Chapter 22 – The Magician in Logroño
Kickoff in La Rioja
The sun hung low over the Estadio Las Gaunas, casting long shadows across the vibrant green pitch. The away section was filled with pockets of Barça B fans, young supporters wearing Blaugrana scarves and holding handmade signs — a few already with LUCA 10 scribbled across them.
Inside the locker room, Coach Rafa Márquez had the players huddled.
"SD Logroñés is aggressive. Press high. Compact lines. They won't let you breathe. But we've got vision. We've got rhythm. And today," — his eyes moved to Luca — "we've got magic."
The players grinned. Luca just nodded.
He wasn't nervous. Not anymore.
He was ready.
Starting XI – Barcelona B
Formation: 4-3-3
GK: Astralaga
DEF: Faye, Pau Cubarsí, Mika Mármol, Gerard Hernández
MID: Marc Casadó, Aleix Garrido, Luca Herrera
FWD: Noah Darvich, Víctor Barberá, Dani Rodríguez
From the first whistle, Logroñés came out like wild dogs — aggressive pressing, fast tackles, shoulder bumps on every possession.
They weren't trying to win beautiful. They were trying to grind a result.
15' – Weathering the Storm
Luca felt it right away.
Tight markers. Two defenders constantly near him. No space.
But he stayed patient.
At minute 15, he dropped deep, received a sharp pass from Garrido, and without looking, flicked it over an approaching midfielder.
One touch. Two. He was gone.
The crowd gasped. The camera zoomed in. The Ronaldinho flick, again — but this time in traffic.
"Let's go."
25' – Logroñés Strike First
A corner. Chaos in the box.
GOAL – SD Logroñés. 1–0.
A towering header by their captain, and the home crowd erupted.
The game just got real.
33' – The Equalizer
The response was instant.
Luca dropped between the lines, took a pass from Faye, spun past one, drove forward… the defenders backed off.
He faked a shot.
Another defender committed.
Nutmeg.
Then, the pass — threaded through the smallest window to Barberá, who slotted it past the keeper.
GOAL – Barcelona B. 1–1.
Barberá pointed straight at Luca as he celebrated.
"¡Ese pase, hermano!"
HALFTIME – 1–1
In the locker room, Márquez didn't speak long.
"We're in it now. They'll get tired. Keep moving the ball. Luca — do your thing."
Second Half – Show Begins
From the start of the second half, Luca took control.
Every time he touched the ball, the rhythm changed.
A pirouette in midfield. A heel flick past two defenders. A no-look lobbed pass that nearly created a goal.
The crowd — even the home fans — began to murmur with admiration.
58' – The Masterpiece
Barcelona B were pushing.
Luca received the ball just outside the box. Defender on his back. He faked right, went left. Quick one-two with Garrido.
He was in.
The keeper charged.
Luca chipped it. Not too high — just enough.
GOAL – Barcelona B. 2–1.
He ran to the corner flag, arms out like an airplane, laughing. The team swarmed him.
72' – Almost a Second
Another break. Dani Rodríguez cut in, passed to Luca. This time, a curling shot to the far post—
Off the post!
So close.
80' – Substitution
With tired legs and a yellow card already earned, Luca came off to loud applause from the visiting section.
He high-fived Márquez, who whispered, "That's how you control a game."
FULL TIME – SD Logroñés 1–2 Barcelona B
Three points. One goal, one assist for Luca.
Post-Match Stats
Luca Herrera
Minutes: 80
Touches: 61
Dribbles Completed: 8
Chances Created: 5
Assists: 1
Goals: 1
Pass Accuracy: 87%
Player of the Match
Back in the Locker Room
Barberá sat next to Luca, untying his boots.
"You're not normal, hermano," he said, shaking his head. "What even are you?"
Luca smirked.
"I'm just getting started."
System Notification
[Match Performance Rated: 9.1]
➤ Dribbling +1➤ Vision +1➤ Positioning +1
Skill Unlocked: "Rhythm of the Streets"– Your movements flow smoother under pressure. You gain +5% dribble success rate when facing multiple defenders.
💬 "They pressed me. I danced."