Every single Real Madrid player understood the sheer magnitude of El Clásico.
Because of that, the intensity in daily training skyrocketed. Not a single player dared to slack off or be careless.
Every rondo, every sprint, every tactical drill was executed with maximum effort and concentration.
Naturally, the atmosphere in Catalonia was identical.
Barcelona head coach Ronald Koeman had also spent countless hours analyzing Real Madrid match footage.
Simultaneously, he had drawn up highly specific, aggressive tactical plans aimed solely at neutralizing Theodore Bjorn.
As El Clásico drew closer, the major media outlets in Spain and across Europe went into absolute overdrive.
The hype was suffocating.
AS: "La Liga Round 7 brings the Spanish El Clásico ahead of schedule! Real Madrid travel to Camp Nou! Theodore Bjorn vs. Lionel Messi! Who is the greatest footballer on the planet right now?"
Marca: "Six straight wins for Barça. Six straight wins for Madrid. Theodore Bjorn prepares for his baptism of fire in his first El Clásico! Can the €720M teenager conquer Camp Nou? Let us wait and see!"
Mundo Deportivo (Catalonia): "The most exciting, eye-catching, and decisive battle in Europe this weekend is about to commence! The Galácticos invade the home of the Dream Team!"
…
In the comment sections beneath these articles, the tribal warfare between Barcelona and Real Madrid fans was vicious and unrelenting.
"Barcelona will wash the pitch in white blood! Messi is Real Madrid's eternal killer. He'll make Courtois feel true, endless despair!"
"Keep dreaming, Culers! Barça have never feared Real Madrid, true. But they have never faced Theodore Bjorn! That kid is going to tear Piqué apart!"
"Messi is going to score a hat-trick and humble this overhyped teenager!"
"Are the Barcelona fans living in 2011? You actually think this Barça squad can beat Madrid? Please! The MSN era is dead!"
"Camp Nou is a fortress. Madrid won't be allowed to act wild there!"
"Anyone who mocks Theodore will definitely be slapped hard in the face by reality! He is inevitable."
"Real Madrid will win by at least five goals. Mark my words."
"Barcelona this season shouldn't even try to compare themselves to Madrid. We have Theodore Bjorn. Who do you have? An aging Messi who wanted to leave in the summer?"
"Messi's era is ending! Tomorrow night, Theodore will step over Messi and formally climb onto the throne as the world's undisputed number one!"
…
The sheer gravity of this specific El Clásico transcended football, attracting the attention of global superstars from across the sporting world.
Sprint legend Usain Bolt, tennis icon Novak Djokovic, and basketball superstar LeBron James had all secured VIP tickets and would be watching from the exclusive boxes at Camp Nou.
...
The tension reached a boiling point the day before the match.
At the routine, highly publicized pre-match press conference at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper, Barcelona head coach Ronald Koeman attended alongside his captain, Lionel Messi.
Koeman spoke into the microphone first, projecting an aura of absolute confidence.
"We all understand the profound meaning of El Clásico," Koeman began. "Real Madrid's form this season has undeniably been quite good. They are currently ranked first in La Liga, and they have secured victories both domestically and in Europe."
"But what I want to declare right now is that Real Madrid's winning streak ends here. Tomorrow night, Barcelona will defeat Real Madrid at Camp Nou. I have absolute, unwavering confidence in that fact."
A journalist from Marca immediately raised his hand, seeking to challenge the Dutchman.
"Mr Koeman, may I ask where exactly your supreme confidence comes from? In their recent matches, Real Madrid have been dismantling opponents by massive margins. Almost every player seems to be in terrifying form... On top of that, Madrid spent a world-record fee to bring in Theodore Bjorn, who has arguably been the best player in the world this season. Objectively, it looks like Real Madrid are the heavy favorites."
Koeman shrugged dismissively.
A slightly arrogant, disdainful expression crossed his face as he addressed the Madrid-based reporter.
"My confidence stems from a very simple fact," Koeman stated. "Because we have Lionel Messi."
"Without question, Messi remains the greatest footballer on this planet. He possesses outstanding individual ability, and I believe Leo will deal a heavy, decisive blow to Real Madrid's defense in tomorrow's match."
