Chapter 219: The Greatest Comeback in Premier League History! Gareth Bale Takes Flight at the Bernabéu
"You see? I told you, Bruno!"
As Hazard stood by the touchline, ready to come on, Ancelotti turned to his assistant staff at the away bench, throwing up his hands in exasperation.
He'd seen it coming, but there was nothing he could do.
This was Yang Cheng's trap laid in plain sight.
"This kid's got depth in every position and an endless bag of tactical tricks. He always starts with one strategy to wear you down, force mistakes. If it works, great. If it doesn't—he pulls out something new."
He nodded toward Hazard.
"These last 80 minutes? He's been dragging us into a war of attrition. Now, he's pulled out the hidden dagger."
Bruno Demichelis gave a helpless smile.
That was the most frustrating part about facing Bayswater China.
Everyone knew they were a nightmare to deal with.
Back then, they were just young and raw.
But now? The players had grown.
Forget Bale and Walcott—even Hazard would be a nailed-on starter at any other Premier League club.
Rumors floated around about Yang Cheng keeping a personal scouting list—a database of known and undiscovered world-class talents.
No one had ever seen this list.
No one even knew who was on it.
What was certain: Yang Cheng had his own method for unearthing young players.
So much so that institutions like Loughborough University and the German Sport University in Cologne had even opened courses trying to reverse-engineer his methodology—hoping to crack the code behind his success.
And in Europe?
It was wildly popular.
Ancelotti could only shake his head and walk over to the touchline to alert his defenders:
"Watch Hazard. Be careful when he's on the ball."
This "Belgian Messi" really did look a lot like Messi.
...
Every player has their own playing style.
Something formed naturally over years of growing up with the game—tied to their physique, their instincts.
Some like to pause when receiving the ball—take a moment, observe, then act.
Others decide what to do before they even receive it.
Some are born dribblers. Others treat the ball like a hot potato.
In attacking situations? Everyone's approach is different.
Gareth Bale likes to read his defender.
He studied that from Thierry Henry—another left-wing predator.
Henry always observed before making his move, watching the defender's body language before attacking.
And like Henry, Bale didn't fear physical battles.
His athleticism meant he could at least match any full-back or even center-back physically—then crush them with pace.
Walcott, on the other hand, avoided contact altogether.
The moment someone bumped him, he'd go down.
His slender frame didn't help.
Di María was the dribbler's dribbler. He loved beating defenders—but didn't care much for finishing.
According to him, he just loved that rhythm—that sway of the hips, the glide past opponents.
But Hazard? Hazard was different.
Yes, he watched defenders. But he didn't react to them.
He never played off the defender. He played off his own rhythm.
He went by feel.
When he joined Bayswater China, Bryan Kidd warned him:
"Feel is unreliable. You never know when it disappears."
The coaching staff wanted to help him develop a structured method—a personal playing system.
Even Messi, early on, played purely on feel.
But gradually, he changed.
He didn't abandon his instincts—but he learned when and how to unleash them.
Robben, for instance, always sought his signature cut-in from the right.
Di María also played on the right and had once scored a screamer—but he could never quite recreate that silky left-footed curler again.
Top players needed to capture that feeling—and reproduce it consistently.
For Hazard, that was tough.
He had always played on feel.
Everyone who saw him play said the same: his talent was absurd, his intuition sharp.
Especially when receiving the ball.
Unlike Bale, Di María, or Walcott—who loved space—Hazard loved defenders being right on top of him.
He liked being touched.
A hand on his back, a brush of the shoulder—any contact.
That was his trigger.
When he felt a defender's body—his instincts took over.
Like in the 87th minute of this match at Wembley.
Bayswater China had reset, recycling the ball back to midfield, some 30 meters from goal.
City's defense reorganized and pushed up.
Hazard and the front three dropped back with them.
Officially, he was playing the No.10 role. But in truth—he was a free man.
