February 16, 2022 - Champions League Round of 16, First LegBarcelona vs Paris Saint-Germain - Camp Nou
The draw had delivered a blockbuster: Barcelona versus PSG. Ethan Loki versus Kylian Mbappé.
The media had been building the narrative for weeks: "The Princes Reunited," "Loki vs Mbappé: Who's Better?" "Barcelona vs PSG: Battle of the Superstars."
Camp Nou was electric. Ninety-nine thousand fans packed the stadium—the first full-capacity Champions League match since COVID. The atmosphere was deafening.
In the tunnel before kickoff, Ethan and Mbappé found each other.
"Just like old times," Mbappé said with a grin.
"Except now we're trying to destroy each other," Ethan replied.
"May the best Prince win."
They bumped fists. Brothers. Rivals. The two best young players in the world facing off on the biggest stage.
The Match - First Half
PSG started aggressively. Mauricio Pochettino's game plan was clear: press Barcelona high, win the ball in dangerous areas, hit them on the counter with Mbappé's pace.
In the eleventh minute, the strategy worked.
Barcelona lost possession in midfield. Veratti won the ball and immediately played it forward to Mbappé. The PSG star was already running, already three steps ahead of Barcelona's defense.
He drove forward, one-on-one with Piqué. The veteran defender had no chance—Mbappé was too fast. He cut inside and finished with clinical precision.
1-0 PSG.
Mbappé's celebration was muted—respect for his former teammate and best friend. But his eyes found Ethan. Your turn.
Barcelona responded with fury. They dominated possession, created chances, pressed PSG deep into their own half.
In the thirty-third minute, Ethan delivered.
Receiving the ball on the left wing, he cut inside. Two PSG defenders converged. He performed his trademark double elastico—left, right—leaving both sprawling. Then he curled a shot with the outside of his right foot.
The ball bent beautifully, kissing the inside of the far post and settling into the net.
1-1.
Camp Nou exploded. Ethan ran to the corner flag, arms spread wide, screaming. He looked at Mbappé. Your turn.
The first half ended 1-1. Ethan vs Mbappé: 1-1.
The Match - Second Half
The second half became a tactical chess match. Both managers made adjustments. Both teams became more cautious. One mistake could decide the tie.
In the sixty-seventh minute, Ethan created the breakthrough.
Dropping deep to receive the ball, he saw space opening on the right. Saw Dembélé making a run. Calculated the weight and curve needed for the pass.
He struck a forty-meter diagonal ball that dropped perfectly at Dembélé's feet. The winger controlled, cut inside, and finished.
2-1 Barcelona.
Ethan's assist. Brilliant vision. Pure class.
PSG pushed desperately for an equalizer. Mbappé had two great chances—both saved by Ter Stegen. Messi (yes, Messi was at PSG now, having left Barcelona the previous summer) hit the post.
But Barcelona held firm.
Final score: Barcelona 2-1 PSG.
Crucial home win. Crucial away goal for PSG. Everything to play for in Paris.
Post-Match
In the mixed zone, journalists mobbed Ethan.
"You and Mbappé both scored. Does it feel strange competing against your best friend?"
"Kylian is like a brother to me. We push each other to be better. Tonight, Barcelona won. But the tie isn't over. Paris will be incredibly difficult."
"Are you the best player in the world right now?"
Ethan smiled. "I won the Ballon d'Or, so according to the voters, yes. But I have to prove it every single match. Tonight was a good start."
"What's the key to the second leg?"
"Stay disciplined. Don't give Mbappé space to run. Score early if possible." He paused. "And enjoy it. These are the matches you dream about as a kid. Barcelona vs PSG. Champions League knockout stage. This is why we play football."
After the press conference, Ethan and Mbappé met briefly in the player's parking lot.
"Hell of a goal," Mbappé said.
"Yours was better," Ethan admitted. "That acceleration past Piqué was ridiculous."
"We gave everyone a show tonight."
"We always do." Ethan looked at his friend seriously. "Paris is going to be intense."
"I know. Parc des Princes. Fifty thousand fans screaming. We'll come at you hard."
"I expect nothing less." Ethan extended his fist. "May the best team win."
"May the best Prince win," Mbappé corrected with a grin.
They bumped fists and parted ways. Best friends. Mortal enemies for ninety minutes. Then brothers again.
March 9, 2022 - Champions League Round of 16, Second LegParis Saint-Germain vs Barcelona - Parc des Princes
Three weeks later, the return fixture arrived.
The Parc des Princes was a cauldron of noise. Fifty thousand PSG fans creating a wall of sound. Banners everywhere: "Paris est Magique," "Allez Paris," "Mbappé Roi de Paris."
