Chapter 248: Dominating the Premier League! Player of the Season! We Should Sign Him at All Costs!
Barça or Manchester City—who to face?
That was the question on Yang Cheng's mind all the way back from Manchester to London.
It was, without a doubt, a trap.
A deep one.
Based on what he had just witnessed at the Etihad Stadium, if Ancelotti truly committed to playing ultra-defensive football, he could frustrate any opponent.
That's what Italian managers do.
And Ancelotti is one of the best at it.
So does that mean facing Barça would be easier?
Not necessarily.
On the surface, it might seem easier to take on Barça.
But it's this kind of deep defending, like City used, that's actually the greater threat.
Look at this match—it says it all.
Yang Cheng was certain that if Ancelotti were given the same situation again, he probably wouldn't get the same result.
20% possession, 4 shots, 1 on target.
That's not just ridiculous—
it's off-the-charts outrageous.
What coach in their right mind would willingly give up that much possession?
Only one explanation: they had no choice.
Even in Yang Cheng's past life, when Mourinho's Inter hosted Barça in 2010, they still had nearly 30% possession.
In the return leg, even after going down to ten men early, they still managed about 15%.
Yang Cheng couldn't recall the exact number, but the comparison was clear.
City were beyond desperate.
If it were up to Yang Cheng, he'd still prefer to play against Manchester City.
Why?
Because against City, he could control the tempo and hold the initiative.
Barça, on the other hand, were different—
they never gave up control.
And it's worth noting: this version of Barça was not the Barça of Yang Cheng's previous life.
Back then, by 2012, they had already won two Champions League titles.
The squad was aging and starting to decline.
But now?
Guardiola's team hadn't yet won the Champions League.
They were still hungry, still building an identity that won admiration from fans and professionals alike.
While some rumors floated about Guardiola leaving at the end of the season,
those were mostly media speculation.
Pep himself had said he would decide on his future based on the team's performance.
Barça were still alive on all three fronts:
In La Liga, trailing Madrid but still with a shot—especially if they won the upcoming Clásico.In the Copa del Rey, already in the final.In the Champions League, now in the semifinals.
These next few matches would determine whether Guardiola renewed his contract.
And Pep was clearly using that uncertainty to motivate his players.
He wanted to see who was still willing to fight for him.
…
Back in London, Yang Cheng immediately convened a meeting with his coaching staff and technical team.
The main agenda: to dissect the match at the Etihad.
The analysts had compiled a full set of detailed data on both teams.
Because that weekend, the Bayswater Chinese were set to play Manchester City.
Thanks to the Champions League match being played one day earlier, Yang Cheng's team had a slight schedule advantage.
Plus, the match would be at home.
Home field and extra rest—the odds favored the Bayswater Chinese.
So Yang Cheng focused on managing the human factor.
With such a tight, high-stakes schedule—plus the Champions League second leg next Wednesday—
he had no choice but to rotate.
"From what we've gathered, Ancelotti is definitely going to rotate as well—probably heavily," said Gary Worthington, the club's head of scouting.
His department had sent scouts to the Etihad and gathered intel.
"They played a day later, and the match against Barça was extremely demanding. So I think they'll go defensive again at Wembley."
Possession, to some extent, reflects physical fatigue.
The lower your possession rate, the more you chase, the more you burn energy.
City had only 20% possession—
the strain was immense.
If the Bayswater Chinese won this match, the league title was practically sealed.
That's why this game was absolutely must-win.
Because of that, Yang Cheng paid extra attention to the players' physical and mental state.
Sadd Fawcett, head of sports science, presented his latest report.
Overall, the squad was in good condition.
Injuries and fatigue were all within manageable levels.
Fawcett's red-yellow-green (traffic light) monitoring system, developed over the past few years, had played a huge role.
Combined with Yang Cheng's strong investment in the sports science department,
the results spoke for themselves.
Now came the real challenge:
Could the rotated lineup still deliver a win?
And then there was the mental pressure.
Yang Cheng's in-house psychology team now had three full-time members,
led by Tim Hannix, with his son and an external expert as assistants.
They had been monitoring the squad's psychological condition all season.
But this match was unique—critical, yet requiring rotation.
"The next two days, Tim—I need you on top of this," Yang Cheng said firmly.
Tim Hannix nodded immediately. This was his job, and he knew its importance.
As for tactics, lineup, and substitutions?
Still too early to decide.
