noveldrama
Chapter 266 Finale of the 2024/2025 football season [1]
Chapter 266 Finale of the 2024/2025 football season [1]
(UEFA Champions League:)
(Semifinal fixtures:)
(Real Madrid 2-1 Bayern Munich)
(Date: 29th April, 2025)
…
(FC Barcelona 2-1 Liverpool)
(Date: 30th April, 2025)
The results of the first leg of the UEFA champions league semifinals left football fans of the Spanish persuasion extremely joyous, and Sam was part of the football fans who felt on top of the world.
Watching the club that he supported demolish Liverpool in the UEFA champions league and watching Lamine Yamal dazzle, there was no better feeling than it.
'I can't wait to play alongside Yamal!' He clenched his fists, thinking.
Sam did not let his emotions linger too much on the result of the first leg though, this was because he knew that there was a second leg before the semifinal clash would be settled and also because he also had his own games to play.
Removing the UEFA champions league semifinals from his mind, alongside his teammates, Sam focused as they prepared for their matchday 35 encounter of the premier league.
With only 2 points separating them from the top of the premier league table, the pressure was on them, they could not afford to make a mistake.
And in no time, it was D-day.
On that same day, 3rd of May, even as Fulham clashed against Aston Villa in Villa Park, Liverpool also clashed against Chelsea in Stamford Bridge, 2 tough away games for the 2 teams competing at the top of the premier league table.
Having dropped points in their last game already, the pressure was on Liverpool to win and Chelsea was out to make it extremely hard for them.
The Fulham players would only know the result of their rival's game though after the end of their own game and so they focused on their game.
It was a tough game in Villa Park, Aston Villa's home stadium.
Despite it being a tough game, Fulham proved their superiority, fighting to a hard-earned 1-2 victory over Aston Villa.
In this game, Sam got neither a goal nor assist but his impact was felt throughout as he helped weather Aston Villa's terrifying offense, leading his team to victory and winning another man of the match award.
Across the other side of England in London, Chelsea did it!
After the end of their game, the Fulham players didn't celebrate until they heard the crazy news that Chelsea made Liverpool drop points again.
"Yessss…!" They celebrated like mad men.
After an incredibly tough and exciting game, Chelsea fought Liverpool to a draw courtesy of 2 genius goals from Cole Palmer.
And with it, the premier league table was updated again.
(Updated premier league table standings:)
(1. Liverpool GP: 35/ W:26/ D:3/ L:3/ Pts: 87)
(2. Fulham GP: 35/ W:27/ D:5/ L:3/ Pts: 87)
(3. Arsenal GP: 35/ W:23/ D:8/ L:4/ Pts: 77)
(4. Chelsea GP: 35/ W:21/ D:10/ L:4/ Pts: 73)
(5. Man City GP: 35/ W:18/ D:8/ L:9/ Pts: 62)
(6. Nottm Forest GP: 35/ W:15/ D:11/ L:9/ Pts: 56)
(7. Tottenham GP: 35/ W:16/ D:6/ L:13/ Pts: 54)
(8. Aston Villa GP: 35/ W:13/ D:11/ L:12/ Pts: 50)
(9. Newcastle GP: 35/ W:13/ D:12/ L:10/ Pts: 51)
(10. Brighton GP: 35/ W:13/ D:9/ L:13/ Pts: 48)
(11. Man United GP: 35/ W:14/ D:6/ L:15/ Pts: 48)
(12. Bournemouth GP: 35/ W:11/ D:9/ L:15/ Pts: 42)
(13. Brentford GP: 35/ W:11/ D:9/ L:15/ Pts: 42)
(14. Crystal Palace GP: 35/ W:11/ D:11/ L:13/ Pts: 44)
(15. West Ham GP: 35/ W:9/ D:9/ L:17/ Pts: 35)
(16. Leicester GP: 35/ W:5/ D:11/ L:19/ Pts: 26)
(17. Wolves GP: 35/ W:5/ D:10/ L:20/ Pts: 25)
(18. Everton GP: 35/ W:5/ D:7/ L:23/ Pts: 22)
(19. Ipswich Town GP: 35/ W:4/ D:10/ L:21/ Pts: 22)
(20. Southampton GP: 35/ W:3/ D:5/ L:27/ Pts: 14)
After 35 matchdays of the English premier league, Fulham finally did it again, climbing back to within touching distance of the premier league title.
This time, they were on level terms with Liverpool, only separated by goal difference. The situation was now back in their control.
Since their goal difference was not too big, to win the premier league trophy, they simply needed to outscore Liverpool in the last 3 games of the premier league and close the goal difference gap.
To the Fulham players, this was an achievable goal.
After the end of matchday 35, acknowledging how much they've climbed already, Coach Marco Silva organized another mini celebration with his players as they feasted, building more cohesiveness in his team in the process.
They set their eyes on matchday 36 of the premier league to continue their impressive winning run, but even as they set their eyes on that game, they also eyed another game that was outside the bounds of the premier league, a cup game.
After 7 rounds of the English FA Cup were played, only 2 clubs remained in the competition having qualified to the final already.
The 2 clubs were Fulham and Manchester United.
Despite the mixed season that Manchester United had in the league, in the FA Cup, they still played like genuine challengers.
(FA Cup:)
(Semifinal:)
(Man United 2-0 Tottenham)
(Date: 26th April, 2025)
…
(Newcastle 0-1 Fulham)
(Date: 26th April, 2025)
***
(Final:)
(Manchester United – Fulham)
(Date: 17th May, 2025)
The final was to be played in May 17th which was still a long time for now to the Fulham players, giving them all the time in the world to focus on their next premier league game and adequately prepare for it.
In matchday 36 of the English premier league, Fulham were to take on Everton, another premier league team that they were confident in dispatching.
(Premier league:)
(Matchday 36 of 38:)
(Fulham – Everton)
(Date: 10th May, 2025)
…
(Liverpool – Arsenal)
(Date: 10th May, 2025)
On the 10th, while Fulham would clash against Everton in their home stadium in Craven Cottage, Liverpool would play another grueling game against Arsenal in Anfield shortly after their blockbuster game in Stamford Bridge against Chelsea.
The past few weeks was just not kind to the Liverpool players.
This feeling was encapsulated even more by the fact that even before the Arsenal game, Liverpool played their return leg of the UEFA champions league semifinal against FC Barcelona in Anfield.