Chapter 21: Fragments of Genius
August 26, 2017 – Mendizorrotza Stadium, Vitoria-Gasteiz
Matchday 2: Deportivo Alavés vs. FC Barcelona
The Mendizorrotza didn't feel like a fortress.
But it wasn't comfortable either.
Away matches early in the season carried risk. Complacency. Fatigue. Gritty opponents. Smaller crowds—but louder voices.
Noah Marlowe stood at the edge of the touchline, coat zipped, eyes scanning. This wasn't about elegance.
It was about efficiency.
Pre-Match Talk – Visitor Dressing Room
The walls were tight. The air smelled of old paint and liniment.
Noah stood at the whiteboard with no flair, no projection. Just a marker and one sentence:
"Dictate the tempo."
He circled Messi's name. "You run the rhythm."
Then to Busquets: "The back three won't be as stable today. Plug holes, not just lanes."
To Mbappé: "You'll come in early if it slows."
And finally, to Riqui Puig, seated at the far end:
"You'll debut today. Around minute 70. You know the patterns. Now feel the chaos."
Puig nodded—small, eager, nervous—but composed.
Starting XI vs. Alavés
GK: Ter Stegen
DEF: Piqué – Umtiti – Sergi Roberto
MID: Busquets – Iniesta
AM: Messi – Rakitic
FOR: Alba – Suárez – Deulofeu
Mbappé, Puig, Semedo on the bench.
Kickoff – Minute 1 to 20
Alavés pressed high early.
Suárez was swarmed.
Messi had no space.
Rakitic mistimed two passes.
Ter Stegen was forced into long clearances.
Noah didn't panic.
He watched.
And adjusted.
Minute 21 – Goal: Messi
Iniesta picked the ball up near the touchline and zipped it into Messi, who turned instantly, flicked it past a midfielder, and surged into space.
One-on-one with the center-back.
Messi dribbled left, cut inside, and curled it into the far corner with his left foot.
GOAL – Messi.
A sudden silence from the crowd.
Not just for the goal.
But for how it happened.
"Messi Vertical Trigger Activated."
Pressure released.
Minute 29 – Goal: Suárez (Assist: Messi)
Messi received a diagonal switch from Alba, cushioned it with his thigh, then backheeled it into Suárez's path on the edge of the box.
Luis Suárez struck low with power and buried it into the net.
GOAL – Suárez. Assist – Messi.
Halftime closed in with Barcelona in full control.
Halftime – No Overreaction
Noah didn't say much at the break.
"Same tempo. Don't force. Control their oxygen."
Then to Puig:
"Warm soon."
Second Half – Minute 46 to 65
Barcelona managed the game well.
Suárez tracked back.
Busquets shifted with control.
Roberto and Umtiti cleaned transitions.
But Alavés grew bolder.
Minute 62 — a shot from outside the box forced Ter Stegen into a diving save.
The midfield looked fatigued.
Minute 67 – Riqui Puig Debuts
Substitution board lifted.
Out: Rakitic
In: Riqui Puig
The young midfielder jogged on—eyes alert, heartbeat audible only to himself.
His first touch?
A 7-yard give-and-go with Iniesta.
His second?
A no-look pass to Messi to unlock a trap line.
Noah watched closely.
"Puig Early Composure: Confirmed"
Tactical Sync: 85%
Minute 75 – Goal: Messi (Assist: Puig)
Messi began a one-man dance.
He received the ball 30 yards out, beat one defender, then another.
Puig ghosted into the left half-space.
Messi spotted him.
Passed.
Puig returned it instantly with a one-touch layoff.
Messi dummied the final defender, stepped into the box, and curled it left-footed into the top corner.
GOAL – Messi. His second of the match. Assist – Puig.
The crowd froze in awe.
"Messi Hat Trick? Not today—just a brace. But the genius? Unmistakable."
"Puig Combination Play: 100% first-time pass sync."
Final Whistle – Barcelona Wins 3–0
Players clapped each other off.
Noah shook hands, quiet and efficient.
Inside the tunnel, he pulled Puig aside.
"You read the rhythm perfectly," he said. "Next time, make the rhythm yours."
Puig nodded. "Understood, Coach."
Post-Match – Press Buzz
"Messi has 4 goals and 2 assists in 2 games," one reporter said. "Do you expect this pace to continue?"
Noah shrugged.
"Do volcanoes erupt on schedule?"
Another asked: "Puig looked comfortable—what's next?"
"Watching. Learning. Becoming."
Valdebebas – Madrid Analysts Reviewing Tape
Zidane leaned back.
"He's letting Messi take the game now."
The analyst added, "And it's working."
Zidane nodded.
"Then we wait. And we watch for the flaw."
Final Scene – Tactical System Summary
Match Result: Alavés 0 – 3 Barcelona
Goals: Messi (2), Suárez (1)
Assists: Messi (1), Puig (1), Alba (pre-assist chain)
Puig Minutes Played: 23
Press Evasion Success: 100%
Messi Threat Rating: 9.7
System Flow: +14% over baseline
Next Fixture: Espanyol (Derby)
The system pulsed:
"Fragments assembled. Genius reawakening.
Phase I: Complete.
Next Objective: Test youth depth under derby pressure."
Noah shut the tablet and walked alone into the night.
The storm was still far off.
But its shape was becoming terrifyingly clear.