Unfortunately, Baptista was also a power-type player, and his shot sailed into the stands without much quality.
74th minute.
Su Hang, drifting near the center, drew Robinho's frustration on the left.
Because Su Hang hadn't stretched the play wide, Betis' defenders could stay compact, leaving Robinho with little room after cutting inside.
Under sustained pressure, Robinho lost the ball.
Naturally, he pressed back—he couldn't let his pride take a hit.
That forced Betis to switch play to the opposite side.
As their left center-back passed to the left-back, Su Hang seemed to be out of position.
But the moment the pass was made, he darted into the lane and intercepted.
The Betis defenders froze.
"Isn't he always cutting inside?"
"Why's he wide this time?"
Su Hang credited his interception and vision for the play.
"High press interception!"
"Betis' backline makes a mistake!"
"Through ball! Su Hang threads it through!"
"Ronaldo doesn't hesitate this time—he takes it and smashes it home!"
"Goal!"
"Three-nil! Real Madrid are kicking off the season with a statement win!"
"Clinical finish from Ronaldo!"
"Real Madrid are looking sharper and sharper!"
On the touchline, Luxemburgo grinned from ear to ear.
He regretted only that it was Su Hang who had provided the assist.
But after rotating out Zidane and the others, the team looked even stronger. To him, this proved his tactics, his coaching, and his signings were all spot on.
In truth, Zidane and the others had already worn Betis down by that stage. Without substitutions, Madrid could just as easily have scored those goals.
Su Hang realized he'd learned another lesson.
No wonder Luxemburgo wanted such a relentless first half—using Zidane and the veterans as expendables took real nerve.
82nd minute.
Robinho showed off his trademark stepovers—his flashiest move.
To be fair, his execution was dazzling. Compared to Cristiano Ronaldo's electric stepovers at Manchester United, Robinho's looked smoother.
Even Messi's short strides at Barcelona couldn't match Robinho's flair in this.
Bang!
After drawing defenders, Robinho finally remembered to pass.
He laid it off to Baptista.
Baptista immediately slipped it to the onrushing Su Hang.
Bang!
Without taking a touch, Su Hang played a sharp through ball.
They combined for a beautiful one-two.
Baptista burst into the box and blasted it home.
The ball hit the net for the fourth time.
"GOAL! The Beast Baptista has his first goal for Real Madrid!"
"Perfect! Absolutely perfect!"
"Both the new signings and the veterans are on the scoresheet—what a dream result!"
After scoring, Baptista turned straight to Su Hang, embracing him in celebration and thanking him for the assist.
He knew Su Hang could've taken the shot himself.
But instead, Su Hang gave him the chance.
A gesture of goodwill.
And Baptista understood it.
The match ended 4-0.
Real Madrid had all but secured the Supercopa de España in the first leg.
Everything went smoothly.
Captain Su Hang, with two assists and a goal, was named Man of the Match.
Robinho, however, tied Ronaldo for second place in the ratings, just 0.2 points behind Su Hang.
Ronaldo had one goal and one assist.
Robinho only scored once but made a strong impression with his flair.
After the game, Su Hang gave a calm interview, calling it more of a warm-up match. Winning was good, he said, but the team mustn't grow complacent.
As he left, he passed Robinho giving his own interview.
The "Stepover Kid" beamed, "Playing for Real Madrid feels incredible. I believe we can beat anyone."
"Ronaldo is unstoppable—the most complete striker in the world!"
"Baptista is the strongest midfielder I've ever seen!"
"Roberto Carlos tore their left side apart—no one could stop us."
"García's interceptions were crucial…"
He went on and on—but never once mentioned Su Hang, Zidane, Figo, Beckham, or the others.
Su Hang walked away.
Yes, Real Madrid had won.
But from what he knew of Madrid and La Liga, this level of intensity wouldn't conquer the league.
Betis was one thing.
Against Barcelona, they might've been crushed.
...
"Luxemburgo: Robinho Proves He's the Next Pelé!"
"Luxemburgo: Baptista Has Fully Integrated—He Could Even Play Further Forward!"
"Luxemburgo: Ronaldo Is in Top Form—This Could Be Another Peak Year for Him!"
As captain.
As Man of the Match.
Su Hang's name was nowhere in Luxemburgo's praise.
As if the victory had nothing to do with him.
And a week later, it really didn't.
Luxemburgo's early announcement of the second-leg lineup shocked everyone:
Ronaldo, Baptista
Robinho, Gravesen, García, Cicinho
Roberto Carlos, Woodgate, Ramos, Salgado
Casillas
=
Luxemburgo explained: "Nothing trains players better than a match that decides a trophy."
"This is the best experience for our new signings."
"With a four-goal lead, there's no pressure on them."
"As for key players like Zidane and Figo, this gives them rest to prepare for the league—that's our true battlefield!"
Training new recruits!
Ruthless.
Even Zidane and the others couldn't argue.
But rest?
They'd just had an entire summer off!
August 20th.
Second leg of the Supercopa de España.
Bernabéu Stadium.
Eighty thousand fans packed in, ready to see Madrid seal the trophy.
But… aside from a Robinho goal off a Ronaldo assist, Madrid failed to score again.
Instead, Betis' "Spanish Figo," Joaquín, lit up the pitch with two assists and a goal, leading them to a stunning 3-1 win.
Madrid still lifted the Supercopa de España, but winning while losing left a bitter taste.
The Bernabéu felt subdued, deflated.
Awkward.
Yet watching Luxemburgo's post-match interview, you'd never guess Madrid had lost 1-3.
His smile looked like they'd just won 4-0.