SWR: Chapter 962/964

Chapter 962: Another Derby

While everyone was still celebrating Real Madrid's 3-0 win over Dortmund, the aftereffects quickly surfaced in the 13th round of La Liga over the weekend.

In their away match against Real Betis, Real Madrid held an overwhelming 71.7% possession and took 28 shots throughout the game, but still suffered a 0-1 defeat.

Ronaldo, Higuaín, and Di María all failed to score. Substitutes like Jesé and Benzema also couldn't find the net after coming on.

Out of 28 total shots, Real Madrid managed just 8 on target—and none resulted in a goal.

Real Betis had only 6 shots, with just 1 on target, but that single shot ended up in the back of the net.

It was a world-class strike from the edge of the box.

Beñat's long-range effort deflected off Casemiro's leg and changed direction, leaving Real Madrid goalkeeper Courtois completely helpless.

The score held until full-time.

Despite Real Madrid's relentless push, they couldn't turn things around.

Key players like Ronaldo performed poorly, and the team lacked the firepower to convert chances into goals.

While Real Madrid lost away, Barcelona defeated Levante 4-0 on the road, with Messi scoring twice.

That victory extended Barça's lead at the top of the table to 4 points.

What stirred up even more heated debate was Atletico Madrid's 4-0 home win over Sevilla in this round, which allowed them to overtake Real Madrid in the standings and move into second place.

For Real Madrid fans, this was hard to swallow. The media, as usual, wasted no time in pouring salt on the wound.

…

In the post-match press conference following the loss to Real Betis, Gao Shen expressed his disappointment with the result.

He first congratulated Real Betis on their tenacious performance.

But Gao Shen made it clear he didn't accept the defeat.

The main reason was that after Real Madrid made several second-half substitutions, the dynamics of the match clearly changed.

Jesé, who came on as a substitute, scored once against Real Betis, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

In stoppage time, Kaká had a shot that struck the arm of Betis' central defender, but the referee turned a blind eye.

Gao Shen wasn't blaming the officials, just stating the facts.

From the slow-motion replay on the broadcast, Jesé was not offside, and the handball was real—but both went uncalled.

Gao Shen also pointed out another issue: Real Madrid's schedule.

"We played a Champions League group-stage match on Wednesday night. Normally, our weekend league game should be scheduled for Sunday. But this time, it was on Saturday. That's actually unreasonable."

Playing on Wednesday and then again on Saturday is a very tight turnaround.

Still, Gao Shen said he took full responsibility for the loss.

"The responsibility lies with me."

…

Midweek brought the second leg of the fourth round of the Copa del Rey.

Real Madrid hosted Alcoyano at home.

Once again, Gao Shen fielded a full reserve lineup. Jesé, Morata, and Vázquez formed the front three.

In the end, with a brace from Jesé and a goal from Vázquez, Real Madrid defeated Alcoyano 3-0 and successfully advanced to the next round.

With the fifth round approaching, most teams remaining in the Round of 16 were from La Liga. Real Madrid drew Celta Vigo this time.

That was a favorable draw for Real Madrid.

Gao Shen used the midweek match to give his first-team regulars a proper rest.

In particular, all the players who had featured in the Champions League and the weekend league match were given a day off to help them recover and prepare for the Madrid Derby this weekend.

Yes, in Matchday 14 of La Liga, Real Madrid would host the Madrid Derby at the Bernabéu.

This was yet another marquee showdown.

Every derby has its own flavor, but the Madrid Derby is something else entirely.

Especially this season.

Atletico Madrid had 11 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss in 13 matches, earning 34 points—2 more than Real Madrid.

The current La Liga standings showed that Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, and Real Madrid were separated by just 2 points.

Fourth-place Málaga was already more than 10 points behind.

The rise of the Colchoneros this season had shaken up the power structure of La Liga, especially affecting Real Madrid.

In the past, it was all about the two giants of La Liga. Now, Atletico was breaking through.

Especially their No. 9, Falcao, who was being hailed as a challenger to both Ronaldo and Messi.

With this intense atmosphere building, the first Madrid Derby under Gao Shen officially kicked off at the Bernabéu.

…

Gao Shen clearly remembered that when he first managed Real Madrid in 2006, his debut was also a Madrid Derby.

But times had changed, and today's Atleti was no longer the same.

Diego Simeone set up his side in a 4-4-2 formation.

