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Thanks for reading. A journey isn't memorable because it lasts forever. It's the experience and memory that lives on. Although I hoped to end on a better note, but life doesn't give you what you want.
Like Gilgamesh once said," All dreams disappear when the dreamer awakes, every last one of them with no exception. " I guess it's time to wake up.
****
The post-match atmosphere was surreal. As the Manchester City players slowly made their way off the pitch, a sense of disbelief hovered in the air—shared by players, coaches, commentators, and even fans.
The scoreboard still glared like a monument to the unthinkable: Barcelona 0 – 7 Manchester City.
Not a pre-season friendly, not a cup tie against a youth side—this was the Champions League quarterfinal at the Camp Nou.
The City players applauded their traveling support, who were still singing at full voice, defiant and euphoric. "Blue Moon Galacticos" gave way to chants of "Champions of Europe, we're coming for you!" Flags were draped across the barriers, some fans even in tears, overcome by the scale of what they had just witnessed.
Martin Tyler, still seated in the commentary box, took a long breath before speaking.
"Well, Alan… where do we even start? You don't see this. You never see this."
Alan Smith, his tone laced with awe, replied,
"It's hard to put into words, Martin. I mean, this is Barcelona—this ground, these players, this badge—it's sacred in football. And yet, Manchester City have just turned it into a training ground exercise. I've never seen them look this disjointed, this… powerless."
As the camera panned to the stunned home crowd—some booing, many simply frozen in silence—Martin continued,
"You said earlier, Alan, that this felt like a power shift. And I think you're right. This wasn't just a win. It was a statement. This was the night Manchester City announced themselves not as contenders… but as commanders."
The broadcast screen split between clips of the goals, each more spectacular than the last. The bicycle kick from Adriano replayed in slow motion again, crowd gasps captured in the background as his foot met the ball with textbook perfection.
Alan Smith leaned closer to his mic.
"Let's talk about Adriano. Three goals, three assists. That's six goal contributions at the Camp Nou. Against Messi. Against Iniesta. Against Piqué. That's not just world-class, Martin—that's generational."
Martin Tyler, voice rising, added,
"He was unplayable. Absolutely unplayable. Every touch—sharp. Every decision—correct. Every run—devastating. You could feel it, Alan, every time he got the ball. Something was going to happen."
The analysis cut to tactical replays: Adriano's third goal, the scissor kick, was broken down from three angles, showing Salah's precise delivery, Mascherano's misstep, and the gravity-defying execution from the City number ten.
Alan Smith narrated:
"And what I loved was the awareness. Salah doesn't panic, he waits. He waits for the run. Adriano doesn't call for it, doesn't raise a hand—he just trusts that Salah sees him. That's chemistry you can't teach."
Martin Tyler added,
"We always talk about Messi and Neymar combining like this. But tonight, it was Adriano and Salah, Adriano and Kane, Adriano and Hazard. He didn't just score goals—he connected this team."
Clips of City's midfield dominance followed—Casemiro intercepting passes, De Bruyne drifting into pockets, Touré muscling off Iniesta.
Alan Smith gestured toward the screen.
"Casemiro was the spine. You didn't notice him much, but he was everywhere. Cut off supply to Messi, covered for the fullbacks, shielded the centre-backs. Brilliant."
The broadcast cut to Luis Enrique on the touchline, arms crossed, jaw set, expression grim.
Martin Tyler, somber:
"What must he be thinking? A man who's seen some of the best performances in football history, but from the opposite side. Watching his side concede seven, at home, with barely a punch thrown in response."
Alan Smith, quietly:
"It's not just about tactics anymore, is it? This felt psychological. They were rattled early, and they never recovered. Even Messi—he barely got a touch in the final third."
****
Martin Tyler :"Well, as we approach the final quarter of this astonishing match, I think it's time we take a deeper look at some of the individual performances beyond just the goalscorers. And Alan, Kevin De Bruyne has been instrumental in the center of the park for Manchester City tonight."
