"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!"
"Just six minutes into the game, Real Madrid has taken the lead and broken through Dortmund's defense!"
"1-0!"
"Goal by Benzema!"
"That attack from Real Madrid down the right flank was incredibly dangerous. Although their initial attempt was blocked, they immediately regained possession and countered!"
"This is one of the major tactical adjustments brought in by Gao Shen. After losing the ball, Real Madrid doesn't retreat immediately, but counters aggressively right away."
"It's hard to say which defensive style is superior, but one clear difference is that under Gao Shen, Real Madrid plays with greater initiative and aggression."
"And that approach has just created a vital scoring opportunity."
"With the deadlock broken, Dortmund will be forced to play more proactively."
"We have every reason to believe that tonight's match will be a feast of attacking football."
"After Klopp's Dortmund knocked out Real Madrid in a crucial tie last season, repeating that success this year won't be easy."
"Because Real Madrid's head coach is no longer Mourinho. It's Gao Shen!"
…
The moment Benzema scored, Klopp's expression shifted from shock to disappointment.
He was stunned by the defensive mistake and frustrated at conceding the goal.
This wasn't just about falling behind—it was about losing control of the game.
"I knew it!"
Klopp shook his head as he walked back toward the visiting team's dugout. He glanced across at the home side's bench and saw Gao Shen already celebrating the goal with his coaching staff.
The German coach let out a heavy sigh. "This is the style he's best at. I've warned the players countless times, but something still went wrong."
A mistake is called a mistake because it's unpredictable.
If it were predictable, would it still be a mistake?
Who would've thought Sven Bender would try to head the ball to Schmelzer? Who could've expected Schmelzer's pass to Grosskreutz would get intercepted by Carvajal?
Just earlier, Carvajal had his ball blocked by Grosskreutz.
But now, the tide has turned.
The real problem was how quickly things unfolded.
Worse still, the error happened in Dortmund's own half.
"This is Gao Shen's specialty," Kravitz said, shaking his head. "It may look calm on the surface, but once there's an opening, his players pounce like a pack of hungry wolves."
Even if Schmelzer had successfully passed to Grosskreutz, Real Madrid's second wave had already arrived.
Modric, Xabi Alonso, and others would've immediately launched a press on the right flank, quickly establishing a numerical advantage, regaining possession, and triggering the counterattack.
This is exactly the style Gao Shen excels in.
Dortmund had actually been prepared for it. That's why, in previous sequences, they cleared the ball with long passes.
But this time was different. Real Madrid didn't even allow Dortmund the space or time to clear it long.
There was some luck involved, but Real Madrid's tactics also played a decisive role.
All of Real Madrid's attackers have exceptional individual ability.
Players like Benzema, Di Maria, and Ronaldo—when they get an opening, they make it count.
Just like the previous goal—it wasn't a clear-cut chance, but they created it.
That's the kind of star quality they bring.
That's why people say this version of Real Madrid is the evolved form of the team under Pellegrini and Mourinho, a team that allows its superstars to shine collectively.
"What now?" Kravitz asked, visibly downcast.
Klopp thought for a moment before replying, "Stay calm. They'll want more goals, so they'll definitely keep attacking."
He spoke with firm conviction.
That was his and the coaching staff's read on Real Madrid's approach.
If they want to truly pull ahead of Dortmund, they'll need another goal.
Given Gao Shen's personality, he won't settle for just a one-goal lead. He'll definitely push forward.
But clearly, Klopp overestimated Gao Shen's moral integrity.
…
After Real Madrid took the lead, Dortmund were stunned to find that their opponents weren't pressing forward as expected. Instead, they sat back and waited for Dortmund to come at them.
What was this?
You get a slight advantage and immediately pull back?
He turned his head to look at Gao Shen on the touchline. The urge to walk over and confront him was overwhelming.
I didn't expect you to be this kind of person!
Laughing? You're still laughing?
Believe it or not, I'll come over there and punch you!
But in the face of Gao Shen's shameless tactics, Klopp truly had no good counter.
He didn't want his team to commit too far forward. The risk was too high.
But on the flip side, if they didn't push up and Real Madrid just sat back and passed the ball around, how would they ever find the equalizer?
This was a real dilemma.
Dortmund were in a passive position now.
Seeing that Real Madrid was determined to play patiently and conservatively, Dortmund had no choice but to push forward and apply high pressure again.
