My Ultimate Gacha System-Chapter 292 - 281: Bologna - Matchday

Thursday, April 27, 2023

Team Hotel - Bologna

7:15 AM

The hotel corridor was quieter than the night before and doors closed one by one as players emerged for breakfast, and suitcases rolled over carpet creating muted sounds that didn’t echo.

In the dining room plates scraped lightly against porcelain and conversations stayed minimal while players ate without lingering, and coffee was consumed quickly before cups were returned to the service station.

No one stayed long after finishing and chairs were pushed back quietly before players dispersed toward their rooms to complete final preparations.

Outside the bus engine idled and exhaust drifted into the morning air.

12:47 PM

The drive through Bologna was short and took twenty minutes through the city’s afternoon traffic, and police escort cleared the final stretch toward the stadium while motorcycles positioned themselves at intersections to stop cross-traffic.

Red and blue scarves hung from railings near the stadium gates and smoke drifted faintly from somewhere behind the curva where supporters had gathered early, and as the bus turned into the entrance of the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara the noise built immediately.

Drums.

Whistles.

A banner stretched across the upper tier already reading "Fino alla Fine."

Players stepped off the bus in pairs and cameras flashed briefly near the tunnel entrance where media had been positioned, and Demien walked behind De Roon with his jacket zipped and headphones hanging around his neck.

Inside the stadium the dressing room was narrow with concrete walls and shirts hung tightly together on hooks, and the Coppa Italia patch was stitched to each sleeve showing the competition’s official emblem.

Boots hit the floor as players began changing and tape was pulled from rolls while conversations stayed quiet, and Scalvini sat forward on the bench as a physio pressed into his thigh checking for tightness.

Koopmeiners rolled his neck slowly from side to side and the movement created small sounds that indicated tension releasing.

The team sheet went up on the board near Gasperini’s tactical diagram and a few players glanced once before looking again, and Demien’s name was listed beneath the starting eleven among the substitutes.

He nodded once to himself and began adjusting his shin pads.

Across the stadium the broadcast camera swept across the stands showing supporters filling their sections, and the commentator’s voice carried through the monitor mounted near the ceiling.

"Three days after their league defeat in Florence, Atalanta return to Emilia-Romagna for a decisive second leg. Ninety minutes from a final. Possibly more."

The aggregate score flashed briefly on screen.

AGGREGATE: ATALANTA 2-0 BOLOGNA

1:47 PM

Players rose from their seats as Gasperini stepped forward and positioned himself near the tactical board, and he didn’t raise his voice when he began speaking.

"Distances," Gasperini said. "Midfield stays five yards tighter than normal. When they press high, we don’t panic. We circulate backward if needed and wait for them to overcommit."

He tapped the board once.

"Early discipline. The first fifteen minutes they’ll come hard because their crowd will push them forward. We absorb that pressure without breaking shape. No cheap transitions. No ball losses in dangerous areas."

The first leg was mentioned once.

"Two-nil aggregate means nothing if we concede early. Stay compact."

The away crowd would be loud but Atalanta’s traveling section had made the trip.

Nobody interrupted and the message was complete, and hands came together briefly in the center of the room before a short shout happened and then silence returned.

Stadium Tunnel

2:53 PM

The tunnel was tight and steam from breath mixed in the cool air because the underground space hadn’t warmed from outside temperature, and Bologna’s lineup stood ahead with shoulders brushing as both teams assembled in their positions.

One of their midfielders bounced lightly on his toes and his movement created small sounds against the concrete floor.

Demien stood near the back of Atalanta’s line with his jacket still on because substitutes remained dressed until closer to potential entry, and he looked toward the pitch entrance where light spilled in from the stadium opening.

The referee checked both lines and confirmed everyone was present before nodding once toward the tunnel official.

The teams walked out together and the stadium erupted immediately with noise that crashed down from all sides.

Commentary Booth

The commentator’s voice rose over the noise.

"Here we go. The second leg of this Coppa Italia semifinal. A place in Rome awaits. Bologna need two goals to force extra time, three to advance outright. Atalanta defend their two-goal advantage."

Stadio Renato Dall’Ara

Pitch

2:59 PM

Atalanta’s starting eleven spread into their defensive shape and Demien took his seat along the bench while leaning forward with elbows on knees, and his eyes tracked the warmup movements happening across the pitch as both teams completed final preparations.

The whistle blew at exactly 3:00 PM.

Fweeeeeetttttttt!!!!!

3:00 PM - Kickoff

Bologna started aggressively and the first pass went backward before being launched long toward the right channel where space had opened, and Tolói tracked it while shielding the ball out under pressure from Bologna’s winger who had closed quickly.

The crowd whistled immediately and the noise sustained itself without dropping.

De Roon gestured for calm and pointed at Koopmeiners to tuck in tighter centrally because Bologna’s shape was pushing higher than expected.

On the sideline Demien stood from the bench and began a light jog along the technical area without instruction given yet, and the broadcast camera cut briefly to show him moving.

"Interesting choice tonight," the commentator noted. "Walter starts among the substitutes. Perhaps fresh legs planned for later in the match when Bologna tire from chasing the aggregate deficit."

Bologna won an early throw-in deep in Atalanta territory after Mæhle had cleared the ball into touch under pressure, and the ball was worked quickly into midfield where two Bologna players combined with a sharp one-two that broke the first press.

The sequence continued forward before being halted by a well-timed interception from Djimsiti who read the passing lane perfectly, and applause came from the away section where Atalanta supporters recognized good defending.

Demien slowed his jog and watched how the midfield shaped itself without him while Bologna continued pressing, and the first half remained tense without clear chances being created by either side.

The match stayed tight and undecided.