The Copa del Rey final is scheduled to be held at Valencia's Mestalla Stadium in mid-April.
That is still far away on Real Madrid's schedule.
Because La Liga and the Champions League knockout rounds are coming up soon.
Their opponent in the Champions League round of 16 is Galatasaray from Turkey.
In fact, many fans have underestimated Turkish teams. For example, the commercial revenue of Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe has always ranked high in European football, firmly placing them in the top 20. Their overall strength should not be underestimated.
Of course, in terms of overall strength, there is still a very obvious gap between them and Real Madrid.
…
After the Copa del Rey, the 24th round of La Liga arrived, with Real Madrid playing away at Getafe.
Goals from Jesé, Džeko, and Pogba helped Real Madrid win 3-0.
Three days later in midweek, Real Madrid faced Valencia in a rescheduled 17th round La Liga match.
In the end, Real Madrid defeated the Bats 3-1 away with goals from Ronaldo, Di María, and Benzema.
Back on the weekend, in the 25th round of La Liga, Real Madrid defeated Elche 4-0 at home.
New signing Illarramendi scored his first goal since joining Real Madrid.
Isco, Jesé, and Džeko each added a goal.
…
On the evening of February 25, at the Turk Telekom Stadium in Istanbul, Türkiye.
In the first leg of the Champions League round of 16, Real Madrid faced Galatasaray away.
Galatasaray is not a traditional European giant, but they managed to stand out in the group stage because the team is filled with well-known stars.
For example, the Ivorian striker Drogba, Dutch midfielder Sneijder, former Brazilian international Felipe Melo, former Arsenal full-back Eboué, former Liverpool player Riera, and former Real Madrid midfielder Altıntop…
All of them are famous European players with proven strength.
Their head coach is even more remarkable, an old acquaintance of Gao Shen, Mancini.
Galatasaray was able to qualify from the group stage in second place largely because Mancini replaced the old coach Terim at the start of the season.
Mancini had also prepared carefully for this match.
As the Italian said at the pre-match press conference, although Real Madrid is strong, they had traveled a long distance and their players were exhausted. Galatasaray had the advantage of home ground and rest, so they were fully capable of defeating their opponents.
After kickoff, the Turkish team immediately took the initiative and launched the first attack. They clearly wanted to catch Real Madrid unsettled and disrupt their rhythm and tactical deployment.
Gao Shen was mentally prepared for this situation, but an unexpected incident still occurred on the pitch.
Just two minutes into the game, Altıntop sent in a cross into the box. Drogba made a quick run and jumped at the same time as Ramos and Casillas to challenge for the ball.
Casillas got to the ball first and punched it clear, but his body was knocked over by Drogba and he fell hard to the ground.
After treatment from the team doctor, Casillas struggled back to his feet and stood in goal with determination, indicating he was fine.
But the report the team doctor gave Gao Shen after leaving the pitch was not encouraging.
"The collision with his waist aggravated his old back injury. The condition is not good. I have bandaged him, but I don't know how long he can hold on. It may even affect his performance."
Gao Shen nodded calmly, waved in thanks, and walked back to the bench, motioning for Courtois to warm up. "Be ready to play at any time."
The Belgian gestured in understanding and quickly began warming up on the sidelines.
Gao Shen continued to stand in front of the bench, eyes fixed on the pitch.
Soon after, a sudden long-range shot from Melo threatened Real Madrid, but Casillas dived and blocked it. Yet he landed heavily again.
This time, he struggled to get back on his feet.
Judging from the way he supported his waist and the pained expression on his face, the situation was worsening.
"We should take him off," Carlo suggested.
Zidane and Hierro both nodded.
Everyone could see Casillas was badly hurt.
What is Drogba's weight?
Even though the Ivorian was no longer the unstoppable beast of his prime, he was still a heavy striker.
Casillas already had a back injury, and even without it, this kind of collision was enough to cause serious pain.
Now, his painful expression left no doubt.
"Wait a little longer," Gao Shen shook his head.
"Why?" Carlo was puzzled.
But Zidane and Hierro, both former professionals, quickly guessed Gao Shen's reasoning.
"It has to be Casillas who makes this decision!"
Carlo froze, then understood Gao Shen's intention.