Following that exchange, CCTV Sports reporter Ma Fanshu, granted a credential for the event, raised her microphone.
"Mr. Koeman, will you focus your specific defensive plans on neutralizing Theodore Bjorn tomorrow? So far, Theodore has already recorded eleven goals and seven assists in La Liga alone. He is dominating both the scoring chart and the assist rankings."
The moment Ma Fanshu finished her question, every reporter in the packed auditorium turned their full attention to Koeman.
Koeman responded without a second of hesitation.
"Theodore is indeed a magical talent. He is only eighteen years old, yet he has produced brilliant, historic performances in both the Premier League and La Liga. I do not deny his quality."
Koeman leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "However, tomorrow's match will be Theodore's very first time facing FC Barcelona. He has never experienced this level of intensity. I believe my players will happily let Theodore understand what true pressure feels like."
A confident, almost predatory smile appeared on Koeman's face.
It seemed the Dutch manager was entirely convinced he possessed the tactical blueprint to completely neutralize the teenager.
Once Koeman's segment ended, Lionel Messi leaned into the microphone.
"We all understand what this match between Barcelona and Real Madrid means to the fans, the club, and the city," Messi said softly, his voice calm but intense. "Every single Barcelona player is ready. Tomorrow, we will win at Camp Nou. It's that simple."
...
Later that afternoon, the media circus shifted to the Spanish capital.
It was Real Madrid's turn to face the press.
This time, Zidane brought Theodore with him to the auditorium at Valdebebas.
Zidane spoke first, his tone resolute.
"Real Madrid will travel to Catalonia to defend the honor of our crest tomorrow night. Defeating Barcelona is the sole objective of this entire squad. We are immensely confident that we can go to Camp Nou and secure the victory."
Zidane then addressed Koeman's earlier comments directly. "I have always believed that no defensive system and no team on earth can stop Theodore Bjorn from performing when he is focused. Barcelona cannot do it either. Tomorrow night, Theodore will use his brilliant performance on the pitch to show Mr. Koeman exactly what a truly unstoppable, top-class star looks like."
The final person to be interviewed was Theodore Bjorn himself.
Unlike the managers, who spoke at length about tactics and form, Theodore did not offer a monologue.
He stared directly into the bank of television cameras and replied with a single, chillingly calm sentence.
"To all the Real Madrid fans watching around the world: Please believe in us. Tomorrow night, the winner will definitively be Real Madrid."
After the pre-match press conferences concluded, the Chief Editor of AS, Tomás Roncero—a famously passionate Madridista—posted a bold prediction on his personal Twitter account to his millions of followers:
"Tomorrow night's Clásico is destined to be a historic, violent clash of titans. But I firmly believe that Real Madrid's new No. 10 will deal a devastating, humiliating blow to Barcelona's defense at Camp Nou. Tomorrow night will not be a football match. It will be Theodore Bjorn's personal coronation."
...
At five in the afternoon, Reba's flight touched down at Madrid-Barajas International Airport.
After touching up her makeup in the terminal restroom, she headed to Real Madrid's training base—Ciudad Real Madrid in Valdebebas.
Arriving at the entrance of the training complex, she spotted Theodore Bjorn and several teammates signing autographs for a crowd of fans.
She walked up behind Theodore and tapped him on the shoulder, planning to make a funny face to scare him.
To her surprise, Theodore gave no reaction.
His attention remained locked on the jerseys he was signing.
"Theodore!" Reba raised her voice, shouting his name over the crowd.
"What is it?" Theodore answered, his eyes still on the fans.
A wave of awkwardness washed over Reba.
"It's me! I came to watch your match!" Reba called out, raising her voice again.
Theodore turned around and glanced at her. "Reba? Why are you here?"
Reba pouted. "Of course I'm here to cheer you on! I heard El Clásico is Real Madrid's most important match of the season. I asked for two days off and flew all the way here to support you in person! Theodore, you have to win. Otherwise, I came all this way for nothing!"
"Don't worry," Theodore replied. "Even if you hadn't come, we would still win."
Reba stood speechless.
