Sunday, October 30, 2022

GEWISS STADIUM

5:15 PM

The bus pulled up to GEWISS STADIUM's players' entrance at quarter past five, and immediately Demien could see the crowd gathered behind barriers—hundreds of fans wearing Atalanta's black and blue, holding scarves and banners, phones raised to capture the team's arrival.

The noise hit as soon as the bus doors opened.

"WALTER! WALTER! DEMIEN!"

His name was shouted louder than most, and as he stepped off the bus behind Koopmeiners the volume increased while scattered laughter mixed with the cheers, and someone yelled something in Italian about Friday night that made several fans nearby crack up.

Demien couldn't help but smile slightly while shaking his head, and he raised one hand in a brief wave without stopping because engaging too much would only extend the moment, and the teasing was good-natured rather than hostile which made it easier to absorb.

He followed his teammates through the secure entrance while the noise gradually faded behind them, and the moment felt light rather than heavy despite the magnitude of the match ahead.

Inside GEWISS STADIUM the corridors were wide and institutional, and the Home dressing room was larger than most—wooden benches arranged in neat rows, individual hooks for each player, showers and medical area separated by privacy walls—and everything was professional and prepared.

Demien found his spot marked with his number 28 kit hanging perfectly, and he set his bag down before walking toward the showers because arriving early meant time to settle properly rather than rushing through routines.

***

While Atalanta's squad prepared inside the stadium, Sophia arrived separately through the main entrance, and she moved through GEWISS STADIUM's concourses wearing dark jeans and a simple black coat that managed to be both understated and stylish simultaneously.

Her seat was in a section reserved for guests and family members of players—not the general crowd but not a private box either—and when she settled into her spot the stadium was still filling gradually with fans arriving hours before kickoff.

The broadcast cameras were already scanning the crowd for pre-match atmosphere shots, and one camera operator noticed her sitting calmly while checking her phone, and the lens focused briefly before cutting away to other sections.

In the commentary booth high above the pitch, two Italian commentators reviewed their notes while the broadcast prepared for the evening's coverage.

"Interesting storyline this week," the lead commentator said casually while flipping through papers. "Demien Walter spotted at a nightclub Friday night with Sophia Bianchi. Social media had a field day."

"Part of his rising profile," his colleague replied, and his tone was matter-of-fact rather than gossipy. "Eighteen years old, performing at Serie A level, dating successfully. It's the modern footballer's life. As long as it doesn't affect his performance, nobody will care by tomorrow."

"Exactly. Tonight's performance is what matters."

The conversation moved on to tactical analysis and squad news, and Sophia's presence was noted but not dwelled upon because the focus was shifting toward football rather than tabloid speculation.

***

Sunday, October 30, 2022

GEWISS STADIUM - Homw Dressing Room

6:45 PM

Demien sat at his locker pulling on his socks with methodical precision, and the dressing room buzzed with quiet energy as players moved through final preparations while kickoff approached in seventy-five minutes.

His legs felt strong and loose, and his mind was clear and focused entirely on the match ahead—Inter's compact midfield, Bolu Marino's relentless pressing, the spaces that would open if Atalanta stayed patient and disciplined in possession.

He reached for his shin guards when the familiar blue panel materialized in his peripheral vision without warning, and text appeared in clean lines against his mental field of view.

「PLAYER ANALYSIS ACTIVATED」

The interface expanded slightly, and several names appeared with brief statistical summaries beside them—teammates from Atalanta's current squad displayed for contextual comparison rather than detailed breakdown.

Teun Koopmeiners | CM | 78 OVR

Passing 82 | Vision 80 | Stamina 79

Marten de Roon | CDM | 77 OVR

Interceptions 81 | Positioning 79 | Stamina 80

Ademola Lookman | LW | 78 OVR

Pace 84 | Dribbling 80 | Finishing 76

Rasmus Højlund | ST | 76 OVR

Pace 82 | Finishing 77 | Strength 78

The information was concise and contextual—squad-level data showing where teammates stood at this point in the season—and the display lasted exactly five seconds before fading completely without requiring dismissal.

