On the night of December 10, at 10:00 p.m., the focus match of La Liga's sixteenth round—the world-renowned El Clásico—was held at the Bernabéu Stadium. Real Madrid would face visiting Barcelona at home.
Over the past two and a half years, Real Madrid had consistently overpowered Barcelona. Whether in team honors or head-to-head results, Real Madrid had held every advantage, leaving Barcelona in a highly passive position.
At the start of the season, the two teams had played two Spanish Super Cup matches. Real Madrid had won the title with one victory and one draw, but Barcelona had secured its first draw in more than two years. That alone had thrilled all their fans, who were eagerly anticipating this showdown at the Bernabéu Stadium.
The last match had ended in a draw. Could they defeat their opponents this time?
Guardiola had only emerged from the players' tunnel moments before the match.
By then, both teams had already chosen ends and were standing in their own halves. Fabregas and Messi stood on either side of the center circle, ready to kick off. Barcelona had clearly won the right to start, which was another favorable factor for them.
As long as they stabilized the opening, held on to possession, and controlled the ball, the match would develop in Barcelona's favor.
Yet Guardiola still looked extremely grim.
Ancelotti had been standing at the entrance to the players' tunnel. The moment he saw Guardiola come out, he went over, smiling as he shook Guardiola's hand. But the Italian fat man wrapped in a thick black Adidas down jacket was impossible for Guardiola to like, because the old fox's starting tactics had caught him completely off guard.
It wasn't three defensive midfielders, but two!
Casillas was in goal. The back line consisted of Marcelo,