Watching Yang Yang sprint toward the touchline in celebration of his second goal, Lionel Messi felt a surge of frustration.
Compared to Yang Yang's brilliance, he had been subdued all night.
It was not just him. The entire Barcelona side looked flat and disjointed.
Was the team's involvement in multiple competitions finally beginning to take its toll?
There were certainly elements of fatigue, especially in the second half. But that alone did not explain everything.
Before this match, Messi had played only two recent fixtures—twenty-two minutes as a substitute at home against Racing Santander, and thirty-five minutes off the bench away to Valencia. He had not yet found rhythm, let alone his sharpest form.
Frank Rijkaard had started him in the hope that he could form a dynamic partnership with Ronaldinho, creating symmetry and unpredictability across both flanks.
But that was precisely what Rafael Benítez was determined to prevent.
Benítez had specifically deployed Álvaro Arbeloa on the right side to neutralize Messi. Arbeloa, naturally right-footed but operating as a left-back, was positioned to deny Messi the inside channel—his most dangerous route.
And how effective was that decision?
In the first forty-five minutes alone, Barcelona dominated possession overwhelmingly. Yet Messi had only sixteen touches of the ball and completed just twelve passes, most of them near the touchline and far from dangerous areas.
Arbeloa's defensive approach was disciplined and suffocating. He cut off passing lanes from the centre and left, denying Messi the chance to receive the ball between the lines. Whenever Messi drifted wide and took possession near the sideline, Arbeloa immediately blocked the inside path, forcing him outward.
Messi's right foot, never his preferred weapon, posed little threat from those angles.
On the opposite flank, Ronaldinho gradually became isolated. In midfield, Barcelona were being suppressed by Liverpool's compact structure. Up front, Javier Saviola had failed to impose himself physically or technically.
Barcelona's attacking framework was close to paralysis.
Messi wanted to change that. He wanted to influence the match, to pull his team back into contention.
But he could not.
Before kickoff, several Catalan media outlets had placed enormous expectations on him. El Mundo Deportivo had even suggested that the night would belong to him.
Instead, as the match unfolded, it had become Yang Yang's night.
Or perhaps more accurately—
it had become Barcelona's nightmare.
...
Messi's helplessness was far from an isolated case. It reflected the frustration of many Barcelona players.
They were all working hard, all trying to elevate their performance. But when the tactical framework itself was being suppressed, individual effort could only go so far. Against a team that controlled space so ruthlessly, their options felt increasingly limited.
In moments like this, everyone instinctively looked toward Ronaldinho.
They hoped he would become the same unstoppable force he had been over the previous two seasons. The magician who could tear apart defensive lines with a flick, a feint, or a sudden burst of inspiration. The player who could break Liverpool's steel wall and drag Barcelona back into the match through sheer brilliance.
But that version of Ronaldinho did not appear.
He moved, he tried, but the aura was different. It was as if a magician had misplaced his wand and no longer possessed the same effortless magic.
Up front, Samuel Eto'o had already fallen out with elements of the coaching staff and management, and was not even included in the squad. That absence removed Barcelona's most direct and explosive attacking outlet. On the touchline, Frank Rijkaard had never been renowned for sharp in-game tactical adjustments. And Messi himself was only nineteen years old—brilliant, but still young, still learning, still developing the authority and composure required to take over nights like this.
In the second half, Barcelona's most threatening moment actually came from Messi.
Receiving the ball on the left side, he slipped a sharp pass inside. Javier Saviola spun past Jamie Carragher, drove into the penalty area, and fired a low shot. Pepe Reina reacted quickly and made the save.
It was a rare flicker of danger.
Later, after regaining possession, Messi cut inside from the flank and attempted to accelerate past Álvaro Arbeloa. He managed to create half a yard and went for goal, but the shot was rushed and blocked by Steve Finnan. The attempt lacked clarity and conviction.
Even then, it failed to truly threaten.
From every angle, Barcelona appeared unable to find an effective solution. They circulated the ball, shifted from side to side, probed the edges of Liverpool's shape, but there was no incision.
On the other hand, Liverpool grew more confident with every passing minute after completing the comeback. Their defensive lines remained compact and disciplined. They absorbed pressure patiently, waiting for the right moment to strike on the counterattack.
Meanwhile, Barcelona's impatience became more visible. Passes were forced. Movements became rushed. Spaces that had once been carefully managed began to open up.
And soon, Liverpool found another opportunity.
...
"Sissoko wins it back from Andrés Iniesta and releases Steven Gerrard!"
"Gerrard carries it down the right—he's driving forward with purpose!"
