What Was Wrong with Real Madrid?

Madrid, Spain, Bernabéu Stadium, the evening of December 5.

La Liga's thirteenth round saw Real Madrid host Almería.

This showdown was destined to be packed with drama and entertainment even before kickoff, enough to rival a Hollywood blockbuster.

When the referee led both teams onto the pitch, the stadium announcer began introducing Real Madrid's starting lineup. Out of habit, he actually read out Kaka's name, leaving the more than eighty thousand fans in Bernabéu Stadium utterly stunned.

Hadn't Kaka undergone surgery earlier?

How could he still play tonight?

The announcer quickly corrected his mistake, apologized on the spot, and explained that he had simply made a verbal slip. Starting in Kaka's place tonight was Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder, who would take up the attacking-midfield position.

The television cameras also gave Sneijder a close-up. The unfortunate Dutchman shook his head in frustration, looking utterly innocent and helpless, while his teammates around him teased him mercilessly. Ibrahimovic even reached out and ruffled his hair.

Casillas was in goal. The back line consisted of Marcelo, Vermaelen, Pepe, and Ramos. The Double Defensive Midfielders were Mascherano and Xabi Alonso, with Sneijder in the middle and Yang Yang, Ibrahimovic, and Robben forming the front three.

Compared with the away match against Barcelona a week earlier, the only change was in midfield: Kaka had been replaced by Sneijder.

Perhaps affected by the comical mistake before kickoff, Sneijder was burning with frustration. Just two minutes into the match, he unleashed a long-range shot. Almería goalkeeper Diego Alves parried it, but Robben followed up with a shot that struck the keeper.

Real Madrid completely seized control of possession from the opening whistle and launched attack after attack.

A minute later, Yang Yang took a shot, but it posed no threat.

Then Robben found an opportunity inside the penalty