The Next Big Thing
Chapter 125: Bayern vs Barcelona III

Chapter 125: Bayern vs Barcelona III

Across different homes, two people sat glued to their screens, engrossed in what many were calling the match of the season.

One was Chloe Knight (Zoey), a die-hard Barcelona fan, watching with unwavering passion, heart and soul invested in every moment. For her, this wasn’t just a game—it was about pride, loyalty, and the unwavering support for the club she loved.

The other was David Jones, watching for an entirely different reason. His love for the match wasn’t tied to a single club; instead, he relished the thrill of the game—the tactics, the moments of brilliance, and, most of all, the sheer joy of bantering. For David, the match wasn’t just about winning or losing—it was about rubbing in every victory, laughing at every mistake, and fueling the friendly rivalry that made watching even more exhilarating.

They watched with razor-sharp focus, taking in every second—every sprint, every misstep, every misplaced pass. Even the small, ridiculous moments didn’t escape their eyes—like a player awkwardly adjusting his shorts, trying to get them unstuck from an unfortunate place. No detail was missed.

But it wasn’t just Zoey and David watching.

This match had captivated the world.

Barcelona versus Bayern Munich—a clash of two European juggernauts, a rivalry steeped in history and unforgettable moments. This wasn’t just another Champions League quarter-final—this was a game that had the entire footballing world on edge, a showdown between two clubs whose battles had left lasting scars and legendary highlights.

It was impossible to forget their past encounters.

The 7-0 aggregate humiliation Bayern handed to Barcelona in 2013, a ruthless dismantling that left the Spanish giants in disbelief. And then, in 2015, Barcelona got their revenge. The 5-3 aggregate win wasn’t just a victory—it was a statement. And in the heart of it all was Lionel Messi, Barcelona’s greatest player, producing one of the most unforgettable goals in football history. A moment forever burned into memory.

That was the night he destroyed Jerome Boateng—Germany’s top defender at the time, a man who had been nearly impossible to beat one-on-one. But against Messi? He was reduced to nothing. With a dazzling display of footwork, Messi sent him crashing to the floor, helpless, before chipping the ball effortlessly over Neuer, sealing his masterpiece.

That was what this rivalry meant—history, revenge, and legacies on the line.

So it was no surprise that this match had millions of viewers worldwide. In fact, it had already broken records in the United States, becoming the most-watched Champions League quarter-final in U.S. television history.

And the game had lived up to the hype.

Within just ten minutes, both teams had already found the back of the net, electrifying the crowd and making every ticket worth its price. The first ten minutes had delivered the drama, the excitement, and the unpredictability that fans craved.

But as history had shown, Bayern Munich were the true tormentors of Barcelona.

In their last eight encounters, Bayern had dominated, winning five times, suffering only two losses, and drawing once. And judging by how this game was unfolding, it seemed like they were about to add another win to that tally.

And For David?

He was loving every second of it.

21 minutes after the start of the game, and 14 minutes after Bayern’s own goal, they found the net again—this time, the ball was behind Barcelona’s goalkeeper.

David sat comfortably in his bean bag, his eyes glued to the massive TV screen as he mindlessly picked up his half-eaten cheeseburger, shoving it into his mouth mid-chew. His instincts were tingling—he could feel it coming.

"Bayern are scoring soon. I can feel it," he mumbled through a mouthful of food.

From the phone propped on the table beside him, Zoey’s sharp voice rang out, dripping with sarcasm.

"Why don’t you go score it then?"

David smirked at the comment, about to fire back, but as if football itself had decided to punish her words, the game erupted into chaos.

Barcelona launched a dangerous attack, the ball falling to Nelson Semedo just outside the box. With barely a second to think, he swung his foot through it—a venomous strike that had power, precision, and the promise of a goal.

CRASH!

The ball cannoned off the crossbar, rattling the frame of the goal like a drum, the rebound bouncing away in cruel defiance.

Zoey shouted "Shit!" as the missed chance left her momentarily stunned.

But there was no time to dwell on it—because Bayern smelled blood.

Almost instantly, they broke into a ruthless counterattack.

In a blur of red shirts, the ball was fed forward with precision, slicing through Barcelona’s midfield like a hot knife through butter. One pass, two passes—it was already out wide to Perišić, sprinting down the flank like a man possessed.

Barcelona’s defenders had already rushed back, forming a desperate wall between him and the goal. But Perišić wasn’t interested in dribbling. He had only one thought.

He looked up once—then unleashed a ferocious strike.

David barely had time to react before the ball rocketed forward.

"WHY NOW?!" he screamed.

Zoey, already on edge, shot up from wherever she was sitting.

"YES!!"

But then—the funniest, most ridiculous thing happened.

The ball took a wicked deflection—first smashing into a Barcelona defender, then bouncing awkwardly off Ter Stegen before still somehow trickling into the net.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then, in a complete role reversal, it was now David shouting:

"YESSSS!!"

And Zoey?

Her voice was full of frustration.

"WHY NOW?! WHAT’S TER STEGEN DOING?! WHAT IS THIS?!"

David burst into laughter, clapping his hands together in sheer joy.

