When they arrived in Berlin, they were greeted by a small but vocal group of Dortmund fans who had traveled ahead to welcome them.
The players, touched by the gesture, stopped to sign autographs and take pictures, their faces a mixture of gratitude and determination.
They were not just playing for themselves; they were playing for these people, for the thousands who would be in the stadium tomorrow, for the millions who would be watching around the world.
That night, in his hotel room, Mateo had a final video call with Isabella. She looked tired but happy, her own exams now behind her. "I'll be watching tomorrow," she said, her voice full of love and pride. "I'll be with you every step of the way. Just remember what I told you: you're ready for this. You were born for this."
