Chapter 246: The Curse of the Champions League Semifinals! Shut Up, José! CR7's Perfect Partner!
When referee Howard Webb blew the final whistle, the roar inside Wembley Stadium was deafening.
2–1!
That was the final score frozen on the scoreboard.
Despite Fernando Torres coming off the bench to pull one back in the second half, Liverpool still lost 1–2 in their "home" semifinal to the Bayswater Chinese.
Reds fans had every right to feel disappointed.
Their team clearly performed better in the second half—far better—and even had chances to equalize.
But with Courtois standing tall between the posts and the defense holding firm,
the Bayswater Chinese held onto their lead until the very end.
The Liverpool fans whistled and jeered at their opponents.
"Still, we understand Yang Cheng's second-half substitutions," said Sky Sports.
"They were risky—but showed his trust in the squad."
"And the Bayswater Chinese players delivered."
Sky's commentary team felt the result was fair, though they expressed some sympathy for Liverpool.
"In the second half, Yang Cheng made three quick changes—all starters taken off, including Modrić and Lewandowski.
It was clear he was conserving energy for Wednesday's Champions League clash."
"The Bayswater Chinese are in the middle of an absolutely brutal stretch—five high-stakes matches back to back."
"Yang Cheng's rotation strategy shows he's prioritizing freshness for Real Madrid,
especially since that's the Champions League semifinal first leg—at home."
Sky Sports noted that while Liverpool brought on Torres and Rakitić in the second half to great effect,
the Bayswater Chinese shifted into a defensive posture and began playing on the counter.
From a tactical perspective, Yang Cheng achieved exactly what he wanted.
He got the win, qualified for the FA Cup final,
and ensured players like Modrić and Lewandowski got a full rest.
"Sure, Liverpool fans have reason to feel frustrated with how the match turned out.
But both sides had strong halves—and in the end, the Bayswater Chinese were just better at seizing their chances."
"And let's not forget—Suárez was locked down the entire match. He barely had a chance to breathe."
The game ended.
Bayswater Chinese players celebrated on the sidelines.
Liverpool's squad trudged off the pitch, dejected.
It wasn't Anfield, but Wembley had been filled with Reds fans—half the crowd.
They had made the trip south hoping for a ticket to the final.
Instead, they watched their team fall short.
After the match, Yang Cheng, though listed as the "away" manager, walked straight over to shake hands with Mancini.
"Your defense was just too strong," Mancini said with a bitter smile.
Yang Cheng didn't deny it.
Yes, the two first-half goals were crucial—
but holding the line in the second half was just as important.
"If you ever go through the kind of schedule we're facing,
you'll understand how hard it is to keep going," Yang Cheng said coolly.
Mancini had no retort.
Everyone had seen how the Bayswater Chinese were fighting on three fronts—
and the insane pressure they were under.
Not just from the opposition,
but from their own expectations.
"Well then, good luck!" Mancini offered.
"Thanks," Yang Cheng replied with a confident smile.
"We have a saying in China—'things don't happen three times.'"
"We've stopped at the Champions League semifinals two years in a row.
This season, no matter what, we have to break through."
"Otherwise, the media will say we're cursed."
He chuckled at his own comment.
Mancini laughed along, though his eyes were filled with envy.
A Champions League semifinal curse?
Please.
If only we could get that far.
But deep down, he had to admit:
The Bayswater Chinese were incredible.
Fighting across three competitions, rotating starters—
and still producing top-tier football.
If they focused on just one competition?
Who could stop them?
"Well, best of luck, Yang."
Mancini extended a hand.
After shaking it, he turned away and walked to his players.
…
The Bayswater Chinese's 2–1 "away" win over Liverpool spread like wildfire.
Global media reported it immediately.
Fans were ecstatic.
This was a team charging toward the treble!
At the post-match press conference, Yang Cheng remained humble.
He said the team wasn't thinking about the treble—
they were just focused on one match at a time.
When a reporter asked if he had already declared a "treble mission" in the locker room,
Yang Cheng smiled.
"That's no secret. Before every season, I tell my players—
we're aiming for every trophy."
"I believe that's what all elite clubs in Europe do, right?"