He liked drifting into Gareth Barry's zone.
Pirlo usually sat deeper.
The ball rotated through a few players and reached Modrić, positioned at the center-right circle inside City's half.
Hazard knew instantly: it was coming to him.
He reached back—his left hand touched Gareth Barry's chest, still hot with breath.
Barry slapped his hand away.
"Get your hand off, mate!"
But Hazard had felt it.
The heat. The presence. The nearness.
So as Modrić began to move with the ball, Hazard dropped back—hand raised, calling for it.
Step 1: Modrić got the message.
Step 2: Barry stuck to him, closing in.
Step 3: The ball arrived.
Hazard stepped out with his left foot, giving the impression he'd use his stronger right to push the ball left.
Everyone who'd scouted him knew—he favored his right.
Barry took the bait, leaning to cut off the left.
But Hazard didn't touch the ball.
He let it roll between his feet—then, using the inside of his right foot, tapped it across his body—through the gap.
The ball slid perfectly into the open space between him and Barry, to the right front zone.
Hazard turned on a dime, gliding into the space he'd just created.
Barry was done.
By the time the England international realized it and turned, Hazard was already gone.
No hesitation.
No calculation.
Just pure instinct.
Hazard himself couldn't explain why he did it.
He just knew—
It would work.
It was a feeling Hazard had developed from years of playing football—a natural instinct honed over time.
After gliding past Gareth Barry, he carried the ball forward, accelerating to the edge of the penalty area arc.
No one had expected Barry to be beaten so cleanly.
Pirlo rushed up to cover, but Hazard was already at full speed. With a sudden stop and explosive restart, he used the simplest yet most effective tempo shift to blow past Pirlo as well.
Lucio charged out of the box to intervene, but Hazard reacted quicker, sending a diagonal through ball toward the lower left edge of the six-yard box.
Gareth Bale sprinted in, shaking off Micah Richards and meeting the pass with a delicate left-footed chip to the center.
Lewandowski bent low, diving in with a header to redirect Bale's assist into the bottom right corner of the goal.
Joe Hart had just shifted his weight left—he had no chance.
5–4!
Lewandowski collapsed face-down inside City's six-yard box, pounding the turf in joy.
The entire Wembley Stadium erupted in thunderous cheers—more than 90,000 fans roaring in unison.
"What a goal!"
"A magnificent team move from Bayswater China!"
"Hazard, coming off the bench, has made another game-changing contribution!"
"The Belgian Messi, once again playing the role of the super-sub, breaks the deadlock with his dazzling footwork."
"From the moment he spun past Gareth Barry, City's backline fell apart."
"And just look at that slow-motion replay—pure finesse, tight control, sensational technique!"
"Tonight, Wembley hosted a true goal-fest!"
"A 5–4 scoreline in a top-of-the-table Premier League clash—absolutely unforgettable!"
"Who would've guessed it all started with a fluke goal in the third minute?"
"Not even Yang Cheng or Ancelotti could've predicted this."
"But that's the beauty of football!"
...
Bayswater China's 5–4 home win over Manchester City sent shockwaves across the football world.
No one had imagined two top Premier League sides would deliver such a thrilling, back-and-forth match.
Both teams held nothing back.
The Times put it best:
"That early, unexpected goal opened the floodgates."
England's two most powerful clubs delivered a world-class battle of offense, leaving fans worldwide speechless with excitement.
But what stood out the most was Hazard's dazzling run as a substitute.
Ghosting past Gareth Barry like he was a traffic cone was one thing—but following it up by dropping Pirlo with a simple change of pace? That was another level.
The Belgian had already shown flashes of brilliance from the bench before, but this was different.
As The Guardian put it:
"The Premier League's own Messi once again proved his quality and tactical value."
At the post-match press conference, Yang Cheng publicly praised Hazard, stating that he was capable of playing anywhere in the front line, extremely versatile, and that his feet were "nothing short of magical."