Barcelona needed to avoid defeat. PSG needed to win by at least one goal to progress on away goals (or two goals to win outright).
The pressure was suffocating.
The Match - Tactical Battle
Koeman set up defensively. A 4-5-1 formation. Absorb pressure. Hit on the counter. Protect the lead.
PSG attacked from the first whistle. Mbappé, Messi, Neymar. The most expensive attacking trio in football history. They swarmed Barcelona's defense.
For thirty-eight minutes, Barcelona held firm. Ter Stegen made three world-class saves. Piqué and Araujo defended like their lives depended on it.
Then, in the thirty-ninth minute, disaster.
A Barcelona clearance fell to Veratti thirty meters from goal. He struck it first-time. The ball deflected off Busquets and looped over Ter Stegen into the net.
1-0 PSG. 2-2 aggregate.
Away goals no longer existed (rule changed in 2021), so the match would go to extra time if it stayed this way.
Second Half - Tension
The second half was psychological warfare.
PSG pressed for a second goal. Barcelona defended desperately. Every attack felt like it might be the decisive moment.
In the sixty-eighth minute, Mbappé nearly won it. A brilliant solo run, beating three defenders, one-on-one with Ter Stegen. He shot low.
Ter Stegen saved with his foot. Incredible.
In the seventy-eighth minute, Ethan nearly stole it on the counter. A long ball from Araujo. He controlled, turned Marquinhos, shot from twenty meters.
Donnarumma tipped it onto the post. Inches away.
The match remained 1-0. 2-2 aggregate. Heading for extra time.
Extra Time - Heroics
Both teams were exhausted. Legs heavy. Minds foggy. But neither would give up.
In the ninety-eighth minute, PSG took the lead in the tie.
Neymar's corner. Marquinhos rose highest. Header past Ter Stegen.
2-0 PSG. 3-2 aggregate. PSG leading.
Camp Nou's dreams of Champions League glory were dying.
Barcelona threw everyone forward. Desperate. All or nothing.
In the one hundred and fourteenth minute, with sixty seconds remaining, they got a corner.
Ethan positioned himself at the back post. Felt the weight of the moment. This was it. Last chance.
Pedri took the corner. Swung it to the back post. Ethan jumped.
Time slowed. He saw the ball's trajectory. Saw Donnarumma starting to move. Saw exactly where to aim.
He met the ball with his forehead. Powerful. Precise. Bottom corner.
2-1 PSG. 3-3 aggregate.
Pandemonium.
Barcelona had thirty seconds to find a winner. PSG had thirty seconds to hold on.
The ball was kicked off. Barcelona pushed forward. PSG defended desperately.
Twenty seconds.
Ten seconds.
Final whistle.
3-3 aggregate. Extra time couldn't separate them.
Penalties.
Penalties - Nerve and Steel
Barcelona's penalty takers: Ethan, Griezmann, Busquets, Pedri, Dembélé.
PSG's penalty takers: Mbappé, Neymar, Messi, Veratti, Marquinhos.
Round 1:
Ethan: Scored (bottom left) Mbappé: Scored (top right)
Round 2:
Griezmann: Scored Neymar: Scored
Round 3:
Busquets: Missed (hit post) Messi: Scored
PSG leading 3-2.
Round 4:
Pedri: Scored (4-3) Veratti: Scored (4-4)
Round 5:
Dembélé stepped up. Had to score. He placed it bottom right. Donnarumma dove. Saved it.
PSG WIN 4-3 ON PENALTIES.
Barcelona eliminated from Champions League.
Aftermath
The Barcelona players collapsed in devastation. Ethan sat on the grass, head in hands, tears streaming down his face.
They'd been so close. Ninety-nine thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight minutes away from the quarter-finals. And it ended on penalties.
Mbappé approached him. Helped him up. Hugged him.
"You played your heart out," Mbappé said. "This doesn't define you."
"We were so close," Ethan said, voice breaking.
"I know. But you'll be back. This is football. Sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose. But champions always come back stronger."
After the match, in the changing room, devastation. Some players crying. Others staring blankly.
Koeman addressed them. "Gentlemen, this hurts. I know. But remember—we won La Liga last season. We're top of La Liga this season. We won Copa del Rey. This club is in good hands with this group."
He looked at Ethan. "And you, Captain. You scored in both legs. You led from the front. You gave everything. Hold your head high."
But Ethan couldn't. The Champions League—the trophy Barcelona hadn't won since 2015—remained elusive.
He'd won it twice with Monaco. But he needed to win it with Barcelona. To truly cement his legacy at this club.
This defeat hurt. But it also fueled him.
Next season. Next year. He'd be back.
And next time, he'd win it.
End of Chapter 34