The Next Day, Morning
Bastia's old port, the most vibrant part of the city.
The streets on both sides of the old harbor were lined with characteristic Bastia restaurants and the bars that were central to Bastia life.
The iconic colorful houses, balconies blooming with flowers of every color, aged streets, and painted shutters created a vivid, light-hearted oil painting.
Here, at the harbor's most bustling spot, a poster had been erected.
The content was simple:
The Bastia Museum had officially reached an agreement with SC Bastia and Julien to open a dedicated Bastia Football History section within the museum, collecting artifacts from important moments in the club's history.
The poster listed the planned collection items, including: photographs of the ruins from Bastia's devastating 1990 fire, handwritten letters fans had sent to the club at that time, and so on.
And regarding Julien's items: his match-worn shirt from the youth team derby against Ajaccio, his only youth team appearance; his debut match shirt for Bastia, the boots he scored in, and a ticket stub from that day; training boots he'd worn out; the captain's armband from his first time captaining the team; the shirts from both double-championship finals, and many other items commemorating meaningful moments in Julien's journey.
According to the museum poster, each item's backstory would be carefully explained: "From here, you will understand why a city is proud of one boy."
And all of this would officially open after Bastia's match with Atlético!
Every Bastia resident passing by stopped to look at the poster featuring Julien.
Someone said: "I suggest erecting a statue of Julien in the square in front of the museum."
The current Bastia Museum was actually a slight renovation of the Governor's Palace built here in the 14th century.
The Governor's Palace, as the name says, had been the political center of Genoese control over Corsica.
Bastia's very name derived from the castle the Genoese governor originally built on the headland: the Bastille.
Within the castle walls lay a village within the citadel.
Every alley led to a historic monument, most of which survived to this day, such as: the Church of Sainte-Marie with its silver Madonna, the Chapel of the Brotherhood of the Holy Cross, and the magnificent Bastia Museum.
When the governor originally built his palace, he'd probably already considered making his work environment pleasant, as the palace garden offered a perfect view overlooking the old port.
This garden had now become a square, which is why Bastia fans suggested building Julien's statue here.
They could look up and see him from most of the harbor area.
Others suggested erecting a statue in Bastia's largest square, Place Saint-Nicolas, but since there was already a statue of Napoleon there, that idea was abandoned.
Modoso and his group, heading to the Sunset Coffee Bar to coordinate preparations for tonight's match, also passed through the old port.
After carefully studying the poster, Modoso asked: "Can we get them to include Old Bertrand's anisette barrel too?"
That championship anisette had brought tears to countless fans.
Someone immediately said: "Should be possible. Let's ask our junior Bertrand later if he still has the barrel, and preferably ask if there's any anisette left."
Modoso nodded.
As he looked more carefully at the words on the poster, inspiration suddenly struck.
"Quick, get a banner made urgently! We need it tonight!"
"A pen! Who has a pen!"
Modoso seemed quite excited. Someone quickly handed him a pen and notebook.
Modoso rapidly flipped it open and wrote a sentence: "Avete fattu visibile Bastia."
[TN: You made Bastia visible.]
Modoso immediately handed the paper to the person responsible for making banners, and even pushed him. "Hurry!"
"Okay!"
The man rushed off.
The others didn't yet understand what was happening. Modoso smiled, "Remember when we went to Madrid, Spain, and what we encountered?
When we raised our flags and waved our shirts, Spaniards contemptuously pointed at the 'Bastia' on our shirts and asked us, 'Where is this place?' But I think Julien's hat-trick in the last match has already shown them where Bastia is."
Now everyone understood.
Indeed.
Before Julien, Bastia had been an obscure corner of the football world—no one cared, no one paid attention.
But now, Bastia had lifted the French Cup and walked onto the European stage.
Because of Julien, Bastia had coordinates on the football map.
That was the significance.
The Bastia Museum's decision to include Julien and Bastia artifacts wasn't just promoted through posters, newspapers carried reports as well.
As Bastia players prepared for the match with Atlético, they all discussed it.
De Bruyne said: "You've basically reached the endpoint in one step. Many people play for ten-plus years without achieving what you've accomplished in just one year."
Julien shook his head. "I was just lucky to encounter a lovely city like Bastia. They needed victories, needed championships, and I happened to provide them. That's all."
Julien was well aware that other players rarely received such treatment. There was a paradox.
First, to receive this kind of treatment, you had to be very good like win many championships, right?
But there was the problem: big clubs didn't lack one or two championships, while small clubs that lacked championships couldn't win them.
And if a player was strong enough, they'd quickly be taken by a big club. But if they weren't strong enough and stayed at a small club, what then?
At most, they'd earn the label of "loyal."
Around 6 PM
The area surrounding Stade Armand Cesari was already surrounded by blue waves of supporters. Chants rang out constantly, along with various supporter songs.
When both team buses arrived at the stadium, the atmosphere reached its peak.
Bastia's bus was naturally welcomed by fans lining both sides, waving their arms and shouting: "Fight, Bastia!"
When Atlético's bus arrived, Bastia fans demonstrated their traditional skill, rushing forward to slap the bus, making it difficult for the Atlético bus to advance.
Inside, Simeone and his players experienced Bastia's unique brand of "hospitality" for the first time.
Simeone frowned. He knew tonight's match wouldn't be easy, but he hadn't expected difficulties to begin before even entering the stadium.
"Where are the police?"
Someone in the bus asked.
The driver said helplessly: "They're all blocked by the fans. It's hard for them to get through too."
After much hassle, the bus slowly rocked its way into the stadium.
As they disembarked, Bastia fans nearby shouted: "Simeone, your team's defense has as many holes as you did as a defender! All you know is fouling!"
Simeone ignored them and entered the stadium.
