Home / Starting as a Defensive Midfielder at Real Madrid / Chapter 169 - 168: El Clásico IV—A Slumping Barça Meets a Red-Hot Madrid

Continue on Novkyn

Starting as a Defensive Midfielder at Real Madrid

Chapter 169 - 168: El Clásico IV—A Slumping Barça Meets a Red-Hot Madrid · Nov 11, 2026

Prev Chapter Novel Info Next Chapter

Chapter List (401)

Page number / 9

151 Chapter 151: You Were Given the Chance, and You Blew It! 2026-11-11
152 Chapter 152: Dortmund Should Be Thanking Us, and Ajax Owes Man City a Bow Next Match 2026-11-11
153 Chapter 153: So I Heard Atlético Wants to Rise Up? 2026-11-11
154 Chapter 154: Good Thing These Two Aren’t on the Same Team—La Liga Would Be a Nightmare 2026-11-11
155 Chapter 155: With Pintus on Our Side, Attrition Battles Are Real Madrid’s Home Turf 2026-11-11
156 Chapter 156: The Champions League Round of 16 Is Set—Real Madrid Sets Sights on a Sixth Title 2026-11-11
157 Chapter 157: “Light of Asia” Sparks Idol Frenzy in East Asia 2026-11-11
158 Chapter 158: Guardiola in Meltdown—Is Barça in Trouble? 2026-11-11
159 Chapter 159: Kid, If You Go to Barça, I’ll Just Keep Beating You 2026-11-11
160 Chapter 160: Alright, I Admit It—Li Ang Does Want the Ballon d’Or 2026-11-11
161 Chapter 161: Triple-Front War or Cautious Double-Line Focus? 2026-11-11
162 Chapter 162: One Path Up Mount Hua—All In for a Double Title Defense 2026-11-11
163 Chapter 163: You Mock Arsenal for Their Top-Four Obsession, but They’re Really Not That Weak 2026-11-11
164 Chapter 164: Wenger: Who Wouldn’t Want to Sign Li Ang? 2026-11-11
165 Chapter 165: Playing Against Technical Teams? That’s What We Do Best 2026-11-11
166 Chapter 166: Their Will Is Shattered—Arsenal’s Dao Heart Has Collapsed! 2026-11-11
167 Chapter 167 - 189: Offensive Talent Skyrockets — The Giants Are Drooling Over Leon 2026-11-11
168 Chapter 168 - 167: A Burned-Out Barça Falls in the Second Half of the Season 2026-11-11
169 Chapter 169 - 168: El Clásico IV—A Slumping Barça Meets a Red-Hot Madrid 2026-11-11
170 Chapter 170 - 169: Farewell, Barça! Madrid’s Real Target—Wipe Out the Premier League! 2026-11-11
171 Chapter 171 - 170: We Said We’d Crush Your Midfield—and We Meant It 2026-11-11
172 Chapter 172 - 171: Three Champions League Games—Li Ang Proves His Worth Completely 2026-11-11
173 Chapter 173 - 172: Time to Calculate When Madrid Can Clinch the Title Early 2026-11-11
174 Chapter 174 - 173: All-In—Madrid Is Going All-In for the Title! 2026-11-11
175 Chapter 175 - 174: Fat Tiger’s First Appearance for Madrid, Li Ang: “That’s My Brother.” 2026-11-11
176 Chapter 176 - 175: Dortmund’s Twin Engines Useless Before Li Ang 2026-11-11
177 Chapter 177 - 175: Dortmund’s Twin Engines Don’t Work Against Li Ang 2026-11-11
178 Chapter 178 - 175: Dortmund’s Twin Engines Are Useless Against Li Ang 2026-11-11
179 Chapter 179 - 176: A Midfielder Can’t Just Drift with the Game — Total Domination in Attack and Defense, That’s the Core Shield! 2026-11-11
180 Chapter 180 - 177: Shameless but Effective Tactics — Real Madrid’s All-Out Bombardment Squad 2026-11-11
181 Chapter 181 - 178: Give Me Leon, and Real Madrid Loses 2026-11-11
182 Chapter 182 - 180: The First All-German Derby in a Champions League Final 2026-11-11
183 Chapter 183 - 181: After This Makeup Match, We’re Having Our Championship Celebration Banquet 2026-11-11
184 Chapter 184 - 182: Championship Night! If You Want to Keep Climbing, You Need to Learn to Be More Selfish 2026-11-11
185 Chapter 185 - 183: Before We Drift Apart, Let’s Build the Mourinho-Era Madrid Dynasty 2026-11-11
186 Chapter 186 - 184: The Most Star-Studded Champions League Final in Nearly Two Decades 2026-11-11
187 Chapter 187 - 185: Can You Guess If I’m a Bluff or the Trump Card? 2026-11-11
188 Chapter 188 - 186: Robbery + Müller + a Classic Target Man — This Is Peak Bayern 2026-11-11
189 Chapter 189 - 187: We Are the Legend — Long Live Mourinho’s Real Madrid! 2026-11-11
190 Chapter 190 - 188: I Don’t Want Money, Sir — I Want to Be the Leader 2026-11-11
191 Chapter 191 - 189: Offensive Talent Skyrockets — The Giants Are Drooling Over Leon 2026-11-11
192 Chapter 192 - 190: The End of Mourinho’s Madrid — Leon and the Battle of Six Giants 2026-11-11
193 Chapter 193 - 191: We Are Chelsea Now—The New Kings of London! 2026-11-11
194 Chapter 194 - 192: Huge Potential, Plenty of Questions—But Mourinho’s Ready to Unleash a Youth Storm! 2026-11-11
195 Chapter 195 - 193: A Brother’s Call and Zlatan Lands at the Bridge! 2026-11-11
196 Chapter 196 - 194: A System? Leon Is the System, Offense and Defense Alike 2026-11-11
197 Chapter 197 - 195: The Calm Little Lion and the Beast Zlatan 2026-11-11
198 Chapter 198 - 196: Guardiola vs. Mourinho Returns to the Premier League! Matić Closes the Summer Transfer Window 2026-11-11
199 Chapter 199 - 197: Creating a Goal from Kickoff—Little Lion, Are You Actually Going All-In?! 2026-11-11
200 Chapter 200 - 198: From Unpredictable Enigma to Super-Sub? Watch My Belgian Mini-Tank Explode! 2026-11-11

