Chapter 112: Feint to Establish Reality

In just two months, this marked José's second visit to Madrid, while many of the Mallorca players were returning to familiar haunts.

Samuel Eto'o appeared visibly preoccupied, and both Capdevila and Camara wore expressions of deep reflection. As for Piri, he had not left Mallorca at all. Ever since being appointed technical director, Piri had meticulously reviewed all the available data—scrutinizing the performance of every player, from the first team down to the youth squads. He only attended Mallorca's home matches in person, preferring to watch away games on television. Naturally, this time was no exception. One could only imagine the complexity of emotions Piri must have felt watching this game from afar…

In contrast, "Little Ron" (Ronaldinho) was completely carefree. It was his first time in Madrid, and he wandered around with wide-eyed curiosity—as if he were on a sightseeing tour rather than here to play football.

Coach José had no objections to his lighthearted mood before the game. A relaxed state of mind often helped players perform better on the pitch—as long as it didn't tip into complacency.

The previous two consecutive wins had lifted Mallorca's point total to 28, leaving them in sixth place. They still trailed fourth-placed Barcelona by five points, while Real Madrid, in superb form this season, had 42 points after 18 rounds (13 wins, 3 draws, and 2 losses), comfortably leading second-placed Valencia by six points and already clinching the first-half title. Now, Mallorca were set to face the incredibly in-form Real Madrid.

Yet, despite the daunting task ahead, José showed no sign of fear.

"We don't need to feel any pressure for this match," he told his team confidently. "This season, not one team in La Liga has left the Bernabéu unscathed—they've won seven out of seven home games there! When you're up against such a fortress, no one will expect us to triumph. Even if we lose, it won't matter—but if we win… well, that's when things get interesting!"

José's smile was sly and self-assured—almost mischievous. His words electrified the Mallorca players. Indeed, every other team playing at Bernabéu had suffered defeat—teams like Valencia and Deportivo had lost away matches, including one infamous derby where the opponents not only scored two goals amid relentless jeers but also celebrated with bizarre theatrics, and another unexpected loss to Numancia on the road. Yet none of these setbacks prevented Real Madrid from finishing as league champions.

If we can beat Real Madrid away, then our reputation as giant killers will be cemented. Last season, amid chaos, we managed to hold Deportivo to a draw, and just two rounds ago we even defeated Barcelona. And now, add Real Madrid into the mix…

"Impossible? How could it be?"

"Of course it is!" José declared, his voice brimming with conviction. He gathered his players around and began showing them Real Madrid's recent results.

From that memorable match on November 2nd—when Real Madrid thrashed Las Palmas 5-1 at home—to their previous 4-0 demolition of Oviedo, Real Madrid had secured an eight-game winning streak. In those eight matches, they had scored a staggering 24 goals, averaging three per game—a display of attacking power that was simply awe-inspiring.

The Mallorca players were stunned by such formidable statistics, yet they also questioned why the coach had made them watch this footage.

"Although their recent form appears dazzling, if you look closer, you'll notice signs of decline," José explained. "In the two matches before the winter break, they had to fight hard for wins. In their first game after the break against Alavés, the score was locked at 1-1 until the 70th minute, when an error by an Alavés defender—an own goal—gave Real Madrid the lead. Their third goal didn't come until the 90th minute. And in their previous match against Oviedo, Figo scored early, but Oviedo's indiscipline led to two red cards, and even with Real Madrid playing 11 against 9, they didn't score until the final 10 minutes. So, despite the impressive numbers, their true form isn't as flawless as it seems—we have every chance to beat them!"

José's tactic was simple: first, let the players see the seemingly unstoppable Real Madrid, then reveal that beneath those dazzling stats, there were cracks. It was a strategy he wielded with masterful precision.

"And one more thing—what tactic did we employ in our first two matches?" José asked with a twinkle in his eye.

"An attacking system!" the players replied in unison, their voices filled with pride.

"And what do you think Real Madrid believes we're using?" José pressed.

"Probably still an attacking tactic…" many responded.

Yet some perceptive players began to wonder if there was a deeper meaning behind José's questions. After all, a cunning coach is known for his surprises—could it be that our initial games were just setting the stage for today's match?

Still, they couldn't quite pin down José's exact plan.

"Think about it," José continued, "if you believe we're solely attacking, then Bosque might assume the same. In our first two games, our offensive play was dazzling, but our defence showed gaps. We faced some of the fiercest and most varied attacking formations in Spain—while Raúl scored plenty, Real Madrid isn't built on him alone; Figo, Morientes, and even rotation players like Guti, McManaman, Muniti, and Savio have all chipped in. Essentially, every front-line player for them is a scoring threat. To go toe-to-toe with such firepower head-on is almost suicidal… But we aren't seeking certain doom here! I'm convinced that our attack is as potent as theirs, and our defence is even sturdier. Our form is on the rise, while theirs is beginning to decline. For all these reasons, I firmly believe that we can defeat Real Madrid on the road purely through our attacking flair!"

