The ball met a striker’s head, but instead of the net, it rattled the crossbar with a sound that seemed to echo in the village square itself. The rebound fell to a Cremonese defender who cleared it with a desperate, lunging kick. The final whistle shrieked. 0-0.

Silvio stood up, his joints creaking, and patted Marco on the shoulder. "The bread was tough, and the steel didn't break. I suppose that's enough of a story for one night."

The tension broke instantly. Marco looked at Silvio, who was slumped back, clutching his chest in relief.

Marco laughed, a deep sound that rumbled in his chest. "We are the Rossoblù . We have the weight of history. You are just a guest in this league, Silvio. Enjoy the view while it lasts."

Marco, a grizzled baker whose family had lived in Bologna for generations, sat on a wooden crate. Opposite him was his oldest friend, Silvio, a retired mechanic who still wore a faded Cremonese scarf like a holy relic. This wasn't just a match; it was the "Battle of the Bread and Steel."

In the 88th minute, with the score locked at 0-0, the piazza went silent. A Bologna winger broke free, the ball a blur at his feet. He crossed it—a perfect, arching rainbow. Marco gripped his knees. Silvio held his breath.

"A draw," Marco muttered, a small, begrudging smile forming. "Neither of us loses today."