The second kick-off was swift. The Barca players had a stern look on their face as they reset, lining back up in their original positions.
However, the echoes of Marin's goal was still ringing in the stadium.
Barcelona had been shell-shocked for a brief moment—a collective intake of breath as they tried to absorb the significance of what had just happened. The pitch was alive with tension and determination as both teams reset for the restart.
Amongst all Barca players who wore grim faces, two stood out. And these two were Santos and Elian. They stood out, not for their faces or anger, but for the troubled introspection that had taken hold of them.
The game resumed, and the familiar rhythm of short passes and intricate moves emerged. Barca was still passing in their disciplined manner, but something was missing. Their spark was lost, they didn't have that magic to their touch.
