Whenever Real Madrid faces Bara, the whole world eagerly anticipates it.

  Fans call this match the National Derby, or the Derby of the tury.

  Before the game, some media wrote that the first derby of the tury in 2006 came at a bad time. Both teams were distracted by the Champions League; Bara gued by injuries, and Real Madrid was in turmoil, resulting iher team able to py at their stro.

  However, some argued that such situations reflect the heritage and strength of the two teams even more.

  In the past, the Spanish media would start hyping up the national derby two weeks in advahis treatment was higher than for the Champions League final, showing how much Spain valued this game.

  But this year, that wasn't possible.

  Before the Csico, both teams struggled and didn't py well.

  Bara drew 0-0 with Benfica away in Pal. Although many said Rijkaard was saving his strength for the national derby, who could be sure? Not sg away left the risk of an upset by Benfica at Camp Nou.

  Real Madrid also had a tough time. After finally reversing Arsenal in the round of 16, they drew 0-0 with Juventus away in the first leg of the quarter-finals. Yes, Real Madrid drew with Juventus.

  For almost the entire game, Real Madrid was extremely embarrassed by Juventus, barely retreating with their defense.

  Whether against Juventus, in La Liga, ainst Arsenal, the current Real Madrid no longer showed even half the style of the previous Gactic Gacticos.

  Especially sidering they were reusing a 25-year-old rookie as the team's head coa unpreted move.

  Before the game, the media of both teams hyped their own sides.

  Real Madrid had ceded no goals in five secutive La Liga matches and won five straight, appearing to have strong momentum. It seemed possible to beat Bara at Camp Nou and close the points gap further.

  Bara's media believed Rijkaard's sed dream team would pletely tear off Real Madrid's fig leaf at Camp Nou.

  If the media's arguments were just talk, the fans who bet at bookmakers put their money where their mouths were.

  Three to one!

  This was the score favored by nearly half of the lottery pyers, with the home team first and the away team sed.

  In other words, nearly half of the fans believed Bara would beat Real Madrid 3-1 at home.

  Baridfielder Deco said in an interview, "By defeating Real Madrid, Bara win the championship ahead of schedule!"

  Captain Puyol also believed that winning this game would allow Bara to ch the championship early, but even if they lost, it wouldn't affect La Liga's overall situation. "Even if we lose, we are still two points ahead, so our mentality will be better than the oppo's."

  Kick more rexed!

  This was also emphasized by Cruyff, the godfather of Bara, in his n.

  Cruyff believed Bara had a psychological advantage and could py more easily and calmly.

  Five points behind iandings forced Real Madrid to win at Camp Nou to maintain pressure on Bara, which itself was a shackle on Real Madrid.

  Cruyff said that apart from injuries, Rijkaard's team had no problems. The team's ability to create opportunities remairong, including in the game against Benfid the league draws and losses. They had many opportunities.

  "The dominant advantage proves that Bara is indeed better than their oppos. The failure to vert the advao goals isn't just luck. The team o make some adjustments iails, like pying more directly and effitly."

  Cruyff implied that Bara should avoid excessive ball-stig and atta a simpler, more direct, and faster manner.

  Additionally, Cruyff suggested Rijkaard should pressure Real Madrid's defense more. He evehe team could use more crosses at the front of Real Madrid's penalty area to create offensive space.

  "In small areas, accurate and fast passing is Bara's advantage."

  In clusion, Cruyff predicted Rijkaard and Bara would give Real Madrid a hard lesson at Camp Nou.

  "Even a three-nil victory at the Bernabeu wouldn't surprise me."

  …

  Whether it was Cruyff or the media, these were external factors.

  But as Bara's head coach, Rijkaard couldn't think as lightly as they did.

  Even on game day m, he hadn't decided oarting lineup.

  Because he had been p a question: Will Ronaldo start?

  During the m meeting with the first-team coag staff, Rijkaard was frowning the eime.

  "Last night, after Real Madrid arrived in Bara, they checked into a hotel by the sea and haven't e out since. Acc to the informatio, they held a simple birthday party for Ramos at the hotel."

  "Wait!" Ten Cate interrupted. "What birthday party?"

  A birthday party with the battle immi?

