Starting as a Defensive Midfielder at Real Madrid

After securing a comfortable two-game win streak to open the new La Liga season, Real Madrid’s full focus shifted to the UEFA Champions League.

This year, Madrid had been placed in Group D.

Alongside them were French giants Lyon, Eredivisie champions Ajax, and Croatian league rulers Dinamo Zagreb.

On paper, none of these opponents posed a real threat to Madrid. Two of them were already familiar foes.

There was no need to introduce Lyon to Madrid’s squad. The team that raised Benzema had once dominated Ligue 1 from 2001 to 2008.

They were considered regional giants, and they had dealt Madrid a painful blow in the 2009–2010 Champions League, knocking them out in the Round of 16 with a win and a draw.

This time, Madrid had the chance for revenge.

But unfortunately, Lyon wasn’t what they used to be. They’d lost their league crown the season before last, finishing second, and last year they dropped to third.

This year, they had to go through the qualifiers just to make the group stage.

So even if Madrid thrashed Lyon home and away, it wouldn’t feel that satisfying anymore.

Ajax, on the other hand, drew a more emotional response.

”You again, brothers of the Ajax family?”

Some players from Ajax might’ve been in disbelief when they saw they’d been drawn into Madrid’s group again.

They hadn’t forgotten the 4-0 thrashing Madrid had handed them last season.

Now they were facing an even stronger Real Madrid?

Some of them probably wondered if their club management had beef with UEFA.

But at least they wouldn’t face Madrid in the first round.

And neither would Lyon.

Matchday 1 had Madrid traveling to Croatia to face Dinamo Zagreb.

Meanwhile, Ajax and Lyon—two likely contenders for second place—would clash in the group’s opening showdown.

Madrid knew little about Dinamo Zagreb.

But the coaching staff had done their homework.

In the last two seasons, the Croatian champions had failed to reach the group stage. In their qualifying games, they usually played ultra-defensive football and tried to survive with low blocks.

But this year? They changed tactics.

They attacked first, tried to gain an early lead, then sat back and defended.

Someone joked that maybe Dinamo Zagreb’s coach had secretly studied Allegri during the summer.

That distinct brand of pragmatic, gritty football? Very familiar.

Still, the strategy had worked.

Zagreb had made it into the group stage and earned a date with Real Madrid.

That alone made their fans ecstatic.

September 13. As Madrid arrived in Zagreb and settled into their hotel, the roads were packed with Croatian fans hoping to catch a glimpse of the Galácticos.

Most were just there to see the stars. There was no malice—just admiration.

After waving to the crowd and signing autographs for a few younger fans outside the stadium, Madrid’s players walked into Maksimir Stadium in high spirits.

Leon, in particular, was intrigued by Dinamo Zagreb.

Not because of their past stars like Kranjčar, Šuker, or Boban.

But because of one player—Luka Modrić, now at Tottenham, then still mostly unknown, but with undeniable talent.

And also, there was someone else.

Leon turned to Xabi Alonso, asking, ”Teacher, doesn’t this team have a young guy named Kovačić?”

Alonso had memorized Dinamo’s squad list earlier. He nodded.

”Yeah, there’s a midfielder by that name. From what I’ve read, he’s the most promising young player in Croatia right now. Why?”

”No reason. He’s even younger than me, so I’m curious.”

”What, planning to go easy on him tomorrow?”

”Of course not. I plan on making sure he gets a real taste of what the Champions League feels like.”

Alonso chuckled but didn’t argue.

Barring surprises, Leon and this Croatian prodigy would be facing off in the middle of the pitch tomorrow.

And Leon? He’d have no trouble handling a kid who hadn’t even turned 18.

Alonso just hoped the boy could survive the first few minutes.

After the stadium walkthrough, Madrid returned to the hotel and enjoyed a quiet evening.

The morning of September 14, the Champions League atmosphere had fully taken over Zagreb.

Mourinho and Karanka spent every remaining hour refining tactics and contingency plans.

But many of Madrid’s players seemed a little too relaxed.

Leon noticed it—and wasn’t comfortable with it.

Sure, Dinamo Zagreb weren’t giants. Madrid didn’t need to be on full alert.

But already imagining a blowout before the match even kicked off? That felt… a little too optimistic.

Then again, seeing Ronaldo and Xabi Alonso preparing as calmly and methodically as ever helped Leon ease his nerves.

”Maybe I’m overthinking it. I’ll see once the match starts.”

