With the referee's whistle blowing,
FC Schalke 04 gained first possession and immediately launched their attack!
Magath's pre-match setup:
As always, the game plan followed the Su Freeman playbook.
Whether attacking or defending, every position needed to be properly manned. The first priority when gaining possession was to get the ball to Su, who would instinctively understand the tactical intent.
Magath had explained (somewhat cynically) that modern tactics were too complicated - especially for someone like "Baby" Baumann. Going into details would short-circuit the young midfielder's brain. The simple instruction was: hold your position and give the ball to Su.
True to form, Raul immediately passed to Hao behind him after the kickoff.
Facing Klose's initial press, Hao surprised everyone by not distributing right to Su as expected. Instead, he executed a clever left feint followed by a sharp right cut!
A quick burst of acceleration left Klose stumbling.
Hao had been in dazzling form these past few games since the season resumed.
Today, he could feel that metaphysical super-state coming on again.
Knowing Bayern would focus entirely on containing Su, and riding his current excellent form, Hao decided to take initiative - he'd control possession first before ultimately delivering the killing pass to Su.
On the sidelines,
Van Gaal watched this other Chinese player - the one he'd never bothered properly scouting - with narrowed eyes before glancing across at Magath's stoic expression.
"Crafty old fox," Van Gaal thought. "Using this player as a ball-carrier... he anticipated my Birdcage Tactic designed specifically for Su."
Meanwhile, Magath was internally facepalming as Hao stubbornly kept possession instead of immediately feeding Su as instructed.
"This kid's been getting too big for his boots lately... bench him after this game..."
Just as Magath was mentally complaining,
An electrifying moment erupted on the pitch.
Driving forward with purpose, Hao crossed the center circle when Bayern captain Van Bommel came charging in.
Facing the veteran midfielder, Hao initially shaped his body as if to pass right to Su.
The obvious passing cue brought a contemptuous smirk to Van Bommel's lips.
"Schalke really does rely entirely on that one Chinese wonderkid," he thought. "What 'dual attacking midfielders'? Amateur hour."
Instantly, Van Bommel shifted his weight left to intercept the expected pass, while Schweinsteiger simultaneously sprinted to close down Su.
Like clockwork, Bayern's entire defensive structure tilted toward Su's position - exactly as Van Gaal had drilled them.
Su stood watching - without the ball!
Bayern's entire defensive scheme had instantly shifted toward Su the moment Schalke looked likely to pass to him. Their strategy was clear:
Either pressure the ball-carrier early to force turnovers and counterattack opportunities
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Or quickly swarm Su before he received possession to prevent his trademark first-touch breaks
This was Van Gaal's carefully designed "Birdcage Tactic."
But just when everyone - including Schalke fans and Magath on the sidelines - assumed Hao would automatically feed Su...
Hao suddenly pushed the ball forward with his right foot after that sidestep!
Simultaneously, he exploded into a full sprint!
That's all it took!
Bayern's captain had been beaten!
The aging Van Bommel stood frozen in disbelief.
"Weren't they all saying this 'Hao' guy just mindlessly passed to Su? That he was just decoration? How dare he try to take me on?!"
"Beautiful!!!"
"Hao's beaten Van Bommel!"
"Schweinsteiger's still marking Su!"
"Bayern's defense is wide open!"
"Hao accelerating!!!"
The Veltins-Arena erupted.
Hao surged forward with terrifying pace.
On the right flank, Su made a blistering overlapping run - his shocking speed leaving even Schweinsteiger stunned.
"Is this guy human?"
"Just a few months ago he wasn't this fast!"
As Hao charged forward:
Huntelaar drifted centrally from the left
Vardy cut inside from the right
Raul intelligently found space in the attacking third
Then - the moment of magic!
Through some combination of telepathy and their Perfect Partner chemistry, Hao delivered an exquisite through ball.
The pass split Bayern's center-back pairing of Demichelis and Van Buyten perfectly.
Raul timed his run and - GOAL!!!
Raul charged toward the ball!
Facing the incoming pass, he adjusted his body and swung his left foot powerfully at the football!
"Bang!"
A crisp striking sound!
Raul hammered the ball toward Bayern Munich's goal!
However...
Slightly unfortunate - while the shot was well-placed, Bayern keeper Hans-J?rg Butt managed a last-ditch save, getting down just in time!
The ball clipped the fingertips of his right glove!
That slight contact was enough to alter the ball's trajectory!
It glanced off the post and flew out of play!
"Aaaah!!!"
"What a pity!"
"Raul's shot parried by Hans-J?rg Butt!"
"That was a magnificent pass from Hao!"
"A perfectly weighted surprise through ball finds Raul in the box - these two are completely in sync!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
In the commentary booth, Duan watched the ball agonizingly clear the crossbar and pounded the table in frustration!
Hmm?
Why wasn't the table made of stainless steel today? Was it wooden?
"Su deserves half the credit for this chance!"
"Look!"
"The slow-motion replay clearly shows Bayern's entire defense shifting toward Su's side as Hao beats Van Bommel!!!"
"Clearly, Van Gaal implemented specific tactics to contain Su!"
"That was incredibly intelligent play from Hao - recognizing the defensive shift, he abandoned the idea of passing to Su and created his own opportunity!"
"This season's experience has truly elevated Hao's game - not just technically and tactically, but most importantly in his soaring confidence!"
"I dare say, if this were any other Chinese player - even a national team regular - facing even a declining Van Bommel, they'd never dare attempt to take him on like that!"
"This demonstrates the value of playing abroad!"
Wang analyzed the replay with equal admiration!
Meanwhile, throughout Veltins-Arena...
Countless Schalke fans groaned in collective frustration.
That should have been a certain goal!
Raul did everything right - who knew Butt would be in such inspired form today? That kind of shot is rarely saved!
"Only one and a half minutes into the match!"
"Schalke 04 creates another dangerous scoring opportunity!"
"Corner kick!"
"Su positions himself in the corner arc, holding the ball!"
"Metzelder, Baumann, and H?wedes move forward into the box!"
On the pitch...
Su surveys the crowded penalty area, carefully analyzing every potential passing lane.
Suddenly!
A crimson trajectory appears in his vision.
Without hesitation...
Su adjusts his stance and drives his right foot powerfully through the ball!
"CRACK!"
A sharp, clean striking sound!
The ball sails in a perfect arc toward Bayern Munich's penalty area...
...............
