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Enjoy and have fun! Officialy 100 chapters for this fic! Never thought I'd go this far to be honest. Thanks for all the great people who kept supporting this story despite everything.
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***
The floodlights spilled across the Etihad Stadium in perfect symmetry, casting a crisp, almost surgical white over the pitch. Every blade of grass gleamed as the final chords of the UEFA Champions League anthem faded into a thunderous roar from the stands. Manchester City vs. Bayern Munich — a clash loaded with weight, with history, with expectation.
The stadium buzzed with a living pulse. Fans sang, chanted, whistled, stomping their feet. Scarves raised high. Flags waving. This wasn't just another group stage match; this was a battle that would define the campaign's tone going forward.
Martin Tyler's familiar voice rose above the chaos, professional and tinged with excitement:"We're underway here at the Etihad, and the energy tonight, Alan, is massive."
Alan Smith, coiled with similar anticipation, responded immediately:"Two giants here, Martin. Big teams. Big names. And in the middle of it all, one of the brightest young stars in world football — Adriano. He's been sensational this season. This is his first match in Champions League ever."
MartinTyler nodded. " You are right Alan. He has won a world cup before playing in Champions League, that makes us think how far he can take Manchester City? This should be interesting."
City lined up in a familiar 4-2-3-1 formation: Joe Hart in goal; Kompany and Hummels anchoring the center; Zabaleta on the right, Kolarov on the left. De Bruyne and Silva played deep but mobile in the midfield engine room. Ahead of them, Adriano operated freely in the central attack, flanked by Eden Hazard on the left and Mohamed Salah on the right. Sergio Aguero prowled up top, sharp and restless.
Across from them, Bayern Munich matched formation but not style. Neuer in goal. Boateng and Dante at center-back. Lahm, ever-reliable, captaining from right-back, Alaba on the left. Alonso and Thiago paired in holding midfield. Müller floated between the lines, with Robben and Ribéry switching wings to keep City guessing. And at the tip, the ever-dangerous Robert Lewandowski.
From the first whistle, intensity snapped in the air like static.
City pressed high, pushing Bayern's defenders into hurried passes. Salah and Hazard worked tirelessly to cut off the angles. De Bruyne and Silva squeezed Thiago and Alonso, forcing play toward the flanks.
Bayern resisted. Cool under pressure.Robben immediately tested the waters, cutting inside from the right and unleashing a low, curling ball across the face of goal, but Kompany anticipated it and hacked it away with calm authority.
"Fast start, Alan," Martin Tyler observed, his voice tight with expectation."Both sides trying to stamp authority early."
"And both managers know," Alan Smith added, "control tonight will come from the second ball — who recovers fastest, who transitions quicker."
In the 12th minute, the game sharpened.
Adriano, floating deeper than usual, picked up a pocket of space near midfield. Dante stepped up, but hesitated a fraction too long.
Adriano dropped a shoulder, ghosted past him, and surged forward. He spotted Salah sprinting into the channel and fed him with a perfectly weighted ball.
Salah's first-time cross zipped across the box — inches ahead of Aguero's lunge — before Boateng cleared desperately into touch.
"Early warning signs for Bayern," Martin Tyler said."Adriano's already threading those passes, Alan."
"You can see why he's so highly rated," Alan Smith agreed. "The way he moves, how he finds those little spaces others don't."
The next ten minutes became a tactical knife fight.City controlled the wide areas, trying to isolate Lahm and Alaba, while Bayern aimed to slow the tempo with measured possession through Thiago and Alonso.
In the 18th minute, Bayern created their first clear chance. Lahm, advanced high, bent a teasing cross toward Lewandowski, who outmuscled Zabaleta and directed a header on target. Hart reacted instantly, tipping it over with strong fingertips.
Applause rippled around the ground for Hart's save.City stayed focused, refusing to sit back.
By the 26th minute, pressure was mounting.
De Bruyne pressed aggressively, intercepting a casual pass from Alonso. He snapped a quick ball into Adriano's feet. Adriano turned with one smooth motion, faced Boateng up, feinted left, then darted right — gaining a yard — and unleashed a low drive from twenty yards out.
Neuer, at full stretch, barely got his fingertips to it, pushing it wide.
"What a save by Neuer!" Martin Tyler exclaimed."Adriano almost crowning a stunning move!"
"City are getting closer though, Martin," Alan Smith noted. "That Bayern back line is creaking under the pressure."
