The first El Clásico of the new season ended with Real Madrid losing 1–2.
Shortly before the end of the match, Yang Yang immediately pressed Valdes when Puyol passed the ball back to his goalkeeper.
The Barcelona goalkeeper tried to dribble past Yang Yang, but Yang Yang stuck out a foot to win the ball and then slotted it into the open goal, pulling one back for Real Madrid, preserving a glimmer of hope, and leaving the tie in suspense for the second leg a week later.
At 1–2, Real Madrid could still win the title as long as they defeated Barcelona at Bernabéu Stadium in the second leg.
But losing to Barcelona for the first time in three years, especially after the first half, had dealt Real Madrid's players a tremendous blow.
By the time the Real Madrid players returned to the dressing room, they all looked dispirited. None of them had their usual passion left. Even Ramos and Marcelo, who usually loved keeping the atmosphere lively, now looked like defeated roosters, heads drooping as they sat in their places, confusion showing in their eyes.
It wasn't just them. Everyone else was the same.
In his first El Clásico, Hazard had done nothing. Not only had he failed to suppress Alves, but he had also encountered many problems defensively, allowing Alves to surge forward repeatedly and, together with Sánchez, put pressure on Real Madrid's left flank.
But the most important issue was still the space between the center and the wings.
Facing Barcelona with only one defensive midfielder, Real Madrid's defense in those areas had been a very serious problem.
It could be said that both goals conceded in the first half, as well as Vermaelen's crucial clearance, had all originated from those areas.
It wasn't until the second