"Liverpool break at pace—three runners flooding into the attack!"
"Dirk Kuyt cuts diagonally into the penalty area, looking to find space between the centre-backs!"
"Gerrard reaches the right edge of the box—he delivers!"
"Kuyt rises—"
"Saved! Víctor Valdés blocks it with his body!"
"But the ball is still loose inside the six-yard area!"
"Peter Crouch gets there first—he heads it back across goal!"
In the middle of that rapid counterattack, Yang Yang saw Gerrard accelerating down the right flank and deliberately slowed his own movement by half a step.
The delay was intentional.
By holding his run instead of charging straight into the box, he stretched Barcelona's defensive line and created a second wave of threat. He also trusted that if the ball was driven toward the far post, he would arrive at precisely the right moment.
Gerrard's cross initially found Kuyt. The Dutch forward attacked it firmly, but his close-range header was smothered by Valdés.
The rebound dropped into chaos inside the six-yard box.
Yang Yang's eyes immediately shifted toward Crouch.
With his height advantage, Crouch rose above the defenders. There was no clear shooting angle. Instead of forcing an attempt, he intelligently nodded the ball across goal toward the back post.
That was the scenario Yang Yang had anticipated.
He accelerated into the space.
Juliano Belletti reacted quickly and chased from behind. Rafael Márquez also turned, retreating toward the dropping ball while adjusting his body position.
For a brief instant, Yang Yang found himself between the two defenders.
But the momentum favored him.
Márquez was moving backward, trying to regain balance. Yang Yang was attacking the ball at full speed, driving forward with conviction.
As the ball descended, Yang Yang planted his foot and exploded upward.
Because one was retreating and the other advancing, Yang Yang rose higher despite their similar height. Belletti, arriving a fraction too late, could not establish position to jump properly.
The ball arrived directly in front of him.
Yang Yang leaned forward and struck it cleanly with his forehead.
The trajectory changed violently.
The header flashed beyond Valdés and crashed into the net of the Camp Nou.
...
"Wow!"
"Yang Yang again!"
"Goal!"
"Hat trick!"
"Oh my word—Yang Yang has completed a hat trick!"
"This is unbelievable!"
"His leap was extraordinary. He rose above Rafael Márquez with ease. The Mexican centre-back had no chance to compete. He could only watch as Yang Yang powered the header home!"
"3–1! Liverpool are overwhelming Barcelona!"
Yang Yang landed and immediately turned, sprinting toward the sideline.
For the third time that night, he glided across the grass at the Camp Nou.
Nearly ninety-five thousand Barcelona supporters sat in stunned silence. There were no boos now, but there was no applause either. The noise had drained from the stadium, replaced by disbelief.
Strangely, after scoring his third, Yang Yang did not feel the same surge of emotion as with the first two.
The goal had come from sharp anticipation and intelligent movement, but it also carried an element of circumstance. He had deliberately delayed his run, then attacked the space at the perfect moment. Still, the opportunity created by his teammates had been excellent.
Perhaps it was because he had already celebrated twice. Perhaps it was because the execution had felt almost natural.
He simply ran to the touchline, raised his hand briefly, then turned back to embrace his teammates.
"Barcelona are suffering a complete collapse!"
"This is an unacceptable result for them, but Liverpool have unquestionably been sharper and more proactive tonight—especially Yang Yang, who has produced a hat trick at Camp Nou!"
"Frank Rijkaard must reflect on his tactical choices. Ronaldinho and Messi have been clearly restricted by Liverpool's structure, and neither substitution—whether Andrés Iniesta nor Ludovic Giuly—has improved Barcelona's attacking situation."
"That is simply not good enough."
"From 1–0 to 1–3, Barcelona have endured a nightmare turnaround. And to suffer it at Camp Nou may have severely damaged their hopes of progressing from the round of sixteen."
"Still, there is a second leg. If Rijkaard can restore the strongest version of Barcelona, everything remains uncertain."
"In contrast, Rafael Benítez's tactical mastery tonight has been admirable. Liverpool have suppressed Barcelona across the pitch, and Yang Yang's arrival has clearly elevated their attacking threat."
"This hat trick is the perfect proof."
After celebrating with his teammates, Yang Yang jogged toward the visiting technical area. He extended his hand to Benítez and then embraced him briefly, before turning to greet assistant coach Pako Ayestarán as well.
For both men, Yang Yang felt deep respect.
Benítez was the head coach under whom he had experienced the most sophisticated tactical preparation. The Spaniard seemed to anticipate almost every scenario that could unfold during a match, considering details others overlooked.