Finally, in the 35th minute, the breakthrough came.
City patiently recycled possession on the left before shifting it quickly to the right. Salah received the ball near the touchline, isolated one-on-one with Alaba. A sharp stepover, an explosive first step — he was past him.
Instead of floating the cross, Salah drove a low, skimming ball toward the edge of the penalty area.
Adriano, lurking on the shoulder of Dante, anticipated it.
He exploded forward, meeting the ball with a crisp, first-time strike with his left foot. The ball whipped through the air like a missile, skimming low and hard inside the far post. Neuer, even at full extension, had no chance.
GOAL ANNOUNCER: "GOOOAAAAAALLLLLLL! ADRIANO! One–nil to Manchester City!"
The Etihad erupted like a volcano.Blue and white flags snapped. Scarves swung in furious circles overhead. The roar was deafening.
Adriano didn't hesitate. He sprinted toward the nearest touchline, just under the VIP box, and struck the archer's pose — mimicking Usain Bolt — drawing back an imaginary bow and letting it fly into the Manchester sky, or maybe towards Kate , who was cheering for him right above .
Hazard, Silva, and Aguero swarmed him, grabbing and hugging, the celebrations pure and chaotic.
High above, in the VIP box, Kate was on her feet, clapping wildly.Scarlett Johansson leaned over, grinning:"You must've given him one hell of a pep talk last night."
Kate only laughed, cheeks reddening but eyes shining.
On the sidelines, Pep Guardiola immediately barked new orders.Hands chopping the air, he urged Bayern higher up the pitch, trying to force a reaction.
And Bayern responded — aggressively.
Ribéry and Robben switched wings again, trying to disorient City's full-backs. Thiago began pushing higher, looking for pockets between City's lines.Müller dropped deeper, drawing Kompany out of position.
In the 37th minute, Ribéry picked out Lewandowski with a clever chipped ball into the box. Lewandowski took it down brilliantly, spun, and fired low — but Hart stood firm, parrying the shot away with strong wrists.
"Big moment there," Martin Tyler said."Bayern showing they won't go quietly."
"City have to be careful, Martin," Smith added. "One lapse, and Bayern will punish them."
City defended in numbers, Hazard and Salah tracking back tirelessly.Zabaleta thundered into a tackle on Robben, drawing a roar of approval from the fans.
Each City clearance was met with a full-throated cheer, each Bayern advance with tension you could almost feel pressing down on your chest.
The Etihad was still buzzing from Adriano's first goal when City struck again. The Bayern defense barely had time to regroup before the next wave of pressure came crashing down on them.
David Silva, cool as ever under pressure, drifted into a small pocket of space near the center circle. Bayern's midfielders were caught ball-watching for just a moment—long enough for Silva to spot the run. With perfect timing, he slipped a through ball between Boateng and Dante. It was a ball only one player could reach.
Adriano.
Already in motion, he raced forward, beating the offside trap by a step. Boateng lunged in desperation, trying to block him off. Adriano saw it coming. He skipped over the sliding challenge, barely breaking stride. Lahm stepped up to challenge next, trying to shepherd him wide, but Adriano was quicker.
A clever Cruyff turn wrong-footed the German fullback, leaving Lahm sliding helplessly in the wrong direction.
Now it was just him and Neuer.
The two locked eyes for a split second. The memory of their last meeting—World Cup group stage—must have been fresh in Neuer's mind. This time, Neuer didn't rush out recklessly. He stayed standing with arms wide, trying to cut off the angles.
Adriano kept his composure. He shaped his body like he was going to curl it around Neuer into the far corner, but at the last second, he dragged the ball calmly through Neuer's legs.
GOAL ANNOUNCER: "ADRIANO AGAIN! TWO–NIL TO MANCHESTER CITY!"
The Etihad exploded. Flags waved wildly. Fans jumped from their seats, shouting with pure joy.
Martin Tyler's voice rose over the noise. "The composure is world-class," he said. "He made that look effortless."
Alan Smith chimed in, sounding almost as impressed. "He's making one of the best goalkeepers in the world look ordinary tonight."
From the stands, another wave of chants erupted, filling the night air:
"THE KING IS HERE! THE KING IS HERE!"
In the VIP box, Kate, Evans, Hemsworth, and Scarlett were on their feet, laughing, cheering, scarves raised high. Even some of the crew members who didn't know much about football were shouting.
