On August 28th, Real Madrid welcomed the first round of the 2011/2012 La Liga season.

They would face Athletic Bilbao at home.

This match also marked Gareth Bale's league debut for Real Madrid.

The starting lineups for both teams were as follows:

Real Madrid (4-2-3-1):

Goalkeeper: Casillas

Defenders: Srna, Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo

Midfielders: Bale, Granero, Kaká, Alonso, Suker

Forward: Benzema

Athletic Bilbao (4-4-2):

Goalkeeper: Iraizoz

Defenders: De Marcos, Amorebieta, Iraola, Herrera

Midfielders: Iturraspe, Muniain, San José, Martínez

Forwards: Susaeta, Llorente

"This is the first round of the 2011/2012 La Liga season, also the opening match of La Liga, featuring last season's league champions Real Madrid at home against last season's sixth-place finishers Athletic Bilbao!"

"In last season's 38 rounds, Real Madrid maintained a 38-match winning streak in the league while also preserving their unbeaten record!"

"Can they continue their league winning streak in this match?"

"For Athletic Bilbao, facing Real Madrid in the first round is a tremendous challenge. Whether they can secure points against this Galácticos squad will depend on their outstanding performance."

The players from both teams were already on the field, ready.

Athletic Bilbao kicked off first.

Suker was still warming up, hopping around.

The entire Santiago Bernabéu Stadium was buzzing with excitement, fueled by the atmosphere.

"Stay focused!" Casillas shouted from the back. "Show our fighting spirit! Come on, lads!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the referee blew the whistle.

The match began.

"Athletic Bilbao kicks off, and Real Madrid charges into the opponent's half, applying intense pressure. In the opening stages, Real Madrid uses high pressing to exert pressure, but Athletic Bilbao handles it well. Their defensive midfielder drops back to support the defenders in building play, smoothly moving the ball forward!"

González provided the commentary.

Athletic Bilbao did manage to advance the ball, but this was also partly because Real Madrid's pressing wasn't overly aggressive.

Unless they were facing a team of Barcelona's caliber, Real Madrid wouldn't sacrifice individual player strengths for a more systematic approach.

After all, this was a top club!

This was Real Madrid!

Although Mourinho was in charge, he still had to adhere to certain rules and make compromises in some areas.

For instance, under appropriate circumstances, the team should play more attractively!

Florentino Pérez had hinted more than once that he hoped players like Suker would play more entertainingly, preferably with more flair, to win over the fans.

Suker was naturally willing to meet these demands whenever possible.

Of course, this was without compromising his goal-scoring efficiency.

After all, his goal target for this season was 50+!

With full attendance, averaging 1.3 goals per game was a long and arduous task!

Suker drifted toward the central area. Athletic Bilbao also advanced the ball into Real Madrid's half.

Once they entered Real Madrid's half, the pressure, which had been relatively loose, intensified sharply.

Tackles, pressing, and interceptions became more swift, and with the numerical advantage, Athletic Bilbao could only attempt a rushed shot before losing possession.

The ball flew out of bounds, failing to hit the target.

Goal kick for Real Madrid.

Casillas passed the ball to Srna.

When both Marcelo and Srna were in similar receiving positions, Casillas trusted Srna more.

It couldn't be helped!

Srna was more reliable and constantly covered for Ramos's aggressive advances, earning Casillas's trust through his consistent performances.

Srna received the ball and immediately passed it forward to the winger without hesitation.

At 29 years old, Srna was at the peak of his physical condition, experience, and overall abilities.

His playing style was mature, excelling in both attack and defense, coupled with a strong will—how could Mourinho not appreciate him?

Real Madrid continuously passed the ball, switching play.

Before receiving the ball, Kaká moved horizontally and passed it to Suker.

As he received the ball, Suker observed the positions of the opponent's full-back and midfielders. Seeing two players closing in on him, he immediately chose to pass back.

After making the pass, Suker advanced higher up the field.

Dare to keep following me!

Sure enough, the opponents continued to follow him.

Suker kept pressing forward.

The opponents kept tracking him.

Unconsciously, Real Madrid began to push forward as a unit, and the ball smoothly entered the penalty area.

From this position, Kaká and Alonso could both take long shots.

While controlling the central area, they continuously shifted the ball to the wings, stretching the defensive line.

"Oh no!"

Athletic Bilbao realized too late.

But by then, they could only accept their fate.

Suker remained positioned near the touchline.

The Athletic Bilbao full-back didn't dare to get too close. If he pressed too tightly on Suker, it would create space in the half-spaces, allowing Kaká to drive forward unchecked.

At the very least, with Kaká's passing and Benzema's lateral movement, they could exploit the gaps.

"A positional attack!" Faria frowned. "We're not very good at positional attacks!"

Hearing this, Mourinho turned his head. "Who said we're not good at positional attacks?"

