After a full week of wait, the D-day was finally here.
The Champions League anthem roared through the loudspeakers, echoing across a packed Spotify Camp Nou like a holy invocation.
The stands shimmered with a sea of blaugrana flags, waved fervently by over 90,000 Barcelona faithful, their voices already climbing into a crescendo of thunderous chants. On the touchline, cameras flashed in rapid staccato bursts as global broadcasters tuned in.
This wasn't just a football match.
This was a battlefield. And tonight, two European giants were going to war.
And not just any European giants either, FC Barcelona and Liverpool. One was a Spanish giant with a deep and illustrious history in Spain, while the other was an English Behemoth.
Adding to the flames was the fact that both clubs had a thrilling backstory and history in the UEFA Champions League.
The last time Barca and Liverpool met in the UEFA Champions League, Barca's 6th champions league title bid was disrupted as they capitulated in Anfield, losing a 3-0 first leg advantage in the famous English stadium.
Tonight, it was not just a UEFA Champions League game.
To FC Barcelona fans, it was revenge night.
[UEFA Champions League – League Phase, Matchday 2]
[Venue: Spotify Camp Nou, Barcelona]
[Fixture: FC Barcelona vs Liverpool FC]
Lineups for both clubs were released an hour ahead of time.
FC Barcelona started in their regular 4-2-3-1 formation with Jose Garcia in goal, while ahead of him was the defensive quadruple of Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Pau Cubarsi, and Alejandro Balde.
In midfield was the duo of Pedri and Gavi, while Frankie de Jong started as the central attacking midfielder on the night.
Lamine Yamal started in right wing, Raphinha on the left, while leading through the middle was a familiar face… Samuel Moses.
In Lewandowski's absence, Hansi Flick let Sam captain this FC Barcelona side as he took him back to the striker position for this game.
From the roar in the stands, FC Barcelona fans adored this decision.
In Liverpool's side, starting in a 4-3-3, Alisson Becker started in goal, while their back four comprised Jeremy Frimpong, Ibrahima Konate, Virgil Van Dijk, and Andy Robertson. The midfield trio were Mac Allister, Szoboszlai, and Wataru Endo.
The attacking trio? Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, and Darwin Nunez.
As the players walked out, shoulder to shoulder with the future mascots of the sport, the camera panned to Sam at the head of the line, captain's armband strapped proudly to his bicep, jaw set, eyes gleaming under the floodlights.
Across from him, Virgil Van Dijk wore a similar expression. A silent acknowledgement passed between them; mutual respect, and wariness.
Tonight, the world was watching.
And then…
FWEEE!
The referee blew his whistle, and the Spotify Cap Nou ignited like an engine revved into life.
Liverpool came out with fury, pressing high as Arne Slot's strategy for the night resembled Jurgen Kloppe's famous gengen press. Nunez hounded Cubarsi like a starving wolf, while Salah and Gakpo closed down the fullbacks aggressively.
Barcelona, however, held their nerve.
In the 3rd minute, a brilliant triangle between Pedri, Gavi, and Raphinha sliced through midfield pressure, springing a diagonal to Lamine Yamal.
The wonderkid received the ball with grace and glided down the right wing with samba footwork, cut inside, before curling a shot toward the far post.
Alisson punched it clear, but the statement was made. Barca weren't here to be overwhelmed in their own home.
In the 9th minute, Liverpool retaliated. Jeremy Frimpong picked out a sublime cross field ball to Gakpo, who cut inside, nutmegged Kounde, and rifled a shot inches above the crossbar.
Gakpo cursed in disbelief.
The pace of the game was breathless. Tackles flew in, passes zipped as neither side blinked. It felt like a final.
In midfield, the battle raged as Szoboszlai's physicality clashed repeatedly with Pedri's balletic control. The Hungarian attempted to bulldoze his way through every challenge, but Pedri danced through tight spaces, pirouetting past pressure like a matador.
Gavi, meanwhile, brought the fire.
In the 18th minute, he went shoulder to shoulder with Mac Allister, slid into a full-blooded challenge and emerged with the ball and a roar from the crowd.
The Spotify Camp Nou responded to every duel with feral noise.
And then, in the 25th minute, after absorbing waves of Liverpool pressure, the first true scare came as Barcelona nearly cracked.
Jeremy Frimpong, drifting into midfield, threaded a line-breaking pass into Salah's feet. The Egyptian king twisted past Balde with silky footwork, dove into the box, and fired low.
Jose Garcia, Barca's new goalkeeper reacted in a flash, diving full stretch to palm the shot wide.
"OH MY GOD! WHAT A SAVE!"
"Jose Garcia's proving he belongs on this stage," the commentator noted. "Big moment from the young Spaniard!"
The game was tight and cagey.
Even though Sam hadn't touched the ball often since he played as a striker tonight, his presence altered the entire rhythm of Liverpool's backline.
Van Dijk and Konate doubled up constantly, wary of his ability to turn a half-chance into a wonder goal. They didn't want to give him even a sniff of goal.
In the 31st minute, Barcelona finally found him.
Gavi intercepted a pass in midfield and slid a quick ball into Sam's feet. One touch, spin, then a burst of pace.
BZZZ!
Sam blitzed past Konate like a ghost and quickly unleashed a shot, only for Alisson to parry with his chest.
The rebound fell to Raphinha, whose volley skimmed the post.
"Dammit!" Sam grabbed his hair, lamenting how close they came to scoring.
The game continued, tight and tense.
And then in the 36th minute, Barcelona had their moment.
Pedri played a wicked no-look pass into the box, leaving the Liverpool defense scrambling. Yamal received the ball and chipped it to the far post, where Sam met it with a flying header that crashed into the net.
BAM! The net shook.
The Spotify Camp Nou exploded.
But the referee raised his hand.
VAR check.
Offside!
Yamal was inches ahead of the last defender when Pedri released the pass.
Groans echoed around the Nou Camp, but the energy didn't dip.
Arne Slot barked from the touchline, urging Szoboszlai to push higher.
Hansi Flick responded by dropping Frankie de Jong deeper, shifting into a pseudo 4-3-3 to regain control of the midfield.
The final minutes of the first half became a chess match; each side testing, feinting, looking for a crack.
Then came the moment.
In the 44th minute, Balde intercepted an overhit cross and sparked a rapid counter. He found Pedri, who fed Sam on turn. Sam clipped a pass wide to Yamal, who darted inside and tried to curl one from range.
The ball arced perfectly, until Alisson, yet again, denied them with a flying fingertip save. The Liverpool goalkeeper was on fire.
FWEEE!
The halftime whistle rang.
0-0.
But it felt like a volcano was about to erupt.
As the players jogged off the pitch, Sam clapped his hands, rallying the team. Behind them, the Spotify Camp Nou rose in full voice.
Barcelona had survived the storm.
Now, it was time to dig in and strike back.