They would wait until just before the match—
after evaluating players' recovery and mental readiness.
One thing was certain:
Youngsters like Harry Kane, Pogba, and Sterling would not be risked.
Nor would José Fonte.
It wasn't about ability.
It was about pressure.
If Yang Cheng gambled on them now, it would be irresponsible.
…
The Bayswater Chinese beat Real Madrid 3–1 at home.
Manchester City beat Barcelona 1–0 at the Etihad.
Two Premier League clubs defeated La Liga giants at home—
and the British media erupted in celebration.
But all eyes quickly shifted to the next two crucial matches:
the Premier League title clash and the La Liga Clásico.
Both the Bayswater Chinese and Barcelona were chasing a treble.
And remarkably, all four Champions League semifinalists were now playing title-defining domestic matches in between the two legs.
For football fans around the globe, this was a once-in-a-generation spectacle.
Who would've thought that all four Champions League semifinalists would face league-deciding fixtures between the semifinal legs?
This was unprecedented in Champions League history.
Naturally, the global media and fans alike were fixated on these weekend showdowns.
Meanwhile, the annual PFA Awards in England had just been announced.
These honors are traditionally decided before the league ends,
so the final title standings don't influence the results.
That said, title-contending teams typically dominate the accolades.
As usual, the Team of the Season followed the traditional English 4-4-2 formation.
And the goalkeeper slot?
No suspense there—Courtois.
The 19-year-old Belgian had been sensational for the Bayswater Chinese,
breaking Petr Čech's long-standing record for most clean sheets in a single Premier League season.
Given his historic performance, his inclusion in the team was unquestionable.
The back four?
Marcelo, Thiago Silva, Pepe, and Piszczek.
Yes, the entire back line came from the Bayswater Chinese.
Central midfield?
Toni Kroos and Luka Modrić.
Left midfield? Gareth Bale.
Right midfield? David Silva.
(The Spaniard, while often playing centrally or on the left, had been fielded as a right winger in 4-3-3 systems.)
The two forwards?
Robin van Persie and Robert Lewandowski.
There was some public outcry over Walcott's omission,
given his 17-goal tally and outstanding season.
But with so many Bayswater players already included, adding another would've turned the entire list into a club roster.
Even with that, 9 of the 11 players were from the Bayswater Chinese.
That, in itself, spoke volumes.
No one could deny that this past season,
no team in Premier League history had ever displayed such dominance.
Not even United's famous treble team,
nor the 2008/09 treble-winning Bayswater Chinese.
So really, 9 of 11 players?
There was little to debate.
For the Young Player of the Season, there was a surprise:
Kyle Walker.
The young English right-back wasn't yet a first-team regular,
but he had improved rapidly and even earned an England call-up.
Worth noting: England's right-back depth was looking shaky.
Micah Richards' form had plummeted, and his once-explosive rise had stalled.
Glen Johnson remained error-prone in defense.
Walker, on the other hand, was clearly on the rise.
Though technically a squad player, his performances were strong enough
to beat out the likes of Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Welbeck (United), Sturridge and Agüero (both City).
Yang Cheng privately believed that Agüero was a bit hard done by.
The Argentine had been spectacular this season,
but it felt like the PFA leaned toward rewarding local talent.
As for the others?
Walker's edge was more than fair.
Ryan Bertrand also earned an England call-up.
But with Ashley Cole and Leighton Baines ahead of him,
his inclusion in the final Euro squad remained uncertain.
That would depend on form, fitness, and positional needs.
And the Player of the Season?
Robert Lewandowski.
The Polish striker had scored 29 goals in the Premier League.
Notably, all 29 came in the first 28 matches.
Since then, due to squad rotation and two-front competition,
his form had dipped slightly and he hadn't scored again.
Still, that total surpassed van Persie's 27.
With five league matches remaining,
everyone believed Lewandowski would still add to his tally.
Over the past few years, the Bayswater Chinese had risen so far and so fast
that individual awards were now commonplace for their players.
Even the prestigious PFA honors no longer felt like a rarity.
But this year, their sheer dominance made headlines.
Best Young Player.
Player of the Season.
9 of 11 spots in the Team of the Season.
The Bayswater Chinese had completely taken over the Premier League.
The world noticed—
and praised them for it.
…
April 22, afternoon. Wembley Stadium, London.
Premier League Matchday 35.
This title-deciding clash opened with a blast:
Walcott's close-range shot flew over the bar.
