When the clock ticked past the ninety-fifth minute, David Beckham whipped in a trademark cross from the right flank. Raúl rose inside the box, unmarked, and nodded the ball into the Ajax net — a goal that salvaged a sliver of pride for the home side.
Just in front of the presidential box, where Florentino Pérez sat stiffly in his chair, Raúl finally broke through. The stadium, however, remained subdued. The Real Madrid fans chanted his name — "Raúl! Raúl!" — but it was half-hearted, almost ceremonial.
It was nothing like the thunderous ovation they had given Yang Yang just minutes earlier.
1–3.
As soon as Ajax restarted play from the center circle, Italian referee Stefano Farina brought the match to a close with three sharp whistles.
Final score: Real Madrid 1, Ajax 3.
A stunned silence fell across the Santiago Bernabéu.
Yang Yang — who had just written his name into European football history with a spectacular hat-trick — walked off the pitch surrounded by teammates, while stunned Real Madrid players slowly made their way toward the tunnel, heads bowed.
This was Real Madrid's first home defeat in a European match at the Bernabéu in forty months.
But more than just the result, it was the manner of the loss that turned frustration into fury.
All around the stands, thousands of Real Madrid fans rose to their feet — not to applaud, but to boo.
Cries of "¡Florentino dimisión!" rang out from every corner of the stadium. Florentino out!
The slogans were accompanied by jeers, whistles, and open displays of disgust directed toward the players on the pitch — the so-called Galácticos — many of whom had failed to show the effort or composure expected at this level.
It wasn't just the loss. It was the embarrassment.
To be dismantled like this — at home, in front of the world, by Ajax — was unacceptable to the Madrid faithful.
High in the presidential stand, Florentino Pérez stood slowly, his expression stone-like. Without a word, he turned and left his seat, accompanied by his aides. The whistles and chants followed him down the stairs, echoing in his ears.
No one knew exactly what was going through the Real Madrid president's mind.
But one thing was certain:
This defeat would have consequences.
...
...
Yang Yang had been substituted in the 86th minute.
At the time, Real Madrid had thrown everything forward in desperation. Their midfield pressed with urgency, their fullbacks flew high, and every ball forward felt like a last gasp. In one of these moments, as Ajax scrambled back into shape, Yang Yang tracked all the way to the defensive third. Zidane tried to carry the ball forward through the middle — and Yang, perhaps a step too late and overzealous in his effort, clipped him from behind.
The referee did not hesitate. A yellow card.
Ronald Koeman, who had already been planning to rest his star forward with the match nearly decided, immediately signaled for a substitution. Applause rained from the away supporters in the upper corner of the Bernabéu as Yang jogged off, breathing heavily, sweat pouring down his face.
Now, as the final whistle echoed through the stadium, he sprinted back onto the pitch like a man reborn — fists clenched, shouting in triumph. He threw himself into the arms of his teammates, overcome with joy.
Ajax had done it.
A 3–1 away victory at the Santiago Bernabéu — the fortress of European football, breached emphatically by the team from Amsterdam.
With a three-goal lead going into the return leg, Ajax had taken a commanding step toward the Champions League quarterfinals.
"Excellent work, everyone! Well done!" Ronald Koeman was nearly shouting as he gathered the players together on the pitch.
Two years ago, he had brought a talented but raw Ajax side to this same stadium — and watched helplessly as a 1–0 halftime lead crumbled into a 4–1 defeat. That memory had haunted him. But tonight, it was redemption.
Now, the same coach, with a team built on resilience and youth, had taken Real Madrid apart on their own turf.
He turned to Yang Yang, his eyes shining.
"And you," Koeman said, pointing to him, "you were incredible tonight. All of Ajax is proud of you. You're our hero — our pride."
The players surrounding them cheered, shouting Yang's name and clapping him on the back.
Ajax was not a club that handed out praise lightly. Admiration had to be earned, and Koeman was a hard man to impress. That he spoke so openly and emotionally was a testament to how deeply this result resonated with him.
Assistant coach Ruud Krol stepped forward next, wearing a far more serious expression.
"Yang," he began in a measured tone, "you've now picked up your second yellow card in the Champions League."
Yang's face changed slightly, his joy giving way to brief confusion.
"Two?" he asked. "Already?"
He genuinely hadn't kept track. As a forward, he didn't often find himself on the referee's bad side — and his bookings, both of them, had come from the same thing: tracking back to defend.
"The first came against Arsenal, remember?" Krol said. "And tonight's was your second. Both times you were helping in defense, which is admirable — but you need to be careful."
According to UEFA regulations, a player who accumulates three yellow cards across Champions League matches faces an automatic one-match suspension.
That was a risk Ajax simply could not afford.
No one blamed Yang Yang — on the contrary, both of his cautions came from commitment and effort. Against Arsenal, he stopped a dangerous counterattack. Tonight, he tried to break up Real Madrid's final push.
And he wasn't alone. Other attacking players, like Charisteas and Pienaar, had also been booked while dropping deep to help.