"He's a truly unique player."
Yang Cheng also emphasized that Hazard was becoming a vital part of the team.
"He's beginning to unlock his immense potential—but there's still so much more to come."
With the win over City, Bayswater China remained unbeaten through 25 rounds.
The only unbeaten team left across Europe's top five leagues.
Yang Cheng expressed his pride but passed the credit on to his players.
The 5–4 thriller had captivated fans around the globe.
Tactically, the Premier League was diverse—but matches like this one? Rare.
Bayswater China had long been known as the league's most entertaining side—this season alone, they had already delivered two classics: 9–1 and now 5–4.
Their reputation among global fans had never been higher.
Meanwhile, the rest of the Premier League wrapped up their matches.
Arsenal came from behind to beat Everton 2–1 at home, with quick-fire goals from Arshavin and Koscielny.Chelsea came back from a 0–1 deficit to beat Sunderland 4–2 away.Manchester United beat Aston Villa 3–1 at Old Trafford.
Though David Luiz had joined, he wasn't in the squad yet. Ferguson claimed the Brazilian would raise United's defensive level.Liverpool beat Stoke 2–0 at home.
After 25 rounds:
Bayswater China: 71 pointsManchester City: 60 pointsArsenal: 57 pointsLiverpool: 55 pointsManchester United: 48 pointsChelsea: 44 points
With February beginning, the title race was essentially settled.
The only remaining suspense was whether Manchester United could claw back into the top four.
Ferguson was confident—especially after signing David Luiz.
But with a 7-point gap, many still had doubts.
And the cost of their all-out clash with City?
It showed up just days later.
...
Three days later – Premier League Matchday 26:
Bayswater China suffered a shock 0–1 away loss to West Ham—their first loss of the season.Manchester City beat West Brom 3–0 at home.Manchester United led away to Wolves, but still lost 1–2.
David Luiz made his debut, partnering Vidić—but the pair showed little chemistry.Liverpool won 1–0 away to Chelsea, thanks to a goal from Raúl Meireles.
Chelsea's record in big matches this season? Terrible.
But the most dramatic match of the round?
Arsenal's total collapse at St. James' Park.
The Gunners went up 1–0 in the first minute, added goals in the 3rd and 10th, and by the 26th minute, they were 4–0 up.
Everyone thought it was over.
But Diaby's red card shattered the dream.
Newcastle were awarded two penalties, and by the 87th minute, they had tied the match.
4–4.
Just when it looked like the match would end in a draw, in the 91st minute, Kevin Nolan fired a screamer into the top corner.
5–4!
An unbelievable comeback!
Arsenal launched one last attack.
In the 94th minute, Fàbregas threaded a perfect ball to van Persie, who dinked it into the net.
But the flag was up—offside.
Arsenal protested furiously.
Wilshere even picked up a yellow for dissent.
Final score: Newcastle 5–4 Arsenal.
The Magpies had pulled off a historic comeback.
From 4–0 down to 5–4 winners—a miracle at St. James' Park.
As the final whistle blew, Newcastle head coach Alan Pardew sprinted out onto the pitch, shouting with wild abandon toward the Magpies fans in the stands—completely unhinged!
In contrast, Arsenal looked utterly crushed.
The swagger they'd shown in the first half had completely vanished, replaced with despair and chaos in the second.
At the post-match press conference, Wenger publicly questioned the two penalty calls. But the media weren't having it.
"Milan 2005 Reborn!"
"A Premier League Humiliation Not Seen in a Century!"
"The Most Embarrassing Match of Wenger's Career!"
Headlines across England eviscerated Arsenal and their manager, calling it a devastating blow to the team's morale and confidence.
"With performances like this, Wenger's team can forget about ever winning the title."
The Telegraph sniped:
"A glorious comeback. Newcastle fans gave Arsenal a standing ovation… as they walked off in shame."
