Switch the play, drag defenders, and create gaps!
Di María stuck to the right flank. When he saw Toni Kroos's long diagonal pass coming toward him, he instinctively recalled the instructions from coach Gao Shen before the match—familiar tactics from their time together at Napoli.
But after three years at Real Madrid, things had changed. The coach's demands had evolved, and Di María found himself a little unfamiliar with them now.
Even so, he controlled the ball calmly with his chest and didn't rush forward.
Mathieu was just a few meters in front of him.
The Argentine skillfully cushioned the ball with his left foot. As Mathieu stepped up, Di María chose to carry the ball diagonally toward the middle and called out to Arbeloa behind him, signaling him to push up quickly.
Valencia adjusted rapidly. Gago and Guardado tracked back to close the space, forcing Di María to retreat deeper into the right half-space. He quickly released the ball to his right.
With no one marking him, Arbeloa drove forward with a long stride, but Mathieu recovered into position.
The Spanish right-back abruptly stopped, shielded the ball, and saw Modrić coming over to receive it. Di María had also dropped back, now taking on more of a full-back role.
Without overthinking, Arbeloa passed the ball to Modrić.
Modrić, positioned between Gago and Guardado, took a single touch and then pushed the ball into the path of the unmarked Di María.
Facing inward and scanning the field, Di María checked Ronaldo's and Higuaín's positions.
After controlling Modrić's pass with his left foot, he didn't wait for Guardado to close him down. Instead, he lifted the ball over the top with a quick flick.
It was a brilliant through ball, and Higuaín read it perfectly. He timed his run to perfection, escaping both of Valencia's center-backs and charging into the box. He brought the ball down near the penalty spot.
With one touch to stop the ball, the Argentine striker immediately struck it again.
The shot beat Diego Alves, who had already started to come off his line, and flew into the net.
"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!"
"In the 11th minute, Real Madrid scores their first goal of the new season!"
"The goal is from Argentine striker Higuaín!"
The entire Santiago Bernabéu erupted.
The roar of over 74,000 Real Madrid fans shook the night sky above the capital.
After scoring, Higuaín sprinted toward the corner flag in celebration, filled with excitement.
It was the first goal of Real Madrid's new campaign.
"That goal came out of nowhere."
"The attack seemed routine down the right flank, but Kroos's long pass caught Valencia's defense off guard. Di María's lofted ball was simply ingenious."
"It shows that Real Madrid still have plenty of creativity in attack."
"Especially in wide areas and the half-spaces."
…
The goal finally came!
Gao Shen raised both hands in celebration, loudly cheering for the goal.
But deep down, he still wasn't satisfied.
Not with the goal, but with the overall performance.
Real Madrid had made too many errors and lacked a cohesive strategy.
Much of their play lacked any real threat.
Valencia's defense hadn't been especially solid. While they pressed well up the pitch, they left huge gaps behind. Real Madrid hadn't capitalized on those spaces effectively—otherwise, they would've scored much earlier.
In the season opener, it was understandable that both teams were off the pace.
But Gao Shen's biggest concern remained the organization and rhythm of the team's attack.
At this rate, it would be hard to score a second goal.
…
As if confirming Gao Shen's concerns, the match settled down after the goal. Real Madrid calmed down, but the attacking fluency remained poor.
There were still too many misplaced passes, too little understanding between players, and disjointed link-up play. These were all major issues.
Though Real Madrid continued to create a few chances, they failed to convert.
The most dangerous moment of the first half came when Valencia earned a free kick from the right—Real Madrid's left. The ball was whipped into the box.
The delivery landed around the penalty spot, that awkward zone where the goalkeeper usually doesn't come out.
Just as Pepe and Ramos were preparing to contest the ball, Courtois shouted confidently, "Mine!"
The Belgian shot out of goal like a lightning bolt, leapt high, and snatched the ball out of the air ahead of the Valencia attackers.
After landing, Courtois immediately threw the ball out wide to Arbeloa on the right, initiating a fast transition.
It was only then that Real Madrid's backline began to snap into focus.
Throughout the first half, Courtois had little to do—perhaps he was even bored.
But for a keeper to charge out to the penalty spot and claim the ball like that required not only a huge range of control but also supreme confidence in his speed and timing.
This kid was special.
…
At halftime, Gao Shen expressed satisfaction with the team's performance.
At least, he couldn't afford to show dissatisfaction.