Inside Real Madrid, no one was really talking about defending their La Liga title anymore.

Mourinho didn’t like to speak too soon about trophies that hadn’t been won yet.

And after experiencing a title-winning season, Madrid’s players had come to understand the value of short-term goals.

Celebrating was fine—even small ones here and there—but everyone knew: the season still had to be played one match at a time.

This year, Madrid didn’t have a big lead halfway through.

Even with Barcelona finally starting to slip, the gap was only two points.

In the most optimistic scenario, if Madrid won their game in hand, they’d stretch it to five.

But a five-point cushion?

That was still within two games—hardly a safe margin.

Madrid would inevitably slip at some point too.

So staying mentally steady and ignoring the noise was the smartest strategy.

Which is why, after taking the lead in the standings, Madrid chose silence.

AS sent out hordes of paparazzi, hoping to catch Madrid players misbehaving during their break.

But all they got was Ronaldo shopping with Irina in a duty-free mall, and a few shots of Li Ang not training.

That’s right—Li Ang, for once, didn’t use his break to train.

Instead, he took a short trip with Marcelo and Nacho down to Valencia’s coast.

Madrid’s winters weren’t brutal, but they were dry and cold.

Valencia, in contrast, offered mild sunshine—even in February.

Li Ang didn’t think twice.

Marcelo loved the beach.

They grabbed Nacho, a couple assistants, some security, and hit the road.

It wasn’t even a long drive—barely 400 kilometers from Madrid to Valencia.

By noon, they were already sitting at a seaside restaurant, feasting on seafood.

When they encountered reporters along the way, they smiled and waved.

AS quickly ran a headline:

”Li Ang and teammates hit the beach in Valencia.”

In truth, they’d found nothing controversial. It was just filler news.

The mini-vacation ended the next evening. No fast cars. No women.

Just sun, food, and naps by the sea.

Back in Madrid, the squad returned to training refreshed and focused.

Mourinho didn’t say much, but everyone was all in—mentally locked in for the league and Champions League.

While La Liga’s 25th round loomed, the second wave of Champions League Round of 16 matches began.

Málaga and Barcelona were up next.

Málaga visited Dortmund. Barça went to the San Siro.

And the results?

Shocked all of Spain.

Both lost.

Málaga fell 1–3 in Germany.

Not catastrophic, but disappointing.

Had they only lost by one goal, they’d still be in it. But losing by two?

The second leg at home would be a mountain to climb.

Still, no one considered it a true upset.

Dortmund had already proven their strength in two epic matches against Madrid.

Barça’s loss, on the other hand?

0–2 at the San Siro.

That was unacceptable.

Fans speculated that their poor league form had infected their Champions League performance.

No away goal.

Down by two.

If Milan scored once at the Camp Nou, Barça would need to score four to advance.

Even three wouldn’t be enough.

It was a brutal, crushing position to be in.

Meanwhile, Bayern Munich smashed Porto 3–0 in Portugal, joining Madrid in putting one foot into the quarterfinals.

Galatasaray and Schalke drew 1–1—a result most considered an easy stepping stone for any quarterfinal opponent.

Barça had become the embarrassment of the Round of 16.

The other top teams held their own.

Even United, though losing to Shakhtar 1–2, grabbed a crucial away goal.

Barça got nothing.

Wiped clean.

