Chapter Summaries

Su Dong scored a free kick against Werder Bremen, then a hat trick against Hannover 96, bringing his Bundesliga total to thirty-four goals and within six of Gerd Müller's record. As Bayern prepared to face Arsenal, Wenger tasked Phillip Senderos with helping Gallas stop Su Dong, and Senderos vowed to shut him down.

• Diego scored early for Werder Bremen after Demi made a mistake, but Su Dong equalized with a header from Ribéry's cross.
• Su Dong drew a red card for goalkeeper Wiese, then scored a direct free kick against substitute goalkeeper Christian Vander to put Bayern ahead 2–1.
• Modrić scored Bayern's third goal after Su Dong laid the ball off to him in the penalty area.
• Su Dong scored a hat trick in Bayern's 3–0 away win over Hannover 96, raising his Bundesliga tally to thirty-four goals.
• Wenger called Phillip Senderos to his office and laid out Arsenal's defensive plan for Bayern and Su Dong.
• Senderos promised Wenger that he and Gallas would shut down Su Dong at the Emirates Stadium.

Bayern struggled to contain Arsenal’s midfield and fell behind, but Su Dong equalized with a header from Marcelo’s cross. After celebrating, Su Dong urged his teammates to target Senderos and create chances for another away goal.

• Arsenal attacked Bayern’s left flank repeatedly, and Diaby scored in the eleventh minute to give the home side a 1–0 lead.
• Bayern defended under pressure as Klose, Ribéry, and Robben dropped back to help contain Arsenal.
• Su Dong held off defenders and carried the ball forward before winning a throw-in near Arsenal’s penalty area.
• Marcelo and Ribéry combined down the left, and Marcelo crossed for Su Dong to head past Almunia and equalize in the twenty-sixth minute.
• Su Dong told his teammates he was confident he could beat Senderos and asked them to create more chances for him.

Bayern overturned Arsenal 4–2 away in the Champions League Round of Sixteen first leg, with Su Dong scoring twice and assisting twice. Bayern celebrated the victory as a sign that they could challenge for the Champions League title, while Senderos’s poor performance led Wenger to replace him at halftime.

• Heynckes brought Klose on for Modrić, and Su Dong scored to put Bayern ahead 2–1 after combining with Schweinsteiger.
• Su Dong drove toward the byline and crossed for Robben to score Bayern’s third before halftime.
• Wenger replaced Senderos with Gilberto Silva at halftime and reorganized Arsenal’s defense.
• Su Dong headed Marcelo’s cross across goal, allowing Klose to score Bayern’s fourth in the seventieth minute.
• Walcott set up Adebayor to score for Arsenal, but Bayern held on to win 4–2 away.
• Bayern celebrated in the dressing room, where Schweinsteiger said the team had a champion’s aura.

Su Dong received widespread praise after Bayern defeated Arsenal 4–2 away, and he said he hoped to face Barcelona in the Champions League quarterfinals. Bayern then hosted Hamburg, where Su Dong rested as the visitors took the lead and Bayern struggled to respond.

• The Independent and The Times praised Su Dong's performance against Arsenal and blamed Senderos for failing to contain him.
• Su Dong told Bayern fans and reporters that the team was confident, would take the season one match at a time, and that he hoped to face Barcelona.
• Barcelona beat Celtic 3–2 after Messi scored twice, prompting fans to recall Su Dong and worry about his possible return to Camp Nou with Bayern.
• Heynckes rested Su Dong for Bayern's Bundesliga match against Hamburg, starting Klose and Podolski instead.
• Jarolím dispossessed Lucio and Olić scored for Hamburg, and Heynckes brought on Ribéry as Bayern's attack continued to struggle.

Su Dong transformed Bayern’s matches after coming on against Hamburger SV, scoring twice and assisting Klose in a 3–1 comeback, then led Bayern past Munich 1860 and Schalke 04. Bayern also eliminated Arsenal to reach the Champions League quarterfinals, where Su Dong hoped to face Barcelona.

• Su Dong came on for Podolski against Hamburger SV and scored within a minute to equalize, then scored again and assisted Klose as Bayern won 3–1.
• Su Dong scored two headers against Munich 1860 in the German Cup quarterfinals, coached Toni Kroos after his missed chance, and helped Bayern advance with a 2–0 win.
• Su Dong assisted Klose and scored a free kick against Schalke 04, while Manuel Neuer made two consecutive close-range saves from him in Bayern’s win.
• Bayern beat Arsenal 5–3 on aggregate after a 1–1 second-leg draw, with Su Dong assisting Robben, and advanced to the Champions League quarterfinals.
• Su Dong hoped Bayern would draw Barcelona in the Champions League quarterfinals.

