Real Madrid defeated Athletic Bilbao 5-0 at home, continuing to put pressure on Barcelona.
In this round, Barcelona also won 3-1 at home against Zaragoza and maintained their one-point lead at the top of La Liga.
But this season's La Liga is no longer a two-team race. Atletico Madrid currently sit third in the standings with 31 points, only 1 point behind Real Madrid and 2 behind Barcelona.
Since Atletico Madrid have not yet faced Real Madrid or Barcelona, many people are not fully convinced by Atletico's position. After all, whether they are as strong as their points suggest will be proven in head-to-head matches against La Liga's two giants.
After the twelfth round of La Liga, the focus for both Real Madrid and Barcelona began to shift toward the Champions League group stage.
Especially for Real Madrid.
Their chances of qualifying from the group stage are very uncertain. After recent media analysis, everyone clearly understands the crisis and pressure facing Real Madrid.
Alfredo, the editor-in-chief of AS, said in his column that if Real Madrid fail to advance from the Champions League group stage again, the Galácticos could collapse entirely, as the players would completely lose confidence and fighting spirit.
But De La Morena of SER Radio believes that even if Real Madrid are eliminated in the group stage, Gao Shen's team is still worth looking forward to because they have played the most exciting attacking football in La Liga and even in all of European football this season.
Real Madrid are currently the highest-scoring team in La Liga, and even in Europe, they are among the best attacking teams.
Under advanced coaching methods, Ronaldo has produced the best scoring record of his career.
In addition, players such as Di Maria and Benzema have also reached their career-best form under Gao Shen's guidance.
"There is no doubt that Gao Shen has rejuvenated Real Madrid. Regardless of whether they manage to qualify from the group stage, this team is thrilling to watch. We all believe that Gao Shen will lead Real Madrid to success!"
Marca agrees. They even quoted Athletic Bilbao coach Bielsa's evaluation of Gao Shen after the 12th-round match: Genius!
Yes, the Argentine concluded that Gao Shen is a rare genius coach!
Because of Javi Martinez's early departure, Athletic Bilbao did not reach their previous peak under Bielsa, and his influence has been greatly reduced.
But Bielsa's influence in football has never relied on results.
After being crushed by Real Madrid, Bielsa said that the Bernabéu match did not show Real Madrid's full potential.
"I can feel that this team has not yet played to its highest level. There is a clear gap!"
Bielsa felt regret, but he also said he understood Gao Shen's need to be cautious due to the distraction of the Champions League.
"I think Real Madrid under Gao Shen is the most exciting team this season. I believe he can succeed here and bring more beautiful football."
However, many in the media believe that Real Madrid's qualification chances are only theoretical.
Turning the group stage around and qualifying under the strong pressure of Manchester City, Dortmund, and Porto is as difficult as climbing to the heavens.
Maria Casanovas, founder and editor-in-chief of Daily Sports, also formerly with Mundo Deportivo and Spanish National Television, and a well-known columnist, strongly supported Barcelona in her column and harshly criticized Gao Shen.
This fanatical Barcelona supporter, now in her sixties, wrote that Barcelona is the banner of Spanish football in the Champions League. Real Madrid's repeated failures in the group stage show that only by sticking to their own football philosophy can they have a bright future.
"Real Madrid's superstar-driven tactics are outdated!"
Casanovas even asserted that Real Madrid would be overwhelmed and crushed by Dortmund at the Bernabéu.
Just like last season.
Gao Shen, she claimed, would also suffer a crushing defeat at Real Madrid and eventually leave La Liga in disgrace.
"He has the ability to succeed in any league and with any team in the world, but in La Liga and at Real Madrid, he is doomed to fail.
Because there is Barcelona!"
But soon, Alfredo, editor-in-chief of AS, published a column to counter Casanovas's remarks.
The AS editor-in-chief supports Gao Shen and believes he will succeed at Real Madrid.
The two of them wielded their pens, sparring in the media and turning it into a huge hype war.
…
As the subject of all this, Gao Shen did not engage in any of the hype or respond to outside rumors.
After the match against Athletic Bilbao, Real Madrid closed training at Valdebebas and refused all outside visitors. Even reporters from AS and Marca were denied entry.
No one outside knows what Gao Shen did during those days at the training base.
During closed training, the players still went home every day, and so did Gao Shen.
Especially during this period, with his wife Su Qing's belly getting bigger, he made sure to return home on time every day to accompany her on walks.
