The Equalizer Ignites the Derby
Barcelona Match 2 — Ha! What a stunning goal! Ter Stegen stretched out his hand but couldn’t stop the equalizer from going in. [So that’s how it goes in?]
Harrison wore an expression of utter shock at Ha Sunmoon’s shot. “I didn’t think it would go in either…. First time I’ve tried it, and it worked!”
The goal that drew cheers from every Espanyol fan and praise from the commentators had been something of a fluke. Yet even after scoring, Ha Sunmoon, still under the influence of English football fundamentals, sprinted straight back toward the halfway line.
[Why are you suddenly running over there like that?]
“Because we just equalized. If we want the winner, we need to get up the pitch quickly. Makes sense, right?”
[Sunmoon! You’ve finally become a real footballer! That’s exactly it!]
Harrison beamed with delight at Ha Sunmoon’s instinctive reaction. Of course, the fans who didn’t understand his current state interpreted it as a protest against the manager or the board for failing to offer him a proper contract.
[But why are those bastards taking so long to get up here? Someone yell at them.]
Yet the very next moment, the roar that burst from Ha Sunmoon’s lungs forced them to revise their opinion of him in a far more favorable light.
“What are you waiting for? We’re not going for the winner? Move it!”
The other Espanyol players hadn’t fully grasped Ha Sunmoon’s intent either. Even after scoring a memorable league goal, his refusal to celebrate had been read as lingering frustration from the dressing-room argument. A few were still ambling back, content with the equalizer, until his shout jolted them into action.
“Ah! Right. He’s the type who wants everything done properly.”
Tomás, who had been sharing the joy of the goal with the crowd, immediately snatched the ball and sprinted toward the halfway line.
“Get back here!”
Captain López, now understanding the plan, shouted as well, and the rest of the team quickly crossed the halfway line.
— Ha has scored an artistic equalizer but offered no celebration! He seems to crave victory more than enjoyment!
— Espanyol wants a win at home, not a draw! And the Barcelona players’ eyes have grown noticeably sharper. A draw here could hand first place to Real Madrid.
Tatatatatak — De Jong! He spreads it wide toward Griezmann! But Espanyol’s right-back Gómez and right-winger Embarba combine to dispossess Griezmann.
“Press them hard!”
Seeing his players fight with unexpected intensity, Abelardo Fernández shouted encouragement, his voice alive with excitement.
— Embarba finds Tomás, who lays it back! Darder receives it. The build-up flows smoothly, and this time a threat emerges on the right.
— Embarba receives from Darder and crosses again! Tomás has found a good position.
— Tomás header! Thud! Tomás heads it, but Ter Stegen manages to palm it away. He aimed for the corner sharply, but the effort lacked a little power.
— Espanyol shaking Barcelona once more! A true derby — both sides are extremely aggressive!
Perhaps it was the fire Ha Sunmoon had lit, but the defensive approach Abelardo Fernández had spoken of before kickoff had vanished. An attacking 4-3-3 was now in full flow. In defense, Ha Sunmoon’s constant movement turned the shape into something closer to a 3-2-4-1.
— Espanyol’s tactics are extremely fluid. Switching between 4-4-2, 4-2-3-1, and now 3-2-4-1.
— They’ve clearly prepared thoroughly for Barcelona.
The La Liga commentary team highlighted the tactical variety. Barcelona, unaccustomed to such frequent changes, looked unsettled.
‘Was Abelardo always this flexible with his tactics?’
Barcelona manager Valverde frowned from the touchline.
‘And that left-back is seriously annoying. Scoring goals and defending brilliantly.’
— Valverde looks deeply troubled. Taking the lead was good, but now they’re completely outmaneuvered by Abelardo’s system.
The camera caught Valverde’s grim expression, making Barcelona’s discomfort plain for all to see.
“From now on, move the ball faster. Almost like a counter-attack!”
Valverde decided to tweak his approach.
— Espanyol’s attack breaks down. Barcelona launch a counter! Piqué passes to Busquets, who immediately slides it forward to Messi!