Barcelona’s Champions League form drew praise, and vice president Bartomeu declared the competition the club’s main goal while discussing transfer targets. After Messi was injured and returned to Argentina to recover, Su Dong realized he had gone there to reunite with Xiao Fang, then teased Wang Chuqing before pouncing on her.

• Barcelona beat Celtic 1–0, advanced to the Champions League quarterfinals, and earned praise for their possession, attack, and defensive record.
• Bartomeu said Barcelona would focus on winning the Champions League, pursue Cristiano Ronaldo and other targets, and would not mind drawing Bayern.
• Messi suffered a muscle strain that ruled him out of the quarterfinals, and Barcelona then lost 2–1 at home to Villarreal.
• Messi’s father Jorge said the family doubted Barcelona’s medical staff, and Messi returned to Argentina for treatment and recovery.
• Su Dong told Wang Chuqing that Messi had gone to Argentina to reunite with Xiao Fang, then pounced on Wang Chuqing.

Bayern learned they would face Barcelona in the Champions League quarterfinals, with the first leg at Camp Nou. Su Dong welcomed the matchup and looked forward to returning to his former home, while both clubs prepared for a difficult tie.

• Bayern defeated Karlsruhe 3–0, then Su Dong joined his teammates to watch the Champions League quarterfinal draw.
• The draw paired Chelsea with Liverpool and Roma with Manchester United, while Bayern and Barcelona were left as the final matchup.
• Bayern and Barcelona were placed in the same half of the bracket as Fenerbahçe and AC Milan, making AC Milan a likely semifinal opponent for the winner.
• Hoeness accepted the draw and warned Bayern they would need their best performance, while Bartomeu said Barcelona would use the first leg at Camp Nou to build an advantage.
• Cruyff warned Barcelona to be careful of Su Dong, who said he welcomed the tie and could not wait to return to Camp Nou.

Su Dong advised Heynckes, Hoeness, and Rummenigge on how Bayern could exploit Barcelona’s weaknesses in their Champions League quarterfinal. Bayern then advanced to the German Cup final and kept its Bundesliga title bid on track as both clubs focused on their upcoming first leg at Camp Nou.

• Su Dong explained Barcelona’s pressing, possession, and defensive habits and urged Bayern to stay compact, counter Barcelona’s pressing quickly, and restrict Xavi.
• Bayern drew two-two away to Cottbus as Su Dong scored twice, then defeated Wolfsburg two-nil to reach the German Cup final.
• Su Dong scored twice as Bayern beat Leverkusen three-nil, then rested while Bayern drew one-one away to Nuremberg.
• Barcelona also prioritized the Champions League after falling far behind Real Madrid in La Liga and exiting the Copa del Rey.
• Mundo Deportivo described Barcelona’s home match against Bayern as crucial to the club’s Champions League hopes and Rijkaard’s future.

Rijkaard sought Cruyff’s advice on how Barcelona could contain Su Dong and Bayern, while Messi returned to Barcelona fearing his former teammate’s impact. Su Dong arrived in Barcelona ahead of the match, leaving the story with his return to the city.

• Rijkaard visited Cruyff, who criticized Barcelona’s management and discussed the club’s possible coaching candidates, including Mourinho, Van Gaal, and Guardiola.
• Rijkaard told Cruyff he was worried about facing Bayern and Su Dong, and the two considered using Yaya Touré to help Puyol and Milito contain him.
• Messi returned early from Argentina with a young woman and told Jorge that Su Dong was coming back to Barcelona.
• Messi decided not to meet Su Dong before the match, telling the young woman that Su Dong was the strongest player in the world.
• Su Dong arrived in Barcelona with Bayern and stepped onto the city’s soil, ready to face his former club.

Su Dong returned to Barcelona with Bayern to face his former club, where hostile fans targeted him and the media hyped young Bojan as his rival. Bayern learned Barcelona’s lineup matched Heynckes’s prediction, and the team entered the match determined to win at Camp Nou.

• Su Dong reflected on returning to Barcelona and resolved to settle accounts with the club’s management, media, and radical fans.
• Barcelona supporters cursed Bayern’s players and threw rocks at their bus, while police escorted the team to Camp Nou.
• Su Dong’s teammates joked with him about the hostile reception, and he reminded them of his promised reward if they won.
• Su Dong saw Bojan in Barcelona’s lineup and acknowledged the seventeen-year-old’s recent scoring form and talent.
• Bayern and Barcelona revealed their starting lineups, and Heynckes showed that his staff had correctly predicted all eleven Barcelona starters.
• Heynckes urged Bayern to follow their prepared tactics and declared they would defeat Barcelona and overrun Camp Nou.

