21 May 2023, Spotify Camp Nou.
This was a special day for the Blaugrana.
The FC Barcelona team, before this matchday, just clinched their 27th League title, the first after Messi left the team. They defeated their city rivals Espanyol 4-1 away from home.
So this was the match after which the team would showcase their trophy to the Blaugrana. And if they won the match, it would be the cherry on top as well.
Not only did the team win the trophy, but they were also on their way to make history as they only conceded around 11 goals before this match, and if they just conceded fewer than 4 goals in the next match. They would break the Chelsea record for fewest goals conceded in a season.
And if they won the next 2 home matches, they would be on an unbeatable home streak, which is not something that could be ignored.
For this match, Xavi's Squad for the game was:
Goalkeeper: Ter Stegen, Inaki Pena, Astralag.
Defenders: Christensen, Marcos Alonso, Jordi Alba, Balde, Eric Garcia, Kounde,
Midfielders: Sergio Busquets, Kessie, Sergi Roberto, Frenkie De Jong,
Attacker: Ousmane Dembele, Robert Lewandowski, Ansu Fati, Ferran Torres, Raphinha, and Mateo Alvarez.
Pedri and Araujo were absent from the squad due to injuries. But unbeknownst to the fans, there was rather an unfamiliar name in the squad for the Culers.
Mateo Alvarez, those who just focused on the first team would definitely not know this name, but those who also followed news related to La Masia would know that, alongside Lamine Yamal, who just debuted a few days ago, this was a talent to keep an eye on.
.....
72nd Minute, Real Sociedad 2-0 Barcelona
But sometimes things don't go as you expect them to; this was the case for all the fans who supported Barcelona as they were down by 2 goals in the 72nd minute.
Due to the courtesy of Mikel Merino, who scored in the 5th minute of the match, and Alexander Sorloth, who just scored moments before.
Xavi, on the sidelines, was displeased by the performance that Barcelona showed in the match. The players seemed to be full of content as they had already sealed the trophy and did not put in the effort the way they usually would put into the game.
Although the team created various chances in the final third, they were not able to convert any of them into a goal. The defence line also performed very poorly.
And for a fun fact, if you did not know, Barcelona did not want to see Lewandowski score more goals this season, because if Lewa scored more goals, then they would have to pay Bayern some bonuses regarding Lewa's contract; they were already deep into the realm of poverty after Bartomeu's scandalous job as the Club President.
Which left the club with heavy losses and loans; they were not prepared for more money flowing out of their pockets, as that would make the club weaker in terms of finance.
Knowing this, Xavi gave himself a full look at the bench to see who could substitute Lewa and might change the game. Otherwise, if the game went the same way it was going till now, Barcelona would not be able to escape a loss on their home ground.
His eyes fell on a face that seemed devoid of any anxiety or nervousness, but rather his eyes showed willingness to fight. And that was the thing that the team needed the most right now.
So Xavi made hup is mind and decided to sub 15 years, 10 months, and 21 days young striker Mateo Alvarez into the pitch. He went to the subs bench and told Mateo, "Go and get warmed up. I will give you 5 minutes. After which, you will go onto the pitch in place for Lewandowski."
Mateo, who suddenly heard of this, was dumbfounded. He didn't know how he got such an opportunity to go onto the pitch when the team was down 2-0. Because the case of Barca management asking Lewa not to score goals in the later matches was not known to all, as this news would only be leaked in the year 2025.
Nonetheless, for the young lad, no reason mattered; he was just served an opportunity to go and play on the field, and only a fool would decline it. So he energetically went to the side of the pitch and started doing some stretches and bursts of movement that would help him warm up his muscles and body.
And after he finished warming up. Xavi came to him and started explaining the role he would play after going onto the field. Although Barcelona created a lot of chances, they were not able to seize them. So his role on the pitch would be to lurk in the backline of Real Sociedad to score goals.
And if that didn't work, he should link up with Ferran and Dembele on the right and left wings, respectively, and run into free spaces to dismantle the backline of Real Sociedad, that is, to attract the attention of the backline players of the opposing team so that Barca players could have ample space to move into.
As the instructions were reaching their end, the ball was cleared for a throw-in, and the ref signalled to the players to halt the play for substitutions.
After seeing that the number on the screen to sub out was 9. Lewa made his way off the pitch and was at the edge of the sideline.
He patted the shoulder of Mateo, who was about to come on, gave him a fist bump and hug, and then said to him, "Play the natural game that you play in training sessions. I am sure that you will perform well. Now go on to the pitch and show the world your talent."
Mateo, who was a bit nervous before hearing those words, was filled with confidence and motivation. He dashed into the pitch and went and slotted into the front line of the team formation.
As the ref blew the whistle to continue the game, Busquets launched the ball to Ferran Torres on the right wing, who stopped the ball, beat his defender, and made a run in the vast amount of space left after the defender.
At the same moment, both Dembele and Mateo ran ahead and observed their surroundings to find space and slot into them.
As Ferran was about to get ambushed by 2 defending players from Real Sociedad, he passed the ball to De Jong, who came up to support him.
After analysing the field, De Jong immediately switched the ball to the other side of the field, where Dembele, after calmly receiving the ball, passed it to Fati.
Fati did not hoard the ball and immediately passed it to Mateo, as Mateo used the blindside of Le Normand and immediately made space for him to run into.
He brought the ball down with delicate ease, sensing that there was ample space for him to hit a shot. Did not dwell on the ball long and immediately made a shooting motion with his left foot, but out of nowhere, Zubelda, the other defender, came rushing to block off the shot.
Mateo did not panic, and the foot that was about to shoot the ball stopped just seconds before hitting the ball and gently nudged the ball to Mateo's right foot.
He performed a simple move, such as the fake shot under pressure and without any hindrance. This time, he shot the ball into the far post.
Although Remiro was also fooled by the fake shot, he still recovered and immediately dived in the direction of the ball to keep it out of the net.
But the ball was shot with such accuracy and power that it just grazed his fingers and went into the net like it had not even touched the fingertips of Remiro.
The ball was slotted into the farthest corner of the goalpost. Seeing that his shot safely entered the net, Mateo did not celebrate extensively, raised his left hand, and ran into the net to retrieve the ball.
This act stunned Xavi, who was celebrating the goal of the young lad with his fellow assistant coaches. This maturity was an anomaly in a nearly 16-year-old boy.