Still, he encouraged the players to maintain their playing style—move more, show for the ball more, pass and receive quicker, and pay attention to body angles when receiving. This wasn't just to make it easier to control the ball, but also to help teammates find better passing lanes.
Real Madrid still had several major issues. But they were long-term problems that couldn't be solved overnight.
Gao Shen maintained a pragmatic approach, focusing first on defensive solidity.
"In the first half, we only allowed Valencia two shots—none on target. That's very good."
"Keep that up in the second half. Also, try to attack more down the flanks and in the half-spaces."
As he spoke, Gao Shen pointed at Higuaín again, signaling him to drift wide more often and link up with teammates on the wing.
The Argentine had been very efficient—he scored with his only real chance in the first half.
That was undeniable.
But tactically, he seemed a bit too static.
If the center forward could offer more variety and support, Real Madrid's attacking moves could become far more threatening.
…
After switching sides in the second half, Real Madrid continued where they left off.
They controlled possession easily from the kickoff.
But once they reached Valencia's half, especially the final third, they were met with heavy pressure from the Bats. Passing errors increased, and the effectiveness of their attacks dropped sharply.
By the 60th minute, with the score still 1-0, Gao Shen lost patience and made his first substitution.
Benzema, wearing number 9, came on for Higuaín, number 20, who had scored the opener.
Higuaín seemed to understand that Gao Shen wasn't satisfied with his overall performance.
The reason was simple. He hadn't engaged in the kind of link-up play Gao Shen expected. Or rather, the attempts hadn't worked well.
Still, Gao Shen smiled and comforted him, promising another opportunity in the next league match. He encouraged him not to get discouraged and to keep working hard. Only then did the Argentine relax a little.
At least the coach was still willing to give him chances.
But that didn't last long.
Less than four minutes after Benzema came on, Real Madrid lost the ball in an attack on the right. Valencia tried to counter but were quickly forced out of bounds. Mathieu took the throw, but Arbeloa won the aerial duel and headed the ball back.
Xabi Alonso headed it forward again to Di María on the wing.
Di María cut inside and lobbed a pass to the right half-space.
Now the center forward's role became clear.
Benzema had dropped into that space, used his body to hold off Victor Ruiz, and brought the ball down. He spotted Modrić making a diagonal run to the right flank, pulling defenders with him.
Benzema held the ball, then passed it to Modrić.
The Croatian carried the ball wide, dragging Gago with him.
A gap opened up in the front right corner of Valencia's box. Di María, having just passed the ball, sprinted into it, raising his hand to call for the return.
Modrić responded with a well-timed pass.
Inside the box, one center-back had been drawn away by Benzema. The other, Ricardo Costa, and right-back Pereira were tracking Ronaldo, who had drifted into a central position.
Di María charged toward the top right corner of the box, pulling both Pereira and Costa toward him, then suddenly slipped the ball across with his left foot.
Cristiano Ronaldo, now unmarked on the left side of the box, stopped the ball, adjusted, and fired.
The shot went low into the far corner.
Diego Alves couldn't reach it.
"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!"
"Cristiano Ronaldo!"
"Real Madrid double their lead. It's 2-0!"
…
If that goal didn't fully show Real Madrid's attacking threat, then the quick counterattack in the 73rd minute absolutely did.
After Real Madrid lost the ball in attack, Valencia launched a counter.
But before they could reach the danger zone, Xabi Alonso, Toni Kroos, and Marcos Alonso combined to stop the move and regain possession.
Xabi Alonso quickly played a low diagonal pass into space on the right wing.
Benzema had dropped into the channel, turned, and drove forward. He then played a diagonal pass toward the middle, finding Ronaldo.
The Portuguese forward had dropped off to receive the ball, then immediately returned it for a one-two.
He sprinted forward along the right edge of the box, always keeping distance from the defenders.
Benzema then shifted the ball left to Toni Kroos, and quickly darted across in front of the German midfielder, dragging defenders with him.
Kroos controlled the ball, looked up, and immediately curled a diagonal pass with his right foot to the far post.
Ronaldo had already taken off.
Timing his run perfectly, he leapt high, beat the defenders in the air, and smashed a header into the far corner.
Diego Alves made a desperate dive.
Too late.
The ball hit the back of the net.
"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!"
"Cristiano Ronaldo again!"
"He scores a brace!"
"3-0!"
"Incredible! Since the substitutions, Real Madrid's attack has looked far more dangerous!"
(To be continued.)
***
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