The Sun boldly declared:
"The Greatest Comeback in Premier League History!"
All fingers pointed at Wenger.
Even with the red card, and even with a man down, leading by four goals?
A more conservative approach would've sealed the win.
There was no excuse for letting Newcastle run riot.
Every goal had come from rapid-fire counters.
So why did Wenger insist on sticking to his style?
Was it conviction?
No. It was foolishness.
Matchday 26 in the Premier League ended with 44 goals across 10 matches.
European media reacted with awe.
The Premier League's playing style was becoming more open, aggressive, and exhilarating.
...
One week later, Premier League Matchday 27.
With a midweek trip to the Santiago Bernabéu looming, Yang Cheng rotated the squad.
At home against Stoke City, Bayswater China dominated the entire match, but didn't break through until the 91st minute, when Giroud scored the winner.
1–0.
Manchester United hosted Manchester City at Old Trafford, and thanks to goals from Nani and Rooney, won 2–1.
David Silva scored for the Blues.
Ferguson's biggest tweak?
John O'Shea returned, and David Luiz started alongside Vidić at center-back.
Midfield: De Rossi and Carrick as the double pivot.
Scholes played as the 10.
It was a hybrid of a 4-2-3-1 and a 4-3-3.
Post-match, Ferguson confidently declared:
"United are ready to fight back into the top four."
Arsenal, still reeling from the previous week's collapse, bounced back quickly.
Van Persie scored a brace in a 2–0 win over Wolves at home.
Liverpool beat Wigan 2–1 at Anfield.
Chelsea were the only top team to drop points—0–0 away at Fulham.
...
February 15, evening – Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid.
Champions League Round of 16, First Leg: Real Madrid vs. Bayswater China.
As Yang Cheng emerged from the tunnel and stepped into the Bernabéu, he was met with a tsunami of boos, deafening and relentless.
At the tunnel, Mourinho couldn't help but laugh.
"Everyone says I'm the most hated coach in football. They're wrong. Outside of your own fans, nobody likes you."
"You're the real villain."
Yang Cheng shrugged, unfazed by Mourinho's smug grin, which looked as if he'd already scored a goal before kickoff.
They shook hands and hugged—cordial as always.
It had been a while.
"Without you in the Premier League, life's gotten dull. Just look at Chelsea this season—miserable."
Mourinho's face flickered with mixed emotion.
Yes, Chelsea's downfall proved how irreplaceable he'd been.
No manager since had matched his success.
But it was also painful—his once-dominant team was crumbling.
"I'm ready to return to Wembley. Tonight, I'm here to avenge Chelsea." Mourinho grinned.
This year's Champions League final would be held at Wembley.
Yang Cheng and his squad were equally ambitious—they wanted the title too.
"You'll have to get through us first. But as it stands—you're not strong enough."
"We'll see soon enough," Mourinho replied coolly.
With that, they parted ways and returned to their respective benches.
Both teams took the field.
Real Madrid lined up in a 4-3-3:
Goalkeeper: Casillas
Defense: Coentrão, Ramos, Carvalho, Maicon
Midfield: Lass Diarra, Xabi Alonso, Khedira
Attack: Cristiano Ronaldo, Džeko, Özil
This was clearly the best XI Mourinho could muster.
Bayswater China responded with their strongest lineup:
Goalkeeper: Courtois
Defense: Marcelo, Thiago Silva, Pepe, Piszczek
Midfield: Matić (DM), Kroos, Modrić
Attack: Gareth Bale, Lewandowski, Di María
Walcott was out injured and didn't travel to Spain.
Both sides—absolutely stacked with stars.
...
When German referee Wolfgang Stark blew the opening whistle, it was Bayswater China who launched the first attack.
Madrid had clearly expected this and focused on maintaining their defensive shape.
Mourinho's team played aggressively—grabbing, fouling, pressing hard.
If they could get away with it, they took full advantage.
Bodies hit the ground again and again.
