After Paris Saint-Germain was removed from the list, I led England to victory!

The penultimate round of the Bundesliga, Rhein-Neckar Arena.

The early summer sun brought warmth, but it could not diminish the almost burning passion of the fans in the stands.

As the league enters its final, intense stage, Hoffenheim has edged out Bayern Munich by one point to top the Bundesliga standings!

Today's home game against RB Leipzig in the penultimate round is of great significance.

They need to consolidate their hard-won lead, and even more so, they need to regain the dignity of their mid-season away defeat against Leipzig.

However, what's even more exciting than the points is that the familiar and exciting name has finally appeared on the starting lineup.

"Ladies and gentlemen!! Now, let's welcome Hoffenheim's starting lineup onto the field!" The stadium announcer's enthusiastic voice rang out.

As Hoffenheim's players ran out of the player tunnel and stepped onto the green turf they had fought countless times for, the applause from the fans was enthusiastic and orderly.

However, when the broadcast clearly announced the next name:

"Number 17 - Yan Yuan -"

In an instant!

The entire Rhine-Neckar Arena was like a powder keg that had been set ablaze!

In the stands, regardless of age or gender, all the Hoffenheim fans wearing red and blue jerseys stood up from their seats as if they had received a silent command!

There was no premeditation, no organization. It was a torrent of emotions surging from the heart!

More than 30,000 fans stood up in unison and greeted their hero's return with deafening cheers, shouts and applause that were like a tsunami!

The roar converged into a powerful force, instantly soaring into the sky and pushing the atmosphere of the stadium to an unprecedented peak!

"YAN YUAN! YAN YUAN! YAN YUAN!"

"Welcome back to our number 17!"

Welcome back!

A huge banner was unfurled in the stands, featuring a photo of Yan Yuan fighting valiantly at the Bernabéu, alongside a large slogan:

"Forged in steel! The spirit of No. 17 will live on forever!"

This was something the fans had been preparing for after Hoffenheim officially announced that Yan Yuan would return for this match.

This cheer was not only an affirmation of Yan Yuan's superb skills and core position.

It is also the highest tribute to the earth-shattering, blood-fighting, iron will and fearless responsibility he showed on the night at the Bernabéu, carrying the team on his shoulders.

At the same time, it also contains the immense joy and relief of the fans who were finally relieved of their deep concern for his injury!

Yan Yuan, who was standing on the sidelines preparing to enter the field, was clearly deeply shocked by this sudden and grand tribute.

He stopped, looked up, and gazed at the sea of ​​fans cheering for him.

Today, Yan Yuan's face no longer held its usual coldness or arrogance; instead, it displayed a deep and gentle emotion.

He took a deep breath and, instead of immediately running to his position, slowly and solemnly raised his hands and bowed deeply to the fans in the four directions of the stadium—the north stand, the south stand, and the east and west sides!

Each bow was filled with sincere respect and gratitude.

Then, he straightened up, a long-lost, slightly shy yet incredibly warm smile appearing on his face, and waved vigorously to every corner of the stands.

Nash, standing on the sidelines, couldn't help but applaud his beloved disciple.

Yan Yuan's silent interaction spoke louder than a thousand words.

The response from the stands was an even more fervent wave of cheers! This was the purest emotional exchange between the players and the fans.

Game start.

Yan Yuan's return was like injecting lubricant into Hoffenheim's high-speed machine.

He appeared in his familiar right winger position, running actively and making sharp runs, each touch of the ball causing a tense and excited commotion in the stands.

Although he has just recovered from injury, his explosiveness and the quality of his technical movements have not diminished at all.

That ability to read the game and that instinct in front of the goal, like an instinct etched into his bones, were still there.

In the 28th minute, the opportunity arrived!

De Jong received the ball in midfield, and the visionary midfield maestro keenly spotted the momentary lapse in Leipzig's defense.

Without the slightest hesitation, he delivered a precise through ball, like a scalpel, instantly piercing through Leipzig's entire defense!

The ball rolled at high speed along the grass towards the open space on the right side of the opponent's penalty area.

There, a blue lightning bolt had already been activated!

Yan Yuan!

He used a perfect offside trap to shake off all the defenders.

He faced Leipzig goalkeeper Gulacsić one-on-one.

The stands held their breath!

Yan Yuan dribbled the ball into the penalty area. Facing the onrushing goalkeeper, he did not choose to shoot with great force, but instead calmly pushed the ball gently with the outside of his right foot.

An extremely tricky low-lying ball!

The ball slid past Gulacsi's outstretched leg and rolled precisely into the far corner of the goal.

"Goooooooal!!!!!!!!! Yan Yuan!!! His first goal since his return!!! This is his 30th Bundesliga goal!!! Let's cheer for this tough guy who has recovered from injury!!" The commentary booth erupted in excited shouts.

"A perfect offside trap, a calm tap-in, De Jong's pass was absolutely brilliant—Yan Yuan's goal announced his perfect comeback!"

After scoring, Yan Yuan did not run around celebrating. He first waved to the surroundings of the field, then turned and pointed to De Jong, who had provided the fatal assist for him.

The two ran together, gave each other a high five, and hugged.

Immediately, he ran to the sidelines, faced the stands, took a deep breath, and struck that celebration pose that the fans were all too familiar with—his body slightly lowered, his center of gravity stable, and his right hand, as if holding an invisible whip, slowly, powerfully, and beautifully swung forward.

A long-awaited celebration of Tai Chi single whip.

The entire stadium was instantly ignited by this iconic gesture, creating a sea of ​​red.

The cheers from the fans reached another peak!

