Chapter 151: Pavón and Drogba

At halftime, Mallorca made three substitutions in a row. That was normal. But what was unusual was that, despite being behind, José brought on two defensive players and only one forward, while taking off two attacking players and a striker. Was he planning to defend a one-goal deficit? Did he not care about his home winning streak?

"Three defensive midfielders in the center? Is he expecting Ronaldinho to handle all the playmaking alone? And Luke has been subbed off for a young, towering black player. Can this guy really replace Luke? Even if he's great at heading, he still needs quality crosses from the wings. But does Mallorca even have the ability to launch effective wing attacks right now?"

As the second half began, the commentators expressed their confusion over José's seemingly bizarre substitutions.

Maybe he just wanted to see how the new players performed? After all, two of the three substitutes—Pablo García and Didier Drogba—had just joined the team.

The Mallorca fans, however, didn't question the decision too much. They had long since learned to trust José.

Despite leading by a goal, Real Madrid didn't choose to sit back and defend. Vicente del Bosque knew exactly what the Madrid fans wanted—offense, beautiful offense. The result of this match wasn't as important as putting on an entertaining attacking display.

However, compared to the first half, Real Madrid's attack encountered significantly more difficulty in the second.

Just two minutes into the second half, Mallorca's new signing, Pablo García, aggressively charged into Zidane, sending the French playmaker tumbling to the ground. The referee immediately issued a warning, but García remained unfazed, retreating calmly. In La Liga, picking up yellow cards was routine for him, and after a tough year in Serie A, he was eager to prove himself.

While the Madrid fans booed loudly, the Mallorca supporters applauded enthusiastically.

This foul was just a glimpse of what was to come. With two defensive midfielders subbed in and Kaladze frequently dropping back to help out, Mallorca's midfield defense had risen to a whole new level.

Aggressive pressing, relentless running, fierce physical battles—Real Madrid's star-studded attack found it increasingly difficult to break through.

Given that the season had just started, players were still regaining match fitness. To avoid early injuries, Madrid's players instinctively avoided physical confrontations, which gradually tilted the game in Mallorca's favor.

"Is José trying to stabilize the defense with tough tackling? But how does he plan to attack?" Del Bosque wondered.

The next moment, he got his answer.

José moved Ronaldinho and Eto'o to the wings, deliberately avoiding Real Madrid's defensive midfield enforcer, Claude Makélélé. While both Salgado and Roberto Carlos were quick, Ronaldinho and Eto'o were just as fast, if not faster.

On Carlos' side, as long as he didn't push too high up in attack, Eto'o would find it difficult to exploit space. But on the right, Salgado struggled to contain Ronaldinho.

Ronaldinho wasn't the fastest player, but his unpredictable dribbling and close ball control made it a nightmare for Salgado.

Salgado, known for his fearless and aggressive style, often acted on impulse. But against Ronaldinho's mesmerizing footwork, he was repeatedly outmaneuvered and left chasing shadows.

Meanwhile, Drogba, despite still developing as a striker, created havoc in Madrid's defense with his sheer physicality. His presence alone forced Real Madrid's center-backs to stay put, unable to provide cover on the flanks.

Hierro, once a defensive powerhouse, was already 33 years old. His physical decline made it difficult to compete with a force of nature like Drogba.

As for Karanka? At just 1.81 meters (5'11"), he was simply outmatched in aerial duels and physical battles against Drogba.

Watching Drogba bulldoze through Madrid's defense, Del Bosque glanced at his bench and saw Pavón.

Florentino Pérez's so-called "Zidane & Pavón" policy wasn't just a marketing gimmick. Pavón had genuinely excelled in Madrid's youth academy. At 1.88 meters (6'2") and 79 kilograms (174 lbs), he was considered one of the best defensive prospects in recent years and was viewed as Hierro's natural successor.

Madrid's coaching staff had planned for a gradual transition—letting Hierro phase out while Pavón grew into a starting role. The club's vision was clear: sign superstar attackers while promoting homegrown defenders from the academy.

That was why Pavón, along with Rúben and Raúl Bravo, had been promoted to the first team this season. After Iker Casillas' rise, Madrid fans hoped Pavón would become the next homegrown star.

Del Bosque saw an opportunity: Karanka and Hierro were struggling against Drogba, so why not give Pavón a chance? Not only would it be good experience for him, but this match wasn't critical, making it an ideal setting for a young defender to gain confidence.

Getting the nod to come on, the young Spaniard felt a mix of excitement and nervousness.

He quickly changed and jogged onto the pitch. Seeing the towering Drogba rampaging through Madrid's defense, Pavón clenched his fists.

"I won't let him keep bullying us," he told himself.

On paper, Pavón and Drogba looked evenly matched—both 1.88 meters tall, with Pavón being slightly lighter. Many thought that, unlike Karanka, Pavón might be able to hold his ground against the Ivorian striker.

"If Pavón can outmuscle Drogba, I'll take his last name and call myself José Pavón," José smirked from the sidelines. He knew the truth—Drogba wasn't just any striker; he was a physical monster who had shattered the confidence of promising defenders like Philippe Senderos.

A mere Pavón trying to stop Drogba physically? That was wishful thinking.

Just two minutes after Pavón entered the game, Mallorca launched a counterattack.

Thiago Motta delivered a long ball towards Madrid's right flank. Eto'o's movement distracted Roberto Carlos, while Hierro had pushed forward and wasn't back in time. With Ronaldinho keeping Salgado occupied, the only defender left to challenge Drogba was Pavón.

Both players sprinted toward the ball's landing spot.

Pavón was brimming with confidence. In Madrid's youth academy, he had always been one of the most physically dominant players. Now, he saw this as his moment to shine—his chance to stop Drogba in his tracks.

"You were so dominant just now? Let's see how you handle this!"

Fueled by determination, Pavón charged full speed toward the ball, preparing to shoulder-barge Drogba and knock him off balance.

The commentators were intrigued:

"Both players are 1.88 meters tall, and while Pavón is slightly lighter, he's still physically strong. Maybe Drogba won't be able to bully Madrid's defense so easily now…"

The next moment, they were proven wrong.

Drogba, having started his run earlier, reached the ball first and controlled it with his foot.

Seeing Drogba momentarily balancing on one leg, Pavón seized the moment—he sprinted forward and slammed his shoulder into Drogba, believing he could send the Ivorian flying.

The Mallorca fans gasped, thinking Drogba was about to be knocked over.

But a second later, their gasps turned into wild cheers.

As Pavón crashed into Drogba's shoulder, he felt an overwhelming force pushing back against him.

Basic physics—the force you exert on an object is also exerted back on you. Pavón had put all his strength into that hit, but so had Drogba.

The result? Pavón, despite his confidence and momentum, came to a dead stop, lost his balance, stumbled forward a few steps… and crashed face-first into the turf.

Drogba, meanwhile, barely moved.