3rd minute:
Toni Kroos let fly from 25 meters—a stunner.
Casillas pulled off a brilliant save, tipping the shot just wide of the right post.
"That was a rocket from Kroos!"
"He's been named the Premier League's Best Signing of the Season by British media!"
Madrid responded quickly.
5th minute:
Džeko dropped deep, laid it off to Cristiano Ronaldo.
CR7 shimmied past Matić, and fired a rocket of his own—well over the bar.
Still, it showed Madrid's intent.
As Mourinho had said:
"At the Bernabéu, we will not surrender."
...
From the start, the match was played at a furious pace.
Yang Cheng's intent was clear: grab an away goal—maybe even win.
Madrid, with their triple pivot midfield, focused on holding firm at the back.
But when they transitioned, their counters were sharp and decisive.
Especially with those three stars up front…
After two full seasons of building chemistry, it was clear that Džeko and Cristiano Ronaldo had developed a well-balanced partnership.
The Bosnian striker handled the hold-up play and distribution, while CR7 maximized his speed and explosiveness.
Tactically, it somewhat limited Džeko's personal goal tally—but it elevated his strategic value to the team.
And it freed up Ronaldo.
That's why, this season in La Liga, both Cristiano and Messi were on a tear—scoring at will, completely unstoppable.
Behind them, the ever-calm Mesut Özil, Real Madrid's "dead-fish eyes," played the connector—always ready with the final pass.
Mourinho's tactics remained the same: get through midfield quickly, hit the forward pass immediately after winning the ball, and strike on the break whenever possible.
If the counter wasn't on? Then look for Džeko.
It was exactly the same approach he'd used at Chelsea.
But at Real Madrid, those counters were even faster, sharper, and more precise.
After all, the players were in a different league.
However, when the match began, Madrid's players—and the Bernabéu crowd—quickly realized that under the relentless press of Bayswater China, their counters weren't nearly as threatening as usual.
The perfect example came in the 15th minute.
Real Madrid launched a counterattack, with Özil receiving the ball on the right edge of the attacking third.
But instead of feeding an onrushing Cristiano—who had made a brilliant run—he hesitated.
That gave Matić time to read the play and intercept.
Ronaldo threw up his hands, gesturing in frustration.
"You should've passed earlier!" he seemed to be yelling.
Özil, for his part, simply pointed at Toni Kroos, indicating that he had been disrupted when the German stepped up to press.
And in that moment of adjustment, Matić had closed him down.
"Bayswater China have come out playing their most familiar and aggressive high press."
"They've already taken 4 shots in the first 10 minutes."
"In the opening 15 minutes, they've held a staggering 73% of possession—utter dominance."
"Real Madrid's counterattacks have amounted to just a single shot—that early long-range effort from Ronaldo."
...
After the initial onslaught failed to produce a goal, Bayswater China eased their tempo slightly.
That allowed Madrid to breathe a little.
But they didn't dare relax.
18th minute:
Di María picked up the ball on the right wing, directly facing Coentrão.
The Argentine danced with the ball, feinting with both feet and shifting his body constantly.
When Coentrão stepped in, Di María exploded—touching the ball with his left and sprinting down the line.
Just as he was about to break free, Coentrão tugged him from behind.
The winger went sprawling to the turf just outside Madrid's penalty area on the right side.
Free kick for Bayswater China.
Mourinho looked anxious.
He had warned the team before the match—don't give away set pieces near the box.
Didn't they know who they were playing?
"Focus! Mark tighter!" he shouted from the sideline, ignoring his fellow Portuguese's mistake.
The Bernabéu crowd roared, urging their players on.
This match was nerve-wracking—too intense.
Bayswater China's reputation preceded them. Their strength had Real Madrid treating them like a final boss.
Modrić stepped up to take the free kick.
His delivery was perfect—but Pepe's header drifted just wide.