The match had a global audience—broadcast worldwide.
Both sides rotated slightly, but kept their core players intact.
Neither team came to draw.
Up front, Yang Cheng fielded Bale, Lewandowski, and Walcott.
In midfield, it was Ramsey and Modrić.
Toni Kroos was rested for this one.
As soon as the match began, the Bayswater Chinese threatened with a shot on goal and quickly took advantage of their home turf to apply pressure on Manchester City.
In the 6th minute, a through ball from Aaron Ramsey found Gareth Bale,
who broke away from Chiellini on the left side of the box and fired a low shot toward the far post from a tight angle.
It skimmed just wide of the post.
The Bayswater Chinese kept the momentum going.
In the 15th minute, Kyle Walker sent a direct pass behind the defensive line.
Walcott burst forward, beat the offside trap, and went one-on-one from the right—
but again, the shot went wide.
Then came a corner in the 19th minute.
The Bayswater Chinese executed a clever short-corner routine.
Kompany got his head on the cross at the far post, but it went just over the bar.
Three clear chances in the opening 20 minutes.
Then in the 24th, Lewandowski fired a shot from near the penalty spot,
only for Joe Hart to make a stunning save.
Just four minutes later, a long pass from Javi Martínez found Bale on the left.
He headed it across goal, and Lewandowski raced in for a close-range tap-in—
only for Joe Hart to stop it again from just 7 meters out.
The subsequent corner was cleared.
34th minute, another corner.
Another rehearsed set piece.
This time, Walker struck a sudden shot from outside the box—
Joe Hart, again, tipped it wide with a spectacular save.
Just before halftime, the Bayswater Chinese surged again.
Walker crossed from the right, Bale volleyed from the left side of the six-yard box—
but mishit it and struck the side netting.
In the 44th minute, Lewandowski, Walker, and Walcott combined brilliantly on the right,
with a sequence of crisp one-touch passes.
Lewandowski then laid it off to Modrić at the top-right of the box.
Unmarked, Modrić struck cleanly—
and smacked the crossbar.
The entire first half was a siege.
The Bayswater Chinese pinned City in their half.
But somehow, the Blue Moon held on to a 0–0 scoreline.
Even with the crossbar strike.
And if you counted the three times Barça hit the post midweek at the Etihad...
What else could Yang Cheng say?
"At this point, I'm starting to wonder—did Jam Hsiao show up in Manchester to perform or something?"
He grumbled, half laughing, half exasperated.
This wasn't just bad luck.
It was like the football gods were helping City.
He was supposed to be the time-traveling protagonist.
How did Ancelotti end up with all the cheat codes?
…
At halftime, Yang Cheng still praised the team's performance.
Overall, the Bayswater Chinese had done well.
The pressure on City's midfield and forwards had worked.
Defensively, they were solid.
City didn't have a single decent chance in the first half.
But it wasn't enough.
"I said before the game—this was going to be tough."
"It's not just about skill or form anymore.
It's about our mentality, our resilience, and our hunger for the title!"
"This is a total test of who we are."
Privately, Yang Cheng had already accepted that a draw would be fine.
But he never told his players that.
To them, he insisted—this match had to be won.
Aim for the stars, land among the clouds.
When the coach demands everything, even if the result falls short, it won't be far off.
And judging by the team's focus at halftime, they were mentally locked in.
The second half began with another wave of attacks.
Then came the most ridiculous moment—in the 60th minute.
Another right-sided move.
Walcott and Walker combined.
Walker fed Lewandowski, who turned at the top-right of the box and shot—
deflected off Chiellini.
Walker rushed in, seized the rebound, and struck a powerful shot toward the far post.
It beat Hart—but hit the left post.
"My God, that's unbelievable!"
"That's the second time the Bayswater Chinese have hit the woodwork today."
"Just three days ago, Barça hit the post three times at the Etihad—and every time it was the right post!"
"Today at Wembley, the Bayswater Chinese have hit both the crossbar and the left post. They've even grazed both side nettings."
"At this point, it's safe to say—the entire goal is on City's side!"
The broadcast cut to the sideline.
Yang Cheng stood by the bench with arms outstretched,
completely speechless.
Was City's luck really this absurd?
"It's demoralizing."
"On the balance of play, the Bayswater Chinese have been far superior."
"But the luck just isn't with them."
"Five shots off the post in two games—City's fortune is off the charts!"
