Real Madrid hosted Villarreal at the Bernabéu Stadium in the eighteenth round of La Liga.
Although the Yellow Submarine were playing away, Pellegrini's team had always been tenacious. Their style was also typical of European Latin football, so the Yellow Submarine immediately launched attacks on Real Madrid's goal after kickoff.
Villarreal had carefully set an offside trap at the start of the match. Within just five minutes, Yang Yang, Ibrahimovic, and Robben had all been caught offside in succession, leaving Real Madrid's attack somewhat passive. Then, in the seventh minute, Cazorla crossed from the left, Rossi turned and sent a through ball forward, and Cani stabbed the ball into the net from the left side of the penalty area.
After conceding, Real Madrid began throwing men forward.
Just two minutes later, Ibrahimovic received the ball with his back to goal near the edge of the penalty area and played a one-two with Kaka, who had passed to him. Kaka then made a late run into the box and sent the ball across toward the left side of the goal.
Yang Yang cleverly found space and, completely unmarked, calmly placed the ball into the net. One-one!
Both sides began trading attacks. Even away from home, Villarreal showed no fear against Real Madrid. But soon, Real Madrid gave their opponents a brutal lesson.
In the twenty-seventh minute, Robben crossed from the right edge of the penalty area toward the far post. Yang Yang met it on the left side of the six-yard box with a direct Volley, sending Robben's cross straight into Villarreal's goal. Two-one!
After scoring the goal that completed the turnaround, Real Madrid's morale soared, and Yang Yang received the cheers of every fan in the Bernabéu.
Shortly before the end of the first half, Cazorla fouled Yang Yang on