  "Ramos' birthday. It is said that the head coach, Gao Shen, asked the hotel to prepare in advance, and everyone ieam participated."

  "Including Ronaldo?" Ten Cate asked again.

  "Yes."

  Receiving a positive aen Cate turo look at Rijkaard, who hadn't spoken the whole time.

  "If Ronaldo really starts, we o adjust our formation, especially at ter-back. Oleguer, Van Bommel, and Cocu 't py that positiohiago Motta partner with Puyol."

  Rijkaard, arms crossed, stayed silent.

  He kept w, will Ronaldo start?

  inally, if Real Madrid did not field Negredo but started Ronaldo, he wao rest Belletti, move Oleguer to the right, and have Motta return to ter-back, partnering with Puyol.

  When Van Bommel pyed with Oleguer against Benfica, their performance was quite average. This time he wao try Motta.

  This was unavoidable. Both Edmilson and Márquez were injured, and Bara was seriously g ter-backs.

  Oleguer had excellent physical dition but cked speed and flexibility. He could handle Negredo, but Ronaldo would be a problem.

  Ronaldo's movements were too ing.

  Belletti had started several secutive games and was tired.

  Rijkaard struggled all night. As time ran out, he decided he could no lohink about it. He looked at Ten Cate and asked, "Do you think Ronaldo will start?"

  Ten Cate was stunned, shook his head, and said, "I don't know, but we should pn for the worst and try to score first. Whether Ronaldo starts or not won't be important then."

  Rijkaard still frowned but couldn't deny Ten Cate's logic.

  "Alright, let Oleguer py ter-back with Puyol. Belletti will hold on for one mame."

  ...

  ...

  Amid the boiling noise, Gao Shen finally walked into the hall dreamed of by fans all over the world.

  Camp Nou, Bara.

  Over 98,000 fans gathered. Except for a few Real Madrid fans in a er, all were die-hard Bara supporters.

  When Gao Shen and the Real Madrid pyers came on the field, the crowd booed loudly.

  The sound was like a storm tearing through the stadium.

  As soon as Gao Shen walked out of the pyer tunnel, his first rea was to look up at the stands above his head, cautiously sing the area.

  "What's wrong?" Lucas was surprised by Gao Shen's rea.

  "I'm afraid of a pig's head," Gao Shen replied.

  Lucas, Bueura, and the others burst into ughter.

  "Don't worry, there won't be a pig's head at Camp Nou," Maqueda said happily.

  Sometimes, Maqueda found Gao Shen really iing.

  Of course, when he was forced to act as a stand-in, Gao Shen articurly annoying.

  Gao Shen pouted, showing dissatisfa.

  "It's not that I'm overly cautious. This matter is just eerie," Gao Shen shook his head and muttered.

  Tonight's referee was Alfonso Pérez Burrull.

  Haven't heard of him?

  Exactly.

  This guy wasn't a top referee in Spain, but on October 21, 2000, in the sixth round of La Liga, also at Camp Nou, where Real Madrid pyed Bara, Burrull officiated.

  It was that night a big pig's head was thrown from the stands.

  Six years ter, here they were again.

  "Gao, you said you're not superstitious," Lucas said with a curious smile.

  "Yes, I'm not superstitious," Gao Shen replied.

  "Then why believe this?" Lucas uzzled.

  Gao Shen waved him off. "I'm hoping they throig's head at me!"

  Now not only Lucas but Bueura and Maqueda were all stunned.

  "Why?" Maqueda asked.

  "If the Bara fans throw me a big pig's head, I'll be famous."

  Even if he didn't coa the future, Gao Shen could return to a ahe media: Back when I coached Real Madrid against Bara, the fans at Camp Nou threig's head at me. What a memory!

  These days, to be an i celebrity, you need a memorable story.

  It's like famous singers who sing the same song for decades.

  Of course, some popur singers who have never been famous for even one song still bee famous.

  Lucas, Bueura, and Maqueda wouldn't uand Gao Shen's thoughts, even if they khem.

  But Rijkaard, who followed Gao Shen out, was visibly not in a good mood.

  Whether it was the lighting or something else, Rijkaard's face looked darker than usual.

  Especially when he g Gao Shen in front of the visiting team's coach area, he seemed to be breathing fire.

  Why?

  Ronaldo didn't start!