Alan Smith :"Absolutely, Martin. He's been the engine behind the rhythm of City's transitions. De Bruyne's been everywhere—dropping deep to collect, breaking the lines with his passing, and showing brilliant awareness in tight pockets of space. He might not have scored, but two assists and a key role in the fourth goal speaks volumes."
Martin:"And his pass accuracy must be pushing the mid-90s. He's picking out runners like Salah and Hazard with clinical ease. What's more, he's balancing both attack and defensive transition brilliantly. Any time City lose possession, he's one of the first players to step in and cut off the forward pass."
Alan:"That's right. Look at the fifth goal for example—the counter begins with De Bruyne riding Iniesta's pressure and delivering the long pass to Salah. It's moments like those that break elite sides apart. He's not just playing passes—he's reading the whole system in front of him."
Martin:"Now, let's flip the page and talk about Neymar for a moment. Alan, it's been a frustrating night for the Brazilian."
Alan:"It has. And that's not entirely his fault. Credit must go to Kimmich and Casemiro, who've cut off the supply line to him for most of the match. Neymar's had very few meaningful touches in advanced areas."
Martin:"Visibly isolated, isn't he? You can see the frustration creeping in. He's tried to drop deeper to get the ball, but every time he's turned, Casemiro is on him like a shadow."
Alan:"He had one half-chance in the 28th minute, a cut inside and a curling effort that went over. Apart from that? Not much. No dribbles completed in the final third, which is almost unheard of for him. City's tactical shape is completely neutralizing his impact."
Martin:"Speaking of midfield battles, Andrés Iniesta—one of the greats of the game—has looked out of sync tonight."
Alan:"Yeah, this isn't the Iniesta we're used to seeing in big matches. He's struggling with the press. Casemiro and De Bruyne are forcing him to play sideways or backwards more often than not. He's been dispossessed five times already."
Martin:"And on that turnover in the 62nd minute—Casemiro steps in, initiates the break, and it ends up with Adriano scoring the fourth. That sums up Iniesta's night: unable to dictate, outnumbered, and physically overwhelmed."
Alan:"Pellegrini's midfield diamond has undone Barcelona's usual triangle. With Silva playing further up earlier and Touré coming in later, Iniesta hasn't had the room to breathe or operate in his usual style."
Martin:"Now let's go back to that man—Casemiro. He came on for Silva in the second half, and Alan, what a difference he's made."
Alan:"Game-changer, Martin. He's been the defensive anchor allowing everyone else to move freely. Seven ball recoveries since he came on, two interceptions, and his positioning has been textbook."
Martin:"And let's not forget the tackle on Iniesta that led to the sixth goal. You don't usually see someone go toe-to-toe with Andrés Iniesta and win the duel cleanly."
Alan:"It's no surprise City took full control after he entered. He's like the balance wheel in a watch—doesn't always get noticed in the headlines, but take him out and everything starts to wobble."
Martin:"To sum it up then: De Bruyne the orchestrator, Casemiro the enforcer, Neymar neutralized, and Iniesta outplayed. It's a match where Manchester City haven't just won—they've imposed their structure, their pace, and their mentality on Barcelona's finest."
Alan:"Well said, Martin. A tactical masterclass and an individual statement from key players across the pitch. A night to remember—especially for the men in sky blue."
Martin Tyler (MT):"Well, the scoreboard may read Barcelona 0 – 7 Manchester City, but it only tells part of the story.
For those just tuning in or perhaps in disbelief, you haven't misread it—this was a complete dismantling. And as the stadium begins to empty out fully, Alan, it's time we take a proper look at the two players whose nights will be remembered for very different reasons."
Alan Smith (AS):"Absolutely, Martin. Let's start with Lionel Messi—because even in a match where he couldn't tilt the scales, the numbers show he was still trying to shoulder the responsibility."
Lionel Messi: 38 passes. 5 shots. 3 on target. 8 dribbles completed. 2 chances created.
MT:"And yet, it felt like he was playing on an island tonight. You look at those numbers and think he had some moments—and he did. But the support around him, the space he usually manipulates so well, was just suffocated by City's compact defensive unit."
