Yang Yang did not play in the midweek Champions League match. He was not even included in the matchday squad.
Everyone knew that Real Madrid had an extremely high chance of defeating Dinamo Zagreb at home. They did not even need to deploy this nuclear weapon called Yang Yang.
And the facts proved that was exactly the case.
Two minutes into the match, David Silva assisted Ibrahimovic to score.
In the seventh minute, Ibrahimovic assisted Robben to score.
Then, in the ninth minute, Morata converted Arbeloa's cross to make it three-nil.
In the twentieth minute, Ibrahimovic assisted Modrić once again.
After the sides switched ends in the second half, Varane launched a long pass from deep. Robben easily beat the offside trap, carried the ball into the box, and finished one-on-one to make it five-nil for Real Madrid.
Then Morata and Ibrahimovic combined at speed. Morata threaded the ball into the box, and Ibrahimovic used his body to hold off the defender before controlling and moving past him in one motion. He charged into the area and slotted the ball home to make it six-nil.
After taking such a commanding lead, Real Madrid eased off their attack. Dinamo Zagreb launched a counterattack to preserve their dignity and scored soon afterward. In the end, Real Madrid crushed Dinamo Zagreb six-one at home, largely thanks to Ibrahimovic's outstanding performance.
With five straight group-stage wins, Real Madrid advanced confidently as group winners without any suspense.
But what delighted everyone inside the club even more was Modrić.
After the match, the Croatian midfielder was praised by the media as the "White Xavi," meaning that he was Real Madrid's midfield Xavi.
Judging from this match, although he had scored only once, his partnership with David Silva had firmly secured Real Madrid's control of midfield. It