"You see?! You see?!" he taunted, his voice brimming with amusement. "You were talking too much! This is karma in action!"

But it wasn’t over.

Just three minutes later, Bayern struck again.

This time, it was pure footballing brilliance.

A slick sequence of passes, played with the kind of ruthless efficiency that only Bayern could produce, saw the ball slide perfectly into the path of Serge Gnabry, who charged into the box like a predator locking onto its prey.

Zoey barely had time to react before he struck—a clinical finish, past Ter Stegen, into the bottom corner.

David exploded.

"LET’S GOOOO!!" he roared, nearly jumping out of his seat. "SEVEN GOALS COMING! DIDN’T I TELL YOU?!"

The silence from Zoey was deafening.

David, noticing, grinned.

"Lol, don’t tell me you’re going silent again. Omg, you are such a sore loser!" he teased, shaking his head in mock disappointment. "You thought this was FIFA? Oh, you are getting humbled today! Just watch!"

He threw his head back, laughing uncontrollably, as Bayern showed no mercy.

David barely had time to breathe from all the laughing before he saw it—Barcelona scored. Their second goal of the match.

For a brief moment, his eyebrows lifted slightly in mild curiosity, his chewing slowing down as he watched the replay. The goal itself wasn’t bad, but his reaction wasn’t because of the goal. It was because of Zoey.

She didn’t say a single word.

David smirked, wiping his hands on his jeans before leaning slightly forward, phone still on the table, screen dim but call still connected.

"It’s good you didn’t talk," he said with a teasing chuckle. "It’s good you also know they aren’t coming back."

Still nothing.

David shook his head, his grin only widening. He leaned back again, stretching his legs out as he basked in every second of this demolition. Every goal that went in had him laughing harder than the last.

Yet, amid his amusement, something unexpected happened.

It wasn’t another goal. It wasn’t another blunder from Barcelona. It wasn’t even another chance from Bayern.

It was a feeling.

David found himself staring at the screen, his laughter fading just slightly, his thoughts suddenly shifting.

"Fuck, man..." he muttered under his breath, eyes fixated on the pitch.

But here’s the thing—he wasn’t talking about Lewandowski.Not about Gnabry.Not even about Alphonso Davies, who had been ripping Semedo apart like he was some random defender from a Sunday league.

No.

David’s eyes were locked onto one player.

Lionel Messi.

The best player on a team that was getting absolutely destroyed.

Yet, despite the embarrassment, despite the nightmare unfolding around him, Messi did not shrink.

The way he moved—the way he still played, despite everything—it was different. It was something David could recognize, but it was also something that made him uneasy in a way he had never felt before.

Messi never looked rushed. Never looked panicked. He received the ball with that first touch—so smooth, so effortless.

He didn’t run chaotically like others who panicked when they were losing. No, he simply glided. Every motion calculated, every step purposeful. Even when surrounded, he somehow found space.

David had seen many great players. Hell, he felt he was one. But for the first time, he sat there and knew, without a doubt, that he couldn’t say he was better than someone.

Messi was a beast.

And for a player like David, who had never lacked confidence, that realization hit different.

He exhaled sharply, shaking his head as he mumbled under his breath.

"Soon, soon..."

He wasn’t sure if he was saying it to Messi, as if promising to reach that level one day. Or if he was saying it to himself—to remind himself that his time was coming.

But before he could dwell on it too much—Bayern weren’t done.

The next substitution was made, and in came Philippe Coutinho.

David, still in his thoughts, barely reacted to the change. That is, until Coutinho scored.

And not just once.

Twice.

Barcelona’s own loaned-out player had just put the final nails in their coffin.

David, unable to hold it in, burst into laughter.

"Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha HA HA HA HA , the player you loaned out! Ahhh, this is too good!"

For the first time in what felt like ages, Zoey’s voice finally came through the phone.

"This fool! If it’s for Barca now, he’d be playing rubbish!"

David’s laughter doubled, nearly sending him into a coughing fit.

But Zoey? She was done.

"Good night, man. I want to sleep."

David wiped a tear from his eye, still grinning. "Are you serious? The match is still going on! You can still do a comeback—"

Click.

She had hung up.

David stared at the phone for a second before throwing his head back in more laughter.

He shook his head, eyes returning to the screen as he took in the absolute destruction unfolding before him.

The tray beside him? Empty.His stomach? Full.His mood? Perfect.

And Bayern?

They weren’t just winning.

They were dismantling Barcelona.

And David? He was loving every second of it.

Shoutout to DotGov for coming through with three golden tickets again! 🎉 Man, I appreciate you so, so much!

Also, sorry, my dear readers—if this Chapter felt a bit rushed, it’s because, let’s be honest, you all already know how this match went. No need to relive the trauma. Plenty of action ahead, I promise!

(Real talk, though... I skipped it because this was one of the worst days of my life. 😭 Yep, I’m a Barça fan. This match was pure pain. But don’t worry—I’ll stay 100% unbiased throughout this story. Scout’s honor. 😂)

If you’d like to support me, feel free to donate golden tickets, power stones, or even gifts—everything helps! Thank you all so much! 🙌 David’s journey is just beginning—stay tuned! 🚀

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