"Suker, Kaká, Benzema, and Di María are all technical players. Bale's technique is relatively rough at the moment, but he can still pose a threat. Moreover, we excel at set pieces—corners, free kicks, and direct free kicks." Mourinho smiled. "Our counter-attacks are sharp, but that doesn't mean we only know how to play counter-attacks!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Real Madrid began bombarding Athletic Bilbao's penalty area!

Suker, Kaká, Bale, and Di María attacked from both flanks.

They used quick and subtle passing routes to continuously stretch Athletic Bilbao's defensive line, combining intricately in tight spaces and executing various combinations.

Every shot was almost on target, forcing the opposing goalkeeper to make save after save.

Continuous attacks, relentless shooting threats.

Corners, set pieces—everything was thrown into the mix. Athletic Bilbao was on the verge of breaking.

"Athletic Bilbao is playing too passively. After Real Madrid pushed forward, Athletic Bilbao's rhythm was constantly disrupted."

At that moment, Kaká suddenly passed the ball to Suker.

Instead of driving down the wing and crossing as he often did, Suker shifted the ball horizontally and made a overlapping run with Kaká along the edge of the penalty area.

This run left the opposing full-back in a dilemma: follow or stay?

While he hesitated, Suker had already advanced to the left side of the goal.

Suker looked up toward the far post on the right side of the goal.

"He's going to pass!"

"Watch out!"

"Close him down!"

Seeing Bale suddenly sprint toward the far post, Athletic Bilbao's defense was on high alert.

At that moment, Suker suddenly twisted his body and took a shot.

Athletic Bilbao defender Amorebieta instinctively stretched out his foot to block, but the ball slipped through his legs and sped toward the left side of the goal.

The ball flew tightly along the goalpost and into the net.

The Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper didn't even have time to react.

By the time the ball was in the net, he could only spread his hands in frustration.

"Goal!!!!!!!!—"

"Suker!! The first goal of the new season! Suker opens the scoring for Real Madrid in the 12th minute!"

"A brilliant fake pass followed by a shot! Suker didn't even look at the goal. When he raised his head, everyone thought he would pass, but he chose to shoot, delivering a high-quality strike!"

"Iraizoz, the Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper, was helpless against this shot!"

"Real Madrid leads Athletic Bilbao 1-0!"

Suker opened the scoring.

The entire Santiago Bernabéu erupted in cheers once again.

On the south stand, a massive Tifo unfurled from the top.

It featured a cartoon image of Suker with a line below:

[This is your 150th goal in Madrid!]

[Congratulations! And thank you for your contributions!]

Seeing this huge Tifo, Suker was momentarily stunned.

Had he really scored 150 goals?

He hadn't kept count.

"Real Madrid fans celebrate Suker's 150th goal. In two seasons with Real Madrid, Suker has achieved an astonishing 150 goals, averaging 75 goals per season. Such terrifying efficiency highlights Real Madrid's incredible firepower!"

Commentator González marveled.

Such a prolific striker held profound significance for any team.

Meanwhile, the Real Madrid players also noticed the Tifo.

"150 goals in two seasons? Is this guy insane?"

"My God! This is crazy!"

"Unbelievable! But it's true!"

The Real Madrid players couldn't help but exclaim.

They knew Suker was a prolific scorer, but such insane efficiency was truly astounding.

Fellow forwards Bale and Benzema also shook their heads in amazement.

"150 goals in two seasons—how did he do it?"

For Benzema, scoring 30 goals in a season would make him wake up laughing.

Bale, however, wore a slightly complex expression.

From initial ambition to repeated setbacks, whenever he mustered his spirits and thought about how to compete with Suker, another blow would follow.

150 goals!

He hadn't even scored 150 goals in his entire career, especially since he started as a defender!

His peak period had been short.

He even wondered if, during his prime, he could achieve what Suker had.

Scoring 75 goals in a single season was an immense challenge.

Suker blew kisses to the fans in the south stand, thanking them for their gift.

The south stand was the gathering place for Real Madrid's die-hard fans.

Gaining their recognition meant truly becoming a Real Madrid player.

For someone like Suker, who could drive the south stand wild and inspire such actions, it was even rarer.

After all, Real Madrid fans were inherently proud.

They wouldn't make special gestures for ordinary achievements—their standards were high.

After Suker's goal, Athletic Bilbao grew anxious.

They wanted to equalize, so they constantly lobbed the ball forward.

However, Real Madrid had them tightly locked down.

Whenever the ball entered Real Madrid's half, it would be dealt with by the defenders, leading to counterattacks.

In such situations, Bale's speed was fully utilized.

Especially with Kaká's penetrating through balls, Bale began tearing down the wing, repeatedly outpacing Athletic Bilbao's left-back, nearly breaking the opponent's morale.

In the 23rd minute, Bale surged forward with a powerful run, once again using his speed to blow past the defender, and immediately crossed.

Benzema won the first header, flicking the ball backward with a slight jump.

The ball looped toward the far post.

While the ball was still in the air, Suker lunged forward like lightning, meeting it with a diving header that sent the ball into the net.

