The evening of April 12, at Munich's Allianz Arena.
The first leg of the Champions League quarterfinal knockout tie saw Real Madrid challenge Bayern Munich away from home.
Before the match, whether during the warm-up or while walking onto the pitch, the atmosphere between the two teams was excellent.
Ancelotti had coached Real Madrid for many years and held a lofty position in the hearts of its players. He was also very close to Yang Yang and Zidane, so this reunion after a long separation naturally made him very happy. They chatted familiarly, without the slightest hint of tension between opposing sides.
Xabi Alonso would retire this summer. This was his final Champions League season, and after retiring, he would return to Spain to live. He still had a house in Madrid that he had not sold. He had told Yang Yang that he wanted to become a coach after retirement.
Then there was Robben. This powerful winger, who had reached the peak of his career at Real Madrid, was still going strong after transferring to Bayern Munich and had produced an astonishing run of form. Together with Ribery, he had formed the Robbery partnership, widely regarded as one of the top wing combinations in European football. Bayern had recently defeated Arsenal 5–1 in two consecutive matches, and the Robbery partnership had played a huge role.
Tonight, Robben and Ribery would be Real Madrid's greatest threats.
Whether it was the reunion between teacher and student after a long separation or the polite greetings exchanged between old friends, everything made the Allianz Arena harmonious before kickoff. At least while Yang Yang interacted with Ancelotti and his friends, many fans in the stadium were also calling his name.
"Even as an opponent, you're still so popular at our home stadium." Xabi Alonso