The concern, however, was that all of these yellow cards were piling up in European matches. They wouldn't carry over to the Eredivisie — but they would follow them through the Champions League.
Koeman gave a small chuckle, easing the tension for a moment.
"I hope I won't need you to defend anymore," he said with a wry smile.
The squad burst into laughter. Even Yang grinned.
If only football were so simple.
Everyone in that locker room understood the reality. The deeper you went into the Champions League, the stronger the opponents became. And for a team like Ajax, still building, still young, still underestimated, there was no escaping the need to fight for every inch.
"I'll be careful," Yang said, nodding. "I promise."
...
...
"I'm very satisfied with every aspect of the game tonight," Ronald Koeman said at the post-match press conference. "Especially with Yang Yang."
The Ajax head coach's tone was calm, but his pride was unmistakable. He sat in front of the press, jacket unbuttoned, voice steady, the tension of the evening now washed away by the glow of victory.
"He's an incredible player," Koeman continued. "It's hard to believe he's only nineteen. Tonight, with a hat-trick, he led this team to a historic win at the Santiago Bernabéu."
He paused, then added firmly, "But of course, the credit doesn't belong to him alone. Everyone in this team fought tonight. It was a collective effort — a disciplined, united performance. Each of us has reason to be proud."
Koeman, still in a visibly good mood, even addressed the elephant in the room — the persistent rumours surrounding Yang Yang's potential transfer.
"He's our leader. And in any team, the leader is crucial. Losing him would affect more than just tactics — it would affect belief, spirit, identity. That's not something anyone wants to happen," he said. "We will try our best to convince him to stay, but football is unpredictable. Things change all the time."
Reporters nodded knowingly. The coach had essentially admitted the truth — Ajax were bracing for life after Yang Yang.
And after what happened at the Bernabéu tonight, the speculation would only intensify.
With a hat-trick against Real Madrid on the biggest stage in club football, Yang Yang hadn't just impressed — he had made a statement. The doubts some clubs might have had about his consistency or his ability to deliver against Europe's elite were now silenced.
If his performances until now had generated interest, this one ignited a firestorm.
For Koeman, this wasn't new. For over a year, every press conference had included at least one question about Yang Yang's future. Tonight would be no different — only now the headlines would carry more certainty than curiosity.
Koeman also dismissed the suggestion from a few Spanish outlets that Ajax already considered themselves through to the quarterfinals.
"That's not true," he said. "Real Madrid are still one of the strongest teams in Europe. They're capable of scoring three or four goals in twenty minutes — we've seen that before. I'm certain they'll come to Amsterdam ready to fight with everything they have."
"We must stay focused. We have one foot in the quarterfinals, yes, but the other is still standing on the pitch. If we lose our focus, we'll pay for it."
Asked whether he would adopt a more conservative strategy in the second leg, Koeman shook his head.
"I believe in attacking football. It's our identity. We had chances tonight to score four, maybe even five. In the first ten minutes alone, we missed two clear opportunities. That has to be a warning. We need to be more clinical."
While Koeman calmly fielded praise, Real Madrid manager Juan Ramón López Caro was enduring a barrage of criticism.
He faced an unforgiving press corps.
Questions came fast and sharp: his tactical choices, his selection, his in-game adjustments — all under the microscope.
A 1–3 loss at home, in the Champions League, was not just a defeat — it was a humiliation.
But Caro tried to remain composed.
"This isn't the end of the world," he said. "We lost today, but we're not eliminated. I believe in this team. I believe we will respond in Amsterdam."
He was quick to acknowledge Ajax's quality. "They're not an underdog. They're a complete side — tactically sharp, physically strong, and mentally disciplined."
And on Yang Yang?
Caro didn't hold back.
"He doesn't need to prove anything to anyone anymore. He's already among the world's best young players — maybe among the best overall. His speed, his close control at pace, and his ability to attack defenders in transition — it's special."
Caro glanced down for a moment before continuing.
"Our defenders tried everything tonight. They really did. But they couldn't stop him."
Then came the inevitable question: would Real Madrid pursue Yang Yang in the summer?
The coach smiled faintly.
"The Spanish style suits him. Our league suits him. And yes, Real Madrid is the biggest stage in world football. With the talent he has, he would thrive here. But right now, he belongs to Ajax."
It was a carefully constructed answer — a compliment, a welcome, and a deflection all in one.
But the media didn't care about the polite disclaimer. They pounced on the rest.
By the time Caro left the press room, headlines were already being written:
"Caro Opens the Door to Yang Yang: Madrid Awaits"
"Hat Trick Hero Linked to Real: The Next Galáctico?"
"The King of the Bernabéu Is Coming Home?"
It wasn't just media hype. The signs were everywhere.
Florentino Pérez had publicly promised to pursue Yang Yang. Ronaldo, Robinho, Raúl — they had all expressed admiration. Now, even the manager had gone on record.
And with this performance, Yang Yang hadn't just entered Real Madrid's radar — he had lit up their entire sky.
For many, it no longer felt like a question of if.
Only when.
But not everyone believed it was so certain…