God Of football

Chapter 103: A Run Of Games [Rcd Mallorca] 1

The air in Valencia was thick with excitement as the city braced for a highly-anticipated La Liga showdown between Valencia and Mallorca.

The Mestalla, an iconic fortress of Spanish football, stood ready to host another battle under the floodlights.

This was not just another game; it was a match that could define the momentum of both teams as they approached the mid-season crunch.

Valencia, buoyed by recent performances, found itself in a precarious situation. The two draws didn’t reflect the form that they had going to those two matches.

The pressure was palpable. Los Che’s young squad, led by their charismatic coach, has been punching above its weight, blending flair with tenacity.

The home crowd, known for its passion and unwavering support, will demand nothing less than a victory.

As fans streamed into the stadium, their chants echoed through the streets, a clarion call to the players to rise to the occasion this time around.

Nothing but a win would do it.

On the opposite end, Mallorca arrived as a team with something to prove. Known for their defensive solidity and counterattacking prowess, they’ve caused problems for some of Spain’s biggest sides before.

Their manager, a tactician with a reputation for frustrating more expansive teams, will look to exploit Valencia’s attacking mindset.

For Mallorca, the battle is not just about points—it’s about pride and staking their claim in a league dominated by heavyweights.

The pre-match narratives were rich and layered. Valencia’s midfield maestros pulled the strings, setting the tempo with his deft passing, while Mallorca’s towering striker promises to test the home side’s backline.

"Tactical matchups abound: will Valencia’s explosive wingers outpace Mallorca’s disciplined full-backs, or will the visitors turn the tables with rapid transitions?" Some news dailies read.

As the players warmed up, the atmosphere inside Mestalla reached fever pitch. "This is more than football," one commentator notes.

"It’s a clash of ambition, strategy, and heart." The tension was mirrored on the touchlines, where both coaches paced with a quiet intensity, their minds racing through final instructions.

The stage was perfectly set. Fans from both sides braced themselves, knowing that every pass, tackle, and goal could tilt the scales.

When the referee’s whistle blows, it won’t just signal the start of a game—it will ignite 90 minutes of raw, unrelenting drama.

.....

Putting the whole saga behind their back as Valencia welcomed Mallorca to the Mestalla, the fans saw Izan, once again on the bench.

The fans all thought that because of the recent issues, Baraja would start Izan to clear them up but seeing Izan on the bench didn’t sit well with the fans.

Izan, after the warmup, followed the rest of his teammates to the locker room. Putting on a bib, he took his water flask and stuffed it between his armpits before sitting down.

Ciach Baraja soon entered the room. Glancing in Izan’s direction, he walked to the centre before beginning his pep talk.

After his talk, he met Izan’s eyes and gave a curt nod. Izan nodded back with a smile before heading out with the rest of the substitutes.

The Mestalla was alive with energy as Valencia hosted Mallorca in what promised to be a riveting La Liga clash.

The opening whistle was met with a roar from the home fans, setting the tone for an intense first half of football.

Valencia started brightly, their high press immediately pinning Mallorca back into their defensive third.

Hugo Duro, the heartbeat of Valencia’s attack, was a constant menace, combining well with the fleet-footed wingers, who hugged the touchlines to stretch Mallorca’s disciplined backline.

The first real chance of the game came in the 7th minute when Javi Guerra, receiving a clever pass from the right flank, unleashed a thunderous strike from the edge of the box.

Mallorca’s goalkeeper, Predrag Rajkovi?, reacted instinctively, diving to his right to palm the ball away to safety.

Mallorca, however, was not content to simply defend. After weathering Valencia’s early storm, they began to find their rhythm.

By the 15th minute, they had started exploiting the spaces left by Valencia’s adventurous full-backs.

Toni Lato, returning to his old stomping ground, was the architect of their first significant attack. Picking up the ball deep in midfield, he danced past two defenders and threaded a perfectly weighted through ball to Vedat Muriqi.

The towering striker powered past his marker but could only watch as his shot sailed agonizingly wide of the far post.

As the game progressed, the intensity only grew. Valencia’s midfield trio of Pepelu, Javi Guerra and André Almeida fought tooth and nail to wrest control, but Mallorca’s compact shape made it difficult for Los Che to carve out clear opportunities.

