GOAT: All Football Talents Are Mine

Barcelona stuck to their signature style, meticulously building up their play to create opportunities. Yet, the true threat came from Real Madrid.

Xabi Alonso's precise passes and the relentless off-the-ball movement of Cristiano Ronaldo and Woo Ho-young proved formidable. Although Victor Valdés made a sensational save to deny a goal, the game began tilting in Barcelona's favor.

Xavi Hernández couldn't hide his frustration.

"This..."

He swallowed the bitterness. What seemed like an evenly-matched contest was anything but easy. Real Madrid wasn't the same team as last season—they were stronger, sharper. Most of all, Woo Ho-young's skills had transcended to another level. Even for Xavi, a maestro in his own right, this realization was hard to digest.

This wasn't the first time Xavi had felt this way. He remembered feeling a similar awe when he first saw Lionel Messi, whose potential seemed unparalleled. Back then, it was Messi's brilliance that had left an indelible mark on him.

But now...

"This is... different."

Xavi couldn't deny it—Woo Ho-young's potential exceeded even Messi's. It wasn't a slight against his teammate, but the truth was undeniable. While Messi excelled in specific areas, Ho-young possessed a multi-faceted, near-perfect game.

"Zidane's successor? No, Alfredo Di Stéfano's would be more fitting."

A shiver ran down Xavi's spine. Ho-young's unpredictability was like rolling dice in a casino. There was no guaranteed way to stop him; every decision required foresight and impeccable judgment.

Determined, Xavi shouted orders to his team.

"Abidal! Widen the left flank! Ho-young is drifting in that direction!"

From that moment, the nature of the game shifted again.

---

21 minutes into the first half.

Barcelona struggled to bypass Real Madrid's defensive press. Ho-young and Douglas, former teammates at São Paulo FC, combined seamlessly to neutralize Barcelona's left flank. Pedro, their left-wing forward, found himself effectively shut down.

Yet, as the left side faltered, Barcelona adapted. Their attack refocused through the center and right. This adjustment began to expose Real Madrid's vulnerabilities.

Álvaro Arbeloa, paired with Ronaldo on the left, did his best, but his limitations were evident. This allowed the Messi-Dani Alves duo to thrive.

Messi started to weave his magic, dribbling past defenders with ease, creating chances for teammates. When Xavi delivered a killer pass to Iniesta, it seemed Barcelona would finally score.

However,Casillas made a stunning save, parrying the ball out. As the ball fell to Zlatan Ibrahimović, Pepe executed a brilliant sliding tackle to deny a sure goal.

The ball ricocheted to Fernando Gago, who barely managed to clear it under intense pressure. Xabi Alonso picked it up, initiating a counterattack.

---

Alonso floated a perfect ball to Ronaldo, who leaped impossibly high to secure possession. As defenders rushed to close him down, Ronaldo headed it to Ho-young in the center.

The pressure was suffocating, with Keita and Iniesta converging on him. But Ho-young's ball control and quick thinking rendered their efforts futile.

"Back."

With a swift move, Ho-young left Keita off-balance and passed back to Alonso. The play calmed, allowing Real Madrid to reset their attack. Barcelona's famed six-second rule for regaining possession had been dismantled.

---

As Real Madrid rebuilt their attack, their fluid tactics left Barcelona's defense in disarray. Players rotated positions seamlessly, exploiting gaps in Barcelona's formation. Xabi Alonso spotted an opportunity and delivered a precise long pass into the space between Puyol and Valdés.

Both Van Nistelrooy and Ho-young made synchronized runs, splitting the defense. The ball found its way to Ho-young.

One touch. Two touches.

The shot.

Crash!

---

[Goooooal!]

Woo Ho-young delivered a wonder strike, marking his 10th league goal of the season. Real Madrid had drawn first blood in this electrifying match.

As the stadium erupted, Ho-young sprinted towards coach Scolari to celebrate. The tactics, the execution, and the team's cohesion had all come together in this perfect moment.

The commentators were in awe.

"Incredible! Scolari's daring strategy paid off!"

"It's a masterpiece. Real Madrid have turned the impossible into reality."

Meanwhile, Barcelona's coach, Pep Guardiola, was left stunned. The unexpected tactics and Ho-young's brilliance had dealt a blow he hadn't foreseen. He could only mutter in disbelief.

"Is this... all Ho-young's doing?"

---

With halftime over, Woo Ho-young stood at the center circle, eyes locked on Zlatan Ibrahimović.

Today was the day.

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