Santiago Bernabeu glowed under Madrid's summer night, a modern coliseum packed with 80,999 roaring fans.
Real Madrid's final preseason clash led back to their roots. It took place in their legendary home stadium, and the game didn't just end in victory, but in dominance, a 4-0 demolition of Bayern Munich that announced to the football world:
Los Blancos are back.
The new man on the sidelines, Xavi Alonso, stalked his technical area with silent intensity, every gesture a study in control.
Under him, Madrid pressed higher like tireless machines, moved sharper like assassins, and played with a steel the club had missed since the era of Zidane and the legendary captain, Sergio Ramos.
Goals from Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, and Federico Valverde had ripped Bayern apart, and as the final whistle blew, Madridistas erupted in white-hot euphoria.
But if the match was the spark, the real fire would come moments later in the media pit below.
It was a media frenzy as Madrid's stars filtered through the mixed zone, cameras flashing like lightning.
Microphones stretched out like bayonets. The questions weren't about Bayern though. They were about Barcelona, their eternal rivals.
"Last season," one reporter shouted, "Barcelona humiliated Madrid, winning the league by a record margin and lifting the Champions League with Samuel Moses breaking every scoring record in sight".
"Not only that, they methodically ripped Madrid apart with surgical precision 4 times all season, each time more convincing than the last, 2 of them being finals in the Copa Del Rey and Supercopa De Espana".
"How do you stop that this season?"
The atmosphere shifted instantly, like someone had thrown blood into a shark tank.
Trust Madrid. They responded.
Mbappe, the new Galactico, adjusted his jacket, flashing a composed smile.
"Barcelona were incredible last season," he admitted. "Sam Moses… what can I say? The guy is special. One of the best I've ever seen from a guy his age".
A murmur of approval rippled through the press, but Mbappe wasn't done.
"That said," he continued, tone sharpening, "this is Real Madrid. We don't bow to anyone. I didn't come here to watch Barca win. I came to help Madrid reclaim everything. La Liga, Champions League, Copa… we're ready for war".
Mbappe was not the only one who faced the media. All 4 goal scorers of the match were here in front of the media.
Valverde, ever the quiet assassin, nodded beside him.
"Last year hurt," he said simply. "But football isn't about one season. We've learned. We've grown. And with Xabi here, with Kylian, with the squad we have… we're not afraid of anyone. Not even the so-called Football God".
Then came Vinicius, and the first sparks flew.
Draped in white, swaggering with electric confidence, the Brazilian leaned into the microphones, smirking.
"One season," he said, voice dripping with mock sympathy. "That's all it was for him. He's a one season wonder".
The press erupted in gasps and frantic typing.
"Yeah, he scored goals," Vinicius continued, shrugging. "Had a crazy year. But to do that again? Impossible. Football doesn't work like that".
"The hype is nice, but let's be real; this season, he's coming back down to earth. And when he does…" Vinicius pointed to the Madrid badge on his chest, "…Madrid will be on top again, where we belong".
Bellingham stepped up next, eyes glinting with mischief.
Well, he didn't try to defuse the storm that Vinicius already started. Rather, he added fuel to an already burning fire.
"I'll say it," Bellingham chuckled. "Barcelona's system under Flick? That high line? It's a fraud. It worked last season because no one saw it coming. But we've studied it now. We know where to hit them".
He smirked knowingly at the cameras.
"Sam Moses is good. Great even. And though I don't want to admit it, he's the clear favorite to win the Ballon d'Or this year after all his exploits last season".
"But let's see how great he is when Madrid's pressing him, kicking him, and making him actually defend". He grinned. "We're not afraid. In fact, I can't wait to shut him up".
"Bring it on! Madrid loves challenges".
"Hala Madrid!"
Real Madrid had made their war cry.
And as the stars left, the headlines exploded worldwide.
["VINICIUS: SAM MOSES A ONE-SEASON WONDER."]
["BELLINGHAM CALLS BARCA'S HIGH LINE A FRAUD."]
["MBAPPE: MADRID READY FOR WAR WITH BARCA."]
Even as Xabi Alonso walked past silently, his brief comment, "Madrid are building something unstoppable" added fuel to the inferno.
Having watched the el clasico all 4 times last season, bearing witness as Hansi Flick's Barca methodically stripped Real Madrid down, destroying them all 4 times, Xabi Alonso knew exactly what he signed up for.
This was why he didn't stop the comments of his star players, neither did he try to defuse the bomb that they ignited with their comments.
This was because he knew that the war already started.
He knew… football was as much as psychological game as it was a physical one.
After what Barca did last season, the momentum was currently on their side. They were the favorites and Real Madrid were the underdogs. Xavi Alonso was ready to get his hands dirty to claw momentum back in favor of his club.
Besides, they were not baseless talk from his star players.
Like them, Xavi Alonso believed… Real Madrid was the best club in the world. History proved it, their trophy cabinet proved it.
What remained was to back their comments with results on the pitch.
He was ready to a grueling campaign.
…
Back in Barcelona, players watched the interviews on their phones.
Balde scoffed. Pedri shook his head. Lamine Yamal muttered, "One season wonder? They're just coping at this point," he laughed. "They've got no idea what's coming for them".
And in his private gym, Sam replayed Vinicius's words, a slow, cold smile forming on his face.
The season hadn't even started, and already, the battlefield was set.
Barcelona. Real Madrid.
Football God vs Los Blancos.
Legacy vs Empire.
The El Clasico war drums were beating louder than ever.