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

Tonight, at Porto's home stadium, the Estádio do Dragão, Hoffenheim's first leg of the Champions League knockout stage kicks off in just over ten minutes.

For Hoffenheim, a small village team making their Champions League knockout stage debut, they have already gotten used to the pressure of playing at the opponent's home ground.

Because these guys have already been to Anfield, and no matter how intense the atmosphere at the Estádio do Dragão is, it can never compare to that.

Tension and excitement were mixed on the faces of the Hoffenheim players. Countless eyes across Europe were watching this new team, wondering how far they could go.

Especially this kid named Yan Yuan, many people want to see how he performs next.

From the commentary booth, the commentator's voice rang out clearly through the noise:

"Tonight is absolutely historic! Hoffenheim makes their Champions League knockout stage debut at the Estádio do Dragão! Nagelsmann's youthful storm against Porto's seasoned European experience—how they get off to a good start will be crucial!"

"beep!!!"

As soon as the whistle blew, Hockville sprang up like a spring that had been holding back for a long time.

Forwards Uth and attacking midfielder Grillitsch took turns pouncing on Porto's metronome Danilo, trying to cut off the source of the attack.

With the wings contracting inwards, Yan Yuan pressed tightly against the gap between Telles and the center-back, like a moving gate.

Hoffenheim's defense was pushed high, with De Jong dropping very deep to form a temporary three-man defense with Vogt and Maguire, creating a formidable defensive net in Porto's backfield.

Porto also made a decisive decision.

Danilo, along with Marcano and Felipe, the experienced center-back pairing, demonstrated skillful ball control and exceptionally solid triangular passing.

The pressure from the opening of the match in Hoffenheim was patiently resolved time and time again.

Porto's coach knew that Hoffenheim's right-winger, Kaderabek, was a potential breakthrough point, so he ordered the left-wing striker Telles and the agile Brahimi to immediately unleash their full attacking potential.

The commentator caught the change: "Porto has avoided Hoffenheim's midfield sharpness, the ball is tilting heavily to the left! Brahimi gets the ball, Telles overlaps on the wing! Kaderabek needs to be careful!"

At the same time, Marega also moved far to the weak side, trying to tie down Hoffenheim's defender Schulz and prevent Hoffenheim's flanks from easily providing cover.

In the 17th minute, Brahimi, like a scalpel, used a series of feints on the left wing to shake off Kaderabek's center of gravity and made a run down the wing!

The ball was launched quickly and flat, flying straight towards the penalty spot.

Porto's tall player, Aboubakar, arrived at the last moment and almost headed the ball.

The ball was about to hit the net.

With a muffled thud, a tall figure at the far post of Hoffenheim firmly blocked the ball and headed it out of bounds!

That tall figure is Maguire!

"A crucial clearance! Aboubakar was in position, but Maguire was as solid as a wall! Hoffenheim escaped a close call!!" the commentator exclaimed, the sound of Porto fans' regretful sighs instantly drowning out the commentator's voice.

The continuous high-pressure tactics were extremely taxing and did not achieve the desired effect. Instead, they gave Porto more room to exploit the attacking opportunities on the flanks.

Nagelsmann observed from the sidelines, and then a clear tactical shift signal was transmitted to the field through gestures and shouts: attack the right flank!

Yan Yuan quickly grasped the tactical changes.

He no longer simply restrained others, but began to frequently switch between two roles:

He would sometimes hug the sideline, forcing Telles to be unable to tuck in, thus creating a passage for Kaderabek behind him;

At times, he appears like a ghost, suddenly cutting inwards towards the ribs, forming a "diagonal duet" with De Jong, who is positioned at the back.

De Jong was equally impressive, his gaze sweeping across the entire situation like a radar.

In the 28th minute, De Jong received a somewhat awkward back pass behind the center circle, and Porto players were closing in on him.

De Jong turned his body halfway, his right leg swinging very little, while his left foot provided exceptionally stable support.

He controlled the ball almost in place in the tight encirclement, and facing two people pressing him, he deftly flicked the ball to the left and turned, instantly shaking off the first layer of pressure!

The commentator exclaimed, "De Jong! Brilliant turn! After that turn, the pressure on Hoffenheim has basically disappeared. It has to be said, it was an absolutely brilliant defusal!"

De Jong demonstrated his domineering nature as a pushcart driver.

De Jong didn't take another step. The moment he looked up, his gaze was already locked on the relatively spacious green space on the far right.

A long pass with the left foot swept across the air above the Dragon Stadium.