So instead of making a fuss, Leon just focused on reviewing his personal notes—studying the playstyles of Zagreb’s key players one last time.

At 20:45 local time in Croatia, after a full day of final preparations, Dinamo Zagreb and Real Madrid kicked off their Champions League Group D opener at Maksimir Stadium.

Mourinho once again fielded his familiar 4-4-2 hybrid formation.

Dinamo Zagreb, coached by Croatian manager Ante Čačić, opted for a cautious 4-2-3-1. Čačić had no intention of playing brave. He parked the bus from the very start.

Seeing their opponents deploying five midfielders and sitting deep inside their own half, Madrid’s players instantly understood: Zagreb had come to survive, not fight.

Mourinho had anticipated this.

What he didn’t expect was just how thoroughly Čačić would commit to the low block. There was zero intention of contesting possession.

So, if they wanted to sit back?

Then Madrid would press forward.

Mourinho issued new instructions. His front line eagerly surged past midfield, crashing into Dinamo Zagreb’s half.

Leon, seeing even Sergio Ramos charging up the right wing, instinctively dropped deeper into Madrid’s right half.

The front line had more than enough men now. His role was still first and foremost to guard the defense.

But Zagreb clearly had no interest in attacking.

After watching them cower in their own box for several minutes, Leon and Xabi Alonso moved up as well—just enough to stay in passing range with the attacking group.

However, the expected image of Madrid slicing through Zagreb like a hot knife through butter?

Didn’t happen.

Madrid threw numbers forward. But once trapped in a static positional battle, their attacking rhythm fell off a cliff.

Part of it was Zagreb’s defense. They compressed space to the extreme and tackled hard. There were no vertical lanes for Madrid to exploit.

The other problem?

Madrid had sent too many men forward.

Half-field space is limited. When one side parks ten players in the box, and the other throws six or seven at them, you get clutter.

Passing lanes disappeared. Time on the ball vanished. Often, Madrid’s players had no choice but to reset—passing back to Xabi to restart the play.

Their famed counterattacks and wing overloads?

Useless against this wall.

Mourinho stood on the sideline, arms crossed and brow furrowed.

In theory, Madrid should still be able to wear Zagreb down.

One defensive lapse, and with Kaká’s vision or Ronaldo and Benzema’s movement, a real chance should appear.

But watching his forwards growing impatient, Mourinho could tell—

There was a mindset problem.

He was irritated.

Several Madrid players clearly thought the match would be a walkover.

He wanted to shout, to wake them up—but the game wouldn’t stop for lectures.

So he turned to Leon, who was still sitting calmly just behind midfield.

”Leon! Leon!” Mourinho waved him over.

”You push up! Tell Sergio and Marcelo to stop bombing forward for now. You press them up high—win the ball in their half. Start counterattacks directly with Kaká!”

Leon nodded.

He repeated the instructions to Alonso, then sprinted forward to call back Ramos and Marcelo.

Moments later, Madrid fans saw something new: Leon pressing forward like a shadow, intercepting passes, stalking space.

Commentators around the world were already praising Mourinho’s mid-match adjustment.

Zagreb refused to step out?

Fine—Mourinho sent his midfield enforcer into their territory.

Now, even when Madrid lost the ball, Leon’s presence meant Zagreb had no time or space to build out from the back.

Possession changed hands faster. Madrid’s attack cycles sped up.

With Ramos and Marcelo holding back, Madrid lost some numbers in the final third—but gained space.

Now, when Kaká and Di María received the ball, they had more freedom. And with Leon actively circulating possession behind them?

Zagreb’s tight lines began to stretch.

That’s when the opportunities appeared.

As Mourinho had predicted, a single lapse was all it took.

In the 19th minute, Di María floated a 45-degree diagonal ball over Zagreb’s right side.

Benzema rose for it—his header just missed the post, but it was Madrid’s first real threat.

Mourinho nodded.

Time to let Ramos and Marcelo back into the attack—but with caution.

He gestured again: support the flanks, yes—but no blind crosses.

Madrid needed to tear the defense, not simply bash it.

Three minutes later, Leon robbed the ball from a young Zagreb midfielder trying to shield and dribble wide.

Mateo Kovačić, barely 17, was left on the grass, arm raised for a foul call that never came.

Leon ignored him and pinged the ball to the right—straight to Kaká.

Kaká, sharp and decisive, immediately slid a diagonal pass toward the wing.

