Unrivaled - Alessia Russo

I kneel down to tie my laces, taking a moment to shake out my legs, letting the tension slip away. The calm before the storm. Once I'm ready, I follow the girls out, positioning myself between Lucy and Keira as we make our way toward the tunnel.

As we step into the darkened space, I take a deep breath, closing my eyes for just a second to center myself. The roar of the crowd is a distant hum, but in this moment, everything feels focused. Calm.

I let the air fill my lungs, a quiet confidence settling over me. Time to fuck some shit up. The thought runs through my mind, and I smile to myself, ready for whatever comes next.

I watch as the Arsenal girls walk down the tunnel, Leah at the front, her game face firmly in place. She catches my eye, gives me a brief nod, and I return the gesture, both of us locked in that quiet, understanding moment.

As I turn to follow the team, I freeze for just a second, my gaze drawn back. Those blue eyes. The ones my mind hasn't been able to stop thinking about. She notices me looking, and with a soft smile, she gives me a polite wave.

My heart skips a beat, but I quickly compose myself. I offer her a smile in return, my eyes softening, and a small nod—acknowledging the brief connection before I finally turn and continue down the tunnel.

Lately, it feels like Alessia has been occupying more and more of my thoughts, and for some reason, I don't mind it. It's like a quiet undercurrent, pulling my attention in ways I hadn't expected. But I push the thought away. I've got a job to do. The game's right in front of me, and that's where my focus needs to be.

As the Champions League anthem fades and the roar of the fans fills the stadium, I follow Keira, both of us making our way over to shake hands with the Arsenal girls. The energy is electric, and for a moment, there's mutual respect shared between us. After a quick picture and a few hugs, we huddle together, the nerves settling into focus.

Alexia takes command, her presence as captain undeniable. We all listen intently, our respect for her clear, the confidence we have in her unwavering.

"Barçá!" Mapi shouts, slamming her hand into the center of our circle, and we all follow suit, our voices rising in unity.

"BARCÁ!!"

With that, the huddle breaks apart, and we head to our positions on the field.

I walk alongside Alexia, adjusting her captain's armband with a quick, focused motion. Once it's perfectly in place, I glance down for a moment, then look at her, giving her a confident nod. Without another word, I turn and sprint to my position. Let the games begin.

The whistle blows, and we're off. We quickly seize possession, pushing up the pitch with intensity. I'm quickly flanked by two defenders, but that's not going to stop me. I'll make it work.

In the 16th minute, Keira sends a perfectly timed long ball, dropping it right at my feet. I take a quick touch to control it, but the keeper charges out at full speed. Without hesitation, I fake right, watching her bite on the move. In a heartbeat, I shift left, creating just enough space to slot the ball past her into the back of the net.

The stadium erupts as I sprint toward the corner flag, my heart racing with adrenaline. My teammates rush to meet me, all of us colliding in a joyful heap of hugs and cheers. I can barely catch my breath, but the smile on my face says it all. Alexia is the first to grab me, pulling me into a tight embrace as we jump around, celebrating the moment together.

"Yessss!" Mapi yells, and I can't help but laugh, basking in the pure excitement of the goal. We break apart, hands in the air, our energy unstoppable. The crowd is still roaring, and we know this is just the beginning.

As we make our way back into position, I can't help but feel the rush of excitement still pulsing through me. I pump my hands up into the air, rallying the crowd, and then put my hand to my ear. It's half a taunt, half an invitation to our fans—urging them to make some noise.

The Barçá fans pick up on it immediately, their cheers growing louder, the energy in the stadium skyrocketing. I give them a grin, feeling the connection between us. This is what it's all about. I keep my eyes locked on the game, but the buzz of the crowd only pushes me harder.

Alessia's POV

We break away from the quick huddle, minds racing as we try to figure out how to stop Izzi—if that's even possible. I watch her, raising her hands to pump up the Barçá fans, clearly feeding off their energy. Then, with that grin of hers, she puts her hand to her ear, as if daring the crowd to get louder.

I have to stop myself from laughing—her confidence is almost infectious. A smirk tugs at the corner of my mouth, despite myself. She's clearly loving this moment, soaking in the attention. But I can't let that distract me. I can't let her control any more of my thoughts.

We need to find a way to shut her down, or this game will be over before we even have a chance to fight back.

By halftime, everything feels different. I've had a chance at goal, but Izzi headed it away effortlessly. No matter what I try, I just can't find a way to stop her. Our defense has been working tirelessly to keep her off the ball, leaving us with little opportunity to create any real buildup.

During the break, Leah tries to inject some energy into us, rallying the team with her words. But I can see the toll this match is taking on her—physically and mentally. We all can.

With her determination fueling us, the girls and I step back onto the pitch with a newfound energy, ready to fight for every moment.