Saturday Morning – Dortmund, 7:26 AM
October 2019
The alarm buzzed low and steady.
Karl opened his eyes, lying still for a moment, staring at the ceiling. Today wasn't just another day. It was the beginning.
He slipped out of bed, walked to the bathroom, and stood under the cold water for a few seconds longer than usual. The sound of the stream was the only thing steadying the nerves in his chest.
By 8:00 AM, he was dressed in Dortmund's black team tracksuit. In the kitchen, he made himself a bowl of oats with banana slices and a boiled egg. No sugar. No noise. Just quiet preparation.
As he left the apartment, he took one last glance at the city skyline.
Cologne raised him. Dortmund sharpened him. Leipzig would test him.
9:14 AM – Dortmund Training Centre
The team bus waited, glossy and massive, painted in yellow and black.
Inside, the usual squad banter filled the air — Sancho with his headphones, Reus nodding calmly, Hummels reading over tactical notes. Karl sat by the window. He wasn't overwhelmed — he was calculating. Visualizing.
Marco Reus passed by and gave his seat a quick tap.
"Enjoy the ride."
Karl smirked. "Plan to."
12:30 PM – Red Bull Arena, Leipzig
The bus pulled into the underground parking bay. Cameras flashed as they stepped out one by one, wheeling bags and headphones on.
Inside the stadium, the locker room hummed with ambient tension. Shirts hung crisply in a row — #13 SCHNEIDER among them.
Karl sat down at his locker. He ran a hand over the badge on his jersey.
This isn't just a number. This is history stitched into fabric.
Coach Lucien Favre walked in with his usual soft but firm demeanor. "Stay disciplined. Leipzig is quick in transition. Compact. Fast. We stay sharp, we punish them."
Then Favre turned his eyes to Karl.
"You're on the bench today. Stay ready. If we need fire, I'll call you."
Karl nodded.
"Understood, Mister Favre."
No disappointment. No cockiness. Just acceptance. Patience is part of the process.
1:55 PM – Warm-Up, Leipzig Pitch
Stepping out onto the Red Bull Arena turf for the first time — even as a substitute — felt surreal.
The crowd was already rumbling. Leipzig's ultras were loud. Karl jogged the touchline, glancing at the Leipzig players warming up — Nkunku, Sabitzer, Werner — all sharp.
He kept his touches clean. Focused.
"Schneider," Reus said beside him. "Just another pitch. Ball's the same. Don't overthink."
Karl's reply was calm. "I never do."
2:30 PM – Kickoff
Karl sat on the bench, bib zipped halfway, next to Julian Brandt and Dahoud. His eyes never left the field.
First Half:
Leipzig pressed high and early. Nkunku nearly scored in the 6th minute. Dortmund struggled to get out of their own half.
But by the 29th minute, Reus latched onto a long ball from Hummels, cutting inside and curling one into the far post. 1–0.
Karl didn't even flinch. He was studying.
Where's the space?
Who's slow to track back?
Where's their left-back drifting?
At halftime, it remained 1–0.
Halftime – Locker Room
The atmosphere was half-focus, half-fatigue. Favre paced. "Keep it tight. Keep the channels closed. No unnecessary risks."
Then he looked at Karl.
"If they level it, be ready."
He nodded once. That's all he needed.
65th Minute – Leipzig equalize (1–1)
The crowd erupted. A counterattack finished off by Timo Werner. Dortmund's midfield had been caught too high.
Favre turned to the bench.
"Schneider, bib off. You're in."
Karl stood, no nerves on his face — just breath control. He peeled off the bib and started light sprints down the sideline.
"Position?" he asked.
"Left Wing. Replace Hazard. Stay wide.
Create. Exploit the right-back — he's tiring."
67th Minute – SUBSTITUTION
Commentary (Peter Drury, English broadcast):
"And now, a moment young Karl Heinz Schneider has dreamed of. Just 18 years of age. They call him the 'Blue Rose' of Dortmund. Here he is… stepping onto Bundesliga grass for the first time."
Karl jogged on. The whistle blew. The ball was live.
ON THE FIELD – Karl's Perspective
69th minute:
First touch — a diagonal switch from Witsel.
Karl killed it with his chest, then flicked it through Sabitzer's legs before laying it off to Guerreiro. Simple, clean. The bench clapped.
74th minute:
He drifted inside with the ball, dragging two defenders, before slotting a perfect reverse pass to Sancho — nearly a goal.
77th minute:
Takes on the right-back 1v1, chops left, accelerates, then backheels to Reus, who volleys wide.
Confidence built.
Then, the chance.
81st minute:
Dortmund on the counter. Reus feeds him wide left. Karl cuts in, shimmying past one, then another. Opens up onto his right foot from 22 yards — strikes it...
Just wide.
Hands on his head. So close.
Full Time: Leipzig 1 – Dortmund 1
Not a win. But for Karl?
A statement.
Post-match – Tunnel
Reus walked by, gave him a pat on the back. "Solid. First of many."
Karl simply nodded, towel around his neck, earbuds back in. But inside?
He was on fire.