"Let us congratulate Real Madrid!" Rob Palmer's voice rang through the global broadcast. "The 2020–21 La Liga champions! Eight rounds early, at the Bernabéu, by beating Barcelona in El Clásico!"
"It doesn't get much sweeter than that for Madrid," Terry Gibson said. "They have beaten their greatest rivals, won the league in front of their own fans, and Theodore Bjorn has delivered another complete performance: two goals, two assists, and total control of the match."
"Barring any surprises," Rob added, "Theodore will be named Man of the Match again. And honestly, who else could it be?"
On social media, Madrid fans were already celebrating the title like a festival.
📱 @MadridistaHQ ✔
Congratulations, Madrid. Congratulations, Theodore. La Liga won eight rounds early by crushing Barcelona. Perfect night.
| ↳ 📱 @BlancoPulse
| Reply: Winning the title against Barça at the Bernabéu? This is the result every Madrid fan dreamed of.
📱 @FlorentinoEra ✔
€700 million for Theodore looked insane at first. Now? Best transfer in football history.
| ↳ 📱 @UCLMadridista
| Reply: Worth every cent. He didn't just win us matches. He changed the entire era.
📱 @MadridModeOn ✔
La Liga is done. Now all focus goes to the Champions League and Copa del Rey. The treble is alive.
| ↳ 📱 @BernabeuFaithful
| Reply: Ninety percent of this league title belongs to Theodore. No debate.
📱 @LaLigaWatch ✔
Unless La Masia produces someone who can rival Theodore Bjorn, Barcelona might not touch La Liga again for years.
| ↳ 📱 @CulerPain
| Reply: Painful, but after this season, it's hard to argue.
📱 @RealMadrid ✔
Champions of Spain. Eight rounds early. At the Bernabéu.
Hala Madrid! ⚪🏆
| ↳ 📱 @TheodoreBjorn_Official ✔
| Reply: Proud of this team. Proud of this club. Thank you to every Madridista for the incredible support. More to fight for. ⚪🏆
...
At the post-match press conference, Zidane was in an extremely relaxed mood.
He had every reason to be.
Real Madrid had won La Liga in April, beaten Barcelona in the title-deciding match, and done it while playing some of the most dominant football in Europe.
"I'm proud of every Real Madrid player," Zidane told the reporters. "They have played a perfect league season. To win La Liga like this, at the Bernabéu, against Barcelona, is truly wonderful."
Then his expression became slightly more serious.
"But La Liga is not our final destination this season. Real Madrid must always fight for every trophy. We still have the Champions League and the Copa del Rey."
Zidane paused, then said with confidence, "We want both."
At the moment, Real Madrid had already reached the Copa del Rey semifinals.
As for the Champions League, they had one foot in the semifinals as well after destroying Liverpool 5–1 at Anfield.
There was a very real possibility that Madrid could complete a historic treble.
Inside Real Madrid's dressing room, club president Florentino Pérez was also giving a speech.
"Lads, congratulations on winning La Liga," Florentino said, standing in the middle of the dressing room.
"You are the pride of Real Madrid."
The players gradually quieted down.
"After this match, the squad will receive a title-winning bonus of twenty million euros."
The dressing room instantly erupted.
But Florentino was not finished.
"Next, your focus must move to the Copa del Rey and the Champions League. Especially the Champions League. I hope you bring that trophy back to Madrid."
He smiled slightly.
"When that happens, the bonus will not be twenty million euros."
The players looked at him.
"It will be two hundred million euros."
For one second, the dressing room fell silent.
Then it exploded.
"Florentino!"
"Florentino!"
"Florentino!"
Madrid's players shouted the president's name in unison, using that roar to express the excitement in their hearts.
Some people were celebrating wildly.
Naturally, others were tasting the bitterness of defeat.
...
Inside Barcelona's dressing room, the atmosphere was lifeless.
Koeman stood in front of the players, his face heavy and his voice low.
"Our season is basically over," he said. "We are out of the Champions League, and we have lost La Liga. Now, the only trophy we can still fight for is the Copa del Rey."
He looked around the room.
"Lads, I hope you put all your energy into that competition. We must win it."
But after Koeman finished speaking, no Barcelona player responded.
Looking around, almost every Barça player had his head lowered. There was not a trace of confidence on their faces.
At the moment, the four teams left in the Copa del Rey were Atlético Madrid, Barcelona, Real Sociedad, and Real Madrid.
Barcelona's semifinal opponent was Atlético Madrid.
But even if Barça eliminated Atlético, their likely opponent in the final would still be Real Madrid.
This season, Barcelona had already faced Real Madrid three times.
Three matches.
Three crushing defeats.
So no Barcelona player truly believed they could win the Copa del Rey.
...
The next day, Spanish media heavily covered Real Madrid's early title win.
Once again, Madrid became the center of the football world.
📰 MARCA: Real Madrid Crowned in April! Thirty League Matches, Thirty Wins, and a 4–1 Clásico Humiliation of Barcelona!