Demien blinked once and the interface disappeared entirely, and he returned his attention to his shin guards while tucking them into his socks because the feature had activated exactly as expected after unlocking it last night during his late evening system check.

Useful information. Nothing dramatic. Just confirmation of what he already sensed from training alongside these players every day.

He finished dressing and stood to stretch his legs, and around him the dressing room's energy continued building steadily while players pulled on their black and blue shirts and the final minutes before Gasperini's arrival ticked away.

At exactly seven o'clock the dressing room door opened.

The room went silent immediately.

Gasperini walked in with his assistant coaches following close behind, and he carried no tactical board or notes because everything important had been covered during the week, and now the message needed to be simple and direct.

He stood in the center of the room while players gathered around him, and his eyes scanned the squad once before he spoke.

"Inter's midfield is compact," Gasperini said, and his voice carried instructional clarity without excess emotion. "Brozović sits deep, Barella and Çalhanoğlu press high. They want to suffocate you in the middle third and force long balls that their defense can handle easily."

He paused while players absorbed the information.

"Discipline in possession," he continued. "Move the ball quickly but don't force passes that aren't there. Patience over risk. If the space isn't open, circulate and wait for it to appear. They'll give us opportunities if we stay calm and don't panic under their press."

Nobody was singled out. No individual instructions were delivered publicly. The message was collective and clear—play smart, stay patient, execute the system.

"Questions?" Gasperini asked.

Silence answered him.

"Good." He nodded once. "Let's go win."

The squad stood as one, and the energy shifted from focused preparation into game-ready intensity while players moved toward the tunnel entrance, and stadium noise filtered through the walls now—sixty thousand voices building toward kickoff.

In the commentary booth, the broadcast team set their stage for viewers watching at home.

"Sunday night at GEWISS STADIUM," the lead commentator began, and his voice carried the weight of occasion. "Atalanta arrive in third place chasing the leaders. Inter sit fifth but possess the quality to challenge anyone on their day. Tonight's match could define both teams' trajectories heading into the winter break."

"Atalanta's form has been impressive," his colleague added. "Seven goals and six assists from Demien Walter in his opening matches. The eighteen-year-old has adapted remarkably to Serie A's intensity."

"And facing him tonight—Bolu Marino," the lead commentator continued. "Relentless in the tackle, suffocating in his pressing, absolutely central to Inter's midfield balance. If Walter wants space tonight, he'll have to earn every inch against a player who gives nothing away."

The camera cut to the tunnel where both teams were beginning to gather.

Atalanta's squad moved down the line shaking hands with each other—quick greetings, fist bumps, brief words of encouragement—and Demien worked his way through teammates methodically while his mind stayed locked into the match ahead.

Lookman. Højlund. Koopmeiners. De Roon. Hateboer.

Each handshake was brief and professional, and when he reached the end of the line he found himself face-to-face with Bolu Marino who stood near the tunnel entrance adjusting his captain's armband.

Demien extended his hand instinctively—habit from years of pre-match protocol, respect for opponents regardless of rivalry—and his expression stayed neutral while his eyes met Bolu's directly.

Bolu looked at him for exactly one second.

Then he turned away without acknowledging the gesture.

No words. No reaction. No handshake accepted or rejected.

Just dismissal.

Complete and deliberate.

Demien's hand hung in the air for half a second before he lowered it slowly, and something cold settled in his chest though his face stayed composed, and he turned and moved past without comment because reacting would only give Bolu exactly what he wanted.

The teams lined up in the tunnel.

Stadium noise swelled as the moment approached, and the announcer's voice boomed through GEWISS STADIUM's speakers calling out the starting lineups while sixty thousand voices responded with roars that shook the concrete walls.

Demien stood in his position in the line with his heart beating steadily in his chest, and ahead of him the tunnel opened onto the pitch where lights blazed and the crowd waited.

The referee signaled forward.

Both teams stepped out together into the noise and the light.

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