But things wouldn't be smooth sailing.
The day after their win over Liverpool, Chelsea demolished Tottenham 5–0 at Wembley.
A shocking result.
No one saw it coming.
Yang Cheng and Brian Kidd were in attendance.
The first 40 minutes were evenly matched.
But just before halftime, a free kick from Drogba broke the deadlock.
Three minutes into the second half, a corner led to Terry assisting Eto'o for a second.
Even so, the game remained balanced in terms of play.
Then came the turning point—75th minute.
Down 0–2, Redknapp pulled Van der Vaart and brought on Defoe,
looking to spark a comeback.
But two minutes later—Ramires and Lampard both scored.
Tottenham's midfield collapsed, and the defense crumbled.
In stoppage time, Malouda added a fifth.
Yes, 5–0 was the final score.
But for most of the match, the game had been tight.
The real damage?
Drogba's first goal.
And Redknapp's questionable substitution.
Still—what could he do?
Down two goals after 75 minutes,
he had to try something.
Even if it backfired.
That's football.
After Chelsea's 5–0 slaughter of Spurs, the Blues were suddenly the talk of the town.
Especially in the Europa League, where they had blazed a path to the semifinals.
Their next opponent: Athletic Bilbao from La Liga.
Speaking of La Liga—
Spain's clubs were dominating Europe this season.
Atlético Madrid, Valencia, and Athletic Bilbao had all made it to the Europa League semifinals.
The only non-Spanish club left? Chelsea.
And so, the media called it: La Liga's siege of the Premier League.
In the Champions League semifinals, Spain's two giants—Real Madrid and Barcelona—were up against the Premier League's elite: the Bayswater Chinese and Manchester City.
The rivalry between La Liga and the Premier League had reached a new peak. And it was clear for all to see—La Liga had caught up.
Especially with Real Madrid's resurgence, La Liga now seemed poised to do the unthinkable—claim both the Champions League and the Europa League.
Spanish media ran with the narrative, loudly challenging the Premier League's self-proclaimed status as the world's top league.
Based on English clubs' performances in the Champions League and Europa League—especially against Spanish sides—did the Premier League really deserve to be called the best?
"La Liga is the true No.1 now!" they declared.
Stars? La Liga had them.
Elite clubs? Check.
Trophies? Plenty to show for.
What did the Premier League still have?
Even Marca acknowledged that the Bayswater Chinese were on track to surpass Real Madrid in revenue this season.
"But we firmly believe this is temporary," they wrote.
"Real Madrid will soon bounce back."
"Just like Mourinho's team has done in this year's Champions League—they've made a real breakthrough."
"And they will prove that at Wembley in the Champions League semifinal!"
…
April 14 saw more twists in the Premier League race.
Manchester City thrashed Norwich 6–1 away from home!
The media described it as City "declaring war" on the Bayswater Chinese.
Ancelotti's team exploded at the perfect moment—just as Yang Cheng's side was navigating the hardest stretch of their season.
Two Argentinians stole the show—
Tevez scored a hat-trick and provided an assist, while Agüero bagged a brace.
It was, without question, City's best performance all season.
Their attack flowed beautifully, their defense held firm,
and Ancelotti even rotated players in preparation for the Champions League semifinal.
City's opponent? Barcelona.
Meanwhile, Manchester United demolished Aston Villa 4–0 at home, with Rooney scoring twice.
Two big wins for the Manchester clubs.
Only Arsenal stumbled—losing 1–2 at home to Wigan Athletic.
After facing several top teams and suffering defeats, the Gunners' morale was visibly shaken.
The matches for the Bayswater Chinese, Chelsea, Spurs, and Liverpool were postponed to May due to the FA Cup semifinals.
In Spain, Real Madrid beat Sporting Gijón 3–1 at the Bernabéu,
while Barcelona edged Levante 2–1 away.
After 34 La Liga matches, Madrid sat top with 88 points, Barça close behind at 84.
With only four rounds left, Madrid held a 4-point lead.
But the biggest test loomed—Matchday 35: El Clásico at the Camp Nou.
Everyone knew the stakes.
If Madrid survived that match unscathed, the title was essentially theirs.