Su Dong faced Barcelona in the Champions League quarterfinal first leg and scored for Bayern barely a minute into the match. Bayern took an early lead at Camp Nou, leaving Barcelona under pressure to attack and Messi worried about their chances.

• Before kickoff, Barcelona's players warmly greeted Su Dong, while he joked with Puyol, Xavi, and Valdes about facing them on the pitch.
• Barcelona won the coin toss and kicked off, but Bayern's coordinated press repeatedly forced them to pass backward.
• Pepe cleared Valdes's long ball, and Su Dong controlled the loose ball before sending Robben down the left flank.
• Robben combined with Lahm, whose cross Su Dong headed past Valdes to give Bayern a 1–0 lead after one minute and twenty-six seconds.
• Su Dong celebrated wildly as Camp Nou fell silent, and Messi watched with admiration and concern as he predicted Barcelona would struggle against Bayern's defense.

Bayern counterattacked relentlessly against Barcelona, and Su Dong scored a hat trick to give his team a 3–0 lead at Camp Nou. Barcelona’s Dream Team II faced collapse as the first half continued.

• Bayern defended compactly against Barcelona’s possession and pressing, while Kahn nearly mishandled a back-pass under pressure from Eto'o.
• Pepe won the ball from Bojan in the twenty-third minute, and Su Dong headed in Ribéry’s cross to put Bayern 2–0 ahead.
• Su Dong celebrated by holding up two fingers as Barcelona fans booed, and Cruyff told Baggio that the club’s supporters would blame Su Dong rather than admit their own mistake.
• Seven minutes later, Robben and Ribéry combined on a counterattack, and Su Dong finished Ribéry’s low cross to complete his hat trick and make it 3–0.

Bayern led Barcelona 3–0 at halftime, and Heynckes urged his team to press harder and counter quickly. Su Dong scored a fourth goal with a solo run, and the chapter ended with Bayern earning a free kick that Su Dong prepared to take.

• Heynckes praised Bayern’s first-half performance and instructed the players to improve their pressing and counterattacks.
• Bayern defended as a unit after the restart, limiting Barcelona’s chances despite having little possession.
• Lahm launched a long pass, and Su Dong beat Abidal, Milito, and Puyol before scoring Bayern’s fourth goal.
• Rijkaard substituted Marcos for Yaya Touré as Barcelona sought to restore their possession game.
• Marcos fouled Ribéry outside the penalty area, and Su Dong stepped forward to take the free kick.

Su Dong scored his fifth goal against Barcelona with a spectacular free kick, giving Bayern a 5–0 lead at Camp Nou and taunting the club’s executives. As Rosell and Bartomeu left in fury and called for a managerial change, Guardiola watched Su Dong and considered how he might become Barcelona’s next coach.

• Valdes watched nervously as Su Dong prepared to take a free kick from an excellent position, while Bartomeu dismissed his chances from the directors’ box.
• Su Dong’s free kick cleared the wall, dipped sharply, and flew into the upper-right corner beyond Valdes.
• Su Dong celebrated by showing five fingers and miming a slap toward the directors’ box, prompting Rosell and Bartomeu to leave angrily and call for Mourinho to be replaced.
• Bayern’s players celebrated their 5–0 advantage despite Barcelona’s dominance in possession and Su Dong’s five-goal performance.
• Guardiola praised Su Dong as the ideal center forward and regretted Barcelona’s decision to drive him away, while Vilanova urged Guardiola to consider pursuing the Barcelona manager position.

Su Dong led Bayern to a 5–0 victory over Barcelona at Camp Nou, scoring all five goals and leaving Barcelona’s fans regretting that they had driven him away. After celebrating the win, he met Messi, who introduced him to his girlfriend Antonella and worried that Barcelona’s season was over.

• Su Dong scored all five goals as Bayern crushed Barcelona 5–0 at Camp Nou, leaving Barcelona’s fans to question why they had forced him out.
• Heynckes praised Bayern’s players as they celebrated their victory and their likely place in the Champions League semifinals.
• Su Dong teased Marcelo about visiting the red-light district, while Kahn offered to take him and Marcelo refused.
• Su Dong met Messi, Jorge, and Antonella at the stadium, and Messi introduced Antonella as his girlfriend.
• Messi lamented that his injury and Bayern’s victory had likely ended Barcelona’s season, while Su Dong considered the upheaval Barcelona might face under a new coach.

After Su Dong scored five goals in Bayern’s 5–0 away win over Barcelona, Spanish pundit De la Morena called the performance a long-awaited revenge and highlighted Barcelona’s failures. The victory drew global attention, while Kicker editor Holzschuh presented Bayern as a model for raising the Bundesliga’s standing and potential.