Yesterday, at the pre-match press conference, he'd claimed "Atlético's defense is first-tier in La Liga," and now the opposing fans were mocking him.
When both teams came out to warm up, the stadium was already packed.
This time there was no grand pre-match ceremony, only Bastia fans' heartfelt choral singing:
" "Allez Bastia!"
Oh Bastia!
Riding the waves to victory's shore
Julien leads the way, like a lighthouse burning bright
Your thunder echoes across the world tonight
When Bastia roars, the mountains hear our call!
Blue and white, we fight with all our might
Through storm and sea, we stand as one
Our island pride will never fall Bastia,
Bastia, hear our voices rise!
From Furiani's stands our passion flies
Like eagles soaring over Corsican skies
Every tackle, every goal, every fearless play
Shows the world our warrior's way!
..."
Stade Armand Cesari was filled with the fans' waves of sound. Everyone present could feel those emotions flowing.
The De Rocca family, who'd finally made it to the stadium, heard Julien's name appearing constantly in the crowd's chants. Pierre nudged his wife, his eyes bright with pride. "You hear that? The whole stadium knows him!"
Their youngest son Enzo tugged at his mother's sleeve, pointing excitedly at a giant banner with Julien's number.
As they chatted and laughed, the match was about to begin.
Both teams' players walked out of the tunnel. Immediately, the entire Stade Armand Cesari seemed like boiling seawater and was continuously surging.
"Bastia!"
"Julien!"
On the sideline, Simeone and Hadzibegic shook hands with forced smiles.
They'd already crossed paths on the sideline in the previous match.
As the most dazzling presence on the pitch, Julien naturally received an enthusiastic welcome from twenty thousand fans.
As captain, Julien went to the coin toss.
Julien chose to kick off.
At the same time, in the Ultras Bastia hardcore supporter section, an enormous banner stretched across the entire stand, surrounded by images of Julien on all sides.
The words on the banner were simple, written in Corsican: Avete fattu visibile Bastia.
"You made Bastia visible."
One simple sentence.
One deep love.
On his way back to the center circle after shaking hands with the referee and others, Julien saw this scene and waved to the stands all around.
Bastia had given him their all.
The TF1 commentator broadcasting the match saw this scene and remarked: "This is Bastia, this is De Rocca. They rush toward each other, complementing one another. Today's Bastia is continuing their incredible second season.
Like last season, they're still newly promoted, but the difference is that last season they could only compete domestically for the French Cup, whereas now they're competing in the Europa League on the European stage!
Under Simeone's leadership, Atlético has achieved excellent results this season. So far, they've only lost that one match to Bastia. Tonight, will it be their second loss? Before the match, Simeone said Atlético possessed La Liga's best defense, that they would cut off Bastia's attacking chains and freeze De Rocca. Soon, we'll see if..."
Walking to the center circle, Julien high-fived Lukaku, De Bruyne, and other teammates. "Come on, this is home. Don't be nervous. We'll play like we normally do. They're the ones who should be nervous!"
His teammates nodded one after another.
For this match, Hadzibegic's starting lineup was identical to their previous encounter with Atlético.
Atlético, however, had made changes.
This time Simeone started Falcao. If last time Simeone had somewhat underestimated Bastia, starting Costa to rest Falcao then this match, Simeone had brought out Atlético's strongest lineup.
Falcao started, replacing young Koke with Atlético's number 10, Arda Turan!
Purchased from Turkey's Galatasaray for 13 million euros, Arda Turan was a player Atlético had high hopes for.
For this match, Simeone also placed great expectations on him.
The current Turan was in his career prime, Atlético's core, Turkey's national team midfield core and captain.
He could play attacking midfielder, winger, central midfielder, and multiple other positions. His technique was complete, with excellent close control, skilled at escaping tight spaces through rhythm changes to break through opponents.
He had broad vision and creativity, precise with both short penetrating passes and long switches of play, especially lethal in counterattacks where he could quickly find teammates. He ran actively, adept at threading through gaps to link up attacks, and tracked back diligently in defense with strong team awareness.
Last match, Simeone himself had underestimated Bastia and hadn't even included Turan in the squad.
But this match, Simeone brought out Atlético's full strength.
He had to reclaim their honor!
Everything was ready.
The referee saw it was time and quickly blew the whistle.
Whistle!
The match officially began.
Thump!
Lukaku passed to midfielder De Bruyne, and when the ball reached his feet, he didn't rush forward but passed back.
He pointed at his teammates, directing how to pass.
Though Bastia was at home, they certainly wouldn't trade attacks with Atlético.
Their tactical coordination wasn't that strong, but their individual player quality was high, they were better suited to counterattacking.
Like the media and fans joked, on Hadzibegic's tactical board, there was only one tactic: give the ball to Julien.
Bastia sat deep.
On the sideline, Simeone constantly waved his hand, signaling his players to press aggressively and not give them space to circulate the ball.
On Bastia's right flank, Julien kept monitoring the situation around him, ready to burst into action at any moment. But this match, Atlético had clearly decided to sacrifice some attacking width on the flanks to shut down Julien.
Filipe stayed with him the entire time, not pushing forward to overlap at all.
Simeone had given him just one task.
Bastia's back-passing eventually produced an error. Atlético tried to quickly move the ball forward to launch a fast break.
But the instant Turan received the ball, Kanté appeared in front of him.
Turan's brow furrowed slightly.
He tried to use his close control to shake free, but Kanté didn't bite on the first feint. The second one—still nothing.
'Hm?'
Turan was starting to lose face. On his third feint-turned-real move, he burst forward quickly.
But just as he touched the ball, Kanté stuck out a foot and poked it away.
Turan was astonished.
Kanté just grinned innocently. After training so much with Julien, everyone else looked like they were moving in slow motion.
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