Goalkeeper: Asenjo.
Defense: Díaz, Miranda, Godín, and Juanfran.
Midfield: Turan, Gabi, Mario Suárez, and Koke.
Forwards: Diego Costa and Falcao.

From Atletico Madrid's starting lineup, Simeone's tactical intentions were clear.

The aggressive Diego Costa was responsible for harassing and disrupting Real Madrid's back line. The midfield and attacking lines frequently committed fouls to break up Real Madrid's rhythm.

Real Madrid tried to dominate possession and control the tempo, but Atletico's pressing was intense.

Simeone's tactics were quite different from Klopp's. His style leaned heavily toward the Italian school, so Atletico's defensive organization was more meticulous and structured than Dortmund's.

This allowed Simeone's side to maintain pressing pressure throughout the entire match.

The Colchoneros had incredibly high tactical discipline. They played rough, fouled often, and never hesitated to push the limits.

This gave Real Madrid players a hard time.

Even though they had been mentally prepared, it was still uncomfortable.

In the 9th minute, Juanfran passed the ball to Koke on the right.

As Marcos Alonso came in to defend, there was obvious physical contact. Koke used his arm to block him.

The action was subtle, but Marcos Alonso was struck and appeared to be in pain. He clutched his chest and gasped on the sideline. The linesman was right there but didn't signal anything, and the referee didn't blow the whistle either.

Koke seized the opportunity, cut inside, and crossed the ball into the box with his right foot. Falcao stepped up and headed the ball into the far corner—past Courtois and into the net.

The referee blew his whistle. The goal stood.

Real Madrid captain Ramos immediately erupted, protesting to the referee and linesman.

Koke's action was obvious—he had shoved Marcos Alonso aside. How could that not be a foul?

Real Madrid players crowded around the referee, asking for an explanation. But the referee ignored them and instructed Ramos and the others to return and restart the match.

Boos rang out from all corners of the Bernabéu.

…

Gao Shen stood on the sidelines, shaking his head as he watched it all unfold.

"From the TV replay, that move was brutal." Carlos Vargas showed Gao Shen the footage.

In the slow-motion replay, Koke clearly used his arm to block Marcos Alonso, hitting him square in the chest. The contact forced the Real Madrid left-back to stagger back in pain.

It all happened so quickly, and it was hard to say if the linesman missed it or ignored it.

But it took place right under his nose.

"That was such a dirty move!" Hierro cursed angrily.

As a former defender himself, few things made Hierro this furious.

This was the Simeone way. Tons of small fouls. A tough, dirty playing style.

Any team would have a headache against an opponent like this.

Gao Shen had prepared thoroughly and had repeatedly warned his players.

Marcos Alonso did have his share of responsibility. When the whistle didn't go and the linesman didn't react, he should have recovered and defended.

But maybe it really did hurt too much.

This kid Koke always played dirty football.

1-0. Real Madrid had fallen behind.

A very unfavorable situation for Los Blancos at home.

Atletico was not like Dortmund. The Colchoneros had elite defensive structure.

In fact, if the game didn't go their way, they could simply sit back and defend.

Simeone, a Serie A-trained coach, was a master at setting up a tight defense.

This season, Atletico were one of the best defensive sides in La Liga, conceding fewer goals than anyone except Real Madrid.

Falcao's goal had now put Real Madrid in a tough position.

"We must equalize quickly," Carlo reminded.

Gao Shen walked to the touchline and signaled the team to press forward, especially down the right. He asked Modric to increase his support on that side.

…

The game resumed.

Since the referee had not called Koke's foul, the goal stood.

But after the restart, Real Madrid began to launch heavy attacks, especially down the right flank.

The duo of Carvajal and Di María began to exert pressure on Atletico's left side. Di María specifically targeted left-back Díaz.

After several matches working together, Real Madrid's right wing had built solid chemistry. This was especially evident now.

When their right-wing build-up stalled, they suddenly switched play. Modric carried the ball forward on the right, disrupting Atletico's defensive setup, and then laid it off to Di María.

The Argentine controlled the ball, cut inside, shook off Díaz, and instead of returning it to the overlapping Carvajal, made a diagonal pass with his left foot into the box for Benzema.

But Miranda reacted just in time, stepping ahead of Benzema and clearing the ball with a header.

Real Madrid's attack failed to produce a real threat.

