Yang Yang bent down, gently placed the football on the grass, then stamped around it a few times to press the turf firm. He took his time throughout, neither hurried nor forceful, giving off an air of complete composure and calm.
As he slowly backed away and straightened up, waiting for the referee's whistle, the eyes of everyone inside and outside the stadium—and of fans around the world watching the live broadcast—focused entirely on him.
In the Presidential Tribune at the Bernabéu Stadium, Florentino could not help raising both hands and rubbing his face hard. He took a deep breath, then removed his glasses, pulled out a cleaning cloth, carefully wiped them clean, and put them back on.
He wanted to see more clearly.
"If this goes in, we'll truly have the advantage," Florentino said softly.
Three-one and two-one were completely different results for Real Madrid.
The former would give them a clear advantage, while the latter would inevitably lead to a fierce battle at Old Trafford.
In terms of strength, Real Madrid was certainly ahead of Manchester United. But in this match, Ferguson's tactics had been excellent, directly countering Benitez's, while Manchester United's weaknesses in their lineup were glaring, giving Real Madrid an opportunity to exploit.
If Real Madrid went to Old Trafford with a two-one lead, they truly would not dare claim they could advance safely. But with a three-one lead, Real Madrid would certainly have a much easier time.
Almost anyone who understood football and knew the rules of the Champions League knockout stage would agree.
"It's less than thirty meters from goal, and the position and angle both suit him perfectly. There's a very good chance he'll score."
Zidane had competed with Yang Yang in free-kick technique, so he knew full well how accomplished Yang Yang