Adriano ran to the corner flag, struck a powerful stance—feet apart, fists on hips—staring into the stands. His teammates rushed over to join him, all lining up behind him and copying the pose for the cameras. It was pure, unscripted joy.
Down on the touchline, Guardiola barked instructions furiously, waving his arms, trying to push Bayern's fullbacks higher up the pitch to regain some control.
But City smelled blood.
Just three minutes after Adriano's second goal, they earned a corner. Salah darted down the right wing again, his cross deflecting off Alaba and out. Kevin De Bruyne jogged over to take the set-piece, placing the ball carefully.
Martin Tyler, sensing something, said, "Bayern have to be careful here. They're rattled."
De Bruyne lifted his hand, signaling the play. His delivery was excellent—deep and curling toward the back post.
Hummels rose highest, out-jumping Boateng and nodding the ball powerfully toward goal. Neuer reacted instinctively, throwing a strong hand up to punch the ball away. But it didn't clear the box. It dropped awkwardly near the penalty spot.
Adriano, reading it quicker than anyone else, shifted into position. He didn't hesitate. On the half-volley, he struck the ball cleanly with his right foot, connecting perfectly with his laces.
The shot flew like a missile.
Neuer barely moved. He could only watch as the ball ripped into the top corner.
GOAL ANNOUNCER: "HAT TRICK! IT'S ADRIANO AGAIN! WHAT A STRIKE!"
The stadium went berserk. People hugged each other, strangers jumping and celebrating like they'd known each other for years.
Adriano turned and sprinted toward the sideline, arms wide open. As he reached the stands, he looked up at the VIP box, caught Kate's eye, and gave a quick wink. Then, with a playful grin, he tossed an imaginary crown into the air.
Kate, laughing and playing along, reached up and "caught" it with both hands, holding it triumphantly. Around her, Evans and Hemsworth clapped loudly, shouting and whistling. Scarlett just clapped and shook her head, " That's one way to celebrate it." She chuckled
Down on the pitch, City players mobbed Adriano. Aguero wrapped an arm around his shoulders. Silva patted his head. Hazard was shouting with arms raised. Even normally stoic Kompany jogged forward to give him a firm pat on the back.
Manuel Pellegrini stood near the technical area, clapping slowly but firmly, nodding in satisfaction. When Adriano glanced over, Pellegrini gave him a small, knowing nod—one professional to another.
Martin Tyler's voice was filled with excitement. "Three goals in eight minutes," he said. "That's something you dream about as a kid. We're witnessing something special tonight."
Alan Smith added, "He's playing the game at his own pace, on his own terms. Bayern can't live with him."
On the Bayern bench, it was a different scene. Guardiola paced furiously, shouting instructions to Lahm, to Alaba, trying to reorganize his team. He knew they had to push higher, had to take more risks.
But the damage was done. The momentum, the energy, everything was with Manchester City now.
Bayern tried to respond before halftime. Lewandowski worked a half-chance in the 44th minute, spinning away from Hummels inside the box, but Joe Hart smothered his shot quickly. Ribery and Robben swapped wings repeatedly, looking for any mismatch they could exploit. Müller dropped deeper to pick up the ball, but City stayed compact, disciplined, refusing to give them space.
Every time Bayern advanced, City snapped back into shape. Zabaleta and Kolarov stayed tight to their men. Kompany barked orders constantly. Hummels cleaned up anything that came through the middle.
When the halftime whistle finally blew, the Etihad was a sea of noise. Fans stayed on their feet, chanting, singing, roaring their support.
They broke into song again, the whole stadium in unison:
"He dances through the field,
Like a floating dream,
Adriano Riveiro,
He's our King!"
Adriano jogged off the field with his teammates, sweat pouring off him but a big, natural smile on his face. He bumped fists with De Bruyne. Salah threw an arm around his shoulders as they walked toward the tunnel.
As he glanced up one more time toward the VIP box, he saw Kate clapping proudly, smiling wide. He waved at her with a smile.
The crowd kept clapping even as the players disappeared into the tunnel. The energy in the stadium didn't fade. It felt like everyone knew they had just witnessed something unforgettable.
The first half was over. But for Manchester City—and for Adriano—it felt like the night was only just beginning.
***
The atmosphere inside the Manchester City dressing room at halftime was electric, but not chaotic. It wasn't wild celebration. It wasn't nerves either. It was something sharper—controlled, focused energy.
