The Borussia Dortmund training complex buzzed with a nervous edge on July 25, 2008. Neil Goyal, towel slung over his shoulder, stood among the academy lads, heart pounding like a drum.
Word had spread fast. Jürgen Klopp, the new first-team boss, had called up a handful of youngsters for a mixed-squad friendly against FC Bayern München, the Bundesliga juggernaut.
Last season, per Transfermarkt, Bayern topped the 2007-08 table with 76 points, champions, towering over Dortmund's 40-point, 13th-place finish. This was Neil's shot, a chance to prove himself to Klopp and nudge closer to a main-team sub spot.
In the locker room, academy coach Thomas Tuchel clapped Neil on the back. "You are in the mix, kid. Three goals against Leverkusen got Klopp's attention. Show Bayern that control and finish. Stay ready."
Neil nodded, eyes flicking to the squad list pinned up. First-teamers from Dortmund's 2008-09 roster, included Roman Weidenfeller in goal, Neven Subotić and Felipe Santana at center back, Marcel Schmelzer at left back, and Sebastian Kehl anchoring midfield.
Wingers Kevin Grosskreutz and Tamas Hajnal, striker Nelson Valdez, mixed with youngsters like Mario Götze and Neil, listed as a forward.
Bayern's blend: Hans-Jörg Butt in goal, defenders Philipp Lahm and Daniel Van Buyten, midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, and striker Miroslav Klose.
Neil summoned his system. The blue panel glowed.
Neil Goyal. GOAT System Interface
Finishing: 20 (MAX)
Ball Control: 19
Dribbling: 13
First Touch: 13
All Other Stats: 7
Stat Points Available: 9
Legacy Counter: 0.12%
Current Global GOAT Rank: Unlisted
Next Rank: Recognized Academy Talent (1.00%)
"Nine points from Bayer," the systems female voice purred. "Allocate now or save?" Neil exhaled. Ball Control at 19 and First Touch at 13 shone, but he craved perfection to face Bayern's elite.
Pace lagged, leaving him a step slow. "One to Ball Control, seven to First Touch, one to Pace," he whispered, focus sharp. The panel rippled. Numbers shifted.
Finishing: 20 (MAX)
Ball Control: 20 (MAX)
First Touch: 20 (MAX)
Dribbling: 13
Pace: 8
All Other Stats: 7
Stat Points Available: 0
A surge flowed through him. His feet felt magnetic, ready to tame any pass with flawless precision. A spark of speed tingled in his legs. Neil grinned, boots itching.
The Signal Iduna Park pitch gleamed under floodlights, a modest crowd of fans and scouts buzzing. Klopp, cap low, watched from the sideline, arms folded.
Tuchel coached the mixed squad, shouting, "Press high, move fast!" Neil started on the bench, eyes locked on the game. The whistle blew. Bayern moved like clockwork.
Schweinsteiger sprayed a pass to Lahm, who bombed down the right. His cross found Klose, who nodded it past Weidenfeller.
1 to 0, eight minutes in. Dortmund fought back. Götze, nimble and quick, linked with Hajnal, whose shot forced Butt to parry. Valdez pounced, but Van Buyten cleared.
At the 25th minute, Tuchel turned. "Neil, warm up! Valdez needs a breather." Neil sprang up, jogging, pulse racing. Fans murmured, "The Indian lad again."
Klopp's gaze followed. The clock hit 30. "Go, Neil!" Tuchel called. Valdez jogged off, muttering, "Give em hell." Neil ran on, yellow and black kit bright, the crowd stirring.
A chance came fast. Schmelzer lofted a ball from the left. Neil, reading it, darted between Van Buyten and Lahm. First Touch at 20 tamed the high pass, a perfect caress, ball dropping dead.
Ball Control at 20 kept it glued, flawless under pressure. Schweinsteiger closed, all muscle and grit. Neil rolled the ball, a slick turn, and broke free. Götze slid a pass into the box.