Yang Cheng ran a hand through his hair and returned to the bench,
took a long sip of water,
then turned back to the field.
"Get them up to warm up—we start subbing soon," he instructed.
Brian Kidd nodded and alerted the substitutes.
Planned substitutions after the 60th minute had been part of the pre-game strategy.
Because in three days, they would head to the Bernabéu to face Real Madrid.
Yes, they had a 3–1 lead—
but against Madrid, especially away, no lead is safe.
"Our guys are tired," Brian Kidd admitted. "They're not sharp enough. Too inefficient."
Dominant? Yes.
Clinical? No.
"Ancelotti's probably using this match as a dry run. I bet they'll defend the same way at the Camp Nou."
Yang Cheng nodded.
The Bayswater Chinese threatened from the very start, immediately testing Manchester City with a shot and leveraging their home advantage to go on the offensive.
In the 6th minute, Aaron Ramsey played a through ball to Gareth Bale,
who shook off Chiellini on the left side of the box and tried a low shot from a tight angle toward the far post.
It grazed just wide.
The Bayswater Chinese kept attacking.
In the 15th minute, Kyle Walker sent a direct ball behind the back line.
Walcott broke through with a perfectly timed run, entered the box from the right,
but his shot once again missed the target.
Then in the 19th minute, they executed a well-rehearsed corner routine.
Kompany rose at the far post but headed just over the bar.
Three golden chances in just 20 minutes.
In the 24th, Lewandowski struck from close range at the penalty spot—
but Joe Hart produced a heroic save.
Four minutes later, Javi Martínez lofted a long pass to Bale on the left.
Bale headed it centrally for Lewandowski, who attempted a first-time finish from just 7 meters out—
but Hart saved it again.
The ensuing corner was cleared.
In the 34th minute, yet another corner routine.
Walker let fly with a sudden strike from outside the box—
Hart palmed it away brilliantly.
Just before halftime, the Bayswater Chinese pushed forward again.
Walker's cross from the right found Bale at the far post—
his volley hit the side netting.
Then in the 44th minute, Lewandowski, Walker, and Walcott combined beautifully down the right,
ending with a layoff to Modrić at the top of the D.
The Croatian shot clean—and struck the crossbar.
The entire first half was wave after wave of pressure from the Bayswater Chinese.
Yet somehow, City held the line at 0–0.
With another shot off the woodwork.
And considering Barça hit the post three times midweek against City—
What could Yang Cheng say?
"At this point, I'm seriously starting to wonder if Ancelotti is the protagonist of some ridiculous football novel," Yang Cheng muttered bitterly.
It had gone beyond luck.
It felt like even the gods were rooting for City.
As if the author of this script had given them cheat codes.
And wasn't he the one who had traveled through time?
Shouldn't he be the main character?
…
At halftime, Yang Cheng still praised the team's performance.
Tactically, the Bayswater Chinese had played well.
They'd dominated City's midfield, cut off their forwards, and defended effectively.
City had no real chances.
But it wasn't enough.
"I said it before—we knew this was going to be tough."
"It's not just about talent or form. It's about mental strength, grit, and the hunger for a title."
"This is a full-spectrum test."
Privately, Yang Cheng could accept a draw.
But he never told the players that.
He insisted to them: this match must be won.
If you aim for the top, you'll at least land somewhere close.
And by pushing his players relentlessly, Yang Cheng had created a team that wouldn't settle.
That spirit was evident as the second half kicked off.
Then came the moment of madness—60th minute.
A right-sided attack again.
Walcott and Walker exchanged passes before Walker laid it off to Lewandowski.
The Pole turned near the penalty spot, shot—and it deflected off Chiellini.
Walker, now in the box, seized the loose ball and took another shot—
it flew toward the far post… and hit the left upright!
"My God—this is unbelievable!"
"That's the second time the Bayswater Chinese have hit the woodwork today."
"Just three days ago, Barça hit the post three times against City—all on the right!"
"Now, at Wembley, the Bayswater Chinese have struck the crossbar and the left post, plus grazed both side nets!"
"It's like the goal itself is on City's side!"
The broadcast cut to Yang Cheng on the sideline—
arms wide open, speechless.
Was City's luck endless?
"This has to be emotionally draining."
"The Bayswater Chinese have clearly been the better side."
"But luck simply isn't on their side."
"Five woodwork strikes over two games—City's fortune is off the charts."
