Who Will Freeze Yang Yang?

"Viewers watching at home, the match we are bringing you live now is the twelfth-round La Liga clash of the 2009–10 season, with Barcelona hosting Real Madrid in El Clásico."

"This is a match attracting worldwide attention. Both sides possess multiple world-class superstars."

"Barcelona have top stars such as Messi, Henry, Xavi, Iniesta, and Alves, while Real Madrid are no less impressive. They have the number-one player in world football, Yang Yang; their leading center forward, Ibrahimovic; Brazilian superstar Kaka; Dutch winger Robben; and midfielders of the caliber of Xabi Alonso and Mascherano holding down the center of the pitch."

"It could be said that both teams are packed with talent and glittering with stars. Tonight's El Clásico has also been hailed as the most expensive match in the history of world football, with the combined value of both squads topping the global rankings."

"The man in charge of officiating tonight's match is Spain's famous international referee, Undiano Mallenco."

"Fans familiar with last season's La Liga will certainly not find him a stranger, because he was the referee who officiated Real Madrid's disastrous 6–2 home defeat to Barcelona last season."

"Thirty-six-year-old Marienko is a sociologist who began refereeing football matches in 2000 and became an international referee in 2004. He officiated strictly, and he was the only Spanish referee selected to officiate at the South Africa World Cup."

"Before the match, Benitez said in an interview with the media that Real Madrid would not lodge any complaints against the referee, because he believed the Spanish referee would uphold the principles of fairness and impartiality. Besides, criticizing referees had never been Real Madrid's style."

"Barcelona naturally had even less reason to object. They clearly hoped Marienko could continue bringing the team good fortune and extend the luck that had seen them