Still, it was enough to send a shiver down Madrid's spine.
Mourinho ran to the sideline to relay instructions to Xabi Alonso, telling him to remind everyone: don't foul near the box.
Coentrão raised his hand in acknowledgment—he'd gotten the message.
But what else could he have done?
Let Di María pass? The Argentine might favor his left foot, but his reverse footwork was no joke.
He'd whipped in plenty of right-footed crosses in the past.
Inside the box, Carvalho and Ramos were Madrid's center-backs—but neither was particularly tall.
Albiol and Bruno Alves—their towering options—weren't even in the squad.
So Coentrão had felt he had no choice but to foul.
...
"Bayswater China just keeps getting stronger. They're arguably the best team in Europe right now."
"Maybe even stronger than Barça," said Zidane, watching from the VIP box at the Bernabéu.
"Not just that—I actually think they're better than Barcelona," added Valdano.
Zidane, Florentino Pérez, and José Ángel Sánchez all turned to him in surprise.
Had he gone too far?
"Barça's defense is fragile. Their whole structure sacrifices defensive integrity for possession."
"But Bayswater China? They're balanced—attacking and defending with equal strength."
"Especially after signing Toni Kroos. Their attack has gained so many new layers."
Zidane nodded.
"Bayswater China and Barça represent two distinct philosophies. One plays with speed and movement. The other holds the ball, passes endlessly, and waits to create gaps—and they've got Messi."
"Honestly, I'd love to see them go head-to-head."
Florentino, however, wasn't amused.
He cleared his throat heavily, a reminder to the two men beside him:
You're not fans anymore. You're Real Madrid executives now.
Keep these opinions between us—if the media or fans caught wind of this, I won't be able to protect you.
Zidane and Valdano both looked sheepish.
Just then, on the pitch, Di María once again challenged down the right, beating Coentrão with a burst of pace and cutting inside toward the box.
But Xabi Alonso slid in, making a clean tackle to snuff out the danger.
The Bernabéu applauded Alonso loudly.
"Strange… Di María's been very lively on the right—but Bale on the left has been oddly quiet," Zidane observed.
Everyone noticed.
Facing Maicon on the right, Bale should've had the upper hand.
Why so muted?
Was he just off form tonight?
Florentino Pérez paid special attention to Gareth Bale.
The Welshman had risen too fast—he was now a bonafide A-list European star.
Florentino was even imagining:
If we could sign Bale, pair him with Ronaldo on the wings, and put Džeko up front… our attack would be unstoppable.
So when Zidane pointed it out, the president also began to focus on Bale.
At that moment, Madrid launched another counterattack.
Bale tracked all the way back to help defend outside his own penalty area.
That kind of work rate impressed Florentino even more.
This is the kind of star who belongs at Real Madrid!
...
Madrid's counter ended with Özil chipping a ball from the right, aiming for the far post and Ronaldo.
But Courtois came off his line, leapt, and snatched it out of the air before CR7 could get there.
But that pass had intent behind it, and the knowledgeable fans at the Bernabéu recognized it—bursting into a round of sincere applause.
As the applause still echoed throughout the stadium, Courtois clutched the ball tightly, jogged to the edge of the penalty area, and, just as he was about to cross the line, launched a powerful throw down the left flank—right into Gareth Bale's path.
The Welshman turned his head, saw the ball coming, and without hesitation, accelerated.
Sami Khedira sensed danger immediately—especially when he noticed Mesut Özil hadn't tracked back—so he scrambled inward to cover and chase.
Bale caught up with the ball, knocking it ahead in massive strides, building more and more speed.
The nightmare of last season's match at the Bernabéu was repeating itself!
The 70,000+ Real Madrid fans in the stadium went from cheering to gasping in fear.
Cries echoed around the stadium:
"Stop him!"
Even Mourinho on the touchline flinched.
Because Bayswater China were attacking from right to left, Bale's run came right under his nose—blazing down the sideline like a storm.