Watching the ball nestle into the goal, Suker rose and celebrated with a sliding knee celebration.

In the first match, a brace—mission accomplished beyond expectations.

In the 41st minute, with help from Suker and others, Bale also scored his first league goal.

Thus, Real Madrid led Athletic Bilbao 3-0.

In the second half, Athletic Bilbao scored from a corner kick, pulling one goal back.

But three minutes later, Benzema received a surgical through ball from Alonso and scored with a one-on-one finish.

Real Madrid 4-1 Athletic Bilbao.

In the 61st minute, Suker and Srna were substituted.

This was a request they had previously made to Mourinho.

After this match, they would return to the national team to prepare for the ninth round of European qualifiers.

In that match, they would face Greece.

The outcome would determine the group leader.

Therefore, Suker and Srna couldn't afford to take any chances.

The full-time whistle blew.

Real Madrid defeated Athletic Bilbao 4-1.

Suker scored a brace.

Benzema and Bale each scored one goal.

Real Madrid's forward line was firing on all cylinders!

However, after the first round, Suker did not top the scoring charts.

Messi had scored a hat-trick in the first round, claiming the top spot.

Suker and Atlético Madrid's top scorer, Falcao, were tied for second place.

Seeing the results, Suker couldn't help but grimace.

As expected, he couldn't afford to let his guard down.

If he had known, he would've played a few more minutes—maybe he could've scored another goal.

But there was no helping it. The league was long, but the Greek cavalry was already at their doorstep.

With the first round over, the international break began.

Suker, Srna, and Kovačić prepared to fly back to Croatia overnight.

Of course, they would be taking Suker's private jet.

The flight path had already been approved.

After returning home, the three grabbed their pre-packed luggage and headed straight to the airport by car.

Suker's bodyguard drove them.

Suker had rented a hangar at the airport to store his private jet.

With a private jet, everything became simpler—no need to arrive early and wait at the airport.

The vehicle drove directly into the airport through a special entrance, guided by staff, and arrived at the designated hangar.

Suker's Gulfstream G650 had a wingspan of 30 meters and stood about 7 meters tall.

Compared to ordinary business jets, it was taller, longer, and larger.

"This is a nice toy you've got here!" Srna exclaimed, looking at the jet with admiration.

There was a hint of envy in his eyes, and he wondered if he should grit his teeth and get one for himself.

It didn't have to be as extravagant as Suker's—something slightly more affordable would do.

After all, Kaká's private jet cost around £5 million.

It wasn't like Suker's jet, which cost nearly €60 million.

The jet was uniquely designed.

The tail section featured Suker's name in both English and Chinese.

On the fuselage, three small Ballon d'Or trophies were lined up.

The boarding stairs were specially paved with smooth stone slabs engraved with Arabic numerals.

Starting from the first step: 9, 99, 10, 9, 99, 10, 9. (AURA)

These numbers represented the changes in Suker's jersey number from his time at Mostar Rangers to Real Madrid.

Entering the cabin, the captain and a beautiful flight attendant were already waiting.

"Mr. Lambert, we leave the rest to you!"

"Hello, boss. It's a pleasure to serve you! I will ensure a safe and comfortable journey for you!"

Suker shook hands with the captain, then turned to the flight attendant.

"Hello."

Suker greeted her.

The flight attendant responded gracefully.

"Hello, boss. My name is Mija Bačić. You can call me Lidija!"

The flight attendant was very professional, poised, and did not try to flirt or gain favor through inappropriate means.

Moreover, the name sounded distinctly Croatian.

As Suker had once said, names like Luka and Mija were so common in Croatia.

Since the jet had an oval shape, the interior space was more spacious.

The cabin was about three meters wide and nearly two meters high.

It was equipped with a conference table, airline seats, a bathroom, a restroom, and a kitchen.

At the rear, Suker had even installed a bed for resting during long journeys.

Once they were seated, the jet began taxiing on the runway, reaching the designated runway. With the roar of its engines, the jet soared into the night sky, heading toward Zagreb, the capital of Croatia.

The flight from Madrid to Zagreb would take about two hours.

Along the way, Suker and Srna chatted to pass the time, discussing football, the league, interesting news, gossip, and everything in between.

Kovačić listened quietly, his eyes wide with curiosity.

Around 8 p.m., the jet landed at Zagreb Pleso Airport.

After the jet arrived at its destination, a national team bus was already waiting.

Suker and the other two took the bus to the national team training center.

This journey was highly private, no worries about being recognized or dealing with the media. Throughout the trip, they remained mentally refreshed.

Upon arriving at the training center, the three headed to their respective dorm rooms.

They were the first players to arrive.

When their teammates heard that Suker and the others had arrived by private jet, a call from Spain came through.

On the other end of the line, Rakitić complained:

"Did you forget something? Aren't I in Spain? It would've taken me two hours to get to Madrid! Didn't you know to take me along?"

Suker and Srna were speechless.

They had indeed forgotten!