As captain of Real Madrid, Casillas had only been playing in cup matches, the Champions League, and Copa del Rey in the past two seasons, while Courtois was the starter in the league.
Everyone could see that Courtois was extremely capable and young, so it was natural for him to take Casillas's place. It was even the trend of the times.
Many people had already begun discussing whether Casillas should be sold so Courtois could take over completely.
But Gao Shen had always stuck to his principle of one keeper for league, one for cups.
This was his original promise to Casillas.
If Casillas left injured now and Courtois played in the Champions League, it would further reduce Casillas's playing time.
Back injuries do not heal quickly. Even if he could recover by the next round, if Courtois performed well, what role would Casillas have left?
Once the balance was broken, there was no going back.
Casillas himself understood this, which was why he refused to follow the doctor's advice and leave the pitch.
Gao Shen knew his captain too well. He knew the risks clearly as head coach.
But he believed in his captain.
Even if Galatasaray scored, so what?
…
Gao Shen adjusted the defensive line and asked the whole formation to drop slightly to protect Casillas.
But the captain's game was still extremely tough.
By the 7th minute, he was leaning against the post, visibly in pain, yet he still gritted his teeth and refused to give in.
Because he knew this might really be his last game.
Ramos and other teammates came back several times to check on him. Ramos even helped Casillas take goal kicks to ease his burden.
Even Courtois, warming up on the sidelines, occasionally looked toward his captain on the pitch, as if cheering him on.
But after ten minutes, everyone could see Casillas's condition was deteriorating. By the 13th minute, the Real Madrid captain could no longer hold on.
After calling the referee, he removed his gloves and lay down on the goal line with one hand covering his eyes, hiding his expression.
The referee quickly signaled for the stretcher.
All the Real Madrid players gathered to help, comforting him one by one, assuring him he would return.
Yes, there would surely be a chance to return.
But by then, he might not have any role left!
When the time came, he would have to face two painful choices.
Either become Courtois's backup, or leave Real Madrid, the club of his entire life.
No matter what he chose, it would be heartbreaking.
Before being carried off, Casillas, with red eyes, tore off the captain's armband and handed it to Ramos. After giving him a few instructions, he was carried away.
On the sidelines, Casillas shook hands with Courtois again.
Gao Shen stood nearby and clearly heard Casillas whisper in a trembling voice, "It's up to you from now on."
Courtois nodded firmly and ran quickly onto the pitch.
Gao Shen walked forward with a smile.
As soon as Casillas saw him, he could no longer hold back his tears. He cried out, "Boss," and then broke down completely.
For a moment, Gao Shen, Carlo, Zidane, Hierro, and the rest all felt the same sorrow.
Everyone ages, even professional footballers.
This is the fairest, yet cruelest truth in the world.
Just like Gao Shen's Real Madrid now, seemingly invincible, but one day time will strip away their sharpness, their passion, and everything else, until they too become an aging team.
This is inevitable.
"Don't worry. Recover well and be ready for the next round," Gao Shen patted Casillas's shoulder to comfort him.
Provided he could make it back in time.
Casillas steadied himself and followed the doctor and Buenaventura down the tunnel.
…
The injury of Real Madrid's captain seemed to mark the end of an era.
Courtois, who came on, was highly active. He made a brilliant save to deny Galatasaray.
Real Madrid gradually began to impose themselves. Under Gao Shen's adjustments, after getting used to Galatasaray's rhythm, they started to strengthen their attack.
Yes, the Turkish team had many stars, but they were all aging superstars.
Real Madrid, however, was still young.
In the 18th minute, Xabi Alonso suddenly delivered a long pass toward the left side of the box.
After a high-speed run, Ronaldo reached the ball near the byline, pulled it back, and passed it to Toni Kroos.
The German midfielder spotted a narrow gap on the edge of the box and sent a diagonal pass to the right side.
Di María ran in from the right and got to the ball before Riera. With a sudden stop, he flicked the ball back with his left foot, skipped past Riera, cut inside past the center-back, and curled a shot with his left foot.
The ball bent beautifully through the crowded box and into the top left corner of Galatasaray's goal.
1-0, Real Madrid took the lead.
(To be continued.)