AS:"It was one of the strangest Messi games I've ever watched. You could see him searching for solutions—dropping deep, drifting wide, dragging defenders—but no one followed his wavelength. He dribbled past three, four players at times, but then… nothing. The runners weren't there. The triangles were gone."
MT:"His best moment might've been that slaloming run in the 51st minute—he danced past two challenges, slipped the ball toward Neymar, but the return pass never came. The frustration on Messi's face said it all."
AS:"He had five shots, Martin, but three were from over 25 yards. That's not Messi's range—it's a sign he just didn't trust the buildup around him. Credit to City's shape. Casemiro and Kimmich always kept one body between him and the box."
MT:"And when that fails, you need your teammates to take some pressure off. But Neymar was nullified. Suárez barely touched the ball. Iniesta, frankly, looked spent."
AS:"And that left Messi trying to force miracles—and against this City team tonight, there was no miracle to be had."
MT:"Now, Alan… let's talk about the other number ten on the pitch. Because what Adriano Riveiro produced tonight at the Camp Nou wasn't just a great performance—it was historic."
Adriano Riveiro: 94 passes. 10 shots. 7 on target. 21 dribbles completed. 13 chances created. 3 goals. 3 assists.
AS:(shaking his head slightly, still in awe)"Martin, that is one of the most complete individual displays I've ever witnessed. Let's start with the basics: he scored a hat-trick. But he didn't stop there. He set up three more. His dribbling was… surgical. He wasn't just beating players for fun—he was carving paths through Barcelona's lines like a conductor with a baton."
MT:"And there was no part of the pitch he didn't touch. He started wide left, he drifted central, dropped deep to collect, then popped up on the right for Kane's goal. His fingerprints were on everything."
AS:"Exactly. He was everywhere. His passing was as decisive as his dribbling—94 passes, Martin. For a forward. And these weren't sideways passes, they were incisive. Line-breaking. Risky—and successful."
MT:"Let's take the 74th-minute goal. Touré wins the ball off Iniesta, sends Adriano sprinting. He could've gone for the shot—he had the angle—but instead, he looks up and feeds Kane. That's not just unselfish. That's mature. That's clinical decision-making in a chaotic moment."
AS:"And that celebration said it all. The team didn't just mob Kane—they all turned to Adriano next. They know who orchestrated this."
MT:"The seventh goal was his third assist. But let's not forget his third goal, the bicycle kick in the 65th minute. Salah whips in the ball, Adriano peels off Mascherano and bang!—mid-air, full rotation, perfect contact. Camp Nou held its breath. That kind of goal doesn't just happen by chance."
AS:"It was artistry. And you can tell the magnitude by the reaction—his teammates sprinted the length of the pitch to celebrate with him. De Bruyne, Kane, Casemiro—they were roaring. They knew they'd just seen something iconic."
MT:"And when the camera cut to Pellegrini on the touchline… a rare display of celebration. That's how good it was. Even the calmest man in the building couldn't help himself."
AS:"What makes it even more remarkable is that Adriano didn't fade. He kept going, kept pressing, kept offering. It wasn't a flash-in-the-pan 20 minutes. This was 90 minutes of sustained brilliance."
MT:"13 chances created, Alan. 13! Against Barcelona, in the Champions League. I mean… that's absurd."
AS:"He didn't just outperform Messi—he rewrote what we expect from a number ten in a modern system. He outplayed the best player of the generation on his own turf, and did it with grace, power, vision, and sheer flair."
MT:"Well said. So there you have it—Messi isolated, overworked, still producing flashes of brilliance… but Adriano Riveiro? He stole the show. And possibly, he's just stolen this era's spotlight."
AS:"If he keeps performing like this, Martin, we won't be comparing him to Messi. We'll be talking about a new standard altogether."
MT:(as the camera slowly fades to the scenes outside the stadium where City fans are still singing into the Barcelona night)"One leg remains. But the damage feels done. Manchester City have delivered a night for the ages. And their number ten… well, he may have just delivered the greatest individual performance this competition has ever seen."
AS:"It'll be spoken of in pubs and pundit panels for decades. That's the kind of night it was."
