November 3, Bernabéu Stadium.
When the referee, Fernandes, blew the final whistle, the Real Madrid players on the pitch rushed to the sidelines, asking about the result of the other match being played at the same time.
That match was taking place at Mestalla, where Valencia hosted Atletico Madrid.
When they learned the final result, a burst of enthusiastic cheers erupted in front of the home team's bench.
Atletico Madrid, unbeaten through the opening nine rounds, had finally lost!
Simeone's team had produced the best league start the Mattress Makers had enjoyed in decades, but this time they had finally failed to clear Valencia's hurdle, falling at Mestalla.
Atlético Madrid had lost 2–0, and the defeat had been rather humiliating. The player who had given Valencia the lead as early as the twentieth minute was none other than former Real Madrid youth player Soldado. His goal put Valencia ahead early, and they did not score their second until stoppage time.
This was Simeone's team's first La Liga defeat of the season and their second loss across all competitions. Before this, they had only lost to Real Madrid in the European Super Cup, while in La Liga they had been unstoppable.
Now Atletico Madrid had finally stumbled, and Real Madrid had overtaken them.
This round, Real Madrid faced Zaragoza.
Just twenty-three minutes into the match, Robben assisted Yang Yang's goal, and two minutes later Robben scored one himself.
Then, in the eighty-seventh minute, Morata, who had come on for Yang Yang, took advantage of a corner and assisted Azpilicueta, who scored. It was the Spanish defender's first goal for Real Madrid.
In the ninety-second minute, Modrić scored as well, ultimately fixing the score at 4–0.
Real Madrid comfortably defeated Zaragoza at home, while Atletico Madrid lost 2–0 away to Valencia.