In his debut, Real Madrid won by five goals, and the combination of Yang Yang and Zidane won unanimous praise from the Spanish, European, and even worldwide media and fans.
Relying on just one match, it was impossible to see what specific ideas Yang Yang and Zidane had. At most, people could make out a few clues. For example, Yang Yang had roamed over a wider area in this match, often dropping back to draw the defense's attention.
This was not something Real Madrid had invented.
In last season's Champions League Final, Barcelona had used a similar tactical approach. Messi dropped deep to draw the defense's attention before orchestrating attacks. This had caused Real Madrid considerable trouble at the time, and they had conceded early.
Yang Yang and Zidane had clearly learned something from that, having Yang Yang drop back to receive the ball before suddenly making late runs forward. The two goals had come from identical patterns, both using similar tactical routines. There had clearly been a method behind them.
Building on this change, Real Madrid had still invested heavily in attacks down both wings. In this match, Hazard had created a huge threat whenever he received the ball on the left. He could be called one of the most dangerous players on the pitch, making it impossible for Sporting de Gijón to defend against him.
The five-goal victory had concealed all their problems, allowing media and fans around the world to see Real Madrid's strength. It also matched the outside world's expectations of Real Madrid: attack, relentless attack, and the most beautiful, dazzling attacking football.
Italian legend Sacchi had reviewed the match in his column. He believed that one match alone could not reveal everything, but it was obvious that Zidane and Yang Yang had continued Ancelotti's tactical