The players sat scattered around the benches, catching their breath, listening closely. They were 3–0 up against Bayern Munich in the Champions League, and every single one of them knew what was at stake. A chance to not just win, but to send a message to Europe.
Manuel Pellegrini stood at the front, next to the whiteboard, a marker in hand. His expression was calm but firm. The players leaned in, some still toweling sweat from their faces, others sipping water, but all completely locked in.
"They're rattled," Pellegrini said, pointing at the diagram where Bayern's setup was sketched out. "We've got them backed into their half. They can't find the rhythm they want."
He circled the midfield area with the marker. "They're going to push out after the break. Try to take back control of the midfield. They're going to press higher, try to close down the spaces faster."
He paused, making sure every eye was on him.
"Don't let them. Don't play safe. Don't get conservative now. Keep moving. Keep pressing. Force mistakes. When we get the ball, quick passes. No hesitation."
Around the room, heads nodded. De Bruyne leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees. Aguero cracked his knuckles. Kompany sat tall, arms folded, absorbing every word.
Pellegrini shifted his gaze to the back line.
"Defensively—stay tight. No gaps between the lines. Ribery and Robben will look for pockets, they'll try to drift inside from the wings when you're tired. Show them wide. Force them onto their weaker foot."
He pointed at Zabaleta and Kolarov in particular. Both men nodded, grim-faced.
"Communication is key. Vincent, you're the organizer. Make sure everyone knows who's marking who."
Kompany gave a small, confident nod.
Then Pellegrini turned toward Adriano, who was sitting a little apart from the others, elbows on his knees, staring ahead.
The manager didn't give a speech. He didn't need to.
"No need to tell you what to do," he said simply. "Just keep doing it."
Adriano lifted his head and nodded once. His face was calm, almost still. No grin, no pumping fists. Just deep, steady breathing, like a boxer between rounds. Focused. Ready.
As players stood to stretch and shake out their legs, they passed by him one by one. De Bruyne clapped him lightly on the shoulder. Aguero gave him a nod and a small grin. Salah ruffled the top of his hair. Even Silva, usually reserved, patted his back twice as he passed.
Five shots. Three goals. Eight minutes.
Across Europe, TV screens were lit up showing the halftime scoreline: Manchester City 3–0 Bayern Munich.
Commentators were already scrambling for adjectives. Pundits in television studios were shaking their heads in disbelief. Fans everywhere were pulling out their phones, tweeting, sharing, calling friends, saying the same thing: "You need to see this."
And yet, inside the dressing room, the mood wasn't about celebration. There were no phones out. No laughter. Just the quiet understanding that the job wasn't finished yet. Bayern Munich was wounded, yes. But they were still dangerous. Everyone in the room knew it.
Pellegrini walked across the room slowly, his voice lowering.
"Stay sharp. Forty-five minutes left. Stay aggressive. Stay brave."
He capped the marker, set it down, and gave a final look around the room.
"You've got them. Now finish it."
The players began to rise, one after the other. Shin pads tightened. Boots re-laced. Jersey collars tugged into place. A final few words passed between teammates—simple stuff: "Watch the runner," "Stay tight," "Keep talking." Not nervous chatter, but the small details that champions talk about.
As they formed a loose line ready to head back down the tunnel, Adriano found himself near the front. He bounced lightly on the balls of his feet, keeping the blood flowing. Every muscle felt alive. Every sound—the slap of a teammate's palm on his back, the creak of the stadium above them—felt sharper.
The noise from the Etihad filtered down into the tunnel. Singing. Chanting. A constant roar. The song was still carrying through the concrete walls:
"He dances through the field,
Like a floating dream,
Adriano Riveiro,
He's our King!"
Adriano closed his eyes for just a moment. Not to enjoy it. Not yet. Just to center himself. Focus.
There would be time to celebrate later. Right now, there were still forty-five minutes left. Still a job to finish. Still a legacy to write.
The officials gave the signal. Kompany clapped his hands once, loudly.
"Let's go, lads," he said.
The team jogged down the tunnel, boots clattering against the concrete, shoulders brushing each other. Adriano, without even thinking about it, found himself leading the group out.
As they stepped into the blinding stadium lights and the full roar of the Etihad, it felt like stepping into something bigger than a match. It felt like stepping into history.
And Adriano was ready.
***
The second half began under a deafening roar from the stands. The South Stand led the charge, their voices merging into a thunderous chant that echoed through the entire stadium:
"ADRIANO! ADRIANO! ADRIANO!"