But Di María quickly sprinted into midfield and challenged Turan for the ball. As they contested Miranda's clearance, Turan subtly flicked the ball with his hand while Di María had gained control.

Di María reacted immediately, signaling handball to the referee.

It was a blatant handball, and the referee blew the whistle, showing Turan a yellow card.

Real Madrid earned a free kick in the attacking third.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 963: This Has Nothing to Do With Me, It’s All Zidane’s Fault

"This one's mine!"

Cristiano Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso, Toni Kroos, Di María, and others gathered around the ball, and the Portuguese star stepped up confidently.

The free kick was positioned about 28 to 30 meters from goal, slightly right of center. It was indeed a prime spot for Ronaldo to unleash one of his trademark strikes.

Hearing his call, the others had no objections.

When it came to free-kick technique, few in Real Madrid dared to challenge Ronaldo directly.

If there was anyone who could, it was Real Madrid's assistant coach, Zidane.

Not long ago, during a training session, Gao Shen organized a free-kick contest.

Naturally, Zidane and Ronaldo faced off in the final.

Ronaldo ended up winning, but even he felt Zidane hadn't gone all out.

Who knows?

Since then, Ronaldo had started practicing his free kicks even more diligently.

Anyone could say Ronaldo was overly competitive or vain, but no one could deny he was an incredibly hardworking training machine.

More importantly, he was supremely confident.

In key moments, he never doubted himself.

So, at this moment, the Real Madrid players all gave way.

"Come on!"

"Good job, Ronnie!"

"Let's go, Ronnie!"

After a round of encouragement, the others stepped back.

Pepe and Benzema moved into the wall, while Di María positioned himself on the other side.

As a left-footer, he could draw some of the defenders' attention away from Ronaldo.

Ronaldo backed up slowly.

Given the distance, his run-up this time was longer than usual.

This was a detail he had worked out through repeated training—how much distance he needed to generate his most powerful and accurate shot.

There were no gimmicks to free kicks. It was all about repetition and mastery.

…

The referee pointed to the goal and blew the whistle.

Ronaldo took a deep breath, then sprinted forward, planted his left foot, and struck cleanly with his right.

A sharp, air-splitting sound echoed as the ball rocketed through the air, rose quickly, then dipped.

It flew just over the wall and fell into the goal.

Atletico goalkeeper Asenjo reacted quickly, diving to his side, but he was stunned to see that Ronaldo's shot was even faster than expected.

He couldn't reach it.

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!"

"The ball is in!"

"Cristiano Ronaldo!!"

"With a brilliant knuckleball, Ronaldo has equalized for Real Madrid!"

"That was a top-class free kick. Ronaldo has once again proven his excellence in set-piece situations!"

"The ball had tremendous pace."

"Asenjo did dive for it, but there was no way he could stop that one."

As soon as the goal went in, Ronaldo rushed out to celebrate.

Real Madrid players followed, cheering and piling on.

On the sidelines, Gao Shen pumped his fists repeatedly, roaring with joy at the equalizer.

The entire Bernabéu erupted.

"This kid's free-kick technique has improved significantly after you pushed him," Carlo laughed as he celebrated with Gao Shen.

"This has nothing to do with me. It's all Zizou's fault!" Gao Shen pointed toward the assistant coach.

Zidane's smile froze. "How is that my fault? You're the one who made me do it. Don't push the blame on me. I'm innocent."

Everyone burst out laughing.

It all stemmed from that free-kick contest.

Gao Shen and his coaching staff often organized fun challenges for the players, and the free-kick competition was one of them.

Ronaldo was famously proud and competitive. Gao Shen knew that very well and sometimes used special tactics to get the best out of him.

For example, Zidane's shooting ability was something even Ronaldo respected. So, lately, the two had been training together on shooting technique.

Zidane had been confident he could win the contest, but Ronaldo took the final.

The Portuguese believed Zidane had gone easy on him, which only made him work harder in training.

"Honestly, I envy his physicality…" Zidane said with admiration.

Everyone knew Ronaldo trained relentlessly.

That much was obvious. But the fact that he rarely got injured was pure natural talent.

Anyone else training that intensely would've collapsed by now.

Ronaldo, who has African ancestry, possesses the muscle type of a born athlete.

This kind of natural advantage is common among African players, which is why some believe that in the future, Europe's top leagues will be dominated by black players.

The logic is simple. Under the same scientific training methods, black players tend to outperform their white counterparts physically.