But if they lost—it would all be up for grabs again.
Even more dramatic?
That crucial clash fell right between the two Champions League semifinal legs.
The situation was eerily similar to Yang Cheng's side.
In Premier League Matchday 35, the Bayswater Chinese would host Manchester City.
Another match that could determine the title.
But Yang Cheng's path was even harder—
he had already faced Arsenal and Liverpool in back-to-back heavyweight showdowns.
That's why, after Madrid's 3–1 win over Sporting, Mourinho used his post-match press conference to speak directly about Yang Cheng.
"I know Yang very well," the Portuguese coach said.
"He's a smart man. He knows exactly how to win games and trophies."
"And he knows this is not the same Real Madrid as before."
Looking ahead to the Champions League semifinal, Mourinho said his team was fully prepared.
"I'm not afraid of failure. So far this season, the only thing we've missed out on is the Copa del Rey. But we've already won that before, so this year we're focused on La Liga and the Champions League."
Historically, the Bayswater Chinese had a dominant record against Real Madrid—even during Mourinho's tenure.
As a result, Yang Cheng had become one of the least welcome figures at the Bernabéu.
But Mourinho shrugged that off.
"The past is history. It means nothing. It's not relevant. It has no bearing on the next match."
"Stats, head-to-head records—those are just stories for the archives."
"In the Champions League semifinals, there's only one goal: to win."
When reporters pointed out that Yang Cheng had been eliminated at the semifinal stage two years in a row,
and that this year was his all-out assault on the Champions League,
Mourinho simply smiled and replied:
"The last time we won the Champions League was in 2002. It's been 10 years."
"For a decade, every Madridista has dreamed of this trophy.
And our players? They're hungry—desperate for it."
"For Real Madrid, the Champions League means everything."
"You say the Bayswater Chinese are motivated?
Well, our motivation is even greater."
Mourinho praised the Bayswater Chinese, but was adamant that Madrid would win.
"Both teams are tactically sharp.
But I believe it will be a spectacular match."
As for his starting XI?
Mourinho kept it under wraps.
…
With Mourinho's fiery comments from Spain, the media spotlight turned toward Wembley and the upcoming semifinal.
British media quickly fired back, calling Mourinho's remarks "as arrogant as ever."
But no one dared ignore him—
and no one dared ignore Real Madrid.
The day before the first leg, after training, Yang Cheng received word that Madrid had departed for London.
At the pre-match press conference, he revealed his 18-man squad.
When asked about Mourinho's earlier barbs, Yang Cheng smiled.
"Tomorrow, when I see him at Wembley, the first thing I'll say is:
'Shut up, José—you talk too much!'"
Yang Cheng burst into laughter—so did the room.
He and Mourinho had always shared a friendly rivalry—
lots of verbal sparring, but real mutual respect.
"Sometimes he says things and I think—'this can't be the José I know.'"
"I'd like to see him win a title quietly, calmly, without drama for once."
"Of course, he's a great coach.
But aside from Porto, he hasn't won another Champions League to validate that reputation."
Then came the jab:
"If there were a Champions League for off-pitch drama,
he'd be the reigning champion.
And I'd genuinely wish him the best.
He's always been the media's darling.
Me? I'm not interested in that fight."
"The only thing Mourinho and I share is a hunger for success."
"The difference is—
I've succeeded. He hasn't."
The on-site journalists couldn't help but burst into applause.
When it comes to trash talk, Premier League managers are truly in a league of their own.
Ferguson and Wenger—no need to elaborate. Mourinho made his name in the Premier League too.
And then there's Yang Cheng.
He may appear polished and refined on the surface, but when it comes to verbal sparring, he's just as ruthless.
Everyone could already picture it—the look on Mourinho's face when he heard that line:
"I succeeded. He didn't."
Of course, Mourinho was no pushover.
This guy never misses a chance to stir the pot.
If he didn't pull some stunt, he wouldn't be Mourinho.
Sure enough, when Real Madrid arrived in London and the Fleet Street media rushed to the airport to welcome them,
they were met with a surprise—a different Mourinho.
…
April 17, evening. Wembley Stadium, London.