Martin Tyler's voice picked up from the commentary booth, fighting to be heard above the noise. "The Etihad is on its feet every time he even touches the ball, Alan."
Alan Smith, his tone a mix of awe and excitement, added, "You don't see Bayern Munich look this unsettled often. Guardiola needs to find a way to calm things down—but Adriano's nowhere near finished."
City didn't waste any time. They came out of the tunnel with the same energy they had shown before the break. Quick passing, aggressive positioning. They weren't sitting back to protect the lead. They wanted more.
Just two minutes into the half, in the 47th minute, Sergio Aguero drew a foul about thirty yards from goal. It was a clumsy challenge by Dante, who had looked shaky all night. The referee didn't hesitate, blowing his whistle and pointing to the spot where the foul had occurred.
De Bruyne and Kolarov hovered over the ball at first, exchanging a quick glance. But everyone knew who was going to take it. Adriano stepped up calmly. No discussion. No drama.
Neuer busied himself setting the wall, barking orders, positioning every man carefully. He bent his knees, arms ready, eyes locked on Adriano.
The referee blew the whistle.
Adriano took four measured steps back. One deep breath. No rush.
He struck the ball cleanly with his right foot, curling it over the wall with just enough dip. Neuer reacted quickly, diving to his left, but it wasn't enough. The ball tucked perfectly into the top left corner, brushing the post on its way in.
GOAL ANNOUNCER: "GOOOOOAAAALLLLLL! ADRIANO! IT'S FOUR FOR HIM AND FOUR FOR CITY!"
The Etihad erupted. Fans threw scarves into the air, hugging anyone within reach. Strangers embraced. Beer cups flew.
Martin Tyler's voice struggled to carry over the chaos. "Four goals now. In just twelve minutes of play, spread over the halves. This is not just brilliance—this is destruction. Welcome to the Adriano show folks!"
Alan Smith leaned forward in the booth, shaking his head. "He's dismantling them. This isn't just goals—he's tearing apart one of the strongest defensive setups in Europe.
This what Manchester City lacked, someone who can turn any game around and lead them. I'm very excited to see how far this new Manchester City team progresses this year."
Adriano jogged over to the corner flag, dropped to one knee, and stared directly into the television camera while pointing towards the Club symbol on his chest, holding the look as if to say: remember this night.
His teammates sprinted over, shouting, laughing, slapping him on the back and head. Even Joe Hart made the long jog from his goal to join the celebration. He joked while laughing, " Man, I'm just standing there watching your show mate!"
Up in the VIP box, Kate clapped so hard she nearly dropped her phone. She turned to Scarlett, laughing breathlessly. Scarlett shook her head, wide-eyed. "You better pray he's not auditioning for a Marvel role next week. He's stealing every scene tonight."
Evans and Hemsworth were also cheering wildly. Evans shouted, " Go Adriano! Score a double hat trick! "
Hemsworth also joined in, " I'm putting my savings on you to score another mate! Don't let me down !"
From the restart, Bayern tried to slow the tempo. Guardiola signaled from the touchline, urging his fullbacks to stay deeper and the midfielders to sit back. Alonso and Thiago dropped into almost a second defensive line, trying to build a wall in front of their defenders. The goal wasn't to win anymore. It was to stop the bleeding.
But City smelled blood.
In the 63rd minute, Bayern's structure cracked again. Thiago, under pressure, misjudged a step forward. Adriano saw it instantly. He dipped his shoulder, ghosting past him like he wasn't there.
Lahm, sensing danger, came across to double up, but Adriano produced a quick feint and a sudden change of pace, slipping between them both.
The space opened up in front of him. Adriano looked up and spotted Eden Hazard darting across the Bayern back line.
Without breaking stride, Adriano threaded a low left-footed pass across the face of the penalty box. Perfect weight. Perfect angle.
Hazard took one touch to control it, then calmly slotted it low into the far corner, past Neuer's outstretched hand.
GOAL ANNOUNCER: "EDEN HAZARD! SET UP BY ADRIANO! FIVE–NIL TO MANCHESTER CITY!"
The Etihad shook. Fans leapt to their feet again, flags waving, voices raised even higher.
Martin Tyler didn't even try to contain the amazement in his voice. "This is beyond a tactical collapse. Bayern Munich are being humiliated."
Alan Smith added quietly, "And there's no fight left. They're finished."