The main reason African players haven't dominated historically is the lack of youth development systems in Africa, which leaves many talented players without proper early training.

Take Leeds United's Mane, for instance.

He's not a starter yet, but his development has been astonishing. At just 20 years old, he's progressing rapidly. Like a sponge, he absorbs football knowledge, skills, and experience.

Borrell once said that if Mane had received professional youth training in Europe from a young age, he'd already be a top-tier talent.

Even someone like Kolo Touré didn't play many matches before joining Arsenal.

Ronaldo's crazy work ethic is backed by a body built for it.

Of course, his discipline and drive are equally admirable.

Now that Gao Shen was building Real Madrid's attack around Ronaldo's strengths, he naturally wanted to maximize those strengths.

…

Atletico Madrid wasn't rattled after conceding.

Simeone's team was notorious for its tricks, not just Koke's foul on Marcos Alonso or Turan's sneaky handball earlier—but also in moments like the quick free kick that followed.

The two teams were still jostling near midfield when Toni Kroos and Mario Suárez collided and both went down.

The referee awarded a free kick to Atletico.

Diego Costa immediately took the ball, ran forward quickly, and launched it into the box.

It was a classic quick free kick.

Real Madrid players were stunned. Wasn't that illegal?

But the referee didn't blow the whistle.

Ramos and Pepe immediately flanked Falcao, trying to contain him, but the Colombian striker was lightning-quick. He forced his way into the box, controlled Diego Costa's pass with his left foot, and shot immediately.

But Courtois had charged off his line, stretched out with all his might, and made the save with both hands.

Falcao's shot struck Courtois' leg and deflected wide of the far post.

On the sidelines, Gao Shen was furious, jumping up and down.

"Focus! Stay alert!"

"What are you doing out there?"

"You're just letting them break through like that?"

"Did you leave your brain in the locker room?"

Gao Shen's yelling left the players frustrated.

Atletico really was a cunning bunch.

They should've waited for the whistle—but instead, they took the initiative.

And the damn referee? Why so lenient?

"Everyone, focus!"

"Angel! Did you forget what I told you before the game?"

"If you don't want to play, I'll sub you out at midfield!"

Gao Shen called out Di María by name, and the Argentine raised his hand to show he heard.

Damn Atletico Madrid!

If not for you, would I be getting yelled at by the boss?

Tch!

I'm not done with you!

…

After Gao Shen's outburst, the Real Madrid players noticeably stepped up.

Di María, especially, became more aggressive on the right flank.

Gao Shen's strategy tonight was to have Di María attack Atlético's left side.

Their left-back, Díaz, was a clear weakness, and Di María had the tools to exploit it.

In the 31st minute, Real Madrid launched a quick counterattack after winning the ball in midfield.

Atletico's defense was also lightning-fast, giving Real Madrid no room to strike directly.

But Toni Kroos picked up the ball on the left side, just outside the 30-meter area. After receiving a pass from Benzema, he turned and used his right foot to drag the ball away from Gabi's pressure.

The German glanced across and sent a sharp diagonal ball from left to right.

It flew over most of the pitch and landed on the right edge of Atletico's penalty area.

Di María arrived, controlled it with his chest, and immediately advanced.

Díaz rushed in, and Turan dropped back to help. The two closed in to trap Di María.

The Argentine winger faced both defenders calmly. He dribbled aggressively, pushed into the box, then suddenly pulled the ball back toward the edge of the area. After creating space, he cut laterally across the top of the box.

Before Mario Suárez could close him down, Di María unleashed a fierce curler with his left foot.

The ball came off fast and with venom, carrying the full force of Di María's pent-up frustration.

It curled around the defenders, flew past the diving Asenjo, and smashed into the top left corner of the net.

As the ball hit the back of the goal, Di María let out a primal scream and sprinted away in celebration.

Only then did the Bernabéu erupt.

2-1!

A comeback!

Di María made a heart gesture with his hands, then slid on his knees by the touchline in celebration.

The rest of the Real Madrid squad charged after him to celebrate the stunning, world-class goal.

Atletico's players stood frozen.

What just happened?

Look at that guy—so skinny, spindly even—how the hell did he score a goal like that?

Gao Shen laughed on the sidelines but also let out a sigh of relief.

Di María had massive untapped potential. He just needed the right push.

