"Corner kick! Stay alert!"
Yang Yang's roar carried throughout and around Real Madrid's penalty area.
He stood at the top of the penalty arc, but one foot was actually inside the box, ready to rush in and support any position at a moment's notice.
The penalty area had long since descended into chaos. Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid's players were battling wits and strength, using every means possible to bring down their opponents.
Suddenly, a figure darted out of the goal, decisively rushing forward. He leaped high ahead of everyone else and met the rapidly dropping ball, knocking it away with one hand.
Who else could it be but Real Madrid's short goalkeeper, Navas?
The ball did not fly far, dropping just outside the penalty area.
Yang Yang was already sprinting forward. Every so often, he looked up at the ball in midair, predicting where it would land.
Atletico Madrid midfielder Gabi also chased after the ball. The two of them judged its landing point at the same time and raced toward it together.
They jostled and fought for position, but Yang Yang ultimately gained the upper hand. He seized the best position, jumped first, and got a touch on the ball, sending Gabi lunging into empty space. After landing, Yang Yang glanced over and saw the ball flying toward the right flank, but there was no one there to receive it.
Di Maria, who should have been on the right, had just tracked back to the right side of the penalty area and had not yet caught up.
Yang Yang did not hesitate. He accelerated like a bolt of lightning, racing after the ball. Before Atletico Madrid's defenders could get into position, he caught up to it and took a huge touch forward, driving straight across the halfway line