Guardiola reacted immediately. He pulled Ribery and Alaba, throwing on Mario Gotze and Juan Bernat. Fresh legs, new ideas—but it changed nothing. City were in complete control now. They slowed the tempo slightly, taking the sting out of the game, but they dictated every move. Bayern barely touched the ball in the final third.
Every pass Adriano made was greeted with applause. Every dribble earned a roar. He was dictating the rhythm of the game now, not just reacting to it.
And then, the final nail in coffin came, the penalty.
In the 82nd minute, Mohamed Salah, who had been dangerous all night with his pace and close control, skipped past Bernat on the right flank. Bernat, desperate and late, clipped Salah's ankle from behind inside the box. Salah went down. The referee pointed to the spot without hesitation.
Salah got to his feet, dusted himself off, and picked up the ball. He walked toward Adriano with a wide grin.
"You want it?" he asked, holding it out.
Adriano smiled faintly, raising one eyebrow.
Salah shrugged and said, "Go make it six."
Adriano nodded with a smile and took the ball without a word, walked calmly to the penalty spot, and placed it down carefully. Neuer stayed standing in the center of the goal, trying to read him, but there was nothing to read. Adriano gave nothing away.
The crowd had already started chanting again, their voices swelling through the stadium.
The referee blew the whistle.
One step. A brief pause. Left foot planted firmly.
Adriano sent Neuer the wrong way, rolling the ball calmly into the right-hand corner.
GOAL ANNOUNCER: "6-0 FOR CITY! FIVE GOALS FOR ADRIANO TONIGHT!"
The noise was almost unbearable. The stadium was shaking from the foundations to the chairs in gallery. Pellegrini stood on the touchline, clapping loudly, pride etched into his normally reserved features.
Kompany ran over and grabbed Adriano in a bear hug as he made his way back to the center circle. Hazard shook in head in disbelief as he patted Adriano's back, " What steroids did you take mate! This isn't normal!" Silva joked from the side, " Careful, he might steal all our goal bonuses at this rate."
Alan Smith said it almost in disbelief, "Five goals. One assist. Against Bayern Munich. This is one of the best performances the Champions League has ever seen. In his first ever match in this tournament! "
The final ten minutes were almost ceremonial. Bayern had no more fight. City were merciful, passing sideways and backward, keeping the ball, seeing out the game without unnecessary risk.
Pellegrini used the time to make smart substitutions, bringing on James Milner for David Silva and Casemiro for De Bruyne to save legs for the next match.
Still, the fans never stopped singing.
Adriano's name echoed around the Etihad, louder and louder with each passing minute.
When the referee finally blew the final whistle, the eruption of sound was immense.
Final score: Manchester City 6, Bayern Munich 0.
Adriano: Five goals. One assist. An all-time record on debut in this Champions League night.
The fans stood, applauding and singing long after the players had started their walk around the pitch. Journalists hammered away at their keyboards in the press box, trying to find the right words to describe what they had just seen. In the VIP box, Kate clutched her scarf tightly, tears welling up in her eyes as she clapped.
On the pitch, Adriano took a slow lap around the stadium, waving to each section, soaking it in. When he reached the side near the VIP box, he looked up, found Kate among the crowd, and gave a small smile and nod.
The king had arrived.
And tonight, all of Europe had witnessed his coronation.
***
As the players finished their lap around the Etihad, the cameras followed Adriano closely. His shirt clung to him, soaked in sweat, but his smile was calm, controlled. He didn't look like someone who had just demolished one of Europe's best teams. He looked like someone who expected it.
The broadcasters pulled him aside almost immediately. Standing under the bright stadium lights, with the crowd still chanting faintly in the background, Adriano adjusted the microphone clipped to his shirt.
The interviewer, a Sky Sports reporter, leaned in.
"Adriano, five goals, one assist, a six-nil win against Bayern Munich. How do you even begin to describe a night like this?"
Adriano gave a small chuckle, shaking his head slightly. "Honestly, it's hard to find words right now. We worked hard for this. We knew we had to be brave. And tonight, everything just clicked."
The reporter smiled. "You made it look easy out there. Was this personal for you at all?"
Adriano paused for a second before answering. "You always want to prove yourself. Playing in the Champions League is always a great honor. Nights like these... they're why you play.
But it's not just about me. It's about the team. Every goal, every assist, it's because of the guys around me."
Up in the studio, Martin Tyler and Alan Smith reflected on the match.