Not only that, despite being busy, Gao Shen took time during breaks to personally choose the hospital and doctor, and whenever possible, he accompanied Su Qing to prenatal checkups. He was definitely a model husband.
But inside the training base, preparations were proceeding in an orderly manner.
Everyone basically knew what Gao Shen's starting lineup for this game would be, and they all understood the tactics he planned to use. In fact, Gao Shen held repeated meetings to emphasize the key points that needed attention for this game.
One key point he stressed was patience.
In fact, patience is confidence!
Gao Shen told Real Madrid players that the most important thing when facing Dortmund is to play patiently.
As physical energy is consumed, Real Madrid will gain more and more advantage.
Especially in the second half, after the 60th minute, that will be the decisive period for Real Madrid to exert their full strength.
Gao Shen also explained the difficulties that might arise during the match, including the possibility that Dortmund might score first. But that was not important. With Real Madrid's ability, equalizing and coming back is not difficult.
Of course, if possible, it would be better not to let Dortmund score.
This requires Real Madrid to reduce their mistakes.
Defense is about minimizing errors.
In the Champions League, against a team of Dortmund's level, avoiding mistakes is even more crucial.
In addition, Gao Shen took time each day to talk individually with different players, including Carvajal, Nacho, Kaka, Ronaldo, and others. He called them aside to chat, encourage them, and make some promises.
Most importantly, he made sure to keep track of the players' mindset and emotions.
Gao Shen took as much of the pressure on himself as possible, hoping that the players could play freely. The coaching staff also worked hard to create a relaxed environment.
In this tense group stage atmosphere, if Real Madrid carried such pressure into the game, they would already be at a disadvantage before the match even began.
Finally, on match day, Gao Shen even gave the team a full rest, canceled the morning tactical meeting, which was unusual, and made an exception to allow family members to visit Valdebebas in the afternoon.
Before leaving, Su Qing brought his Kiton suit from home. She watched as he put it on, carefully adjusted the collar and hem for him, and only after nodding with satisfaction did she smile.
Seeing this gentle moment, Gao Shen could not help but hold her in his arms and be tender with her for a while.
"I have confidence in you for tonight's game." Su Qing leaned against Gao Shen's chest, letting his big hands rest on her belly. At that moment, they both felt a deep connection to the baby inside.
It was a very special feeling that words cannot describe.
It was as if Gao Shen had truly put down roots in this world.
In the past, he always felt like a transmigrator, with a sense of detachment from this world. But now, he increasingly felt that he belonged here, with growing responsibilities and bonds.
For his wife, his unborn child, his parents, and his family, he had to work harder!
…
On the evening of November 21, in the home locker room of the Bernabéu Stadium.
"I hope you have faith in me!"
Gao Shen stood in front of the Real Madrid players for the final pre-match talk.
Everything that needed to be planned had been planned. Everything that needed to be explained had been explained.
Now, it was all up to the players on the pitch.
"This game against Dortmund is not as scary as people think."
"What we need to do is simple. Go out there and control the game in our way. Control the ball, control the tempo, and make the opponent chase the ball and chase our rhythm."
"It will be difficult because Dortmund are very tenacious and aggressive, so we must be mentally prepared for the toughest situations."
"We must minimize mistakes, and everyone has to run!"
Gao Shen clapped his hands firmly and said, "Run, and we will always have options. We will always have chances."
"Dortmund will definitely press forward. That is all they know. We have to adapt to their pressing tempo. As long as we keep the ball and make fewer mistakes, chances will come."
"When they press forward, we slip past them. When their defense opens up, we strike quickly from behind and take advantage of our speed!"
These were exactly the things Gao Shen had repeatedly emphasized in the days leading up to the game.
"Guys, believe this: the closer we get to the end of the game, the better it will be for us, because they are a 60-minute team. In the second half, in the late stages of the game, they will be like lambs waiting to be slaughtered!"
"I sincerely hope that all of us can work together to show our best form and our best spirit in this decisive match, showing the morale and fighting spirit of Real Madrid!"
"I hope we can use this game to tell the world and all those who doubt us:"
"We may have fallen and failed before, but we have stood up again and are charging forward toward victory and championships!"
"From now on, we will no longer be lambs to be slaughtered, weak and vulnerable. We are Real Madrid!"
"The invincible Real Madrid!"
"Hala Madrid!" Gao Shen clenched his fists and shouted.
All the players stood up and shouted with excitement.
"Hala Madrid!"
(To be continued.)