CHAPTER 74 — "GENIUSES DON'T STAND ALONE"
Date: Saturday, 30 September 2023
Competition: La Liga — Matchday 7
Venue: Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys
Opponent: Getafe CF
Árman Azevedo was already changed when Lamine Yamal walked into the locker room.
Yamal tossed his bag down and glanced sideways.
"…You're early."
Árman looked up, smiling.
"Couldn't sleep."
Yamal snorted.
"Yeah. Same. Ever since you showed up, my phone hasn't stopped."
Árman laughed quietly.
"Sorry."
"Don't apologize," Yamal said, sitting beside him.
"It's annoying — but it's good."
There was no jealousy. No tension.
Just two freak talents sitting on the same bench.
---
Locker Room — Before Kickoff
Gavi was loud, as usual.
"Oi, kids," he said, pointing between Árman and Yamal.
"Try not to embarrass the rest of us today."
Pedri smirked.
"That ship already sailed."
Lewandowski leaned forward.
"Listen," he said calmly.
"Getafe will play rough. They won't let either of you breathe."
Yamal cracked his neck.
"Let them try."
Árman nodded, then added softly:
"They focus on one of us… the other one eats."
That earned a few raised eyebrows.
Lewandowski smiled.
"Smart."
---
Kickoff — Two Magnets on the Pitch
From the first minute, it was obvious.
Getafe didn't know who to mark.
When they crowded Árman, Yamal slipped free. When they doubled Yamal, Árman drifted into space.
In the 8th minute, Yamal received wide.
Árman made a diagonal run without calling for the ball.
Yamal saw it instantly.
Pass.
One touch. Second touch. Shot.
Saved.
Árman jogged back and tapped Yamal's shoulder.
"Again."
Yamal grinned.
---
17th Minute — Football Conversation Without Words
Pedri slowed the tempo.
De Jong pulled defenders.
Árman dropped deep, dragging a midfielder with him.
That was the cue.
Yamal cut inside.
Ball to feet. Body feint. Curl.
GOAL.
Yamal turned immediately toward Árman, pointing at him.
"You pulled him."
Árman shrugged.
"You finished."
They bumped fists.
The crowd loved it.
Two kids. No ego.
---
31st Minute — Now It's Árman's Turn
Getafe adjusted again.
Too late.
Lewandowski pinned the center-back. Pedri slipped the ball through.
Árman didn't rush.
He paused — half a second.
Defender leaned.
That was enough.
Low strike. Inside post.
Goal.
No celebration sprint. No theatrics.
He ran straight to Yamal.
"Your turn next," Árman said.
Yamal laughed.
"You're annoying."
---
Halftime — Laughing, Breathing, Living
In the tunnel:
Gavi threw an arm around both of them.
"I swear," he said, "I feel old."
Pedri wiped sweat off his face.
"You two don't play like kids."
Lewandowski looked at Árman.
"You don't panic."
Árman answered honestly.
"I trust you guys."
That silence afterward?
Respect.
---
Second Half — Control, Not Chaos
Barça dominated possession.
Árman and Yamal rotated constantly.
Sometimes wide. Sometimes central. Sometimes switching sides mid-play.
In the 63rd minute, Árman dribbled past two defenders, then stopped dead.
Everyone expected the shot.
Instead—
A disguised pass to Yamal.
Shot.
Saved.
Árman clapped loudly.
"Good try!"
Yamal shook his head, smiling.
"I'll get one more."
---
78th Minute — The Crowd Knows
Late in the match, both kids tracked back.
Árman intercepted. Yamal pressed. Gavi recovered.
The stadium rose to its feet — not for a goal, but for effort.
When Árman was subbed off in the 85th minute, the applause was different.
Not shock.
Acceptance.
---
After the Match — Quiet Moments Matter
In the locker room, Yamal sat beside him again.
"You know," he said, "they used to look at me like this."
Árman listened.
"Now they're looking at you too."
Árman thought for a moment.
"…Good. Then I'm not alone."
Yamal smiled.
"Yeah. You're not."
---
Final Score
Barcelona 2 — 0 Getafe
No records. No headlines rewritten.
Just football. Just chemistry. Just two monsters growing together.