Just before halftime, RB Leipzig pulled one back through a quick counter-attack by Forsberg, making it 1-1.

However, Hoffenheim's morale was not greatly affected.

In the second half, the competition between the two sides became even more intense.

Yan Yuan remains the primary target of Leipzig's defense, but he continues to create opportunities for his teammates through his agile movement and passing.

The turning point came in the 67th minute.

Hoffenheim were awarded a free kick on the left side of the attacking third.

Gnabry lobbed the ball into the penalty area.

In the ensuing chaos, RB Leipzig center-back Dayot Upamecano leaped high to clear the ball.

However, the ball inexplicably struck the raised arm of his teammate Forsberg, who was trying to contest the header!

"Whistle!" The referee's whistle was unusually firm, and his finger pointed decisively to the penalty spot.

Penalty!

Leipzig players surrounded the referee to argue, but slow-motion replays clearly showed Forsberg's handball. The penalty decision was undisputed.

All eyes in the stadium were focused on the penalty spot.

Who will take the penalty?

Nash had already made arrangements, and it was still his favorite student who had to take the penalty. One reason was that Yan Yuan would soon be leaving Hoffenheim, and the other was to try to get Yan Yuan to score more goals.

Yan Yuan picked up the ball and walked steadily towards the penalty spot.

He took a deep breath and carefully arranged the balls.

On the other side, goalkeeper Gulacsi jumped on the goal line, trying to interfere.

The stands were completely silent, with tens of thousands of eyes fixed on him.

A running start! A steady rhythm! No fancy moves whatsoever!

A right-footed instep shot, the ball wasn't fast, but the angle was extremely tricky, hitting the bottom left corner of the goal.

It's practically a theoretical dead end!

Gulacsi judged the direction correctly and dove to the side.

His fingertips even brushed against the ball.

Although the ball speed wasn't fast, the angle was extremely tricky.

The ball eventually grazed the inside of the goalpost and rolled into the net.

"Yan Yuan! Penalty converted!!! Second goal!!! Hoffenheim leads again! 2-1! 31st goal!!"

Yan Yuan clenched his fist and roared, running around the field to share the joy of scoring with his teammates and fans.

In the final stages of the match, Hoffenheim scored again through Gnabry, sealing the victory.

The final score was 3-1.

Hoffenheim successfully avenged their loss to RB Leipzig at home, securing all three points.

With only one round remaining in the league, they still hold a one-point advantage over Bayern Munich, who also won this round, firmly occupying the top spot in the standings.

When the final whistle blew, the players hugged each other in celebration.

Yan Yuan walked to the sidelines and applauded the stands again to express his gratitude.

At this moment, RB Leipzig's tall center-back, Upamecano, took the initiative to come over.

The French center-back wore a genuine smile and a hint of admiration.

"Hey, Yan." Upamecano extended his hand. "Congratulations, two goals in your comeback, that's fantastic."

Yan Yuan smiled and shook hands with him:

"Thank you, Upa, you played very tenaciously today too."

Upamecano looked at the faint mark on his forehead, then glanced subconsciously at his right leg, his expression turning serious:

"Seriously, bro, I watched both of your games at the Bernabéu live. Especially the second one..."

Upamecano paused, seemingly recalling the horrific scene.

"Your forehead was bleeding, your thigh was badly injured... you refused to leave the field twice... you stubbornly played until the last few minutes... that scene... honestly, it was so tough! I admire you!"

He patted Yan Yuan's shoulder forcefully, his tone filled with sincere admiration, but also with a hint of lingering worry:

"But that's too risky! Seriously! Your body is your foundation for the game! Especially for players like us who rely on our physical abilities! You're a top star now, you need to know how to protect yourself! Don't do that again!"

This is sincere concern and advice from competitors and peers.

Yan Yuan's smile gradually faded, replaced by a serious and gentle expression. He looked at Upamecano's concerned gaze and nodded.

"You're right, Upa. Absolutely right."

He took a deep breath, his gaze calm and clear, carrying a sense of wisdom gained through experience.

"It was only after that game, in the hospital, that I truly understood... that some things are far more important than winning or losing on the field, or a temporary victory."

He recalled the events of the past few days, which had had a profound impact on Yan Yuan.

"That's... how those who truly care about you and love you feel." Yan Yuan's voice was calm, yet carried a heavy weight.

"The biggest loss would be to make them worry and even break their hearts. I was too impulsive and naive back then. Thank you, brother. I will remember this and take better care of myself in the future. You should also take good care of yourself. The position of defender is not easy either."

Looking into Yan Yuan's eyes, one could see a calmness and maturity unlike the fierceness on the field, and one could sense the sincerity and weight in his words.

He nodded vigorously, a relieved smile spreading across his face:

"That's right, Yan, that's the smart thing to do. Protect yourself so you can play longer and win more championships!"

After saying that, he opened his arms and gave Yan Yuan a powerful hug.

"Good luck! Looking forward to our next match!" Upamecano patted Yan Yuan on the back and turned to walk towards his teammates.

Yan Yuan stood still, watching this "friend" from his rival leave.

Player Upamecano's interaction level has reached 100%, unlocking the skill "Turbocharged Press," with a skill matching rate of 81%.

The system issued a reminder.

The early summer breeze, carrying the scent of grass, swept across the field.

The crowd of fans in the stands continued to surge, cheering for their victory.

Yan Yuan turned around and ran towards his teammates who were celebrating wildly, to share their joy.

The league title salad and the German Cup at the Berlin Olympic Stadium shimmered with an alluring light for him and for the entire Hoffenheim.

This time, he will face the final challenge of the season with a more mature mindset and a healthier body.