Chapter 30: Las Palmas and the Ghosts
October 1, 2017 – Camp Nou (Empty Stadium)
La Liga Matchday 7: FC Barcelona vs. UD Las Palmas
Camp Nou was silent.
No chants.
No cheers.
No crowd at all.
Just the click of studs.
The sharp calls of defenders.
And a city teetering on the edge of protest.
Barcelona was playing in a ghost stadium.
And for the first time since Noah Marlowe had arrived…
He felt alone.
Pre-Match – Political Shadow
Earlier that morning, news of violent clashes across Catalonia reached the players.
The referendum.
The police response.
Tear gas in the streets.
La Liga gave the green light:
Play the match. Behind closed doors.
Inside the locker room, nobody spoke.
Not even Messi.
Noah stood in front of the tactics board and paused.
"This match isn't about beauty," he said. "It's about clarity."
He didn't mention Catalonia.
He didn't have to.
To Messi:
"You'll drift where you want. Let instinct speak."
To Pedri:
"You're the pulse again. If silence makes you nervous—listen closer."
Starting XI vs. Las Palmas
GK: Ter Stegen
DEF: Alba – Umtiti – Piqué – Semedo
MID: Busquets – Puig – Pedri
FOR: Messi – Suárez – Mbappé
System: 4-3-3 Free Pulse
Rakitic and Deulofeu on the bench. Iniesta not in the squad.
Kickoff – Minute 1 to 15
The silence was disturbing.
Noah could hear every pass.
Every breath.
Every curse under a player's breath.
Las Palmas didn't sit back.
They pressed conservatively, then dropped into a 5-4-1 shape.
Minute 7 — Mbappé beat his man and crossed.
Suárez header—saved.
Minute 11 — Pedri weaved past two and fired.
Blocked.
The rhythm was there.
But the soul wasn't.
Minute 19 – Las Palmas Threaten
Long ball over the top.
Piqué mistimed it.
Las Palmas striker broke through.
Ter Stegen rushed out—block with the chest.
Noah tapped the side of the tablet.
"Focus level dipping. Messi location variance high. Mbappé touches too wide."
He looked to his assistant.
"They're not tired. They're distracted."
Minute 29 – Messi Disappears
Not off the field.
But off the map.
He stopped receiving passes.
Stopped calling for the ball.
He walked more than he ran.
Noah watched closely.
Then said softly:
"The ghosts have reached him."
Halftime – 0–0
Noah entered the locker room and didn't touch the whiteboard.
He stood in front of them and simply asked:
"Where are you?"
Nobody answered.
He looked at Messi.
"Leo?"
Messi's voice was soft. "I'm listening."
"To what?"
Messi looked up slowly.
"To the field. It's talking. Just… not to us."
Noah nodded once.
Then turned to the others.
"Then we make it speak our language."
Second Half – Minute 46 to 65
Barcelona upped the tempo.
Puig began to press.
Pedri rotated wider.
Busquets stopped holding and started punching gaps.
Minute 52 — Pedri to Suárez, who turned and laid it off.
Messi arrived late—one step.
Shot. GOAL.
1–0 Barcelona.
Still no cheers.
Only the echo of the net rippling.
Minute 61 – Mbappé Awakens
Semedo intercepted a pass and launched it forward.
Mbappé chased.
Took two touches.
Exploded into the box.
Cut inside. Shot low. GOAL.
2–0 Barcelona.
No celebration.
Just a deep breath.
"System sync restored. Focus resynchronized. Emotional latency dropped."
Minute 67 – Substitution
Out: Puig
In: Rakitic
The tempo slowed again.
Barcelona passed without risk.
But Messi didn't stop.
He began wandering again.
Not aimlessly—intentionally.
Into areas without the ball.
Without defenders.
Without purpose…
…unless you were listening.
Minute 81 – The Final Message
Messi received the ball 25 meters out.
No pass.
No dribble.
Just a pause.
Then he chipped it through two defenders.
Pedri, unseen by all, arrived at the back post.
GOAL – Pedri.
3–0.
The final nail.
The final whisper.
Full-Time – Barcelona 3 – 0 Las Palmas
No applause.
Just a silent scoreboard glowing above an empty stadium.
And players walking off like monks leaving a temple.
Post-Match – Tunnel Reflection
Noah walked next to Messi in silence.
Until Messi asked, "Have you ever played without a heartbeat?"
Noah replied, "No. But today I think we became the heartbeat."
Messi didn't answer.
Just nodded once.
Press Conference – Strange Calm
"Why no changes until the hour mark?" a reporter asked.
Noah answered, "Because the field wasn't ready to listen yet."
Another asked, "Messi looked… strange tonight. Not quiet. Not commanding. Just—wandering."
Noah smiled.
"He was searching for the signal."
Final System Report
Match Result: Barcelona 3 – 0 Las Palmas
Goals: Messi, Mbappé, Pedri
Assists: Suárez, Semedo, Messi
Pedri Rating: 8.7
Messi Influence: 9.1 (Ghost Role)
System Pulse: Stable
Crowd: Absent
Emotional Load: High
Next Fixture: Atlético Madrid (October 14)
System Alert:
"Silence tested the rhythm.
Identity held.
Messi alignment drifting.
Tactical anomaly noted.
External interference… pending review."