On the other end, Mallorca’s counterattacks continued to trouble the Valencia defence. In the 23rd minute, Muriqi again came close, this time rising above his marker to meet a corner kick.

His header, destined for the top corner, was miraculously tipped over the bar by Valencia’s shot-stopper, Giorgi Mamardashvili.

The Mestalla faithful erupted in frustration and relief in equal measure as the game entered its second phase.

The Valencia crowd heaved a sigh of relief after Marmadashvili’s save. Seeing as their team was being thrown around, the Valencia crowd stepped up with their chants.

Perhaps encouraged by the chants of their fans, Valencia responded with renewed urgency. Their wingers, Diego Lopez and Fran Pérez, began tormenting Mallorca’s full-backs with their blistering pace and trickery.

In the 31st minute, Pérez nearly broke the deadlock. Cutting inside from the right, he unleashed a curling effort that had Rajkovi? beaten but clipped the crossbar.

The loose ball fell to Hugo Duro, who sent a thunderous shot towards the Mallorca goal, but Toni Lato, once again, was the bane of Valencia as he blocked the ball with his body.

The visiting fans applauded his determination after he put his body on the line.

Despite Valencia’s dominance in possession, Mallorca’s resilience was admirable. Antonio Raíllo and Martin Valjent, the visitors’ defensive stalwarts, threw themselves into blocks and challenges, frustrating the home side.

The tension spilled over in the 38th minute when a contentious decision saw Valencia awarded a free kick just outside the box. Hugo Guillamón stepped up, curling a precise effort that looked destined for the top corner, only for Rajkovi? to once again deny Valencia with a world-class save.

The closing minutes of the half saw Mallorca regain some control. Javi llabres, one of the Mallorca wingers seemingly inspired by the boos of the Mestalla crowd, orchestrated another threatening move, linking up with Jaume Costa down the left.

Costa’s cross into the box found Muriqi, whose glancing header forced Mamardashvili into another sharp save. Valencia responded with a quick break, but Almeida’s effort was smothered by Rajkovi?.

As the referee blew for halftime, the scoreline remained 0-0, but the match was anything but dull. Valencia had dominated possession and created the lion’s share of chances, but Mallorca’s counterattacks and defensive organization had kept them in the game.

The Mestalla crowd, though vocal in their support, was beginning to show signs of impatience. The home side had shown glimpses of brilliance, but their inability to finish their chances left the door open for Mallorca to spring a surprise in the second half.

The first half had been a tactical chess match, full of intensity and near-misses. Valencia’s attacking verve and Mallorca’s defensive grit provided a fascinating contrast, leaving fans eagerly anticipating what the second half would bring.

Would Valencia’s persistence finally pay off, or would Mallorca capitalize on their opportunities to snatch an unlikely result? The stage was set for an enthralling conclusion to this battle of styles.

.....

After the referee blew his whistle, Izan picked up his flask and joined his teammates in the locker room.

Baraja revised his tactics and discussed a few things with the players. He talked for the first ten minutes of the 15-minute break, reminding his players of what was at stake while highlighting the opponent’s weaknesses.

"Izan, put on your jersey. You’re up" Baraja said to Izan after he met him at the doorway. Izan smiled and nodded at Baraja.

The media had somewhat caused his relationship with Baraja to become a little strained, or so he thought because Baraja didn’t seem to have a problem with him.

Izan went inside the locker room and wore his Valencia jersey with the number 21 at the back. After the remaining five minutes passed, Izan walked with the starters to the pitch.

The Mestalla crowd’s voice rose after they saw Izan on the pitch. It hadn’t been long since they saw him play, but to them, it felt like ages.

Izan stepped into Andre Almeida’s role as the latter hand sprained his ankle a bit after the first half.

The Mestalla crowd roared in approval and in anticipation of what was to come next.

Izan stood on the pitch looking around as he waited for the sound of the referee’s whistle.

He was itching to play to his heart’s content.

A/n: Thanks for the powerstones and the gifts. I’m going to prepare another chapter for when the powerstones reach a hundred but for now, I’mma sleep a bit Ok. Have fun