The ball traveled nearly half the distance of the field, passed through the crowd, and fell with just the right speed.

Yan Yuan quickly started his move. He didn't just wait for the ball in place, but anticipated the route and cut directly to the outside.

Telles chased back with all his might, and just as the ball was falling, Yan Yuan gently tapped it with the instep of his right foot, his body following the trajectory of the ball!

This ball control was thanks to his excellent ball control.

The commentator exclaimed excitedly, "Yan Yuan, beautiful pass! Telles is now a body length behind!"

Just as Telles was desperately chasing back and center-back Felipe was preparing to cover, Yan Yuan didn't even look at them, nor did he stop the ball to adjust.

He used the outside of his foot to pass the ball directly to Kaderabek, who had already made a high-speed run-up to the wing!

Kaderabek has a smooth road ahead!

Without hesitation, he dribbled the ball towards the baseline.

At the same time, Yan Yuan didn't hesitate, making a decisive diagonal run in the opposite direction, heading straight for the edge of the penalty area.

His running was without hesitation, with a clear purpose of attraction.

Felipe felt a chill run down his spine and instinctively abandoned any potential other candidates, sticking close to Yan Yuan and blocking his route of support.

Another center-back, Marcano, was pushed aside by Grillitsch's clever drop-back movement.

In a flash, Kaderabek's low cross whistled through the six-yard box!

At the near post, Ute appeared like a ghost from behind Marcano, getting ahead of the onrushing Casillas to block him.

A powerful shot!

"Whoosh!"

"Uth!!!" the commentator screamed, "GOALLLLLL! Hoffenheim! Their first goal in the Champions League knockout stage came from a perfect team effort on the right flank! Kaderabek's cross was absolutely perfect! Uth's run was deadly! But all of this stemmed from De Jong's long pass that crossed the entire field and Yan Yuan's exquisite handling and positioning! He drew Felipe away! Porto's defense has been torn open!"

The Dragon Stadium fell into a deathly silence in an instant, except for the deafening roars of the Hoffenheim fans who had traveled from afar from the corner of the stands!

Nagelsmann pumped his fist hard on the sidelines, his face showing a rare expression of excitement.

Taking the lead did not cause Porto to panic.

The goal conceded only fueled the ferocity of this strong Portuguese team.

They quickly continued to concentrate their forces on the left flank, with Telles and Brahimi taking turns attacking the defensive line defended by Kaderabek. Kaderabek, whose stamina was beginning to deplete, faced increasing pressure.

Herrera also participated more in the attack, pressing forward.

Ten minutes before halftime, the storm arrived.

It was another attack from the left flank.

Brahimi used a series of feints to cut inside, drawing the attention of Hoffenheim's defensive midfielders Grillitsch and Amiri before calmly passing the ball to Telles, who was in open space on the wing, instead of making a strong run.

Telles made a slight adjustment and crossed the ball without hesitation!

This pass was not a low cross, but a high-arcing, deep 45-degree through ball that flew straight into the depths of the Hoffenheim penalty area.

Aboubakar leaped high at the near post to create cover, interfering with goalkeeper Baumann's judgment.

This time, Maguire stayed close to Marega, and the two engaged in a fierce battle in the air.

The commentator shouted, "Maguire's moment has arrived again! They're contesting the header..."

In the footage, Maguire, with his superior height and jumping ability, overpowered Marega and headed the ball away!

However, this clearance failed to go far enough, landing right at the edge of the penalty area!

The crowd was in chaos.

In a flash, a figure arrived on horseback—it was Oliver Torres!

He astutely spotted the second bounce and, before the ball even hit the ground, deftly volleyed it across to the edge of the penalty area!

With no one marking him, Marega rushed forward, his left foot tensed, and unleashed a powerful shot!

The ball flew like a cannonball, skimming the grass and heading straight for the corner.

Bowman's view was blocked, and he leaped to make the save, but it was too late!

"Mariga!!! A world-class goal!!" The Porto commentator went wild.

"Beautiful! Equalizer! Oliver Torres' assist was perfect! Marega's shot was unstoppable! 1-1! Porto responded strongly just before halftime!"

The Dragon Stadium erupted in cheers, with red flags waving wildly.

Maguire slammed his fist on the ground in frustration. Captain Vogt walked over, patted him on the shoulder, and yelled encouragement to his teammates to keep going.

"Wake up, everyone! It's only a tie!!!"

At the end of the first half, Porto launched a corner kick attack.

Telles's crosses were of extremely high quality, repeatedly striking the heart of Hoffenheim's penalty area.

