Chapter 181: After This Makeup Match, We're Having Our Championship Celebration Banquet
As this round of Champions League battles came to a close, PSG and Dortmund bowed out of the tournament, licking their wounds and vowing to come back stronger next year.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich fans were riding high, each camp brimming with confidence, convinced that their team would crush the other in the final.
A new wave of media battles and fan debates was brewing.
But before that war of words could truly explode between both fanbases, Leon's name once again lit up the footballing world — from continental Europe to the global stage!
Bayern's second-leg win over PSG was clearly a team effort.
With goals from Müller and Ribéry, plus an own goal from Alex, Bayern had overwhelmed PSG in every aspect — tactically, technically, and in pure cohesion.
Zlatan Ibrahimović, for all his brilliance, emerged as this season's most tragic Champions League hero.
In stark contrast, Leon's standout performance against Dortmund shone even brighter than Ronaldo's.
He had singlehandedly shown the world just how critical a defensive midfielder could be to a team's success.
This time, no need for so-called "experts" to explain the impact.
Even casual fans could tell Leon was the key factor in Real Madrid overcoming Dortmund.
And just like that, Leon became the most dazzling young star in the entire Champions League this season.
The two-legged duel between Leon and Götze had ended in absolute, irreversible conclusion.
One controlled the game, dominated both ends of the pitch, and changed the course of a semi-final.
The other cracked his team's unity just before the biggest match of their season, and quit ten minutes into the second leg, leaving suspicions of cowardice in a moment of adversity.
His teammate, the "Little Rocket" Marco Reus, managed to salvage some reputation for Dortmund, drawing attention with his outstanding performances.
The day after the semi-finals, Sky Sports released its rankings of the best young players in this year's Champions League.
Leon took the top spot — undisputed.
Reus and Müller tied for second.
As for Götze? Once the golden boy, now ousted from the hearts of many fans, he dropped to fourth.
Isco rounded out the top five.
Although Malaga had only reached the Round of 16, Isco had shone brightly in both legs, causing all kinds of problems for Dortmund's backline — a performance that earned him plenty of credit.
By comparison, Eden Hazard didn't even crack the top five. Chelsea had been knocked out in the group stage, and that hurt his standing.
Sky Sports knew how to milk attention.
While other outlets stuck to their expert panels and analysis shows, Sky just dropped a flashy Top Young Players list and let the clicks roll in.
Whether their rankings were scientific or credible didn't matter — it was all about the buzz.
Normally, such lists spark endless fan debates. Especially over who deserves to be No.1.
But this time?
No one questioned it.
Maybe fans argued over spots 2 through 5. But who deserved the top spot?
That debate didn't even start.
"Leon being the voice of the next generation? Completely fair."
And with Leon just three wins away from the tenth title of his career, even the few haters didn't dare to stir up trouble.
Yes — Leon was just three league matches away from securing his tenth professional trophy.
If nothing went wrong, a win in Round 34, plus the pending makeup match against Espanyol, would almost certainly clinch the La Liga title early.
Even if Barcelona won every remaining game, it wouldn't be enough.
If Barça slipped up — even drew once — Real Madrid might seal the title right after the makeup game.
On the night of May 4th, Mourinho fielded a rotated lineup at the Bernabéu to take on 12th-placed Valladolid.
On paper, Valladolid looked like a mid-table team with little left to fight for.
But they were only just above the relegation line. If they didn't pick up at least five more points in the last five rounds, they risked dropping.
So their morale was high. They were desperate to survive.
And honestly, any bottom-half La Liga team facing Real Madrid didn't need motivation.
Just the chance to earn points off Real Madrid was considered an honor.
The more dominant Madrid became, the harder these teams played.
One goal, one great half — the exposure, the headlines, the transfer attention... it was all on the table.
Before the match, Mourinho was optimistic. He thought this one would be a routine win.
Reality, though, had other ideas.
