Dortmund won!
With goals from Reus in the 28th minute and Lewandowski in the 77th minute, Dortmund defeated Porto 2-0 and claimed a crucial victory.
After this win, the entire situation in Group D changed dramatically.
Dortmund sits at the top of the group with 9 points, with three wins and one loss from four games.
Manchester City has two wins, one draw, and one loss from four games, earning 7 points and placing second.
Real Madrid has one win, one draw, and two losses from four games, with only 4 points, ranking third.
Porto, with one win and three losses from four games, has just 3 points and is at the bottom of the group.
Judging from the current situation, it is hard to say who will ultimately progress, but it is obvious that Real Madrid and Porto are in a very dangerous position.
Dortmund is in the most favorable position.
In the remaining two rounds, Dortmund only needs a draw to advance safely.
If Manchester City wants to qualify, they must win at least one of their last two group matches.
Real Madrid's situation is very dangerous. To advance, they must not only win both of their remaining group matches but also depend on the results of Manchester City and Dortmund.
This kind of situation is very rare for Gao Shen.
He hates the feeling of having to rely on others for his own fate.
He especially dislikes this type of situation where you have to calculate how to qualify or rely on various conditions to secure qualification.
But now, the reality is right in front of him.
…
On the team's flight back to Madrid from Manchester Airport, Gao Shen looked at the data Carlos Vargas had organized for him before departure, his mind filled with thoughts of analyzing the current group situation and predicting the next two rounds of group matches.
Real Madrid's position is indeed very dangerous, almost pushed to the edge of a cliff.
But as Gao Shen had just said at the post-match press conference, this could also be an opportunity for Real Madrid.
It is a chance to let everyone put aside their prejudices, burdens, and barriers, and fight together for group qualification!
This is Real Madrid's only way forward now.
After the plane climbed into the stratosphere and stabilized, Gao Shen unbuckled his seat belt and stood up.
This was Real Madrid's charter flight.
Apart from the flight attendants, everyone on the plane was from Real Madrid.
Everyone was clearly surprised to see Gao Shen stand up, and they all looked up at him.
Several players who were dozing with eye masks, resting with eyes closed, or listening to music were nudged awake by their teammates.
Everyone guessed that the head coach had something to say.
Gao Shen carefully considered his words, looked at the players in front of him, and asked a question.
"Do you miss the taste of the Champions League knockout stage?"
The sudden question made the cabin fall silent.
Do you miss the feeling of the knockout stage?
Of course!
Every player who can come to Real Madrid comes from a strong background.
Even a young talent like Casemiro had played for a top team in Brazil.
Everyone here had either come from major powerhouse clubs, been a core player at a top-tier club, or grown up through Real Madrid's youth system.
Regardless of whether they had achieved results in the Champions League before or played in its knockout stages, at this moment, facing their coach's question, they all fell silent.
They all missed it, or longed for, the Champions League knockout stage!
Real Madrid's consecutive eliminations in the group stage had dealt a heavy blow to their ambitions and even dampened the fighting spirit of many.
"Do you still remember the goals or dreams you set for yourself when you joined Real Madrid?"
The only sound in the cabin was Gao Shen's firm voice.
The flight attendants stood far away, not daring to move or speak.
When had they ever seen these Real Madrid superstars at a loss for words in front of the head coach?
Gao Shen did not even raise his voice. With just two questions, he completely took control of the entire atmosphere.
"When you came to Real Madrid, you must have had great ambitions. You must have wanted to make a name for yourself here, to prove yourself, and even to leave your mark in the history of European football, not just here at Real Madrid, right?"
"Have you ever thought that things would end up like this?"
The words struck every Real Madrid player with clarity.
"I just reviewed the current situation of the group, and our situation is not optimistic."
There was no need for details. After learning Dortmund's result, the players already understood the group standings.
"We must win our last two group matches. One is against Borussia Dortmund, who are currently top of the group, and the other is away at Porto. Both matches are extremely tough."
Porto's Estádio do Dragão is where Manchester City failed.
The Real Madrid players are very clear about Manchester City's strength. If Manchester City failed there, how difficult would that away match be?