Milan, of all teams, were suddenly showered in praise.

Li Ang could hardly recall most of the Champions League scores from that year.

But he vividly remembered the semifinals—where both Spanish giants were thrashed by Germany’s top two.

That season humbled many fans.

Li Ang included.

Even years later, he remembered it well because he was one of those fans who got humbled.

Still, in his memory, Barça made it to the semifinals.

So despite their slump, Li Ang still believed they’d overcome Milan in the second leg.

If Milan still had Zlatan and Pirlo, he might lean their way.

But now?

No Ibra. No Maestro.

They had firepower, but not enough control.

Barça still held the edge.

Back in the present, Madrid shifted focus to La Liga.

Matchday 25 brought them to face Deportivo La Coruña—a newly promoted team.

Deportivo sat second to last, just one point above Mallorca.

After 24 matches, they had only three wins.

Simply put: they were weak.

But there was still one bright spot: the veteran playmaker Juan Carlos Valerón.

Even at nearly 38 years old, he was still putting in work—18 starts, 1 goal, 5 assists.

Anyone looking at those numbers had to applaud.

The man had given everything.

In the reverse fixture earlier in the season, Li Ang had missed the chance to face him.

But this time, Valerón started—and played the full match.

And Li Ang?

He didn’t hold back.

In fact, he turned in one of his most complete performances—right in front of the man he considered a mentor.

9 successful tackles.

7 interceptions.

7 aerial duels won—100% success.

And on the offensive end?

A goal and an assist.

Madrid, using a semi-rotated lineup, crushed Deportivo 4–0 at the Riazor.

Deportivo didn’t even get a goal.

Li Ang was handed the customary Man of the Match champagne.

But what really made him happy?

Valerón’s jersey.

”You played great, Little Lion. Keep it up. Stick to your path—walk it with pride.”

Valerón hugged him, offering heartfelt words.

Li Ang tightened his grip, saying nothing.

They both knew:

This was probably their first and last clash on a La Liga pitch.

Even if Deportivo somehow avoided relegation, Valerón would likely return to Las Palmas to enjoy the final years of his career.

There was sadness, but also peace.

Li Ang understood—he was Valerón’s successor in spirit.

He had learned so much studying the veteran’s ”playmaker principles.”

All he could do now was wish him happiness in whatever came next.

And as Valerón embraced Li Ang like a proud elder, the crowd—both home and away—rose to their feet.

It wasn’t favoritism.

It was respect.

Valerón received standing ovations at every stadium, every match.

That was the fans’ highest form of admiration.

With that emotional night over, Madrid’s players were sharpening their focus.

Because next?

El Clásico II.

Barcelona had just beaten Sevilla 3–1, but celebrations were muted.

Because they were facing a dilemma.

February 26th. El Clásico.

Just three days before that?

They had to play Atlético in the Copa del Rey second leg.

If they went all-in, they might flip the aggregate.

But if they held back?

What a waste—to go so far, only to walk away.

Time was tight.

No room to hesitate.

In the end, Vilanova caved to his players’ will.

With a resigned expression, he fielded a full-strength 4-3-3.

But Atlético were ready.

The first half wasn’t bad. Barça led 1–0. Simeone looked calm.

But then Diego Costa came alive.

In just twenty minutes, he broke Piqué and Mascherano—both booked. Both rattled.

Falcao smelled blood.

He bullied the box relentlessly.

Neither center-back dared risk another foul.

Barça conceded two.

Even though they won the match 3–2, they lost on aggregate.

Eliminated.

Shattered.

Barça fans, already reeling from Milan, broke again.

And now?

They had to face Madrid?

No way.

La Liga’s title race?

It’s over.

Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.

Read 20 Chapters In Advance: /johanssen10

Prev Chapter Novel Info Next Chapter

Also worth opening

Rebirth: General, Don't Mess Around! Azure Ascend

Maze Survival: Only I Can See Hints Los Angeles dried fr

Pillar of Yita Crimson Flame

Divine Level Witch Doctor 5 Zhi

All Beautiful Girls Want to Stick with Me Dao_Of_Heaven

Incredible Insight: Toy Factory Discovers Swarm Drones Li Ju Ai Chi Tu Dou

Tech Giants: Starting from Bankrupt Companies Bao Xiang Da Pai Gu

You Were Told to Design Software, But You Created Tiktok?! You Xi Jun Zi

Survival In the Crypt: I Can Hear the Tone Book raw cabbage

Tycoon War God Once Young

A God-tier Counter-damage Priest, I am the Master! Zui Ai Da Shui Keng

Urban Martial Saint River Handsome

Global Wanted: Start Casino, Capture Tsunade 笨笨的宇宙

Online Games: Billions Spent on In-app Purchases, Archery Becomes a God Man Man Meng You

I, the Destined Villain, Will Win Over the Female Lead Right from the Start Ba Yun