But one figure stood out from the crowd inside the restricted area.

Every time he leaped high to contest a header, every time he knocked the ball away with tremendous force, it was Maguire who did it!

In Hoffenheim's current squad, Maguire is the absolute aerial dominator.

The commentator was equally moved:

"Felipe, Maguire has taken him away again, Aboubakar is back! And it's Maguire again???"

Incredible aerial dominance! He won three consecutive aerial battles! He was practically an aerial fortress in Hoffenheim's penalty area!

As the halftime whistle blew, Maguire was panting heavily, his jersey soaked with sweat, surrounded by teammates patting him on the shoulder in greeting.

The score was 1-1, and the first half ended in a heated exchange of offense and defense.

At the start of the second half, Hoffenheim made a tactical change.

Attacking midfielder Grillitsch dropped significantly back to form a temporary three-man midfield with De Jong and Amiri.

Yan Yuan and Gnabry, the two wingers, also moved inwards to the center, forming a moving barrier that tightly sealed off the space in front of the penalty area.

Nagelsmann is betting on the exceptional aerial ability of the tall center-back pairing of Maguire and Vogt.

And the lack of offensive capabilities of Marega and Aboubakar in positional warfare.

The effect is immediate.

Porto's habitual central penetration ran into Hoffenheim's impenetrable defense.

Torres' several attempts to deliver through balls forward were either intercepted or disrupted.

Herrera's forward runs were also firmly marked by Grillitsch.

The ball had to be repeatedly passed to the wings, making crosses the primary option.

However, both Telles and Ricardo Pereira on the right wing saw their crosses fall far short of the quality they had in the first half, hampered by Hoffenheim's dense central defense and constantly jumping defensive midfielders.

The commentary also pointed out the changes in the data:

"Hoffenheim's temporary three-defensive-midfielder system has been remarkably effective, forcing Porto to launch continuous crosses, but their success rate has plummeted."

Porto's crosses were extremely threatening in the first half, but now their success rate has plummeted to less than 20%! Hoffenheim's midfield interception efficiency, on the other hand, has skyrocketed. The current situation is very unfavorable for Porto!

The game became deadlocked, with both sides engaging in fierce battles in the midfield area, and possession changing hands repeatedly.

In the 60th minute, Hoffenheim was brewing another attacking threat. This time, their attack suddenly shifted to the left flank!

Schulz and Gnabry executed quick one-two passes in quick succession, their sharp forward runs instantly penetrating Porto's first line of defense on the right flank.

Porto captain and right-back Ricardo Pereira was forced to drop inside to cover.

Just as Porto's defensive focus was being completely drawn to Hoffenheim's feint attack on the left flank,

Huocun's true intentions are gradually becoming clear.

In the 68th minute, De Jong once again made a textbook defensive interception near the center circle.

He accurately predicted Herrera's pass to Torres and made a precise tackle to intercept the ball.

Despite being surrounded and pressed, De Jong remained calm and maintained his own rhythm.

Instead of controlling the ball and turning as he usually does, he immediately used his body to protect possession of the ball and delivered a very simple short pass with the outside of his foot to Yan Yuan, who had retreated to the side!

Yan Yuan had already begun to retreat and receive the ball the moment De Jong intercepted it.

He knew this was the golden moment for the transition between offense and defense!

He received the ball with his back to goal, while Porto's midfield was still adjusting from attack to defense.

Telles immediately pressed forward, forcefully shoving and bumping into him from behind.

Yan Yuan's body was exceptionally stable, his center of gravity steadily lowered, and he used his torso to lean against Teres, so he was not at a disadvantage in the standing confrontation.

He didn't rush to turn around, nor did he even try to make a feint to get rid of the situation.

Because just a fraction of a second before receiving the ball, he only glanced left and right out of the corner of his eye.

At the edge of the field of vision, in that open area on the far left flank, Gnabry ran out!

Then, Yan Yuan leaned against Teresa and swayed slightly to the right, as if trying to turn around.

Teres instinctively shifted his center of gravity slightly to Yan Yuan's right.

In that split second, Yan Yuan precisely adjusted the direction of his left supporting foot, aligning it with the direction of the pass!

He didn't even fully turn around to face the direction of the pass.

Relying directly on the directional sense of the supporting foot and the instantaneous power of the waist and abdomen, he delivered a powerful, accurate, and low pass with the inside of his right foot!

The ball, like a sharp knife, flew along the grass, swiftly crossing Porto's still-unclosed midfield line, heading straight for the green field on the left side of the attacking third!