Realizing his misstep, Theodore added, "Barcelona aren't that strong this season. Since Suárez moved to Atlético Madrid, Messi's only helpers up front are Dembélé, who lacks discipline, and Griezmann, whose form is average. I have absolute confidence heading into tomorrow. Of course, with you in the stadium, you will bring Real Madrid good luck."
A faint smile appeared on Reba's face.
"That's more like it." She stretched out both hands. "I crossed oceans to watch your match. Shouldn't you at least give me a ticket?"
"Sure. Come to my villa tonight, and I will give you one."
"It's a deal!"
Theodore sent Reba the address of his La Finca villa and returned to the pitch for his extra practice sessions.
...
At seven that evening, Theodore returned home.
Reba had been waiting by the front gates and he invited her inside.
"Wow! Theodore, this villa is much bigger than the one you had in England! You are rich!"
Although Reba was one of the top female stars back in Asia, her acting income could not compare to Theodore's astronomical yearly salary.
Theodore handed her a VIP box ticket. "It is getting late. Why don't you stay here for the night? I have plenty of guest rooms."
A blush rose on Reba's cheeks. "That wouldn't be appropriate, would it?"
Theodore brushed off the concern. "Madrid's public safety at night is different from back home. It is a bit dangerous for you to head back to a hotel now."
Reba looked out the window. The sky had grown dark. "Alright then."
She agreed and stayed at his villa.
That evening, Reba and Theodore talked for hours. They shared their dreams and reminisced about their first meeting.
Their initial encounter had been a stroke of fate; otherwise, they never would have reunited in a foreign land.
They talked deep into the night.
At Theodore's invitation, the two shared a beautiful night together.
Theodore showed explosive form on and off the pitch!
Reba ended up sleeping until noon the next day.
...
Matchday.
At half-past five in the afternoon, thousands of Real Madrid fans dressed in white gathered around the Santiago Bernabéu, singing the club anthem Hala Madrid.
For Madridistas, the two biggest matches of the year were always against Barcelona and Atlético Madrid.
Today was destined to be a footballing feast.
Around the stadium, amidst the sea of white, pockets of Barcelona supporters navigated the crowds.
The moment the rival fans crossed paths, insults filled the air. Without the heavy presence of the Madrid riot police, fights would have broken out on the spot.
At six o'clock, the Barcelona and Real Madrid players warmed up on the immaculate Bernabéu pitch as fans streamed into the towering stands.
Forty-five minutes later, the squads retreated down the tunnel for their final tactical briefings.
Meanwhile, millions of fans worldwide tuned into the global broadcast, flooding the live comment feeds in anticipation of the massive clash.
@Barca_Hub: "I'm a Barça fan, but I hope Theodore scores. I just don't want Madrid to win. The conflict is real!"
@Madridista_X: "Madrid must win! Hala Madrid!"
@CulerForever: "Once red and blue, forever red and blue! Come on Barcelona!"
@LaLigaScout: "Judging by Theodore's current form, Barcelona face an uphill battle."
@RealMadrid_Stat: "Madrid will crush them! If Barça win, I'll wash my hair standing upside down!"
@EuroScout: "Theodore is scoring a hat-trick tonight!"
@FootballTalk: "Start the match! I want to see Theodore dethrone Messi!"
At seven-thirty, the starting XIs marched out of the tunnel under the deafening roar of 80,000 fans.
In the Sky Sports broadcast booth, commentators Rob Palmer and Terry Gibson set the stage.
"Welcome, football fans around the world, to the marquee matchup of Round 7 of the 2020–21 La Liga season! Barcelona have arrived at the Santiago Bernabéu!" Palmer announced.
"El Clásico is upon us!" Gibson added.
"Let's take a look at the starting lineups for both giants," Palmer continued. "For the visitors, Ronald Koeman sets Barcelona up in a 4-4-2 formation."
Goalkeeper: Marc-André ter Stegen.
Defense: Sergiño Dest, Gerard Piqué, Clément Lenglet, and Jordi Alba.
Midfield: Pedri, Sergio Busquets, Frenkie de Jong, and Philippe Coutinho.
Forwards: Ansu Fati and Lionel Messi.
"On the Barcelona bench, Koeman has significant firepower in reserve, including Antoine Griezmann, Ousmane Dembélé, Miralem Pjanić, and Sergi Roberto!"
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