Yang Cheng scratched his head, returned to the bench, took a sip of water,
then turned back toward the pitch.
"Get the subs warming up—we'll rotate soon," he ordered.
Brian Kidd nodded and signaled the bench.
The plan had always been to make changes after the 60th minute,
especially with the Champions League second leg against Madrid looming.
Yes, they had a 3–1 lead—
but no one dared to take Real Madrid lightly at the Bernabéu.
"Our guys are just too tired," Brian Kidd admitted.
"Not sharp enough. We're creating chances, but wasting them."
"Ancelotti is clearly testing his tactics for the Camp Nou. I think he'll use this same defensive approach."
Yang Cheng nodded in agreement.
…
In the 65th minute, Yang Cheng subbed on Hazard for Bale.
Then in the 70th, De Bruyne replaced Modrić.
Both were like-for-like changes,
designed to conserve energy for the upcoming Champions League clash.
By the 75th, Giroud was ready on the touchline to replace Lewandowski.
He was just waiting for a stoppage.
But then, City launched a rare counterattack.
In their own half, the ball was played to Gareth Barry—
but Kyle Walker tracked back with a stunning burst.
The English full-back smashed in from behind, shouldered Barry aside, and stole the ball cleanly.
He passed it to Javi Martínez,
who immediately relayed it to De Bruyne on the right touchline.
De Bruyne surged forward,
reaching the edge of the penalty area and playing a sharp ball through.
Walcott burst into the box,
cut inside just as Jerome Boateng flew in with a sliding tackle—and whiffed completely.
Walcott reached the byline and crossed—looking for Lewandowski.
The ball deflected off Chiellini and bounced back.
Walcott reacted instantly, spun, and fired with his left foot.
It screamed toward goal—
but Hart was already there, blocking the near post.
He dropped low and deflected the shot, but couldn't hold on.
As the ball squirmed loose, Hart dove toward it—
arms stretched, body contorted.
But someone got there first.
A toe-poke from point-blank range—
the ball skipped off Hart's hand,
and the striker nearly stumbled over from the force.
The ball crossed the line.
Goal given!
Wembley erupted.
90,000 fans leapt to their feet, chanting Lewandowski's name.
On the touchline, Yang Cheng charged toward the technical area,
fell to his knees, and let out a primal scream of joy.
…
One minute later, Yang Cheng followed through and replaced Lewandowski with Giroud.
City tried to respond with attacking subs—
but it was too late.
The Bayswater Chinese had momentum.
City had defended for 75 minutes—flipping the switch to attack was no simple feat.
Final score: 1–0.
The Bayswater Chinese had 30 shots, but only 7 on target.
An efficiency rate that left Yang Cheng a little embarrassed.
Was this the clinical edge the world's best attacking team was known for?
Then again, City had 7 shots total—just 1 on target.
If anyone should feel sheepish, it was Ancelotti.
Especially since the Bayswater Chinese hit the woodwork twice.
At the post-match press conference, Yang Cheng said:
"Honestly, 1–0 feels like 3–0."
He was counting the two shots off the post.
"We kept pressing and couldn't score. Usually, that means the other team grabs one."
"That's a familiar way to lose."
But tonight, the Bayswater Chinese held firm and
scored from a well-timed counter-press.
"If I say we were just unlucky, that sounds like a lazy excuse."
"But anyone who watched this game knows—it's true."
Yang Cheng stood by his players.
They deserved more.
This should have been a clear win.
City's luck was surreal.
Ancelotti, meanwhile, defended his team:
"This should've been a draw."
"We gave everything but didn't get the result we deserved."
Still, he praised his players' spirit.
Elsewhere in the league:
Arsenal beat Chelsea 1–0 thanks to Fabregas' stoppage-time winner.
Manchester United drew 4–4 with Everton.
This match was wide open from start to finish—a total of 41 shots between both sides.
Manchester United once held a 3–1 lead,
but Everton mounted a furious comeback to draw level.
Meanwhile, Liverpool secured a 1–0 home win over West Bromwich Albion.
After 35 rounds, the Bayswater Chinese led the Premier League with a record of 30 wins, 3 draws, and 1 loss, tallying 93 points at the top of the table.
The reason they had played one fewer match was due to the FA Cup semifinal overlapping with Matchday 34, which had been postponed.
Arsenal, following their home win against Chelsea, moved to 87 points, overtaking Manchester City and sitting second in the table.
