The roar of the Westfalenstadion was the last thing Mateo Álvarez registered before the world narrowed to the green expanse of the pitch.
The Champions League anthem had already done its work, stripping away the last vestiges of the boy and leaving only the player, number 19, ready for the decisive battle against Napoli.
The moment Lewandowski's boot connected with the ball for the kickoff, the noise became a constant, high-pressure atmosphere, a necessary condition for the game to exist.
The opening minutes were a blur of yellow and blue, a frantic, high-stakes game of chess played at the speed of a sprint. Dortmund, as expected, pressed high, their lines a suffocating wave designed to force an early error.
But Napoli, under the tactical guidance of Rafa Benítez, had a surprise waiting. They didn't panic. Instead of clearing long, they played sharp, intricate passes through the press, a dangerous, beautiful defiance that forced Dortmund's midfield to scramble.
