Three-all!
Real Madrid drew Liverpool at the Bernabéu!
Before kickoff, no Madridista would have been satisfied with this result.
But only those who watched the match could understand how hard Real Madrid had fought.
This was their first real test against a top-tier opponent since changing formations in the second half of the season.
For Liverpool, however, the result was more than acceptable.
They now had three away goals.
Returning to Anfield, they needed only a draw to eliminate Real Madrid and book their spot in the Champions League quarterfinals.
And Real Madrid… carried the so-called "Champions League Curse."
Since the 1998-1999 season, they had acquired a bizarre trait—almost a law.
It was known as the Real Madrid Champions League Knockout Curse.
The rule was simple: any team that eliminated Real Madrid from the Champions League would inevitably reach the final.
In 1999-2000, Bayern Munich beat Real Madrid in the semifinals, reached the final, and lifted the trophy.
In 2000-2001, Juventus defeated Real Madrid in the semifinals, advanced to the final, and finished as runners-up.
In 2001-2002, no team knocked Real Madrid out—so they became champions.
What's that?
You say Real Madrid were already in the semifinals, so of course beating them meant reaching the final?
Fair point.
But in 2002-2003, Monaco beat Real Madrid in the quarterfinals, then knocked out Chelsea to reach the final, where they narrowly lost to Porto.
And last season, 2004-2005, Real Madrid reached the quarterfinals under Su Hang and faced Liverpool.
But Su Hang was taken out by Barcelona before the tie, and Real Madrid were eliminated by Liverpool.
Liverpool went on to the final, staged the miracle of Istanbul, and came back against AC Milan to win the Champions League.
Five straight seasons—defeat Real Madrid, and you reach the final.
How could Liverpool not be excited?
This curse was their redemption for a disappointing Premier League campaign.
Real Madrid, forever the unlucky benefactors.
Real Madrid: Damn it all!
And so, this knockout match ended in a way that both sides could accept.
...
Sky Sports: "Liverpool draw 3-3 away to Real Madrid, taking control of the tie!"
The Times: "Su Hang hat trick not enough—Liverpool have one foot in the Champions League quarterfinals!"
BBC: "Su Hang proves his reputation! Real Madrid nothing special! Liverpool secure their quarterfinal spot early!"
AS: "Su Hang ends scoring drought with three goals in the Champions League knockout stage! Real Madrid's 11-match winning streak across all competitions broken by Liverpool!"
Marca: "The 4-3-1-2 formation gave Real Madrid defensive stability and strong attacking power through their stars, but while it raised the floor, it lowered the ceiling."
Gazzetta dello Sport: "Shevchenko leads the Champions League scoring chart with seven goals. Real Madrid captain Su Hang, world No.1 Ronaldinho, and Juventus striker Trezeguet follow with five each!"
France Football: "Henry, Eto'o, Kaká, Adriano, and Cruz all have four goals, tied for third in the scoring race!"
Bild: "Su Hang sets a new Champions League cannonball record! His 155 km/h rocket strike broke Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina's hand!"
Kicker: "Is the Real Madrid Curse about to strike again? Liverpool's chances of reaching the final have shot up!"
Clara's Column: "Su Hang sincerely apologizes to Pepe Reina: 'I never intended to hurt him. I hope he recovers quickly and makes the World Cup squad.'"
...
Yes—Pepe Reina was injured.
He managed to touch Su Hang's thunderbolt, but it barely changed the ball's path. Instead, it left him with a fractured left hand.
The diagnosis confirmed a minor break, requiring over a month of rest.
It wouldn't keep him out of the World Cup.
But it effectively ended his season with Liverpool.
Fortunately, Liverpool had not let go of Jerzy Dudek, their starting keeper from the previous season.
Now the "Dancing Dudek" was back between the posts.
It was Dudek, after all, who performed those famous penalty-saving moves in Istanbul and delivered Liverpool the trophy.
So Reina's injury wasn't seen as a disaster.
Some even thought Dudek might be better suited to the Champions League stage.
...
Real Madrid soon issued their own statement: Su Hang had sustained multiple soft-tissue bruises in the match against Liverpool, with risks of further aggravation.
As a result, he would miss the next two league matches and return only for the second leg against Liverpool.
The media supported the decision.
After all, Su Hang had pushed himself beyond his limits.
And this time, it was no exaggeration.
He wasn't faking an injury.
He wouldn't fake one this season.
Especially not in the second half.
This was the season almost entirely under his control.
The best hand he could ever play.
Because once this campaign ended, the Galácticos would be dismantled, and Real Madrid would enter a painful rebuild.
Zidane, Ronaldo, Figo, Baptista, Woodgate, Gravesen, García, Portillo, Soldado, Juanfran, Diogo…
All of them, whether aging superstars or Luxemburgo's South American clique, would be gone.
The club was about to undergo a complete teardown.
Whether Su Hang stayed or not, Real Madrid were destined to decline.
Fans might not see it yet.
But insiders—especially the board—were already preparing.
No matter the results this season, the outcome would not change.
Because the faction backing Florentino would lose its place in Spanish politics this year.
History has shown plenty of cases where external factors cripple a club and force a rebuild.
The most recent and notable example? Chelsea, who were sold and restructured after the 2022 "Bears vs Actors" conflict erupted.
In the face of politics, football is nothing.
Just pure entertainment.
...
"Ding! Your hat trick left Liverpool's players in awe. Xabi Alonso rewards you with the skill 'Low Pass.'"
"Low Pass: Player-level skill. Your long-pass speed increases."
Alonso—soon to become a Real Madrid player himself—was clearly investing early.
With Low Pass, Su Hang's long passing rose from 77 to 79.
Combined with his 81 short passing, 85 offensive awareness, Level 8 vision, Level 5 right foot, Level 3 left foot, Demon Knife Pass, and One-Touch Pass...
He could even run midfield for a smaller team!
Fans gave him the nickname: Little Zidane!
Zidane: You? Worthy of me?
Ahem.
February 26th, La Liga Round 25.
Real Madrid traveled to Mallorca.
Both of their main strikers—Ronaldo and Su Hang—missed the match.
...
(35 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / GhostParser