City dropped to third with 86 points,
and Manchester United sat fourth on 82 points.
At this stage, it was almost certain—
the Bayswater Chinese had all but secured the Premier League title.
For either Arsenal or City to stage a comeback would be nearly impossible.
…
While Matchday 35 of the Premier League raged on,
El Clásico in La Liga—another crucial title decider—was underway at Camp Nou.
Mourinho's Galácticos went full strength, and with goals from Khedira and Cristiano Ronaldo,
Real Madrid stunned Barcelona 2–0 on the road.
Guardiola's side lost at the worst possible time in their title race.
They were defeated at home by their archrivals in a high-stakes showdown.
The match was held in the evening, so Yang Cheng and his coaching staff watched the broadcast live.
According to Yang Cheng, Guardiola's defeat came down to one fatal flaw—
his old habit of trying something bold and risky in key moments.
Guardiola went with an unorthodox back three,
rotated out both Busquets and Piqué,
and started fringe players like Tello, Adriano, and Thiago.
Yes, Barça still controlled the ball with their possession-based system,
but Real Madrid's direct attacking football tore them apart.
Clearly, Barça's cracks were showing under pressure.
The first was their lack of depth.
People often criticize Yang Cheng's squad for being too thin—
once just 23 players, now expanded to 25.
But compared to Guardiola's squad?
Yang Cheng looked downright rich in resources.
Barça had played entire seasons with just 19 or 21 players.
Now, with matches every three days, rotation became nearly impossible.
They had already lost the first leg of their Champions League semifinal to Manchester City, 0–1.
They needed a comeback in the second leg.
To do that, they needed fresh legs.
But how, when the players were exhausted?
This match fully exposed Barça's lack of squad depth.
And yet, there was something curious:
Even with such a small squad, Barça's wage bill was enormous.
But that was another conversation for another day.
The second issue exposed in this match was Barça's lack of mental toughness.
Both the players and Guardiola himself cracked under pressure.
Guardiola's impulsive tactical changes in big games were nothing new.
Against a team with Cristiano Ronaldo on the flank,
playing with a fragile back three?
Yang Cheng couldn't make sense of it.
He guessed that Guardiola's mindset was similar to City's:
Even if they won the league match,
their title hopes still depended on other results.
So instead, they were putting their chips on the Champions League.
…
April 24, evening. Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid.
Champions League Semifinal, Second Leg.
Bayswater Chinese away against Real Madrid.
From the opening whistle, both teams came out swinging.
It was an open, aggressive battle between two heavyweights.
After bruising league clashes just days earlier—
Barça vs. Madrid, City vs. Bayswater—
now the battlefield shifted to Madrid.
11th minute, Real Madrid's midfield intercepted a pass and launched a counterattack.
Khedira passed to Özil, who picked up the ball on the right.
He whipped a left-footed diagonal ball to Cristiano Ronaldo, positioned just left of the arc.
Ronaldo took a touch, beat Pepe, and went one-on-one—
calmly slotting it to the far post with his right foot.
1–0.
The Bernabéu erupted.
Ronaldo slid on his knees beneath the home supporters,
as chants of his name echoed around the stadium.
At the same time, many Madridistas jeered and insulted Yang Cheng.
As the most unwelcome man at the Bernabéu,
Yang Cheng had not expected his team to concede so early.
The aggregate score now stood at 3–2.
Madrid had life.
Yang Cheng didn't panic.
He stood on the sideline, shouting to his players:
"Stay calm! Don't rush!"
But Madrid's players smelled blood.
They pushed forward again after the restart, seeking an equalizer.
But the Bayswater Chinese wouldn't go quietly.
Just two minutes later,
Marcelo surged down the left and had his pass intercepted.
But Bale had tracked back to midfield,
and stripped the ball off Özil before surging forward himself.
Özil grabbed and pulled, but couldn't stop the Welshman's pace.
Bale reached the 30-meter mark,
and when Khedira stepped up, he poked the ball forward—
and burst between Khedira and Arbeloa like a red blur.
His top-end speed tore through Madrid's lines,
leaving the midfield and defense behind.
He reached the left edge of the box.
Bruno Alves closed in.
But Bale repeated his signature move—
a push-and-run down the outside,
blazing around Alves and swinging in a cross from the byline.
Everyone watching was left speechless.
No one expected such an explosive solo run—
not even Bale's own teammates.
Lewandowski was still near the top of the arc.