Martin Tyler leaned back in his chair. "Alan, you played a lot of games in your career. Have you ever seen something quite like this?"
Alan Smith shook his head, still wide-eyed. "I've seen great performances. But what Adriano did tonight—it wasn't just about scoring. It was about control. Every decision was right. Every movement, every pass. It was perfection."
The headlines were already flooding in:
BBC Sport:"Adriano's Masterclass: City Dismantle Bayern in Historic Night at the Etihad"
The Guardian:"Crowned in Manchester: Adriano Scores Five as City Crush Bayern"
Sky Sports:"Adriano's Night: Five Goals, One Assist, One Statement to Europe"
Marca (Spain):"Un Rey en Manchester: Adriano Domina al Bayern"
L'Équipe (France):"Le Roi Adriano: Cinq buts, une démonstration"("King Adriano: Five goals, a demonstration")
The post-match press conference room was packed. Reporters squeezed into every available seat. Cameras pointed toward the small stage where Pellegrini and Adriano would speak.
Pellegrini entered first, adjusting his glasses and giving a slight smile as the flashing cameras lit up the room.
First question: "Manuel, was this the greatest Manchester City performance under your tenure?"
Pellegrini leaned into the microphone. "It was one of the most complete performances I've seen. Against a team like Bayern, you need to be perfect. Tonight, we were close to it. And Adriano—well, you all saw. Sometimes, players write their own stories."
Another reporter jumped in. "Were you surprised by Bayern's collapse?"
Pellegrini shook his head. "Bayern are a great team. Tonight was just one of those nights where one team is in full flow, and the other struggles to respond. It can happen at the highest level."
Then it was Adriano's turn.
A reporter asked, "Adriano, after this performance, do you feel you're ready to be called the best young player in the world?"
Adriano smiled politely but shrugged. "Labels don't score goals. Work does. I just want to keep improving. I still have a long way to go."
Another hand went up. "Did you say anything to Neuer after the game?"
Adriano chuckled. "Just respect. He's one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Some nights, the ball just finds a way. We are actually on good terms."
Kate watched it all from the VIP box, feeling like she was floating. Around her, executives and celebrities congratulated each other like they were part of it somehow. Scarlett leaned over and whispered, "You're gonna need a bigger trophy shelf at home."
Chris Evans and Hemsworth were grinning widely , probably made a killing in the bets.
By the time the team made it back to the dressing room, the mood was lighter than it had been at halftime. Still sharp, still professional—but now with a layer of quiet celebration. Not wild partying. Just an unspoken understanding: they had done something special.
The players clapped each other on the back, exchanged hugs. Aguero tossed his training bib at Adriano and laughed. "Five, bro? Save some goals for the rest of us!"
Joe Hart shouted across the room. "King Adriano, your court awaits!"
The young star just laughed, shaking his head, and sat down to take off his boots. Across the room, Kompany caught his eye and gave a slow nod of respect. Adriano nodded back.
Pellegrini entered last. He didn't say much. Just stood in the middle of the room and said, "This is the standard now. Enjoy it. Remember it. And now—on to the next one."
The players clapped once, sharp and loud, then went back to their routines.
Meanwhile, outside the stadium, fans still lingered, chanting into the night air:
"He dances through the field,
Like a floating dream,
Adriano Riveiro,
He's our King!"
Inside the media rooms, the pundits were already debating.
"Is he the best in Europe now?"
"Could City actually win it all this year?"
"What does Guardiola even say to his team after that?"
Across social media, Adriano's name trended worldwide. Clips of his goals were replayed thousands of times. Fans made memes of his power pose, his wink at the gallery, the imaginary crown he had tossed in the air.
By the time Adriano finally climbed onto the team bus, slipping into a seat near the window, his phone had dozens of messages.
From old coaches. From family. From teammates around the world.
His Parents sent a short video, Congratulating their son and telling him how proud they were. They also included the scenes from their restaurant where the Portuegese fans were throwing a wild party to celebrate. Adriano smiled as he watched it, then shared the clip on his social media account.
He opened the one from Kate next.
It was simple:
"Proud of you, my King."
Adriano leaned his head back against the seat, closed his eyes, and smiled.
The night was his.
And Europe would never forget it.
***
Current Stats of Adriano
Premier League
Matches: 8
Goals: 10
Assists: 9
Current top scorer of Premier League and top Assists list.
Champions League
Matches: 1
Goals: 5
Assists: 1
Current top scorer.