Champions League Semifinal, First Leg: Bayswater Chinese vs. Real Madrid.
As German referee Dr. Felix Brych led both teams onto the pitch,
Yang Cheng encountered Mourinho in the tunnel.
He was stunned.
"What happened to you?" he asked, pointing at Mourinho's head.
The Portuguese manager was sporting a brand-new haircut—a super short buzz cut—
making him look sharper, cleaner, more energized.
It was a far cry from the Mourinho Yang Cheng was used to seeing.
"Surprised? This is one of my secret weapons!" Mourinho chuckled.
Yang Cheng rolled his eyes.
What did he think he was—Sun Wukong?
Cut your hair and clone yourself into a hundred warriors?
"I cut the hairstyle I've kept for years—just for this match," Mourinho grinned.
Yang Cheng scoffed, "If winning were as easy as getting a haircut, I'd cut mine every day."
"This is me showing my determination."
"I believe you're determined," Yang Cheng replied, "but that's all you've got left."
"Bullshit!" Mourinho finally snapped. "I'm telling you, tonight you're not walking out of this stadium in one piece!"
Yang Cheng smirked, "I'll be waiting."
They shook hands just as they stepped out onto the pitch,
then walked to their respective benches.
…
Both sides took this match extremely seriously.
After rotating heavily in recent fixtures, Yang Cheng sent out his strongest possible lineup:
Bayswater Chinese XI
Goalkeeper: Courtois
Defense: Marcelo, Pepe, Kompany, Piszczek
Midfield: Matić (holding), Kroos, Modrić
Attack: Bale, Lewandowski, Di María
Thiago Silva was suspended due to yellow card accumulation.
Real Madrid XI
Goalkeeper: Casillas
Defense: Coentrão, Ramos, Bruno Alves, Arbeloa
Midfield: Xabi Alonso, Khedira (double pivot)
Attacking midfield: Cristiano Ronaldo, Özil, Callejón
Striker: Džeko
If there was a clear weak link in Madrid's setup, it was the right wing.
All season long, they rotated between Higuaín, Callejón, and sometimes even Özil—aiming for flexibility.
With both sides deploying their preferred tactics and full-strength squads,
the opening minutes were cagey.
But by 2 minutes 30 seconds in, the Bayswater Chinese launched their first serious attack.
Piszczek made an aggressive overlapping run on the right,
cutting to the byline and crossing—only for Bruno Alves to block it.
The Polish full-back recovered the ball and passed it back.
Di María controlled it at the edge of the box,
cut inside, and tried a curling shot with his left foot—
but Xabi Alonso was there to block it.
Madrid countered immediately, trying to feed Özil through the middle.
But Matić, long-legged and alert, poked it away to Kroos.
Kroos sent a fast through ball to Lewandowski at the top of the box.
The Polish striker controlled it well and fired despite Ramos's pressure—
Casillas made a stunning one-handed save, tipping it over the bar.
Wembley erupted with cheers from the home fans.
The ensuing corner yielded nothing,
but the Bayswater Chinese had landed the first blow,
and the match was now wide open.
Especially for the home side—
Yang Cheng stood on the sideline, eyes constantly scanning Mourinho and Madrid's reactions.
He saw his team dictating the tempo and creating waves of attacks.
While no clear chances were converted, they kept threatening.
Ten minutes in, Yang Cheng had already diagnosed Mourinho's game plan:
counterattack football.
He may have talked big before the game,
but at his core, Mourinho still relied on the same methods—defense-first football.
Right-back Maicon, whose form had dipped and defensive stamina had waned, was dropped.
Arbeloa, more defensively reliable, got the nod.
The double pivot of Alonso and Khedira replaced Lassana Diarra—
a move likely prompted by Diarra's habit of holding onto the ball too long.
Years of being overused at Madrid had exposed Diarra's flaws.
By the 10th minute, Yang Cheng had a counter-strategy ready.
Attack down Madrid's left flank—Coentrão's side.
Arbeloa was solid.
Coentrão? Not so much.
And Ronaldo? He barely tracked back.
Since the days of Florentino Pérez's Galáctico era in 2000,
this had always been Real Madrid's Achilles' heel.