At times, Yang Yang even wondered whether this expressionless, methodical man was some kind of machine.
Ayestarán, by contrast, always wore a gentle smile.
Yang Yang often found himself curious about how two such different personalities had come together so seamlessly, forming a partnership that worked so well.
As he turned away from the technical area, he passed Lionel Messi.
The Argentine looked discouraged.
Yang Yang nodded politely.
Messi appeared slightly surprised, but he quickly returned the nod.
On the pitch, players compete fiercely. But respect remains.
Yang Yang also remembered clearly that at the FIFA awards ceremony in December, Ronaldinho had jokingly told him that he and Messi would be waiting for him at Camp Nou.
At the time, the Brazilian had been warm and enthusiastic.
Who could have imagined that just two months later, the situation would change so dramatically?
An unbreakable fortress often collapses from within.
As the defending champions of the UEFA Champions League, Barcelona had not only lost to Liverpool tonight. More importantly, they had lost to themselves.
Perhaps from the moment Samuel Eto'o publicly revealed internal tensions between the dressing room and management, the seeds of decline had already been planted.
With that realization, Yang Yang understood something even more clearly.
For a club like Liverpool to maintain a united and cohesive dressing room was far more difficult—and far more valuable—than it appeared from the outside.
...
...
3–1. Liverpool had secured a magnificent victory.
This was not self-praise from Yang Yang or his teammates. It was the assessment given by a Spanish journalist during the post-match press conference.
Rafael Benítez appeared composed as he faced the media.
"This is a match worth remembering," he said calmly.
"Before the game, many journalists suggested this would be Spanish artistry overwhelming English physicality. I disagreed. I said the atmosphere between the two teams would be very good. Tonight you saw that both the process and the result reflected a high-level contest."
His words caused visible discomfort in the room.
Of course he was satisfied. He had won. But what about Barcelona?
Did Frank Rijkaard, seated beside him, think the atmosphere was good?
Benítez did not stop there. He subtly addressed the tone taken by certain Catalan media before kickoff.
Some outlets had suggested that the gap between Barcelona and Liverpool was so vast that Liverpool were hardly worthy of consideration.
Benítez had responded before the match by reminding them that Liverpool were Champions League winners in 2005, while Barcelona were champions in 2006. It was a meeting between the last two European champions.
Now, as the victor, he allowed himself a faint smile.
"Perhaps in the eyes of many Barcelona supporters, we were never considered a real opponent. But tonight, at Camp Nou, that 'non-opponent' has taken away an away victory."
The remark was restrained but sharp.
Not only did Rijkaard appear uncomfortable, but several journalists in attendance shifted uneasily.
In the previous two seasons, Barcelona had been widely praised across Europe. The so-called Dream Team, led by Ronaldinho, had commanded admiration everywhere.
Yet tonight, that celebrated side had been outplayed.
Benítez attributed the win primarily to the team's efficiency on the counterattack, highlighting Yang Yang as decisive.
"I am very satisfied with the players. They worked extremely hard. They stayed disciplined and focused. Beating Barcelona is never easy, especially here. But our counterattacks were executed with precision."
"I am very happy to see Yang Yang always arriving in the right position. He is a player in whom I can hardly find fault. He trains with dedication and plays with commitment."
"Last season he scored a hat trick at the Bernabéu. This season he has done the same at Camp Nou. It makes for a good story. But he is only twenty years old. He still has considerable room to improve."
Benítez also emphasized the importance of Liverpool's ten-day training camp in Portugal, describing it as crucial preparation.
However, he was careful not to declare the tie finished.
"There is still a second leg. We have seized an opportunity, nothing more. Barcelona are unpredictable and capable of extraordinary performances. Any team that becomes complacent will suffer."
He concluded by thanking the Liverpool supporters who had travelled to Spain.
In the closing minutes of the match, a small but determined group of away fans had sung "You'll Never Walk Alone." Their voices briefly carried above the ninety thousand home supporters inside Camp Nou.
In contrast to Benítez's composed satisfaction, Rijkaard appeared visibly disappointed.
The Dutch coach admitted that after taking the lead, his team had fallen into excessive possession and lost urgency.
"We slowed down unconsciously. We lacked intensity after going ahead. That cost us."
He acknowledged that several players were not at their best.
"Our opponents had over ten days to prepare. We have been playing continuously. That affects condition and rhythm. After we conceded the equalizer, that issue became more evident."
Rijkaard did not avoid discussing Yang Yang.
"There is no doubt he was decisive tonight. We did not find an effective solution to contain him. That proved costly. The second leg will be critical."
