February 14, 2023 - Champions League Round of 16, First LegBarcelona vs Manchester United - Camp Nou
Valentine's Day. But for Ethan Loki, this was about love of a different kind—love for the Champions League trophy that had eluded Barcelona since 2015.
Manchester United under Erik ten Hag were resurgent. Rashford in incredible form. Casemiro controlling midfield. They'd topped their Champions League group ahead of Bayern Munich.
Camp Nou was electric. Ninety-nine thousand fans sensing this could be Barcelona's year.
Koeman had reinforced the squad in January. Brought in João Cancelo from Manchester City. Signed Iñigo Martínez from Athletic Bilbao. The team felt stronger. More complete.
First Half
United came to defend. A compact 4-5-1. Pressing triggers. Disciplined lines.
But Barcelona's quality eventually broke through.
In the eighteenth minute, Ethan opened the scoring.
Receiving Pedri's pass on the edge of the box, he controlled with one touch. Three United defenders converged. He performed a triple step-over—left, right, left—mesmerizing all three. Then he struck with his right foot.
The ball curled past De Gea's outstretched hand into the top corner.
1-0 Barcelona.
Pure individual brilliance. The Camp Nou erupted.
"That's our captain!" Pedri screamed, jumping on Ethan's back.
In the thirty-ninth minute, Barcelona doubled their lead.
A counter-attack. Ethan drove forward from halfway, drawing three defenders. At the last second, he slipped a pass to Raphinha on the right.
The Brazilian crossed low. Lewandowski—signed the previous summer—tapped home.
2-0 Barcelona at halftime.
Second Half
United pushed forward desperately. Needed at least one away goal.
In the sixty-third minute, they got it. Rashford's pace on the counter. Clinical finish.
2-1.
Suddenly, the tie was alive. United needed one more away goal to completely change the complexion.
But Ethan killed their hopes in the seventy-eighth minute.
A brilliant solo goal. Receiving the ball on the left, he cut inside, beat two defenders with a Lavinho roulette, beat a third with pure pace, and finished with his weaker right foot.
3-1.
His second goal of the match. Eighth Champions League goal of the season.
Final score: Barcelona 3-1 Manchester United.
Perfect result. Two-goal cushion. Three away goals for United wouldn't be enough now—they'd need four goals at Old Trafford.
Post-Match
"Ethan, two brilliant goals. Are you feeling confident about the second leg?"
"We have a good advantage, but Manchester United are dangerous. We can't be complacent. Old Trafford is one of the most difficult stadiums in Europe."
"You seem determined to win the Champions League this season. Why?"
Ethan's expression became serious. "Barcelona hasn't won this trophy since 2015. Eight years. That's too long for a club of this magnitude. I've won it twice with Monaco. I need to win it here. For the fans. For the club. For my legacy."
"What about the Ballon d'Or? You're the defending champion."
"If I win the Champions League, the Ballon d'Or will take care of itself. My focus is team success."
February 21, 2023 - Second LegManchester United vs Barcelona - Old Trafford
Seventy-five thousand fans at the Theatre of Dreams. All of them screaming, willing United to produce a miracle comeback.
United needed three goals. Impossible? Maybe. But they'd produced miracles here before.
Barcelona set up cautiously. Absorb pressure. Stay compact. One away goal would effectively end the tie.
United attacked from the first whistle. Rashford, Fernandes, Antony. Wave after wave of red shirts.
In the twenty-third minute, they scored. Rashford again. 1-0.
Old Trafford erupted. The comeback was on.
In the forty-fourth minute, Fernandes made it 2-0 from a penalty. 3-3 on aggregate.
Barcelona were rattled. The impossible seemed possible.
Halftime
In the changing room, Koeman was calm but firm.
"They need two more goals. We need one. Stay disciplined. Don't panic. And when we get our chance, we finish it."
Ethan stood up. "I'll get us the goal. Just keep believing."
The captain's promise.
Second Half
United continued attacking. Desperate. All-out assault.
In the sixty-seventh minute, Ethan delivered on his promise.
A counter-attack. Ter Stegen's long kick. Ethan controlled at halfway. Suddenly, Barcelona had a three-on-two situation.
He drove forward. Drew both defenders toward him. Slipped a pass to Raphinha.
The Brazilian shot. De Gea saved. But the rebound fell to Ethan.
Empty net. Six yards out. He couldn't miss.
1-2 on the night. 4-3 aggregate to Barcelona.
Crucially, that away goal meant United now needed four goals. Effectively impossible.
United threw everything forward in the final twenty minutes. But Barcelona held firm.
Final score: Manchester United 2-1 Barcelona (3-4 aggregate).
Barcelona through to the quarter-finals.
March 17 - Quarter-Final Draw
Barcelona were drawn against Bayern Munich.
The rematch. Two years after Bayern humiliated Barcelona 8-2. One year after eliminating them 7-2 aggregate.
Revenge time.
"We owe them," Ethan said when the draw was announced. "Two years of humiliation. This is our chance to prove we're back at the elite level."