(Except for Calderón's brief tenure.)
People said Madrid was "great in attack, weak in defense."
But Yang Cheng believed the real issue was the superstar system.
The logic was simple:
You build stars who are marketable.
To do that, they need to shine—
score goals, dominate highlight reels, top stats.
In La Liga, Ronaldo and Messi were prime examples—
every goal carefully curated and assisted by entire teams.
That's not to discredit them—they earned that trust with sheer brilliance.
But in tactical terms, both were treated as exceptions.
Ronaldo, for instance, rarely participated in defensive duties.
This left Coentrão constantly isolated.
Yang Cheng's plan:
Push Modrić and Piszczek aggressively forward.
He was confident that Bale and Marcelo would handle Madrid's right side (Arbeloa and Callejón).
So once he saw the pattern, he doubled down on the right.
In the 15th minute, Modrić and Piszczek combined on the right flank with a clever one-two.
They cut inside and fed the ball to Di María…
The Argentine drove into the right side of the penalty area, stopped abruptly, cut inside to shake off Ramos, then fired a left-footed shot from range.
The ball missed just wide of the post.
Gasps rang out from the crowd, followed by a round of applause for the effort.
But the cost of that missed chance was immediate.
After being pinned back since kickoff, Real Madrid launched a lightning-fast counterattack.
Xabi Alonso passed to Özil, who threaded a through ball forward. Cristiano Ronaldo sprinted down the left channel.
Facing Pepe, he faked once, whipped out a series of stepovers, and slipped past him into the left side of the box.
Pepe stayed glued to Ronaldo's inside shoulder, cutting off his shooting angle.
CR7 still managed a shot—but Courtois caught it cleanly.
It was Madrid's first shot on target—all the way in the 18th minute.
From then on, the pattern of the match became clear.
The Bayswater Chinese's left flank and Madrid's right were relatively quiet.
The real battleground was the right wing of the home side—where both teams committed numbers.
Yang Cheng's side stuck to their signature passing triangles and short combinations.
Mourinho's Madrid focused on counterattacks.
In the 21st minute, one of those counters led to a foul on the left edge of the Bayswater Chinese's box.
Modrić, retreating to defend, brought down Ronaldo—
setting up a dangerous free-kick opportunity.
This was Ronaldo's favorite spot.
"Free kick for Real Madrid... this is Cristiano's zone."
"Here comes his trademark knuckleball!"
"Powerful strike—but couldn't keep it down!"
"The ball rocketed over the bar and into the stands."
Yang Cheng stood on the sideline gesturing wildly, giving out clear instructions—
but only his players truly understood the coded signals.
Sky Sports commentary noted:
"Madrid's last few counters have looked dangerous—Yang Cheng knows he has to respond."
…
In truth, Yang Cheng's gestures weren't complex.
He was simply telling his players:
Stop forcing it down the right wing.
Yes, the pre-game strategy was to exploit Madrid's weaker right side.
But Mourinho had adjusted.
Sticking with the same approach now would be pointless.
So what's the adjustment?
Switch to the left—
see if there's a way through Coentrão.
If not, switch back.
With a passer like Toni Kroos, direction changes were easy to implement.
The midfield quickly got the message and began changing the flow.
Piszczek dropped deeper to stabilize the defense and disguise the shift.
Marcelo pushed higher up the pitch, linking with Gareth Bale to attack Arbeloa's side.
The most dangerous chance came in the 24th minute.
After a one-two combination, Bale got to the left edge of the box and sent in a cross.
Casillas rushed out—and nearly collided with Ramos.
Still, he held onto the ball.
Madrid realized the Bayswater Chinese had changed tactics.
They started adjusting their defensive shape accordingly.
In the 27th minute, Marcelo passed to Bale, who had dropped deep.
Bale held up play as Marcelo overlapped.
Callejón followed Marcelo tightly, cutting off the lane.
Arbeloa stuck to Bale, denying him the turn.
Bale had no choice but to lay it off to Kroos.
The German midfielder received the ball in space at the 30-meter mark.
One touch to settle—
then a sharp, semi-lofted pass across the pitch.