Neil trapped it, pure mastery, Van Buyten lunging. He feinted left, Dribbling at 13 buying a sliver, then struck. Finishing at 20 blazed, a low drive ripping past Butt to the near post. 1 to 1. The stands shook, chants of "Neil! Neil!" rising.
"Three stat points," the system buzzed. "Bayern are stronger." Tuchel roared, "Class, Neil!" Götze fist-bumped him. "Keep it up, man!" Klopp scribbled, eyes sharp. Bayern reset. Lahm crossed, Klose headed, but Weidenfeller clawed it away.
Dortmund countered. Grosskreutz charged down the right, cut back. Neil moved, instinct pulling him to the edge of the box. The ball came, awkward and bouncing. First Touch at 20 steadied it, a velvet catch.
Ball Control at 20 settled it tight. Lahm rushed in, quick and clever. Neil twisted, held possession, and fired, a curling shot arcing to the top corner. Butt dove, fingertips grazing, but the net bulged. 2 to 1.
"Three more points," the system sang. Six total. The crowd erupted, deafening. Tuchel pumped a fist. "That is magic, kid!" Grosskreutz yelled, "You are unreal!"
Klopp stood, nodding, pen flying. Neil jogged back, sweat dripping, heart soaring. Halftime hit, 2 to 1. Tuchel huddled them. "Neil, your touch and control are killing it. Stay alive, Bayern bite back."
The second half kicked off. Bayern surged. Schweinsteiger fed Klose, whose shot stung Weidenfeller's gloves. The rebound fell, Subotić cleared.
Neil tracked back, lungs burning, Stamina at 7 a quiet ache. At the 60th minute, Kehl nicked a ball, passed to Götze, who lofted it forward.
Neil sprinted, Pace at 8 a touch quicker, gaining on Lahm. He trapped it, First Touch at 20 flawless, Ball Control at 20 supreme. Van Buyten pressed, physical and tall.
Neil turned, held the ball, and slipped a pass to Grosskreutz, who crossed.
Neil bolted to the box, outpacing a defender by a hair. The ball dropped. He controlled it, spun, and struck, a rocket to the far post. Butt leapt, too late. 3 to 1.
"Three more points," the system buzzed. Nine total. The stands roared, shaking. Tuchel shouted, "Brilliant, Neil!" Götze grinned. "You are a machine!" Klopp clapped, eyes bright, whispering to an assistant.
Bayern pushed back. Schweinsteiger sprayed a ball to Lahm, who crossed. Klose volleyed, but Santana blocked.
Neil chased a loose ball, Pace at 8 helping, but Van Buyten shouldered him off, Strength at 7 faltering. The clock ticked to 80. Dortmund clung to 3 to 1.
A late chance came. Hajnal lobbed a ball, high and curling. Neil dashed forward, Pace at 8 pushing him. First Touch at 20 plucked it from the air, a perfect trap.
Ball Control at 20 kept it close. Two defenders swarmed. Neil twisted, shielded, and laid it off to Götze, who shot, Butt parrying.
Neil pounced, 12 yards out, and fired, a low screamer. Butt dove, catching it. No goal, but the crowd chanted, "Neil! Neil! Neil!"
The whistle blew, 3 to 1. In the locker room, Götze slapped his back. "Three against Bayern? Insane, man!"
Tuchel approached. "Neil, that touch, that control, pure class. Klopp's buzzing. Main team training next week, sub spot is in reach. Keep it up." Neil nodded, heart racing.
The system flared.
Finishing: 20 (MAX)
Ball Control: 20 (MAX)
Dribbling: 13
First Touch: 20 (MAX)
Pace: 8
All Other Stats: 7
Stat Points: 9 Available
Legacy Counter: 0.18%
Next Rank: Recognized Academy Talent (1.00%)
Neil exhaled, saving points. A sub jersey glimmered closer, but Bayern's bite lingered. Could he carry this to the main stage?