As one of his trusted players, Gao Shen could call him out, apply pressure, and be hard on him—because he was one of his own.

Of course, after the match, Gao Shen would also give praise. Maybe even a little extra in private.

Otherwise, why would he fight for you?

(To be continued.)

Chapter 964: Charge Towards the Ballon d'Or

After Real Madrid came from behind to take the lead, their mentality stabilized.

Gao Shen's strategy for this match was to emphasize passing and ball control, dominating possession and dictating the tempo, forcing Atletico Madrid to chase the game.

With a midfield trio of Toni Kroos, Modric, and Xabi Alonso, Real Madrid had strong control in the middle of the pitch.

More importantly, in just three days, Real Madrid would travel to Portugal to face Porto in their final Champions League group-stage match.

It would be their last, and also the most crucial game of the group stage.

Only a win would give Real Madrid a real shot at advancing.

However, the early goal they conceded had disrupted the original game plan.

Now that they had regained the lead, the players were calm again and more focused on executing the tactical instructions.

Especially on the right wing, where Di María continued to battle hard against Atletico's left-back, Díaz.

Atletico Madrid played rough, dirty, and extremely tenacious football.

Simeone was nicknamed the Bandit Coach, and his Atletico side resembled a gang of bandits under his command.

Even though Real Madrid controlled possession, Atletico never backed down and launched attacks whenever they saw a chance. They weren't afraid and even grew more aggressive after falling behind.

It was clear Simeone understood Gao Shen's tactical intentions and could read what Real Madrid wanted to do. But he had no plans to let them execute it freely.

He was happy to play the role of the constant nuisance.

Under these circumstances, the match settled into a stalemate.

It wasn't until the end of the first half that Diego Costa launched another attack down Real Madrid's left.

That area was a well-known weak point in their defense.

Whether it was Marcos Alonso or Nacho, they were often targeted by opponents.

But Marcos Alonso held his ground this time.

As soon as Diego Costa charged forward, Real Madrid's left-back got back into position.

The Atletico striker tried to cross to Falcao, but Ramos stepped in first and cleared it with a header.

The ball dropped near the edge of the box, where Mario Suárez was first to react and nodded it toward Turan.

As soon as Turan received the ball, Xabi Alonso came over to close him down, while Modric suddenly burst in from the side. The two midfielders forced Turan to turn the ball over to the right.

Di María had tracked all the way back and collected the loose ball in open space on the right flank. Atletico players quickly rushed at him.

Modric instantly understood and sprinted forward.

Di María looked up and played a long ball into the attacking third.

Benzema had just dropped back toward the right to fill the gap left by Di María's deeper position. Up front, Ronaldo was locked in a battle with Godín and Miranda.

The Portuguese star was quicker, anticipated the bounce, and used his body to shield Godín. When the ball dropped, he used the outside of his right foot to flick it backward into Benzema's path.

Benzema carried the ball toward the left edge of the box.

Ronaldo, after making the pass, made a sharp cut into the left side of the penalty area. Benzema wanted to return the ball to him, but four Atletico defenders had recovered, and Ronaldo was sandwiched by Miranda and Godín.

There was no clear passing lane.

In the chaos, Godín got a foot in and deflected the ball, but Benzema chased it down and regained control.

At that moment, he heard Modric call out and saw a white shirt sprinting into the area from the right side of the arc.

It was Modric, who had just tracked back into defense minutes earlier.

Benzema didn't hesitate. He threaded the ball between Mario Suárez and Díaz.

Everyone had shifted to the left, leaving the right side of the box wide open.

Modric arrived, controlled the pass, adjusted his footing, and fired before Gabi could close him down.

The ball flew past Asenjo and into the Atletico Madrid net.

3-1!

The entire Bernabéu, more than 76,000 Real Madrid fans, jumped out of their seats and erupted in deafening cheers, chanting for Real Madrid and Modric.

A full comeback!

A big reversal!

"Real Madrid's play has become more structured and well-organized, with increasingly refined teamwork."

"Whether it's positional play or quick counters, they're executing with intelligence."

"Three attackers completely outplayed six defenders. It's incredible."

"Atletico coach Simeone is furious on the sidelines. With six defenders in and around the box, he has every reason to be upset."

"But all their focus was on Ronaldo and Benzema, and they completely missed Modric's late run."

"Modric had stayed deep throughout the first half, but this sudden surge forward was devastating!"