• De la Morena contrasted Bayern’s aggression and efficiency with Barcelona’s weaknesses, noting Bayern’s eighteen shots, five goals, and advantage in successful duels.
• De la Morena showed footage of Su Dong chasing Barcelona’s passes and recalled his exchange with Puyol, portraying the five-goal performance as revenge for Barcelona forcing him out.
• Rijkaard admitted he had failed to protect Su Dong and regretted remaining silent, while De la Morena connected Barcelona’s treatment of Su Dong with its handling of Ronaldinho.
• Holzschuh argued in Kicker Magazine that Bayern’s 5–0 win had announced German football’s revival and that Bayern’s success could raise the Bundesliga’s overall competitiveness.
• Bayern surged to become the second favorite for the Champions League, and Su Dong’s five goals renewed worldwide recognition of him as a leading superstar.

Bayern defeated Bochum 3–1, then crushed Barcelona 4–0 to advance from the Champions League quarterfinals 9–0 on aggregate. After comforting his former teammates and speaking with Rijkaard, Su Dong reflected on Bayern’s balanced management and became confident the club could win the Champions League and the Bundesliga’s first treble.

• Bayern came from behind to beat Bochum 3–1, with Lucio, Ribéry, and Lahm scoring.
• Su Dong set up Robben’s opener as Bayern beat Barcelona 4–0 and eliminated them 9–0 on aggregate.
• Su Dong embraced Puyol, Xavi, and Iniesta, then offered Rijkaard his thanks and sympathy.
• Rijkaard told Su Dong he had resigned and that Barcelona had nearly settled on Mourinho as his successor.
• Su Dong considered Bayern’s balanced leadership and concluded that choosing Bayern had been the right decision.

Su Dong led Bayern to a 5–0 Bundesliga win over Dortmund, then scored twice to secure the German Cup against them. After Bayern also defeated Frankfurt, the chapter left the team celebrating its first trophy while Su Dong focused on the Champions League and his goal of winning three consecutive titles.

• Su Dong assisted Klose's opening goal and scored a hat trick as Bayern crushed Dortmund 5–0, putting him atop the Bundesliga assist chart and setting a single-season scoring record.
• Su Dong came off the bench against Frankfurt and scored twice in Bayern's 3–1 comeback victory.
• Su Dong scored Bayern's opener and a free kick in the German Cup final, leading the team to a 2–0 win over Dortmund and the trophy.
• Heynckes praised Su Dong's determination, while Kahn called him Bayern's spiritual leader and backed him as a future captain.
• Su Dong thanked his teammates, said he was not ready to be captain, and reaffirmed that he had joined Bayern to win trophies, especially the Champions League.

Bayern pressed AC Milan at San Siro, using their greater youth and fitness to raise the tempo, while Ancelotti countered with possession and dangerous attacks. Despite Milan’s chances, Heynckes and his players stuck to their proactive plan, leaving the first leg locked in a fierce tactical battle.

• The chapter contrasted AC Milan’s veteran lineup with Bayern’s younger squad as Su Dong backed their energy as the key to victory.
• Bayern opened at a high tempo, and Modrić launched a counterattack that ended with Su Dong’s shot forcing Kalac to make a save.
• Bayern kept pressing, and Ribéry set up Su Dong and Robben for another attack, though Robben’s shot went over the goal.
• Ancelotti adjusted by having AC Milan fall back and keep possession, leading Kaka and Pato to threaten Bayern before Pepe stopped Inzaghi’s breakaway.
• Bayern chose to keep attacking despite AC Milan’s counterattacks, following the plan Su Dong had urged in the dressing room, and Ancelotti was surprised by Heynckes’s aggression.

Bayern adjusted its defensive shape and pressed AC Milan into a dangerous counterattacking battle. Su Dong scored in the 40th minute to give Bayern a 1–0 lead away from home as the first half neared its end.

• Heynckes tightened Bayern's defensive positioning, assigned Schweinsteiger and Mascherano to watch Kaka, and pushed Modrić forward to pressure Pirlo.
• In the 31st minute, Su Dong slipped past Nesta and Oddo and drew four defenders before passing to Ribéry, whose shot narrowly missed.
• AC Milan increased its counterpressing, but Bayern adapted and moved the ball out of pressure.
• In the 40th minute, Modrić sent the ball left to Su Dong, who cut inside past Oddo and Nesta and scored with a curling right-footed shot.
• Su Dong's goal put Bayern ahead 1–0 and left AC Milan facing a difficult away-goal deficit.