The brief, stolen hour of normalcy with Isabella in Madrid felt like a lifetime away as Mateo flew back to the cold, grey reality of Dortmund.
The international break was over, and the relentless rhythm of the club season was about to resume with a vengeance.
The first order of business was the second leg of the Champions League Round of 16 tie against Zenit St. Petersburg after being hugged over and over again by Lukas who was crying about living alone for sometime in the dorm room.
Dortmund held a commanding 4-2 lead from the first leg in Russia, a match where Mateo had announced himself on the European stage with a stunning free-kick.
The mood in the Dortmund camp was one of professional confidence, but Klopp was taking no chances. He knew that Zenit, with nothing to lose, would come out swinging.