📰 AS: The Galáctico Empire Returns! Theodore's Two Goals and Two Assists Seal La Liga Eight Rounds Early!
📰 Madrid Sports: Coronation at the Bernabéu! Zidane's Madrid Step Over Barça and Lift Spain Into a New Era!
📰 Diario Sport: Barcelona's Darkest Night — Madrid Win the League in El Clásico While Koeman's Side Collapse Again!
📰 Mundo Deportivo: La Liga Becomes a One-Team Race! With Theodore Bjorn, Real Madrid Look Untouchable!
📰 La Liga Central: Thirty Straight Wins! Real Madrid Turn the Title Race Into a Procession and Leave Barcelona Twenty-Five Points Behind!
After winning La Liga, Real Madrid's players did not celebrate too wildly.
Two days later, they still had to face Liverpool in the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinals.
Although Madrid had beaten Liverpool 5–1 in the first leg, everyone knew Liverpool were a team capable of wild comebacks.
Because of that, Zidane and the Madrid players remained highly focused.
...
April 15.
The Bernabéu.
The second leg between Real Madrid and Liverpool officially began.
"Welcome to the official Champions League global broadcast from the Santiago Bernabéu," Rob Palmer announced. "Real Madrid arrive as newly crowned Spanish champions, but tonight, the job is to finish off Liverpool and book a place in the semifinals."
"Madrid lead 5–1 from the first leg," Terry Gibson noted. "It is a huge advantage, but Liverpool have history in this competition. Zidane will know his team cannot switch off."
As soon as the match started, Klopp's team attacked furiously.
Liverpool, playing away from home, had a very clear goal.
Score as many goals as possible.
Mané and Salah kept trying to break through from the wings, while Firmino dropped between the lines to link play and drag Madrid's defenders out of position.
Fortunately, Real Madrid's defense remained steady.
They gave Liverpool possession in less dangerous areas, stayed compact around the box, and refused to offer any clear shooting chances.
In the 15th minute, after surviving Liverpool's opening wave, Madrid began to raise the tempo.
Theodore broke through on the flank and successfully won a corner.
Modrić walked over to take it.
The Bernabéu noise began to rise.
Everyone knew what came next as Theodore entered the box.
Liverpool knew it too.
Klopp had prepared specifically for Theodore's aerial threat, arranging for both Van Dijk and Matip to mark him at the same time.
Two center-backs.
One target.
Modrić delivered the corner toward the far post.
Theodore rose.
Van Dijk leaned into him.
Matip jumped beside him.
It made no difference.
Theodore met the ball with a thunderous header, smashing it straight through Alisson's hands and into the net.
1–0!
Real Madrid led again!
"Theodore scores! Two defenders on him, and still nobody can stop him!" Rob shouted.
"That is unbelievable power," Terry said. "Van Dijk and Matip are both there. They do not ignore the danger. They know exactly where Theodore is. But his leap, his timing, and the force on that header are just too much."
"Madrid lead on the night," Rob added. "And Liverpool's mountain has just become even steeper."
Liverpool had truly done everything they could defensively.
But against Theodore in the air, even preparation did not guarantee survival.
📱 @MadridistaHQ ✔
Van Dijk and Matip both marking Theodore and he still scores. What are teams even supposed to do?
| ↳ 📱 @BlancoPulse
| Reply: At this point, defending Theodore on corners is just a prayer exercise.
📱 @LFC_RedWall ✔
We put two center-backs on him and he still bullied both. This tie is finished.
| ↳ 📱 @KopEndVoice
| Reply: He has ruined us across both legs. Completely ruined us.
After the score became 1–0, Madrid began to stabilize their defense and face Liverpool with counterattacking football.
Zidane did not need his players to chase the match.
Liverpool were the ones carrying the impossible burden.
Madrid only needed to wait for mistakes.
And in the 43rd minute, that mistake arrived.
After Madrid won the ball in midfield, Modrić used the outside of his foot to send a beautiful through ball forward.
The pass found Theodore.
Once Theodore received the ball in stride, Liverpool's defensive line immediately fell into panic.
His explosiveness was unstoppable.
In only a few seconds, he tore through Liverpool's back line and charged into the box.
Alisson rushed out, trying to close the angle.
Theodore did not give him a chance.
Bang!
He smashed a brutal shot into the net.
2–0.
The suspense was basically gone.
"Theodore again!" Rob cried. "Real Madrid double their lead on the night, and surely now, Liverpool's Champions League journey is ending here."
"That is ruthless," Terry said. "Modrić's pass is beautiful, but Theodore's acceleration kills Liverpool. Once he gets goal-side of the defender, Alisson is exposed, and the finish is emphatic."
"Seven-one on aggregate," Rob added. "Liverpool needed a miracle. Theodore has made sure there won't be one."
The Bernabéu roared again.
Liverpool's players stood scattered across the pitch, their faces heavy.
They had come to Madrid still hoping for one more European miracle.
But against this Real Madrid, and against this Theodore Bjorn, hope had disappeared before half-time.