In the 18th minute, Valladolid's striker Javi Guerra — the hero of their promotion campaign last season — pounced on a cross and opened the scoring.
Madrid had dominated for 20 minutes without a breakthrough. Valladolid had attacked twice — and scored once.
Over 4,000 traveling fans exploded in joy inside the Bernabéu.
Even if they didn't win, just leading Madrid for a while was enough to give them a story to tell for years.
And fate, apparently, had more chaos in store.
Just six minutes later, Valladolid's midfield core Oscar unleashed a long-range screamer from outside the box — and scored again!
2–0 up. At the Bernabéu. Against Real Madrid.
The fans and players from Valladolid were losing their minds.
Mourinho had seen enough.
He immediately turned to his bench and called for changes.
Within a minute, out went Adán — whose form had collapsed — replaced by Diego López.
Jesé came off too, replaced by Leon.
Adán's sub was about performance. Jesé's was tactical — Mourinho wanted to shift into high gear.
The 4-3-3 became a 4-4-2.
Lucas Vázquez moved out wide. Leon and Essien anchored the center.
Morata, who had started on the left wing, tucked inside to partner Higuaín up top.
Callejón dropped into right midfield.
With the new shape, Madrid's defense on the flanks and in midfield instantly became more solid.
More importantly, Leon's style didn't clash.
He didn't hold onto the ball unnecessarily like Jesé did. He moved it fast and simple — quick one-touch passes that injected pace into Madrid's attack.
Callejón sighed in relief.
Jesé always clogged the right flank, making it a mess for Callejón to operate.
With Leon behind him, Callejón could finally run free.
The revamped Madrid didn't wait long to punish Valladolid.
Callejón's aggressive dribble and cutback found a teammate in space — a prime shooting chance.
Too bad it fell to Morata.
The youngster fluffed the shot badly, prompting a collective groan from the Bernabéu crowd.
Leon held back a laugh, patted the blushing Morata on the back, and promised to send him some aerial deliveries instead.
Settling down, Morata nodded.
Madrid kept pressing.
And in the 37th minute, Higuaín finished a low cross from Lucas Vázquez to pull one back!
Madrid had momentum now. Halftime didn't cool them down.
Seconds into the second half, Leon found Higuaín with a quick lofted pass — a volley forced a brilliant save from Valladolid's keeper.
The save sparked a counterattack. Valladolid nearly scored again.
Veteran striker Javi Guerra beat the offside trap — but Diego López rushed out and made a massive save.
Marcelo recovered the ball and drove forward, playing it across the pitch.
Everyone expected Leon to play a simple return to Marcelo or dribble up the middle.
Instead, he launched a long, curling pass straight into Valladolid's box!
Perfectly timed to meet Morata's run.
Mourinho yelled from the sidelines, "Use your head!"
He was worried Morata might try another awkward touch.
But the kid rose calmly, met the ball in stride, and headed it into the top corner!
The white tide crashed again. Leon raised his arms and smiled.
Morata roared in celebration at the byline.
That was the equalizer.
Two goals down — now level, and with 30 minutes to go.
Valladolid's spirit broke.
Madrid kept hammering.
Higuaín completed his brace. Then Ronaldo, subbed on in the 76th minute, scored in the 84th to make it 4–2.
A comeback completed.
Madrid had won Round 34 — not without drama, but with all three points secured.
Three days later, the fully rested first-team would head to Barcelona for the makeup game against Espanyol.
If they won, the league title was theirs — mathematically out of reach for anyone else.
But Barcelona beat them to the punch.
On May 5th, Barça hosted Real Betis… and lost 3–2.
With that result, Madrid — with one game in hand — now held a 10-point lead with only four rounds remaining.
In other words, one more win… and the title was clinched.
All eyes turned to the next match.
Florentino Pérez immediately ordered a preliminary championship celebration to be prepared.
Hotel booked. Party plans underway.
Because after this next match against Espanyol...
Real Madrid were going to celebrate their title.
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