MT:"Barcelona 0. Manchester City 7. A scoreline etched in the marble of Champions League history… and perhaps, the night a new legend fully arrived."
Cameras panned back to the pitch. The City players were now filing down the tunnel, still exchanging wide-eyed glances and disbelief-laced chuckles. Adriano gave a quick wave to the away fans before disappearing into the tunnel with Kate at his side.
Alan Smith, with a small laugh:
"I think the man of the match has his priorities sorted. A magical end to a magical night for Adriano. I almost feel jealous Martin."
Martin Tyler, chuckling:
"Well, when you've just buried Barcelona, kissed your girl who also happens to be a hollywod actress on the pitch, and walked off having made history… what more is there to say?"
The final image before cutting to commercial was a long shot of the scoreboard again—still bright under the floodlights:
Barcelona 0 – 7 Manchester City
And just beneath it, the graphic read:
Adriano: Hat-Trick Hero – 3 Goals, 3 Assists
A moment that would be replayed, dissected, and immortalized for years to come.
The screen cut to black, then slowly faded into highlights of Adriano's goals—each one now immortalized in high-definition replay, with the sounds of the City faithful echoing louder than ever.
And it wasn't over yet. The second leg still waited.
****
[Post-Match Press Conference – Camp Nou Media Room, 11:05 PM Local Time]
The media room at the Camp Nou was filled to the brim. Dozens of journalists packed into every row, the clatter of keyboards echoing off the walls as the room buzzed with tension and disbelief. Reporters from Spain, England, France, Italy—every major outlet was here. The scoreboard outside still read Barcelona 0 – 7 Manchester City.
The press officer stepped up to the podium and tapped the mic. "We'll begin with FC Barcelona. Please, keep your questions concise. Thank you."
Enrique walked in first, shoulders stiff, jaw clenched. Lionel Messi followed slowly behind, silent, his gaze fixed somewhere on the floor in front of him. He didn't look angry. He didn't even look upset. Just… distant.
Reporter 1 (Catalunya Radio):"Luis, a lot of people are calling this the worst European result in Barcelona history. What went wrong tonight?"
Luis Enrique (LE):(voice tight)"I don't think there's just one thing. We weren't good enough—individually or collectively. When you face a side like Manchester City and allow them to control tempo, punish transitions, and get behind your midfield, this is what happens."
Reporter 2 (Marca):"Luis, was it a tactical error to not change shape at halftime? You stayed with a high line even after conceding four."
LE:"We considered changing shape. But I believed in the players, in the system that brought us here. I take full responsibility. But let's not pretend this was about formations. They outworked us, outthought us, and outplayed us. Sometimes it's just that simple."
Reporter 3 (Sky Sports):"Lionel, this was one of your quietest nights in Europe. Was there something specific about City's approach that caught you off guard?"
Lionel Messi (LM):(quietly, barely above a whisper)"They closed space faster than anyone I've played. Casemiro, Kimmich—they were always there. I couldn't find the angles. When I did, we didn't move together. That's not on just one person. It's… it's on us all."
Reporter 4 (L'Équipe):"Lionel, were you surprised by how dominant Adriano was tonight? Did you expect that kind of performance from him?"
Messi:(glancing up for the first time)"I've watched him before. I knew he was good. But tonight? He was… better than good. He was everywhere. When a player controls the game like that, you can only watch sometimes. You try to stop him—but he's already gone."
Reporter 5 (The Guardian):"Luis, will this result have consequences internally? Do you see this as a moment where things at Barcelona have to change?"
Enrique:(sighs)"I think that's for the club to decide. Right now, my job is to protect the players. We were humiliated. I know that. But this isn't the time to tear everything apart in emotion. Let's take a breath. Then we talk."
The press officer stepped forward. "Thank you. That concludes the Barcelona press conference."
As they exited, there was no applause. Just the clatter of journalists returning to their laptops, typing furiously.
***
Ten minutes later, it was Manchester City's turn.