As Barcelona accelerated their passing, danger quickly followed.
[That’s the one from earlier! Deal with it this time!]
Harrison had warned Ha Sunmoon the moment Piqué played to Busquets. Ha Sunmoon immediately closed down on Messi. But Messi was Messi. Sensing the approach, he tried to dribble past.
[Don’t let him go! He’ll score! Block him even if you have to crash into him!]
Ha Sunmoon ran straight into Messi. Thud!
“Aaaagh!”
Both players tumbled to the ground.
Peeeeep!
“That was deliberate! He should at least get a card!”
Several Barcelona players protested to the referee. But the official simply stared them down in silence.
“Ah.”
“Uh… well…”
Once they confirmed the referee was Lahoz, the Barcelona players fell quiet.
“Huuuuh.”
Ha Sunmoon rose after the collision.
“I told you to do it, didn’t I?”
“Yes.”
Lahoz called Ha Sunmoon over.
“Don’t be so reckless again.”
“Understood.”
The referee issued a verbal warning; Ha Sunmoon answered simply.
[Perfect! The ref’s lenient on physical challenges!]
Harrison looked thoroughly satisfied. On top of that, Lahoz was an authoritative referee. Harrison felt as though the heavens themselves were helping Ha Sunmoon.
* * *
Thud! Ha Sunmoon and Messi collided once more. This time Messi had his back to him and absorbed the impact. Years of experience had taught him how to hold his ground, and Ha Sunmoon was the one who got shoved back.
“Nngh…”
[No. It hurts, but stay focused and get back on him!]
As Messi began to advance with the ball, Ha Sunmoon, who had just crashed into him, chased after him again. The stamina he had built training with Harrison carried him through the closing stages of the first half.
‘Now!’
Messi, perhaps failing to properly track the runner from behind, left a small gap. Ha Sunmoon lunged and tackled.
— Ha! He closes in again and wins the tackle! He cleanly takes the ball, and Messi goes down!
The ball Ha Sunmoon won rolled to Sánchez, who prepared to launch an attack.
— Ha! Absolutely remarkable! He’s pressing Messi relentlessly. Two tackle attempts on the same player in a matter of seconds.
— It’s like watching Manchester United’s ‘G’ in the Champions League. We’ve seen similar scenes before.
The commentators heaped further praise on Ha Sunmoon’s repeated tackling.
— Ha! He’s straight back up and involved in the build-up again.
Ha Sunmoon immediately pushed forward to support the line, but when possession was lost he dropped back into a defensive position.
[No! Target their holding midfielder this time! That player’s been dictating the tempo with his passing.]
Realizing Barcelona were building through Busquets, Harrison opted for a more aggressive instruction.
— Oh! Ha! A powerful tackle! The moment Busquets receives from the center-back and turns, Ha Sunmoon closes in and dives in with a sliding tackle!
The challenge was successful, but both ball and Busquets went down.
Peeeeep!
“Whoa!”
The whistle blew, but startled Barcelona players rushed over. As Ha Sunmoon found himself surrounded, Espanyol players quickly arrived to push the Barcelona players back.
— Da! Players from both teams are squaring up.
— Of course! It’s a derby. Neither side is giving anything away easily. Barcelona fighting for first place and Espanyol battling relegation — both have reasons to win, and neither wants to back down in a confrontation.
Thanks to his teammates pulling him away, Ha Sunmoon escaped the melee.
[This is it. The opposition can’t keep their heads.]
A rough game with a lenient referee. The top dogs always struggled in such matches. Barcelona were sinking into the swamp that was Espanyol.
[I told you, didn’t I? Football is war. Anyone who can’t control themselves here loses.]
When the players failed to calm down, an angry Lahoz abandoned verbal warnings.
[Barcelona players can’t hide their frustration. Even with a blind referee right in front of them.]
Lahoz pulled out the yellow card and brandished it repeatedly. Five yellows were shown in quick succession just before halftime.