Real Madrid eventually eliminated Atletico Madrid 4–2 at home, winning 6–4 on aggregate and advancing to the Copa del Rey quarterfinals.
But it seemed that Heaven's trials for Real Madrid were still not over.
After all eight matches had been played and the Copa del Rey quarterfinalists decided, the draw for the quarterfinals was held immediately. But this time, Real Madrid encountered the team it least wanted to face: Barcelona!
Facing Atletico Madrid in the round of sixteen and Barcelona in the quarterfinals—such a devilish schedule was truly a disaster for Real Madrid. After the draw was announced, all the media mourned Real Madrid, because their luck was simply atrocious.
In the match against Atletico, Mascherano's introduction as a substitute and the midfield balance that followed drew the media's attention and sparked heated discussion. Many people were forced to reassess Real Madrid's lineup.
No one could deny that after Mascherano came on, Real Madrid became much more balanced in attack and defense. The Argentine defensive midfielder also gave the back line a stable outlet for building up, greatly easing Real Madrid's pressure. His defending formed an impregnable barrier in front of the defense.
But there were also plenty of voices arguing that Real Madrid should not use Mascherano. After all, when they had previously deployed two technically gifted defensive midfielders, the team had attacked in waves while defending well. Modrić was injured, but another player could easily replace him. They could not throw away their previous momentum because of a single match against Atletico.
In short, two different opinions clashed and were hotly debated outside the club. It was not just members of the media who joined in; many professionals, including numerous Real Madrid legends, also took part. Based on their different understanding of and preferences for football, everyone offered