But Bale's cross flew all the way to the far post—just outside the six-yard box on the right.
Di María, having shaken off Coentrão, made a blistering run and arrived before anyone else.
With his left foot, he struck a reverse-angle shot across goal.
Casillas dove, fully extended—
but he couldn't stop it.
The ball flew into the bottom-left corner of the net.
1–1!
The entire stadium roared in disbelief.
"The Bayswater Chinese have equalized in just under two minutes!"
"A goal from Di María!"
"He doesn't score often, but when he does, it's always in the big moments."
"Yang Cheng has said it before—Di María has ice in his veins. He loves scoring when it matters most!"
Di María sprinted to the corner flag in celebration,
but was met with a storm of jeers from the Bernabéu faithful.
…
After pulling level, both sides ramped up the pressure.
16th minute, Marcelo combined with Bale down the left,
then played the ball to Lewandowski at the top of the arc.
Marcelo surged past him.
Lewandowski turned and shot—blocked by Ramos.
But he immediately followed up, poked it past Bruno Alves into space.
Marcelo latched on and slotted the ball into the net.
But the flag was up—offside.
24th minute, Kroos in the center,
surrounded by Xabi Alonso and Lass Diarra,
threaded a perfect pass to the right edge of the arc.
Lewandowski received, turned, and surged into the box.
One-on-one with Casillas—
a calm, composed finish into the far corner.
2–1!
Lewandowski pumped his fists,
and embraced Toni Kroos, who had set him up perfectly.
The Bernabéu responded with a mix of jeers and stunned silence.
But as Madrid kicked off again, the crowd roared with support.
They hadn't given up hope.
Still—everyone could see it.
Lewandowski's goal had all but killed the tie.
Madrid had lost 1–3 in the first leg.
Now, they were losing 1–2 at home.
Aggregate: 2–5.
Even if they scored three more to level at 5–5,
they'd still lose—
the Bayswater Chinese had two away goals.
So if Madrid wanted to advance,
they'd need to score four without conceding.
Against this team?
Impossible. Everyone knew it.
When the second goal went in, Mourinho didn't overreact.
He'd clearly braced for this.
He had exploded with joy after Ronaldo's opener.
Now? He was strangely calm.
Perhaps the full-strength squad he sent to Camp Nou had already told the story.
He knew this semifinal was likely lost.
Maybe, had it been any other opponent, he would've fought to the end.
But not against Yang Cheng's side—
not this season.
The Bayswater Chinese were simply too strong.
By the 24th minute, Mourinho had his answer.
And so, he made the switch.
He tightened up defensively.
Starting with Lass Diarra, Khedira, and Xabi Alonso—three defensive midfielders—
his plan had always leaned conservative.
That early press?
It was just an ambush—
to try to shock the visitors before they settled.
And it worked—for one goal.
But Madrid pushed too hard, too soon.
They got greedy.
The Bayswater Chinese responded,
and in just 24 minutes, turned the match on its head.
Madrid's fate was sealed.
…
If the first half-hour had been a thrilling end-to-end spectacle,
the remaining sixty minutes, including the entire second half, felt far more subdued.
Madrid had lost their spirit.
For them, the match ended with Lewandowski's second goal.
The only thing keeping them going was the 70,000+ fans at the Bernabéu.
But it was clear—they were playing out the string.
There was no miracle coming.
Why burn energy on an impossible comeback?
Better to conserve for the league.
As for the Bayswater Chinese?
They were content to manage the match.
A 2–1 away win was more than enough.
With a three-goal aggregate lead, Yang Cheng and his squad were comfortable.
So the game slowed to a crawl.
The lone highlight in the second half came when Hazard, brought on as a sub,
danced past four Madrid defenders down the left flank,
linked up with Giroud in a brilliant one-two,
and broke into the box for a shot—
only for Casillas to save it.
There were two "4-man dribbles" in this match:
In the first half, Gareth Bale's effort was all about explosive pace.In the second, Hazard's run showcased agility, close control, and balance.
After two to three years of development under Yang Cheng,
Hazard had matured into a true star—earning the nickname "the Premier League Messi."
His technique and dribbling ability were on full display tonight.
So much so that Zinedine Zidane, watching from the Bernabéu stands, stood up in excitement.
"Eden Hazard!"
Zidane pointed to the player in red, turning to Florentino Pérez.
"He's a genius.
We should sign him."
"At any cost."
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 40 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Canserbero10