First came Manuel Pellegrini, calm as ever, adjusting his tie slightly as he sat down. Then Adriano Riveiro, dressed sharply, hair still damp from the shower, walked in and took the seat beside him. A flash of camera bulbs lit the room like a thunderstorm.
Press Officer:"We'll start now. Questions for either Pellegrini or Adriano."
Reporter 1 (BBC Sport):"Manuel, congratulations. A 7–0 win away at Barcelona—no one saw this coming. Did you?"
Manuel Pellegrini :(mild smile)"Not this scoreline, no. But the performance? Yes. We've been building towards this for months. We studied Barcelona deeply. We knew if we kept our structure and pressed with discipline, chances would come. The players executed it with perfection."
Reporter 2 (The Athletic):"Adriano—six goal contributions in a Champions League quarterfinal. What was going through your mind as the match progressed?"
Adriano Riveiro :(grinning slightly)"To be honest? I was just having fun. Once we got the third, you could feel it—we were in control. Everyone was moving in sync. The passes were flowing. I just kept going, feeding off the energy."
Reporter 3 (La Gazzetta):"Adriano, you outperformed Messi tonight. That's not something said lightly. Did you go into this game trying to prove a point?"
Adriano:(pauses, then nods)"I respect Messi more than anyone. He's the best I've ever seen. But yeah… I wanted to show that I belong on this stage. That I can be the guy. It wasn't about proving anything to him—it was proving it to myself."
Reporter 4 (El País):"Manuel, what did you say to the players before kickoff?"
Pellegrini:(chuckling softly)"Nothing dramatic. Just told them to be brave. To trust each other. I said we didn't come here to survive—we came here to play. And if you saw that first half… that's exactly what they did."
Reporter 5 (Sky Germany):"Adriano, your chemistry with Kevin De Bruyne and Salah tonight was outstanding. How have you developed that link-up?"
Adriano:"Training. Repetition. But also, we talk. Constantly. On the pitch, off the pitch. I know when Kev likes to release early, when Mo prefers it to feet. It's not telepathy—it's just work. But yeah, it felt smooth tonight. Like jazz."
Reporter 6 (ESPN):"Manuel, does this result make Manchester City the favorites for the Champions League?"
Pellegrini:"We're in a strong position. But favorites? That doesn't matter to us. What matters is the next match. Nothing is won yet. This was a step. A big one. But just a step."
Reporter 7 (Manchester Evening News):"Adriano, what did Pellegrini say to you on the pitch after full time?"
Adriano:(smiling)"He said, 'You didn't hold back at all, lad.' Then he messed up my hair. That's when I knew I'd done something special."
Reporter 8 (Fox Sports):"One last question—what does this mean for you personally, Adriano? Tonight's performance will go down in history."
Adriano:(quiet for a moment)"It means the world. I've worked for this. Every morning, every injury, every doubt—I thought about nights like this. And now it's real. But I'm not done."
The room fell quiet for a second—before a murmur of appreciative nods and whispered "wow"s broke out.
Press Officer:"That's all for tonight. Thank you."
As the pair stood up, Pellegrini patted Adriano on the back. Cameras flashed again. Outside, City fans were still singing long into the night, their chants echoing off the famous concrete walls of the Camp Nou.
****
If the Camp Nou had gone silent by the final whistle, the internet had done the exact opposite.
Within seconds of the full-time whistle, social media exploded into a frenzy of shock, celebration, memes, and utter disbelief. Hashtags like #CityzensDemolition, #CampNouMassacre, and #AdrianoGOAT trended globally. Twitter, Instagram, and even LinkedIn saw activity, as football personalities and casual fans alike rushed to react to what many were already calling "the greatest Champions League away performance ever."
Twitter –
@GaryLineker
"Barcelona just got taken apart like IKEA furniture with no instructions. Credit to City. Ruthless. And Adriano... my word. 7–0? At the Camp Nou? That's a biblical scoreline."
@piersmorgan
"This is why I support Ronaldo. #MessiGhost"
@rioferdy5
"Adriano's playing like Messi hacked himself and installed an upgrade. Unreal. Absolutely UNREAL."