That was the style Dortmund knew best.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, calmly circulated the ball across midfield and their own half, pulling Dortmund's shape apart.
But Dortmund weren't completely without chances.
The Yellow and Blacks had been playing under Klopp's system for years. They had a mature high-pressing structure, exceptional work rate, and strong tactical discipline, which made life difficult for Real Madrid's build-up play.
Especially in the 11th minute, when Reus delivered a diagonal ball from the right side into the box. Lewandowski controlled it and took a quick shot on the turn, nearly leveling the score.
Fortunately, Casillas punched the shot away with both fists, then pounced on the rebound to prevent Dortmund from capitalizing.
Still, that attack gave Real Madrid a real scare.
Gao Shen immediately signaled to Nacho to mark Reus more closely.
The German Rocket wasn't just fast, he also had excellent vision and technical skills.
At the same time, Gao Shen urged his players to remain calm and composed. He also made constant tactical adjustments in response to Dortmund's formation.
This created a temporary stalemate on the pitch.
The Bernabéu faithful kept singing and urging their team forward.
…
"Dortmund look uncomfortable out there right now."
In the presidential box, Valdano analyzed with a chuckle.
"The tempo's all wrong for them," Butragueño nodded.
Dortmund excel at playing at a high pace, but Real Madrid were slowing the game down with their midfield control, forcing Dortmund to step up and chase the ball.
The Yellow and Blacks were wary of Real Madrid's counterattacking power, so they didn't dare press too high.
Players like Lewandowski and Reus mostly pressed in the area between the halfway line and 30 meters out, rarely entering the final third.
That kind of pressure is clearly less intense than usual.
The reason was simple: Real Madrid's counters were too quick, too precise, and ruthlessly efficient.
Klopp knew that if he pushed up too aggressively, Real Madrid would hit back and punish them every time.
But if they didn't press, it was hard to regain the ball once it was lost.
Dortmund could still threaten occasionally, but their rhythm was off.
And if the rhythm is wrong, the entire team's performance suffers.
By contrast, Real Madrid remained composed, patient, and constantly searched for the right moment.
When the chance came, they surged forward at full speed.
That was proof that the game's momentum was firmly in Real Madrid's hands.
Dortmund were merely reacting.
"Gao Shen is still very steady, and so is Real Madrid," Valdano nodded in praise.
For a top club, stability is everything.
That's why so many elite teams want Gao Shen. He brings a high floor and consistent output as a coach.
Stability doesn't mean you'll never lose. It means your tactical identity is reliable, and your season-long performance rarely dips. That's a rare quality.
Some coaches and teams start strong but collapse in the second half of the season.
The same thing happens in the league.
That inconsistency is dangerous.
For strong teams, their quality usually gets them the win—as long as they stay consistent. The deciding factor is always how they perform in big matches.
Unfortunately for Dortmund, Gao Shen also has a stellar record in big games. That's why his achievements are the best in world football.
"Dortmund will eventually crack. They're a team that gets impatient easily," Butragueño said.
Valdano agreed.
As long as Real Madrid stayed composed, Dortmund would eventually show their flaws.
Even if they wanted to stay calm, it was nearly impossible under Real Madrid's pressure.
Sometimes football is like that—the moment the balance tips, one team buckles.
And that's exactly what happened in the 23rd minute.
Reus tried to dribble past Nacho, but the defender got a foot in and cleared it.
Toni Kroos quickly collected the ball and passed to Ronaldo on the left.
Ronaldo received it, then pushed the ball forward, attempting to find a teammate. But Piszczek intercepted it, and the ball deflected back into Real Madrid's half.
Toni Kroos recovered and passed to Xabi Alonso, who then moved it on to Modric.
After a few quick passes, Modric played a diagonal ball to Di Maria on the right.
The Argentine controlled it near Dortmund's 30-meter zone, lifted his head, and saw Ronaldo and Benzema both making forward runs. The Portuguese star was making a diagonal run into the right side of the penalty area at top speed.
Di Maria immediately understood. He adjusted slightly and sent a long cross with his left foot.
The ball flew across half the pitch in a beautiful arc and landed behind Dortmund's defensive line.
Ronaldo timed his run perfectly, leapt behind Hummels and the others, chested the ball down, and poked it toward goal as he landed.
The whole sequence unfolded in one fluid motion. Real Madrid had transitioned and launched the long ball in seconds.
Before anyone could react, Ronaldo had already taken the shot inside the box.
(To be continued.)