending, the next, they're charging down the pitch. The ball is moving so quickly, and Vázquez is the man with the pace to take advantage."

Vázquez, taking full advantage of the space left open by Sevilla's defense, sprinted past Fernando Navarro. The Sevilla right-back tried to close him down, but Vázquez's pace was simply too much. He got to the byline and delivered a perfectly timed cross into the box.

Ian Darke: "And there's Felipe Caicedo, rising above the defense! He gets his head on it—flicks it on perfectly to Sergio García at the far post, who's in the perfect spot to finish!"

The ball arrived at Sergio García, who remained calm under pressure. With a slight touch to steady himself, he slotted the ball past Sergio Rico and into the bottom corner. The crowd erupted into jubilant celebrations as Espanyol's lead doubled.

Àxel Torres: "What a goal! What a team goal! This started from the back, through Cañas, into Nico Cruyff, and then a magnificent cross from Vázquez. Felipe Caicedo gets his head on it, and Sergio García is in the right place at the right time to finish with precision. A wonderful team effort from Espanyol."

Ian Darke: "That was brilliant. The ball movement was precise, the runs were timed to perfection, and Sergio García shows incredible composure to finish it off. He's been a key player for Espanyol, and that goal will give them so much confidence going into the second half."

Àxel Torres: "You can see what it means to the players. They know how big this is—Espanyol have put themselves in the driver's seat now. Sevilla, who have been strong in this competition, will have to do something special if they're going to pull this one back."

The players huddled around Sergio García, celebrating his crucial goal. It was clear that Espanyol were in control now, having put themselves in a position to complete the comeback. The fans were on their feet, chanting and waving their scarves, fully aware that their team was just one goal away from taking a significant step toward the next round.

Ian Darke: "Just when you thought Espanyol might falter, they come back stronger. This tie has just completely turned on its head, and Sergio García has made it 2-0 on the night. It's 3-2 on aggregate now, and what a twist this is in this Copa del Rey quarterfinal!"

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Halftime in the Sevilla Locker Room 

As the players entered the locker room, the atmosphere was thick with frustration. The bright lights above cast long shadows over the room, reflecting the tension on the faces of the Sevilla players. The scoreline, now 2-0 down on the night and 3-2 behind on aggregate, was a bitter pill to swallow. The normally boisterous energy in the Sevilla camp was replaced with murmurs of disbelief and quiet fury.

Coach Unai Emery stood at the front of the room, arms crossed, looking each player in the eye. He knew the stakes—one of Spain's premier competitions was slipping through their fingers unless they showed something more.

Unai Emery:

"Listen to me, we're not out of this yet. But if we don't wake up, we will be. You're playing like you've already given up. We are not a team that crumbles under pressure. We fight. We react. We get back in this match, and we do it together."

His voice was steady but carried an undeniable intensity that rang in the silence of the room.

Unai Emery (looking towards the defense):

"You're letting them control too much space. Bacca, you're our focal point up top—be the one to chase down those long balls and unsettle their backline. We need you pressing harder, making those runs into the channels. Vitolo, you've been too quiet. Start running at them. Aleix, I need more from you down the right. Get in those crosses—Banega, you've got the vision to unlock them. Don't let them breathe."

The camera panned around, catching the faces of the players nodding, absorbing every word. Carlos Bacca, visibly frustrated, clenched his fists, while Éver Banega furrowed his brow, acknowledging his coach's instructions.

Unai Emery (turning to the attack):

"We are not out of this. Two goals in the second half and we're back on top. You can do it. We have the quality. But it starts with you making those key moments count—Iago, Bacca—you've got to bring your finishing boots next half."

He looked at his goalkeeper, Sergio Rico, who had been left exposed too many times.

Unai Emery:

"Rico, you've been solid, but we need to step up as a unit. The communication has to be sharper. I don't want to see you isolated again like that."

The Sevilla players listened in silence, some of them already starting to mentally regroup. There was no time to wallow in the mistakes of the first half; they had to find the belief to push forward.

Unai Emery (rallying the troops):

"This is our competition. We've been here before, and we know what it takes. Now let's show them that we can turn this around. Get your heads back in the game, and let's take this fight to them in the second half. Let's go out there and make them regret thinking this tie was over!"

The players, their faces steely with determination, nodded as they stood up. There were no more words. Only the sound of cleats hitting the floor as they filtered back to the pitch, ready to fight for a chance at the semifinals. Unai Emery's message had been clear: this wasn't over, not by a long shot.

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Halftime in the Espanyol Locker Room 

The atmosphere inside the Espanyol locker room was notably different from that of their opponents. The energy was calm, yet palpable, as the players gathered around in small clusters. The 2-0 lead on the night (3-2 on aggregate) had provided a sense of accomplishment, but there was no room for complacency. They were still only halfway through the battle, and everyone knew that Sevilla was capable of coming back.

Coach Sergio González stood near the whiteboard, flipping through tactical notes, occasionally glancing up at his players, who were all dressed in their kits and focused. The music had been turned off, the buzz of conversation fading as the players began to settle. Despite the quiet confidence in the room, there was no celebrating yet. The job wasn't done.

Sergio González:

"Alright, listen up, everyone. We're in a good spot, but it's only halftime. Two-nil up tonight, but it's still tight on aggregate. Sevilla is dangerous, and they'll come at us hard in the second half. We can't ease off—this is where the real work starts."

He paused, letting the weight of the moment sink in.

Sergio González (turning to the defense):

"Defensively, we've been solid. Álvaro, Héctor—you're both playing a great game, but Bacca is still lurking, and Aspas can strike from anywhere. Keep your lines tight. Javi, Juan, we need you covering those wide areas—don't let them overload the flanks. Communication is key."

Álvaro González, who had been sharp in the air, nodded in agreement, locking eyes with Héctor Moreno.

Sergio González:

"Midfield, you've done a good job of dictating the tempo, but don't get caught out. Víctor, Cañas, I need you to continue breaking up their transitions. Don't give them any space to breathe in the center of the pitch. Lucas, Nico, you're both playing with confidence. I want to see that same energy as we move forward."

Nico glanced up from tying his bootlaces, his focus unwavering. He had been a constant threat, and Sergio knew that the young prodigy had the ability to break the game wide open.

Sergio González (looking directly at Nico):

"Nico, you've been phenomenal. But don't get complacent. You've got the vision to unlock them again, so keep finding the spaces, make those runs. When they foul you—make them pay. You've shown them what you can do from a free kick already, now let's see you do it again."

A small smirk played across Nico's face, and a few teammates chuckled. They all knew what he was capable of from set pieces.

Sergio González:

"We've played the better football so far, but we need to keep that intensity. We're a team that fights for everything. Felipe, Sergio, don't give them an inch. Take the ball forward, stretch their defense. We'll punish them if they leave gaps."

Sergio González clapped his hands sharply, rallying the troops.

Sergio González:

"Stay focused, stay sharp, and when that second half whistle blows, we finish what we've started. We've earned this lead, but we need to earn the result. Let's show them who we are, and remind them this is our house!"

The players, now fully immersed in the task ahead, stood up, some exchanging quiet words with their teammates, others fixing their socks and boots. The tension in the air was thick, but there was no panic—only the calm determination of a team that believed they could finish the job.

As they filed out of the locker room and made their way down the tunnel, the atmosphere in the RCDE Stadium remained electric, the sound of Espanyol's fans growing louder. The second half was about to begin, and Espanyol was ready to defend their advantage.

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Author's note : Vote if you like what you're reading , he will play with barcelona in the upcoming chapters . It'll be crazy , Do comment about things you dont like , so i can fix it in the upcoming chapters