For Bosque—Real Madrid's coach—this season, his sole objective was to reclaim the league title that had eluded them for three long years. Last season's Champions Cup triumph had solidified Bosque's position; even though Florentino had never been entirely fond of his predecessor's protégé, Bosque's success in winning Real Madrid their eighth Champions Cup meant that Florentino couldn't afford to make any rash moves. Selling Redondo had even been seen as a necessary sacrifice to offset the financial deficit from acquiring Figo. Dismissing a coach who'd just delivered Champions Cup glory was simply unthinkable.

Thus, Bosque's eyes were fixed on the league title—a goal that now resonated far more deeply with Real Madrid fans than domestic cup wins ever could.

And he was almost there: a six-point lead had already ensured them the first-half crown, and they were widely regarded as the favourites for this season's league title.

After an initial period of adjustment, Figo had gradually found his form, demonstrating the qualities of a top player. Although he had lost out to Zidane in the Ballon d'Or race, the European Golden Ball awarded by the French federation went to him—a testament to its high standards. Raúl was in scintillating form, having netted twelve league goals so far, and with multiple players contributing, Real Madrid's attacking prowess appeared unstoppable.

Now, they were set to face Mallorca—a mid-table team that had emerged as the most formidable force after the winter break.

In the two league matches following the break, both Mallorca and Real Madrid had scored seven goals apiece. Yet those who had watched the games noted that Real Madrid's performance, despite the impressive numbers, seemed less convincing than Mallorca's. While Mallorca's goals had come from sustained, methodical attacks, some of Real Madrid's strikes seemed reliant on sheer luck or the occasional moment of individual brilliance. Bosque was carefully analyzing every nuance of their recent form.

Since his transfer to Mallorca, Eto'o had been sensational, netting four league goals so far—more than Real Madrid's leading scorer Raúl over these six rounds. Still, Bosque harbored no regrets over letting Eto'o go; he recognized that Eto'o's success was largely a product of Mallorca's tactical system—a system that Real Madrid simply couldn't replicate. Technically, Eto'o might not measure up to Raúl, and in terms of physicality and the ability to draw defenders, he was no match for Morientes. His only standout quality was his speed—and in Real Madrid's style of play, speed was not the most crucial attribute for a forward.

As Bosque contemplated the upcoming match, he began to wonder: might Mallorca employ a counter-attacking strategy in this game?

Bosque wasn't intimately familiar with José's coaching style, but he wasn't a stranger either. He had closely monitored José's performances last season and this season. What stood out, aside from the tactical ingenuity of the young coach, was his penchant for pre-match planning. For example, in that shocking away win against Barcelona last season, José had unexpectedly adopted an attacking approach that caught everyone off guard. In subsequent matches, when facing stronger opposition, he had deliberately conserved energy while employing a robust defence and lethal counterattacks to secure a 3-0 win at Camp Nou—a setup that was as brilliant in its conception as it was in execution.

Perhaps it was this very reputation that made Bosque hesitate. He suspected that José might well opt for a more conservative, counter-attacking approach in the coming game—a tactic known in La Liga for its deadly effectiveness, though few teams can execute it flawlessly. Valencia is one such team, but so is Mallorca.

Last season, Mallorca's nearly impenetrable defence—built on a cautious, almost extreme approach—had stymied even the potent attacks of Barcelona and Arsenal. Although their defensive solidity seemed to have diminished somewhat this season, the underlying structure and spirit remained. With minor adjustments, they could soon reassemble a defence that was as unbreakable as ever.

Moreover, Bosque was convinced that if José had intended to adopt a defensive strategy for this match, he would have begun laying the groundwork two rounds ago—ample time to craft a reliable defensive blueprint.

"We must be cautious," Bosque mused silently.

And José wanted Bosque to think exactly that.

Whether it was a feint meant to mislead or a genuine tactical shift that left opponents guessing, the key was that you must have the strength to pull it off—and only then can your rivals be taken by surprise. Bosque's own thoughts on the matter confirmed what José had suspected: that the combination of Mallorca's emerging defensive solidity and their potent attack had reached a level that even Bosque now regarded with caution. If this had been any other mid-table team, Bosque might have dismissed the threat outright, simply using his most familiar tactics. But Mallorca's current strength had grown to a point where even Bosque felt a measure of apprehension.

Ultimately, there was no denying it: Mallorca's present form was such that even Bosque couldn't help but feel a healthy sense of wariness.