"I don't know what you are thinking right now. I don't know if you are scared, regretful, complaining, or…"
"But none of that matters anymore."
"Now, there is only one path ahead of us, and that is to win these last two group matches."
Even though everyone knew this already, when Gao Shen said it, it felt even more certain and clear.
"I know we still have many problems to fix, many shortcomings to address, and even conflicts to resolve, but none of that matters right now."
"What matters now, the only thing that matters for us and for Real Madrid, is qualifying from this damn group!"
"If we fail to qualify, next season we will still be a third-seeded team and will face another group of death."
"If we fail to qualify, we will be mocked by countless people."
"If we fail to qualify, everyone here will suffer a huge loss and be left with regrets that will be hard to erase."
For any Real Madrid player, missing out on the Champions League means losing a huge amount of income.
It's not just about the appearance fee, but also the Champions League bonuses.
For any club, the Champions League is the most lucrative competition and also the one that provides the greatest rewards and motivation for players.
There is no reason, whether for public or personal reasons, to accept being eliminated in the group stage again.
"What I want to tell you is that it's not too late. We still have a chance."
Gao Shen stood in front of the players. He was not agitated. Instead, he spoke calmly, as if he was simply stating a fact, his words carrying his confidence.
Everyone who heard him naturally began to feel trust in him.
Real Madrid still has a chance!
"In 2006, that was my first time as a head coach. The first team I managed was Real Madrid, a team with a terrible record. My first match as a coach was the Madrid derby, a very brutal game. My first Champions League match as a coach was at Highbury, against an Arsenal team that was arguably at its strongest in history."
"I was just as confused back then. The Real Madrid players were completely overwhelmed by their opponents. They were far behind Barcelona in the league and had lost to Arsenal in the first leg of the Champions League at the Bernabeu. How were they supposed to play?"
"Everyone had lost confidence: the media, the fans, the management, even the players in the locker room had lost faith."
"I told them at that time that when we are uncertain about the future, we shouldn't overthink things. Instead, we should focus on every training session, focus on every single match, and treat every match as if it were the last."
"Many people have asked me how Real Madrid managed to do it back then."
"Juanito spirit?"
"You must remember that it is you who create and embody the Juanito spirit!"
"Real Madrid clawed their way out of the mud by winning one game after another, victory after victory!"
"Later, whether in Naples or Manchester City, I told my players that we should never take chances and never expect anyone else to help us."
"Remember, the only ones who can help us, who can save us, and who we can rely on are always ourselves!"
The players were clearly moved by Gao Shen's words.
"Now, we are once again standing on the edge of a cliff, just like when I took over Real Madrid in 2006, or even worse than back then. That Real Madrid team had players who might have been your idols, predecessors you looked up to, and even your coach."
Zidane's expression was serious as he nodded firmly.
"But now, what I want to ask you is this: Are you going to be like that Real Madrid team, struggling and clawing your way out of the mire to create a world of your own? Or are you going to continue sinking?"
"It doesn't depend on the opponent. It doesn't depend on the schedule. It doesn't even depend on me. It depends on you!"
"Hero, or bear?"
Gao Shen's words clearly touched the Real Madrid players.
This situation is indeed similar to what happened in 2006, or perhaps even worse.
At least, Real Madrid didn't stop at the group stage back then.
If Real Madrid is eliminated in the group stage again this season, all of them will become laughingstocks.
The term "Royal Circus" is a mockery and humiliation to them.
"I am not going to give up!" Gao Shen said firmly. "Giving up does not exist in my vocabulary, and it has never existed in the teams I coach."
"There was none in the past, there is none now, and there will be none in the future!"
"What I want to tell you is that no matter what you choose, I will keep going!"
"I will prove with facts that what I was able to do in 2006, I can do again now, and even better!"
"I will once again prove to you and to everyone that Real Madrid is still the strongest team in the world!"
"And in this strongest team, we only accept and welcome players who share our ideals!"
"I hope you all think about this carefully, and I sincerely hope that you will stand with me!"
(To be continued.)