"Damn it! Our defensive line was too high on that counter!" Mourinho cursed.
Bale tore past him like a gust of wind.
But just as he approached Madrid's final third, Xabi Alonso charged in from the side with a thunderous slide tackle, throwing his entire body into Bale's path.
Bale tried to flick the ball over him, but Alonso came in too fast, too suddenly—it deflected out for a throw-in.
The referee awarded a Bayswater China throw.
Xabi Alonso earned massive applause from the home fans.
That was close—too close.
Bale's speed was terrifying.
Alonso jogged back toward the middle, rallying his teammates with loud shouts to lift morale.
But before Madrid's players could even reset, Gareth Bale was already on the sideline, both feet planted, gripping the ball overhead.
Without waiting, he hurled it with full strength toward Real Madrid's box.
The nerves that had just settled immediately tensed again.
Gasps rang out.
Bale's throw was a cannon—a flat missile hurled straight into the penalty area.
Madrid's backline had barely regrouped from the last counterattack.
Lewandowski burst forward, sprinting from the top of the arc into the box.
At the left side of the penalty spot, behind Carvalho, he leapt, chested the ball down, landed, held off Sergio Ramos with his shoulder, and smashed a left-footed shot.
Casillas reacted instantly, diving across goal.
But the shot came too fast. Too sudden.
The ball slammed into the back of the net.
GOAL!!!!
"29th minute—Bayswater China take the lead at the Bernabéu!"
"What a counterattack!"
"Bale's sprint was stopped by Xabi Alonso, but the Welshman launched a lightning-quick throw-in, finding Lewandowski, who turned and fired it home!"
"1–0!"
As boos rained down, Lewandowski sprinted off in celebration, while Bale raced down the left sideline. The two met near the corner flag, roaring in triumph.
Madrid's players froze—then exploded in protest, arguing that the throw-in was illegal.
But German referee Wolfgang Stark firmly signaled: Goal stands!
More furious boos erupted.
"Real Madrid's backline got sloppy."
"They forgot—Bale trained as a left-back in Southampton. Long throw-ins are a standard skill for full-backs."
"Since joining Bayswater China, he's been converted to a winger, and people tend to overlook his roots."
"That lapse in focus cost them dearly."
"1–0 to Bayswater China in the 29th minute!"
"Bale may not have scored, but his blistering run and world-class throw directly set up Lewandowski's goal."
"Let's watch the replay—look at the power and precision of that throw. Honestly, Bale might be an attacking genius, but he's a throw-in master too!"
...
The sudden goal shocked Real Madrid.
But more than the goal—it was how it happened.
They'd been unable to break through, and then got caught by a throw-in?
It was deeply frustrating.
Even though Bale's sprint didn't lead to a shot, it still created the opportunity—and it fired up Bayswater China.
But Real Madrid weren't going to fold.
After the kickoff, they launched an all-out assault.
They couldn't afford another humiliation like last season—not at the Bernabéu.
But just as they began to press forward, Bayswater China stole the ball on the edge of their own box.
Marcelo spun away from Özil and passed to Kroos.
The German turned and played a diagonal ball down the left wing.
Bale took off—again.
He left Maicon in the dust, exploding past the halfway line.
And again—in almost the exact same spot as before—he was met by a sliding challenge.
This time it was Carvalho, playing the covering role that Alonso had earlier.
But Bale had learned.
He accelerated even more.
He knocked the ball ahead toward the left edge of the box, sidestepped the challenge, and kept running.
The entire stadium froze.
That speed—that power—even Real Madrid fans were breaking into goosebumps.
"Gareth Bale is flying…" the commentator gasped.
Bale caught up to the ball near the corner of the box, slowed down slightly, waited for Lewandowski and Di María to catch up, and whipped in a curling cross with his left.
Di María arrived at the back post, darting in and nodding the ball into the far corner.
2–0!
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