The ball sliced through Madrid's defensive shape
and found Di María between the right channel and touchline.
The Argentine took it forward.
Madrid's entire defense was shifted left.
Coentrão scrambled back, but Di María cut diagonally toward the top-right of the penalty area.
Xabi Alonso chased him down, trying to help Coentrão trap him.
But just as Di María reached the edge of the box, he faked a shot—
then slid a left-footed pass across the top of the box.
Here came Piszczek—charging forward at full sprint.
He stopped the ball toward the byline, then whipped in a quick cross to the near post.
Two Polish internationals, linking up again.
This combination was a staple in the Bayswater Chinese's playbook.
Lewandowski had already begun his run—
driving straight at Ramos.
Why?
Because Lewy had an aerial advantage over Ramos.
Against Bruno Alves, he'd need to use technique.
But with Ramos—
go direct. Go physical. Go high.
Piszczek noticed Lewandowski's signal and trajectory—
and delivered a perfectly placed lofted ball.
Lewandowski charged toward the near post.
He and Ramos both leapt—
but Ramos missed it.
Lewandowski met the ball perfectly with a thundering header—
sending it skimming into the left corner.
Casillas, guarding the right post, launched himself—
but he was too short, too slow, too late.
GOAL!!!!!!
Lewandowski's header!
Another brilliant link-up between the Polish duo!
27th minute—Bayswater Chinese break the deadlock!
1–0!
Lewandowski sprinted off in celebration, sliding on his knees at the corner flag.
Wembley erupted into a frenzy.
90,000 fans screamed with joy, their voices cascading down the stands.
Yang Cheng clenched his right fist and pumped it hard—
this was exactly the tactical result he wanted.
A move like that was nearly impossible to defend.
Most teams simply had no way to stop it—
assuming the Bayswater Chinese executed it right.
…
The goal didn't break Madrid's spirit.
Mourinho raged on the sidelines—
but quickly composed himself and began urging his team forward.
Madrid's intensity rose. Their pressing grew stronger, especially in their own half.
Just three minutes later, the Bayswater Chinese tried another left-wing attack.
After drawing in defenders, the ball was cycled back to Kroos—
who passed to Modrić.
Then came a moment of magic.
The Croatian feinted one way—
everyone expected a pass to Di María.
Instead, he cut left and slipped a through ball to Lewandowski on the edge of the D…
Gareth Bale's movement dragged defenders away.
Lewandowski controlled the ball with his body, turned into the left side of the box,
but this time Ramos defended excellently—
he held off the Polish striker with his body and forced him into a left-footed shot that flew high over the bar.
Two threatening moments in just four minutes.
What mattered most was the change in rhythm that came from Yang Cheng's tactical instructions.
Attacking down the left, mixing in feints and switches—
it left Madrid's defenders completely on edge.
They had no idea where the next attack would come from.
That uncertainty alone was enough to cause Real Madrid to fall back,
especially since they were a team built for counterattacks.
Once the Bayswater Chinese turned up the pressure, Los Blancos chose to fortify their defense.
But then came the 39th minute.
Marcelo received the ball near the 30-meter line on the left flank.
Faced with Callejón and Arbeloa's double-team, the Brazilian used his superb footwork to dribble through the gap and laid it off to Kroos.
Kroos quickly switched it to the right.
Di María stopped it with his left foot, cut inside to dodge Coentrão,
then returned the ball to Modrić.
The Croatian took one touch forward, drawing Xabi Alonso toward him—
then suddenly stopped, spun in place with the ball under control,
and whipped a diagonal pass with the outside of his right foot.
Not to Di María again—
but to the right side of the box.
Piszczek again!
The Polish right-back surged forward, met the pass on the run,
looked up quickly—
Lewandowski was already sprinting toward the near post.
It looked like a copy of the first goal.
Ramos and Bruno Alves both tracked Lewandowski, shadowing him to the near post.
But Piszczek didn't aim there.
His cross soared to the back post—left side of the six-yard box.
And suddenly, a red blur streaked into the area from the left edge of the box—like lightning.
Bale.
The Welshman launched himself at the ball and hammered a left-footed volley straight into the net.
