There are always many firsts in life, and each one has special meaning.
For a team, a club, a league, or even a country's football, a first carries richer historical significance.
The same is true for Real Madrid, who are aiming for the treble this year.
During Barcelona's most glorious years, from Rijkaard's Dream Team II to Guardiola's Dream Team III, they challenged for the treble again and again, each time determined and confident.
But every time, they failed.
This has been the most painful thorn in Barcelona's heart in recent years.
Now, Real Madrid, their arch-rivals, are also aiming for the treble, and it looks very likely. This has inevitably drawn Barcelona's attention and made them nervous.
From fans to players, from the coaching staff to the management, no one at Barcelona wants to see Real Madrid win the treble.
The better Real Madrid perform, the more painful the blow will be to Barcelona and the greater the damage it will cause.
If they really win the treble, it would be a ruthless blow to Barcelona.
In this situation, whether it is Barcelona's players, Martino who is about to leave, or the Barcelona management present in person, all hope the team can show grit and play with the spirit of Barcelona in the last Clásico of the season, and ideally overturn Real Madrid.
But Real Madrid played with real composure.
Their attack was sharp, their counterattacks swift, and their defense solid and watertight.
Especially after conceding the first goal near the end of the first half, Barcelona fell into trouble.
After 60 minutes, seeing his team struggling to open the game, Martino had to adjust and replaced Fàbregas with Pedro. Barcelona returned to a 4-3-3.
But they still had no good way to deal with Real Madrid.
Especially in the 65th minute, Di María dribbled inside and fed a diagonal pass to the edge of the box. He then slipped a through ball to the right of the penalty spot. Ronaldo arrived and shot from close range in front of the six-yard box, but Pinto saved it behind for a corner. Unfortunately, they failed to extend the lead.
Real Madrid's attacking threat also hit Barcelona's morale.
The Barcelona fans who traveled to support the team were clearly disappointed.
Their team really had no answers against Real Madrid.
…
"No matter how powerful a person is, he cannot defeat time."
In the middle of the presidential box at Mestalla, King Juan Carlos of Spain sighed with regret.
He was the presenter tonight, and no matter who won, the Copa del Rey trophy would be handed over by him.
Sitting next to him, along with the president and officials of the Spanish Football Federation, was Real Madrid president Florentino.
A little further away, Barcelona president Bartomeu and other Barcelona executives were also seated on the podium.
Juan Carlos said this to Florentino. He was not only referring to Barcelona, but also to himself.
Although the King of Spain prided himself on his romanticism, age was a factor.
If last season Real Madrid won the double while Barcelona took La Liga, many people did not notice it, or Barcelona fans were unwilling to admit that Real Madrid had risen and even had the strength to suppress Barcelona.
Then this season, as Real Madrid have become stronger and stronger, from the Spanish Super Cup at the beginning of the season to the current Copa del Rey, Barcelona have not even secured a draw, losing all of them.
At this point in the match, it was clear to everyone that Real Madrid had crushed Barcelona in terms of strength.
In this situation, no matter how stubborn you are, you have to admit the Barcelona era is over.
La Liga is about to usher in the Real Madrid era.
"I went to Valdebebas the day before yesterday, and Gao Shen told me he was very confident of winning the treble," Florentino said with a smile.
Juan Carlos nodded with a smile. "I have always been very optimistic about Gao Shen. I believe he can achieve his goal."
Ángel Villar, president of the Spanish Football Association, nodded in agreement. "Real Madrid's performance this season is indeed dominant, both in Spain and in Europe, and their impression among referees has also improved a lot."
The president of the Spanish FA is a man of great influence in football.
As early as 1998, he joined the FIFA Executive Committee and had a close personal relationship with Blatter. In 2002, he became a FIFA vice president and a UEFA vice president in 2000. He was also chairman of the referees' committee for both FIFA and UEFA.
The bald referee Collina is now Villar's deputy.
It is worth noting that Villar's relationship with Real Madrid was not very good, because in the 2004 Spanish FA presidential election, Florentino did not support Villar but chose his rival, Otero. Barcelona supported Villar.
Because of this, the so-called godfather theory emerged.
Many said Barcelona's rise was due to their support for Villar, and Villar later repaid Barcelona, helping them create Dream Team II and Dream Team III, coinciding with Real Madrid's lean years.
Of course, later, by all indications, the relationship between Villar and Real Madrid was not bad.