"If we want to overturn this result away from home, we must first find a way to neutralize him."
He was also questioned about Samuel Eto'o, who had been absent from the squad.
Eto'o, following recent tensions, had requested not to be included, according to Rijkaard. The striker had been under pressure and not in ideal form.
His replacements, Javier Saviola and Eiður Guðjohnsen, had been unable to provide the same impact.
Regarding Víctor Valdés, whose mistake had led to the decisive indirect free kick, Rijkaard defended him.
"Mistakes are part of football. We win and lose together. At moments like this, unity is essential."
Despite the setback, he insisted Barcelona still had hope at Anfield.
Several Barcelona players echoed that belief in post-match interviews. Even Valdés expressed confidence in a potential comeback.
Yang Yang himself faced Spanish, British, and Chinese reporters.
He expressed satisfaction with his hat trick, but emphasized collective effort.
"These goals came from teamwork. Without my teammates, they would not exist."
When asked whether qualification was already decided, he remained cautious.
"It is too early. The second leg will be extremely difficult. Nothing is certain."
A Catalan journalist then asked about his personal duel with Lionel Messi.
Yang Yang smiled.
"Messi is a very strong player. Perhaps he was not at his best tonight."
"In truth, I do not focus on comparisons. My only concern is helping my team win."
The answer was measured and respectful.
But it clearly did not satisfy the Catalan press.
...
...
"Nightmare Night!"
That was the headline published the following day by El Mundo Deportivo.
In its report, the newspaper aimed directly at Frank Rijkaard, arguing that the Dutch coach's tactical setup had serious flaws and that he had been completely outmanoeuvred by Rafael Benítez.
"The clearest example," the article wrote, "is that Benítez made his first substitution in the 80th minute. Two minutes later, Rijkaard used his final change. At that moment, Liverpool's manager still had substitutions available."
"Of course, this detail alone does not decide the match. But it reflects the broader reality: in this heavyweight confrontation, whether at the level of coaching or team execution, Barcelona were comprehensively beaten."
The newspaper's second accusation was even harsher. It suggested that Rijkaard had rushed Messi back too quickly and placed excessive responsibility on a nineteen-year-old still regaining form.
"In such a crucial match, Messi played the full ninety minutes. He touched the ball thirty-nine times, completed twenty-six passes, and was dispossessed six times. These are not statistics befitting a decisive starter."
"After a prolonged injury layoff, Messi had only two substitute appearances before this match. Yet in a game of this magnitude, he was entrusted with the full burden. He was shifted from right to left, and was repeatedly frozen out by Álvaro Arbeloa. This was a miscalculation."
The article did not stop there. It also attempted to frame the evening as a symbolic clash between Yang Yang and Lionel Messi.
"For a long time, Messi has been compared with Yang Yang. But the reality is clear. Yang Yang has already entered the top five in the FIFA World Player rankings. He led Ajax to the Champions League semi-finals. This season he leads the Premier League scoring charts and also tops the Champions League scoring table. And Messi?"
The report even cited Johan Cruyff.
"Cruyff once said that at Real Madrid, relying on youngsters such as Gago and Higuaín as saviours would be a mistake. Yet at Barcelona, a younger Messi has been cast in that same role. That is a sorrowful situation."
If El Mundo Deportivo was sharp, Sport was no less direct.
On its front page the following day, the headline read:
"Barcelona Need Eto'o!"
The paper argued that Rijkaard was using the team's future as leverage to maintain his authority.
"At the post-match press conference, when asked about Samuel Eto'o, Rijkaard said that when Eto'o personally informed him he was ready, he would return to the squad list."
"The implication is obvious. Eto'o was excluded to force a compromise."
The article continued by dissecting Barcelona's attacking inefficiency.
"Against Liverpool, the team created possession but not decisive chances. They lacked a finisher. Eto'o scored five goals before his September injury and still ranks among the team's top scorers. Ronaldinho has nineteen goals, Javier Saviola has twelve, but seven of those came in Copa del Rey matches. Eiður Guðjohnsen has ten, five in the domestic cup."
"The numbers reveal the problem. The team lacks a reliable, clinical striker. Excluding Eto'o due to personal tensions is a serious error."
While Catalan media focused on accountability and internal conflict, the rest of Europe reacted differently.
Across England and beyond, headlines celebrated Liverpool's performance.
Above all, they celebrated Yang Yang.
His hat trick at Camp Nou did more than secure victory. It propelled him once again to the top of the UEFA Champions League scoring charts and strengthened his growing reputation on the continental stage.