GOAL!!!!!!
2–0!
Minute 39!
A thunderous close-range volley from Gareth Bale!
Another spectacular team move by the Bayswater Chinese!
Another assist from Piszczek!
"My God, what a beautiful sequence of play!"
"Two goals in the first half, both created by Piszczek on the right!"
"Bale scores again, and Wembley is shaking!"
The entire stadium erupted.
90,000 fans roared in unison, shaking the rafters.
Yang Cheng clenched his right fist and pumped it furiously—
this was the tactical outcome he'd envisioned.
With such a fluid, coordinated attack,
very few teams could defend against it.
Maybe none—if executed properly.
…
But Madrid didn't fold.
Mourinho howled from the sideline, but quickly rallied his players.
Real responded with aggression. Their pressing intensified,
especially when the ball entered their half.
In the 42nd minute, after another left-wing push from the Bayswater Chinese,
the ball circled back to Kroos—
who passed to Modrić.
The Croatian maestro pulled off his trademark fake:
a no-look to Di María on the right,
but instead, slid the ball left to Lewandowski at the top of the D.
Lewandowski took a touch, turned toward the left channel,
but Ramos was ready.
He held him off just enough to force a shot under pressure—
and it flew high.
Still, three major chances in less than 10 minutes.
Yang Cheng's adjustments had completely disoriented Madrid.
Their defense couldn't predict where the next blow would land.
But just when it seemed like Madrid might survive the half—
Real Madrid countered.
Xabi Alonso lofted a long, semi-lofted ball from deep—
right onto Džeko's chest on the right.
The Bosnian striker used his body to shield Pepe,
and before the ball even hit the ground,
he swept it sideways to Özil.
One touch. Back to Džeko.
Now facing the goal, Džeko spun past Pepe and played a beautiful diagonal pass.
Kompany was tracking back—but it wasn't enough.
The ball slipped behind him, right to the left side of the penalty area.
Cristiano Ronaldo.
One touch to control, slipping past Kompany's turn.
Left foot. Blast.
Courtois dove—
but the shot screamed into the right corner of the net.
1–2!
Cristiano sprinted toward the corner flag in celebration.
"A priceless away goal!"
"A lightning-fast counter from Real Madrid!"
"What a move—Džeko and Özil with a textbook wall pass, followed by a perfect through ball!"
"Ronaldo buries the chance—Madrid aren't out yet!"
Mourinho fell to his knees in the technical area,
roaring with joy.
That away goal could change everything.
Yang Cheng, arms crossed, looked over at Mourinho with a smirk and shook his head.
Yes, they were still leading,
but 2–1 is not 2–0.
In the Champions League knockout rounds, that away goal meant a lot.
But to be fair, Yang Cheng couldn't fault his players.
Madrid's counterattack was simply too lethal.
Piszczek and Marcelo had pushed high in attack,
leaving gaps behind.
Madrid's front line was stacked with world-class solo artists—
give them a sliver of space, and they'll punish you.
So how do you stop Madrid from countering?
Easy—keep your fullbacks back. Don't let them push up.
Piszczek, despite converting into a defender, was strong and aggressive in duels.
In fact, he'd handled Ribéry quite well against Bayern.
Kyle Walker could've been used to man-mark Ronaldo.
If Yang Cheng had prioritized defense, that's what he would've done.
But he didn't.
He wanted more goals.
Even after conceding, he stuck to his plan.
Why?
Because he believed one thing:
Mourinho doesn't trust young players.
He prefers reliable, battle-tested veterans.
And Real Madrid's bench, especially up front,
was nowhere near as deep as the Bayswater Chinese's.
Three days later, both teams had another brutal match:
a league showdown that could decide the title.
But the Bayswater Chinese would host Manchester City.
Madrid? They'd visit Camp Nou to face Barcelona.
Yang Cheng had no problem rotating.
Would Mourinho dare?
If he went all out tonight and again against Barça,
then what would he have left for the return leg against a rested Bayswater side at the Bernabéu?
That's why Yang Cheng was confident—
Mourinho would rotate in the second half.
And a 1–2 scoreline?
Madrid would be very happy with that.
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