"Yan Yuan, he held off Teres, turned around! Long pass!!" The commentator's voice suddenly rose.

The ball traveled nearly 20 meters, bounced slightly after landing, and rolled along the sideline at just the right speed for Gnabry to sprint over it at full speed!

Ricardo Pereira was completely out of position, forcing the other center-back, Marcano, to drift wide to cover.

He was still several meters away from Gnabry!

Gnabry, like a wild horse, dribbled straight into the penalty area.

In the last game, Gnabry complained about wasting Yan Yuan's brilliant assist. This time, he won't make any rash decisions.

Gnabry remained unusually calm in the face of Casillas's rapid movement to block the near corner.

He first made a feint as if he was going to shoot into the far corner, which tricked Casillas into shifting his center of gravity slightly. Then he pushed hard with the instep of his left foot!

The ball darted past Casillas' armpit and rolled into the far corner of the goal, causing the net to tremble violently!

"Gnabry!!! GOALLLLLL!!! Take the lead!! 2-1!" The commentator was almost frantic.

"A textbook counter-attack! De Jong intercepts the ball and initiates! Yan Yuan! Genius vision and passing! He's still battling Telles! He can barely see over there, but he just knows Gnabry is there! That low pass was perfect! It completely pierced Porto's left flank! Gnabry's execution was flawless!"

The Hoffenheim bench erupted in cheers. Nagelsmann didn't celebrate excitedly; he simply clapped his hands vigorously, his eyes gleaming, and nodded slightly to the field.

This is a sign of tactical success.

Porto suffered another blow, falling behind on aggregate with little time remaining.

They had no choice but to launch a full-scale attack, as this was their home turf!

Porto pushed all three lines forward, almost abandoning the midfield, and even their center-backs began to risk pushing past the midfield line.

Possession of the ball was concentrated at Porto's feet, who passed it back and forth, attempting to break through Hoffenheim's defense in front of the penalty area.

The pressure on the Hoffenheim defense has increased dramatically, and the penalty area is on edge.

In the 78th minute, Telles once again delivered a high-quality cross from the left wing.

The arc was very high, and the ball landed directly at the far post of the goal!

This is Porto's key offensive weapon.

The penalty area was packed with players from both sides!

Aboubakar jumped with all his might at the back post, and almost simultaneously, Maguire soared into the air like a rocket!

His enormous figure looked like it blotted out the sky!

The air completely obscured Abubakar's view from the side!

This time, the clearance was even more thorough. Instead of heading the ball out of bounds, he used his amazing core strength to head the ball directly towards the center circle!

"It's Maguire again! Air superiority! Absolute air dominance! I dare say Maguire will definitely go to a top club in the future!!!" the commentator exclaimed.

The ball flew like a cannonball, soaring over the scrambling crowd and heading towards the center circle!

Grealich launched himself like an arrow released from a bow.

He judged the landing point with great accuracy, and before Danilo could turn around to intercept, he used his chest to steadily deflect the ball in front of him!

The moment he looked up to observe, another blue figure sped towards Porto's extremely empty backfield like a sports car starting up!

It was Yan Yuan who ran out again.

When Grealich was trying to get a landing spot before he started, Yan Yuan did not blindly rush forward.

He first moved a small step to the side and made a lateral pulling motion.

It was this small change in rhythm that caused the Porto player, who was originally preparing to mark him, to hesitate for a moment.

We were a step too slow in responding!

The moment Grealich steadied the ball and looked up to observe.

Yan Yuan then floored the accelerator and sprinted at full speed along the right side of the middle road!

In the instant of the shift from offense to defense, the flow of time seems to be slowed down.

Every move Grealich made—receiving the ball with his back to goal and adjusting his direction—was watched by everyone.

He could feel Danilo's pressure coming from behind, and he could also see the position of Marcano, the only Porto center-back who was left to track back in the backfield.

Yan Yuan's timing of starting and the route he took were almost reflexive choices, as if he didn't think at all.

It's not that Yan Yuan didn't think; rather, he had already completed his thought process.

Grealich didn't even need to see the exact location clearly; he only needed to look at Yan Yuan.

Yan Yuan's sprinting posture and the wide gap behind him were the clearest signals.

Just as Danilo was about to close in, Grillitsch braced himself with his left foot and delivered a through ball with his right foot in an extremely subtle and precise manner!

The ball seemed to be under a spell, hugging the grass tightly, fast and tricky.

He squeezed right through the only gap between Felipe, who was trying to create an offside position, and Marcano, who was desperately chasing back!