This time, Ramos was ready.

Instead of sprinting to the baseline for a cross, he sold the defender a fake—then stopped dead and switched to a new plan.

Seeing Dinamo Zagreb’s defenders closing in, Sergio Ramos quickly passed the ball back to Kaká, who was tracking just behind him.

Kaká, having already taken stock of the positions of his teammates in the box, received the ball, adjusted his step smoothly, and sent a beautiful high-arching cross to the far post of Dinamo’s penalty area.

Somehow, Leon had ghosted his way upfield and was now right beside Benzema.

As soon as Kaká swung his leg, Leon gave Benzema a light tap on the back—just a small nudge of communication.

Benzema got the message and cut sharply toward the near post, pulling defenders with him. Leon barreled into the space behind.

The decoy run worked. Zagreb’s back line got sucked in toward Benzema, totally distracted.

And that’s when Cristiano Ronaldo came flying in at the far post—leaping absurdly high and smashing the header into the back of the net.

The defenders just stood there in disbelief.

Their keeper, Eduardo, could do nothing but glare at Leon, who had already turned to join Ronaldo in celebration.

”That sneaky bastard! He and Benzema played us!”

Barely 25 minutes in, Dinamo Zagreb had already conceded a goal. Their morale cracked right then and there.

For Real Madrid fans, that was the moment they finally relaxed and started enjoying themselves.

Soon after, replay footage showed Leon’s subtle gesture to Benzema—and fans around the world burst into laughter and praise.

Leon was smart. So smart.

Commentators in multiple languages applauded Mourinho’s in-game tactical adjustments.

Zagreb didn’t want to come out?

Fine—Mourinho pushed his ball-hawk midfielder up and cut off their oxygen at the source.

Even if Madrid lost possession, Leon’s extended pressing meant Dinamo couldn’t build out of the back.

Madrid would recover the ball faster. More attacking phases. More chances.

With Ramos and Marcelo no longer constantly overlapping, space opened up in the final third. Fewer forwards on the ball, but more space to work.

Kaká and Di María became the creative engines, feeding off Leon’s clean and timely switches.

Madrid’s passing finally started to pull Zagreb’s lines apart.

Just as Mourinho hoped, the moment Zagreb’s defense wavered, Kaká and Di María pounced.

In the 19th minute, Benzema met Di María’s lofted ball with a header that whizzed just wide.

But Madrid’s gears were clicking into place.

Now, Mourinho gave Ramos and Marcelo the green light to push forward again—but not to blindly cross.

Patience. Pull the defenders out. Find gaps. Let Cristiano and Benzema exploit the space.

Three minutes later, Leon stole the ball clean off Kovačić, who had tried to dribble toward the wing.

The 17-year-old Croatian midfielder raised his hand, looking for a foul.

Leon ignored him and fed a sharp pass to Kaká.

Kaká one-touched the ball up the flank.

This time, Ramos was smart.

He faked a sprint to the endline, then stopped on a dime—his marker stumbling past.

Seeing Dinamo’s defense shifting awkwardly, he had already created the space Madrid needed.

Again.

What followed was a masterclass in positional manipulation.

Back to Kaká, cross to the far post—Cristiano again—boom.

2–0.

Zagreb’s resistance collapsed. Their confidence went with it.

Kovačić, having been stripped multiple times and utterly dominated in the midfield, was finally subbed off at halftime.

Coach Ante Čačić knew the kid was one of the brightest talents in Croatian football, but this wasn’t the time for a lesson. It was time for protection.

He didn’t even mind the mismatch.

”It’s Leon,” he sighed.

”The 20-year-old who shut down Messi. Of course Kovačić couldn’t beat him. Who could?”

Zagreb never recovered.

Madrid cruised to a 3–0 win, with Ronaldo grabbing a brace and Di María adding a rocket from range.

Leon?

He didn’t score. He didn’t assist.

But he destroyed any hope Zagreb had of building attacks, and contributed to nearly every transition with precise positioning and smart passing.

By the time the players got back to their hotel, Leon’s phone was already buzzing.

It was a call from Jorge Mendes.

After a short conversation, Leon smiled for the first time all day.

All that delaying, that insistence on not rushing contract talks?

It paid off.

Madrid had finally come knocking—asking Mendes to discuss a new deal.

And with a mountain of endorsement offers already piling up from Chinese companies?

Leon finally grinned.

”It’s time,” he said.

”Let’s talk big contracts.”

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