"Now the pressure has shifted to Atletico."

…

The first half ended with Real Madrid leading 3-1.

It was clear to everyone that the result of this match was all but sealed.

Still, Gao Shen remained vigilant. During the halftime talk, he continued to urge caution.

Atletico Madrid were a resilient side. If given a chance, they could still make things dangerous.

This was one of the reasons why Gao Shen constantly complained about Real Madrid's schedule.

Whether it was Barcelona or Atletico Madrid, the most important La Liga fixtures were scheduled just before or after Champions League matches. And in Europe, they were drawn into the Group of Death.

That made things even worse.

Like now, should they go all-out to win the Madrid Derby?

But then, they also had to give everything against Porto in the final Champions League group-stage game.

How do you ensure peak performance in both matches?

This was a recurring challenge for Real Madrid this season.

Even with two top assistants, Buenaventura and Pintus, the scheduling gave Gao Shen headaches.

Of course, the main problem was the Champions League group.

Every game was a final. Who could keep up with that intensity?

During the break, Gao Shen continued to motivate his players for the second half.

"Atletico Madrid are always a tough opponent, so we must remain extremely focused."

He called out Di María again, praising his performance in the first half, and encouraged him to apply more pressure on Atletico's left flank.

Especially Díaz's position.

"I have to break them down on that side!"

Atletico were targeting Real Madrid's left with Marcos Alonso. Real Madrid, in turn, were attacking Díaz.

Fair is fair.

"Guys!"

Gao Shen stood in the center of the home dressing room at the Bernabéu, scanning the faces of his players.

Half a match had passed. They were tired, but under his gaze, each player perked up.

"I know you've all been working extremely hard lately, but I need you to hold on a little longer."

"No championship is won easily. Only those who overcome countless setbacks and keep going to the very end become true winners."

"It's a brutal schedule, but it has helped us grow stronger."

"Ronnie." Gao Shen pointed at Ronaldo.

"You're in the best form and posting the best stats of your career. If you maintain this momentum and we win something big, then who else but you deserves the Ballon d'Or next year?"

Upon hearing that, Ronaldo's expression sharpened. His eyes burned with determination.

He wanted his second Ballon d'Or.

He wanted it badly.

"And you, Angel. I dare say this is your best season so far. You've shown your true talent. Don't you want something to show for it?"

"Karim, you're not going to be a tame housecat forever, are you? Don't you want to be the one who bites back?"

"And the rest of you—after all the criticism, mockery, and doubt you've endured over the years, don't you want to shut everyone up?"

"Only titles can clear our name!"

"Only honor can wash away the shame we carry!"

"I believe all hardship and obstacles will only make us stronger."

"And right now, we are one of the best teams in the world."

"We've been in the Group of Death, battled Manchester City—two-time defending champions—we've beaten Dortmund and Porto. In La Liga, we've beaten Barcelona. Now we're about to take down Atletico."

"But believe me, this still isn't our peak."

"We have untapped potential. We can still grow, still improve."

"Trust me. Our goal isn't just La Liga."

"We're also going to win the Champions League!"

"If we can get out of the group, I'm confident we can win it all!"

"And in the league, we must keep the pressure on Barcelona."

"Starting with this win over Atletico Madrid!"

…

Gao Shen's speech fired up the entire team.

In fact, the players had already sensed the team's growth.

Not only themselves, but their teammates were improving as well.

Everyone could feel that this Real Madrid was not the same as at the start of the season.

Gao Shen's words gave them even more confidence.

So, when the second half began, Real Madrid came out calm and composed.

Faced with Atletico's intense press, they didn't panic. Instead, they continued to carve out chances with short passes and quick movement.

Di María, Modric, and Carvajal worked together aggressively on the right.

In the 59th minute, Di María received a pass from Modric on the right, shook off Díaz, and cut inside. As Atletico's defense shifted toward him, he slipped the ball to Benzema inside the box.

The French striker used his body to shield Godín and knocked the ball back to Ronaldo.

The Portuguese star dribbled inside, beat Mario Suárez, and unleashed a thunderous shot with his right foot.

The ball flew like a rocket and smashed into the right side of the goal.

Real Madrid scored again!

4-1!

Ronaldo roared with all his might and sprinted across the pitch.

This was his war cry.

A declaration for next year's Ballon d'Or!

He would never allow himself to be second to Messi!

(To be continued.)