The timing difference created by Yan Yuan's small lateral movement when he started placed him in a position that was almost parallel to Felipe but not offside!

"Offside? No! It's a good goal! Yan! Offside successfully broken! He's going to be one-on-one with the goalkeeper!!!" the commentator shouted hoarsely.

Grillitsch's through ball was beautiful, and Yan Yuan's support was also excellent.

Casillas had no choice but to rush out of his goal in an attempt to reduce Yan Yuan's shooting angle.

Yan Yuan caught up with the ball at high speed and dribbled straight into the penalty area!

Casillas had already spread his arms, blocking the way like a moving wall.

As Yan Yuan ran, he thought of goalkeeper Casillas's save habits, his own shooting angle, and the distance of the player he was chasing.

But all of this happened in the blink of an eye.

Without slowing down his pace at all, just as he was about to step into the penalty area, he naturally flicked the ball to the outside with his right foot!

The movement is small in amplitude but extremely fluid, like a tiny adjustment step during high-speed dribbling.

But the timing and angle of this flick were just right.

It landed precisely at the critical moment when Casillas was leaning forward with his knees bent, about to dive and make a save!

Casillas lunged forward, trying to catch the ball or block the path.

But Yan Yuan's perfectly timed outward flick sent the ball away from the area that Casillas could just touch with his toes!

Casillas was unable to regain his balance, and the lunge caused him to fall forward.

He could only watch helplessly as Yan Yuan deftly brushed past his falling body with an extremely smooth flicking motion!

Before me lay a vast, empty gate!

Yan Yuan didn't even need to adjust his footwork. He simply took a step in the direction of the ball and easily pushed it into the empty net with the inside of his right foot.

"Goal!!!! 3-1!! Yan!! Calmly dribbled past Casillas! Pushed into the empty net! The Hoffenheim terminator has sealed the victory!!!" The commentary booth erupted in cheers.

"A brilliant change of rhythm, with a gentle flick, he completely outmaneuvered Casillas, one of the world's best goalkeepers!"

That football IQ! That clutch performance in front of goal! They sealed the game! Hoffenheim 3-1 at the Estádio do Dragão, they've announced their arrival!

The moment the ball rolled into the net, Yan Yuan turned and rushed towards the corner of the Hoffenheim fans' stands, opening his arms to welcome the tsunami-like cheers!

The substitutes on the bench couldn't wait any longer and rushed onto the field.

Nagelsmann could no longer contain his elation. The usually composed young coach pumped his fists on the sidelines, pounding the roof of the coaching bench twice, a broad, triumphant smile spreading across his face.

The final minutes of the match were practically a treat for Hoffenheim.

De Jong dropped further back, even positioning himself between Vogt and Maguire, transforming into a sweeper and backfield commander.

Yan Yuan no longer stayed on the forward line, but instead flexibly dropped back to the center circle area.

The commentator astutely captured this detail:

"Look at Yan Yuan's position. He has dropped deep into midfield, forming two stable pivots for possession with De Jong. Hoffenheim is starting to cleverly run down the clock."

Whenever the ball comes to Yan Yuan's feet, he doesn't rush to pass it forward. Instead, he steadily controls the rhythm, using his footwork and physical contact to pass the ball calmly in a safe area.

Yan Yuan is a master at procrastinating.

His short passing coordination with De Jong and Amiri was excellent, becoming a powerful weapon for Hoffenheim to control the game and wear down the opponent's last will.

As the final whistle blew, the Estádio do Dragão stadium was enveloped in immense disappointment, except for the jubilant crowd in that blue corner.

Hoffenheim's players embraced tightly to celebrate this historic away victory!

The commentator summarized:

"A victory of tactics and execution! The 3-1 scoreline is a perfect answer! Hoffenheim delivered a flawless performance in their Champions League knockout stage debut!"

This team is not just there to make up the numbers; Nagelsmann's team has a clear mind and a tenacious will.

Especially the young Yan, he deserved the title of top scorer, with a decisive assist and a brilliant one-on-one goal that sealed the victory...

This season, Hoffenheim is not a flash in the pan; they've struck gold! Their Champions League journey is something everyone should look forward to!

After the match, Nagelsmann and his players left the Estádio do Dragão with their heads held high, under the watchful eyes of all of Europe.

Their steps carried the weariness of a fierce battle, yet were filled with an unshakeable, youthful vigor.

In the very center of the Hoffenheim players' formation was that 17-year-old figure with a strong physique.

Yan Yuan was surrounded by the rest of the team.

His number 17 jersey looked particularly eye-catching.