@Cesc4Official(Fabregas, clearly with popcorn)
"Tough night for the boys. But that Adriano kid… yeah, he's not from Earth."
@GNev2 (Gary Neville)
"You don't see this kind of football often. Press, possession, precision. That's not just talent—that's intelligence. Hats off to Pellegrini and City."
@PatriceEvra
"I LOVE THIS GAME!!! But not if you're wearing a Barca shirt tonight 😂😂😂"
@neymarjr(who had obviously put his phone on airplane mode during the match)
[No tweet. Just an Instagram story of his dog.]
There were some arguing with memes:
"Messi was walking around! Walking! He had more steps in his Fitbit than the ball had touches!"
"My Sunday league team would've done better!"
"It's all because of that cursed kit. I told y'all!"
@KingAdriano10 posted a simple black and gold photo of his custom AR10 boots resting on the Camp Nou turf. The caption?
"History."
The comment section was pure chaos.
@hazardeden_10: "You're not human bro 😳"
@aguerosergiokun: "Save some sauce for the semis 💀"
@kevindebruyne: "I see you. But I also see my two assists, just saying 😏"
A clip of Adriano dribbling past three defenders was set to the Titanic flute fail theme, ending with: "And Barcelona was never seen again." Another popular reel showed Messi's stats on-screen while the theme from Curb Your Enthusiasm played.
@FootyFunnies posted a reenactment with action figures: Adriano's figure literally flying over a Lego-built Camp Nou, doing triple flips and firing plastic goals into the net.
r/soccer pinned the match thread with the headline:
"Barcelona's funeral. Livestreamed in 4K."
Top comment:
"[–]RedCardRonnie: I walked into this match hoping for a tactical chess battle. What I got was Mortal Kombat: Adriano Edition."
Another user:
"[–]StatmanSteve: According to Opta, Adriano now holds the record for: most dribbles, most key passes, and most hearts broken at Camp Nou in a single match. Man needs his own Netflix docuseries.*"
r/MCFC's reaction was expectedly unhinged. One user Photoshopped Adriano's face over a Roman centurion standing in front of the burning ruins of Barcelona with the caption: "VENI, VIDI, VICI."
Talk Show Analyst Reactions
Rio Ferdinand (BT Sport):
"I've played here. I know how hard it is to even get a shot off in this stadium. What Adriano just did… that's generational."
Jamie Carragher:
"If that performance was a painting, it'd be hanging in the Louvre. And poor Messi was just a background extra in the Adriano show."
Alex Scott:
"He was tracking back, he was setting up plays, he was finishing them. Honestly, I haven't seen a 19-year-old dominate a match like this since… maybe ever?"
Craig Burley (ESPN FC):
"Barcelona were on life support after the first half. By the end, City had unplugged the machine, set the hospital on fire, and danced on the ashes. This wasn't a win—it was a dissection."
Shaka Hislop:
"I'd be scared to face Adriano right now. I'd fake a hamstring injury before kickoff."
YouTube – Instant Documentaries
Channels like TIFO and HITC had already uploaded tactical breakdowns titled:
"How Pellegrini Masterminded the Camp Nou Collapse"
"Adriano: The New Face of European Football?"
"What Went Wrong for Messi and Co."
Google Searches that skyrocketed in the aftermath:
"Who is Adriano Riveiro?"
"Youngest Champions League hat-trick at Camp Nou"
"Messi vs Adriano stats tonight"
"Pellegrini tactical masterclass"
"Barcelona refund tickets?"
"How to switch allegiances to Manchester City"
Somewhere in Manchester, club shop servers crashed under demand for AR10 shirts.
Somewhere in Barcelona, an emergency meeting was being scheduled.
And somewhere online, fans just stared at the scoreboard over and over again, blinking at the reality of it.
Barcelona 0 – 7 Manchester City.The world hadn't just watched a match.They had witnessed a turning point.And Twitter? It was having the time of its life.
Meanwhile, the man who caused this global phenomena was busy sharing the moment with his lover in quiet and calm, not focusing on the outside noise, just what truly mattered.