Because there are many matters where he still needed Real Madrid's help.
For example, the reform of La Liga broadcasting rights.
"I heard the professional league has already drafted a plan?" Villar asked with a smile.
He did not seem too concerned.
Florentino nodded. "I have heard of it, but I have not seen the specific plan yet."
"You at Real Madrid have suffered a great loss in this. Our FA feels sorry for you. We will definitely fight for your support when the time comes," Villar said in an official tone.
Who is Florentino?
How could he not understand Villar's meaning?
The topic of La Liga broadcasting reform has been around for a long time, especially after seeing the sky-high fees in the Premier League. It is mouth-watering.
Of course, this does not include Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Why?
Because they earn more than Premier League clubs.
Take this season as an example. Real Madrid and Barcelona auctioned their rights separately, each receiving 150 million euros. In the Premier League, or even worldwide, which club can do that?
What about other La Liga teams?
Clubs like Valencia and Atlético Madrid earn around 40 million euros. Bottom clubs get about one-tenth of Real Madrid and Barcelona.
This is La Liga's current reality.
Therefore, mid- and lower-table teams are fed up, believing Real Madrid and Barcelona take too much, and demand that, like the Premier League, everyone sells together, negotiates collectively, and grows the pie.
This is a matter of fairness. Even Real Madrid and Barcelona cannot refuse it, but they can negotiate.
But this is a matter between Real Madrid, Barcelona, and LaLiga. What does it have to do with the Spanish FA?
That is the problem.
The FA does not control LaLiga. It only controls the Copa del Rey. In fact, the Copa del Rey was not originally founded by the FA. It was initiated by Real Madrid to celebrate the accession of King Alfonso XIII of Spain, hence the name.
Now, the FA wants to intervene in LaLiga's rights auction. In essence, it wants a slice of the pie.
"Then I have to thank Ángel first," Florentino said with a smile.
"Do not worry. The better Real Madrid perform, especially if they win the unprecedented treble, it will be an honor for the FA. The FA and I will do our best to protect Real Madrid," Villar said bluntly.
He is not only the president of the Spanish FA, but also chairman of UEFA's Referees Committee, responsible for referee selection.
Although Collina handles specifics, Villar can at least ensure Real Madrid do not suffer from refereeing issues.
Of course, Florentino agreed readily, since the situation was still uncertain.
Besides, this matter was not his alone to decide.
When it came to a decision, he still had to consider Real Madrid's interests.
At this moment, Real Madrid intercepted another ball in midfield and launched a quick counter.
…
After Modrić took it from Iniesta, he immediately countered and passed forward to Di María.
The Argentine made a dummy run, nicked it before Busquets, and slipped it to the dropping Benzema.
The French striker peeled out to the edge of the D, dragging Piqué and Bartra with him. With his back to goal, he laid it into the right channel.
Carvajal surged forward at full speed, controlled before Alba, and looked to drive to the byline, but failed and had to roll it back to Di María.
In space on the right edge of the box, Di María took a touch. Seeing Bartra not stepping out, he set his left foot and clipped a lobbed pass.
This ball traveled from the right side of the arc to the left side of the six-yard box, behind Barcelona's defense, dropping next to goal. Sensing danger, Pinto rushed toward the back post, but midway he saw a white shirt flash through at incredible speed, chased by a red-and-blue figure, Alves.
Ronaldo flew in and leapt high.
Although Alves was tight, he could not get off the ground, let alone stop Ronaldo winning the header.
From close range, the Portuguese powered a header toward the right side of the net.
Pinto stretched desperately, trying to reach it, but the header was so well placed that he did not touch it.
The ball sailed past Pinto's hands and nestled inside the right side of Barcelona's goal.
"Goalllllllllllllll!!!!!!"
"In the 67th minute, Real Madrid score again, 2-0!!"
"Oh my god, a close-range header from Ronaldo."
"Real Madrid's attack was very fluid, and Ronaldo's header was very clever. Pinto was helpless."
"With a two-goal lead, Barcelona are now in a very dangerous situation."
The stadium rang with the cheers of Real Madrid fans.
Gao Shen also raised his arms on the touchline to celebrate Ronaldo's goal.
Almost at the same time, Martino on the Barcelona bench made a second substitution.
Sánchez walked to the touchline, ready to replace Bartra.
There was nearly half an hour left, but Martino still wanted to attack.
(To be continued.)