The Mediterranean sun scorched Villareal's Estadio de la Ceramica, its 23,500 yellow-clad fans a sea of noise and defiance.
"Submarino!" "Submarino!"
Chants from their fans thundered as Barcelona emerged from the tunnel, jeered like invaders on sacred soil.
A thousand kilometers north, in the Basque Country, San Mames vibrated with Basque drums and chants as Real Madrid stepped into a cauldron of resistance.
Two arenas. Two battles. One message: dominance.
Hansi Flick started in his regular 4-2-3-1 formation with Jose Garcia in goal, while ahead of him was the now familiar defensive quadruple of Jules Kounde, Ronald Araujo, Pau Cubarsi, and Alejandro Balde.
In midfield was Pedri and Gavi, Gavi once again starting over Frankie de Jong, while ahead of them was Sam in central attacking midfield.
To Sam's right and left were Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, while like usual, Robert Lewandowski led the line as the striker.
The first half could be summarized in one word… Villareal Fury.
FWEEE!
From kickoff, Villareal struck first, not with a goal, but with suffocating pressure, showing their intention for this game right from the bat.
In the 8th minute, Sam was hacked down on the wing. Boos erupted from the FC Barcelona fans when no yellow card was shown.
In the 14th minute, Villareal's striker forced Garcia into a fingertip save with a dipping strike from distance.
By the 22nd minute of the game, Gavi and Pedri were battling ferociously in midfield, sliding into crunching tackles as the crowd whistled every Barcelona touch, Gavi especially repaying every Villareal rough play aura for aura.
Despite the hostile setting, as the game settled, Barcelona did what they did best; they began carving openings.
In the 30th minute, Yamal breezed past his marker with insulting audacity, delivering a low cross that Lewandowski flicked just wide.
In the 37th minute, Raphinha cut inside, curling a left-footed shot that rattled the crossbar. After a highly impressive season in the last campaign, Raphinha was finding it difficult to replicate the same success, but he was still solid for Barcelona.
But while Barca slowly built dominance, Villareal had fight. A late first half corner forced Araujo into a heroic clearance off the line.
Barca fans literally had their hearts in their throat.
By halftime, it was 0-0. The Yellow Submarine refused to sink.
…
Meanwhile – Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid.
San Mames roared like thunder as Athletic Bilbao hunted Madrid with relentless pressing. It was the first away games for both Spanish giant clubs, and their opponents were determined not to make it easy for them.
But used to absorbing pressure like they were, Madrid played their game.
In the 11th minute, Vinicius attempted a cheeky chip but was denied by the goalkeeper's quick reflexes.
In the 24th minute, a Bilbao counter forced Courtois into a sprawling save, his first save of the game but a statement from the Athletic Bilbao players.
But then, in the 29th minute of the game, Real Madrid had their moment as Kylian Mbappe finally broke free, outrunning two defenders with his electric pace before slamming a low shot into the bottom corner.
0-1 Madrid.
By halftime, the game stayed 0-1, but Alonso's men were visibly rattled by the ferocity of San Mames.
…
Back in Villareal, the second half finally started after a goalless first half, and Hansi Flick made his move.
In the 56th minute of the game, he made a substitution, introducing Frankie de Jong who replaced Raphinha, shifting Gavi left and adding midfield control.
And then, the breakthrough…
In the 61st minute of the game, Frankie de Jong had his first touch of the game due to the tight intensity of it.
His first touch was a slicing pass to Yamal, who immediately exploded into action, danced into the box before squaring it to Lewandowski.
It was a simple but thunderous finish.
GOAL!
0-1 Barcelona.
The stadium fell silent as Lewandowski sprinted to the corner flag, save for the few roaring FC Barcelona fans, as Lewandowski pointed to Sam in acknowledgement for orchestrating the buildup.
After that goal, Villareal's desperation truly showed.
The home side poured forward in numbers, determined to get a goal and claw their way back into the game.
In the 69th minute, a curling Villareal free kick clanged off the post.
In the 74th minute, they went again, but Garcia produced a miraculous reflex save from point-blank range.
Barcelona's high press and Araujo's leadership held firm, but the tension was suffocating in the stadium as the game leaned dangerously close to its dying phases.
But then, a moment of magic happened in the 82nd minute.
With Villareal overcommitting, space opened.
It was a Sam masterpiece as intercepting a loose pass, he glided past two midfielders with an audaciously smooth La Croqueta, before surging into the final third with blinding speed and silky control.
The Villareal defense reacted by instinct, backpedaling in panic.
As defenders collapsed onto him, he feigned a shot, slipped between, before chipping the goalkeeper with an effortless scoop.
GOAL!
0-2 Barcelona!
Even Villareal fans stood and applauded the genius on display. At this point, after such a masterpiece, even they couldn't bring it in them to hate.
The away section erupted, chanting:
"Dios del Futbol!"
Others chanted. "Sam!" "Sam!" "Sam!"
…
On the other side, as Barcelona celebrated, news filtered from San Mames as in the 87th minute of the game, Real Madrid doubled down to secure their lead.
A late break saw Vinicius cut inside and smash a curling strike into the net.
The final score was all Madrid.
[FULL-TIME: Athletic Bilbao 0-2 Real Madrid]
Madrid had survived, Alonso's men escaping with a statement win in one of Spain's most hostile stadiums.
…
At Estadio de la Ceramica…
FWEEE!
The final whistle blew.
[FULL-TIME: Villareal 0-2 Barcelona]
Goals from Lewandowski at the 61st minute and Sam at the 82nd minute sealed the game.
And once again, Sam won the man of the match award for his leadership, brilliance in transition, and a sealing goal of sublime quality.
It was parallel headlines at the end of the game.
*["Football God Delivers Away Masterclass – Barcelona Look Unstoppable."]
*["Madrid's Steel at San Mames – Mbappe, Vinicius Shine Again."]
*["El Clasico Looms: Two Titans, Perfect Starts."]
Spain was divided in loyalty but united in anticipation.
Every match felt like an arrow loosed from one giant toward the other, and soon, those arrows would no longer be indirect.
Soon… they would collide in October's firestorm.