3:30 PM, November 26th.
Dortmund's team bus slowly approached the Westfalenstadion, flanked by fans waving black and yellow scarves and passionately singing the club anthem.
Ye Chen watched this electrifying scene, feeling deeply moved.
"Is this the most intense derby in all of Europe?"
When will China have such a football atmosphere...
Next to him, Götze patted Ye Chen on the back.
"Ye, how are you feeling? Pretty overwhelming, right?"
"Does every Ruhr Derby feel this... intense?" Ye Chen struggled to find the right word.
Götze nodded. "Let me put it this wayâif you score tonight, head to a Dortmund bar after the game. The girls there will be all over you!"
Ye Chen rolled his eyes. "I'm not even old enough for bars."
"Either way, if you can lead the team to victory in the Ruhr Derby, you'll be a heroâDortmund's new favorite star!" Götze laughed, waving at the fans through the window.
The Dortmund supporters erupted in cheers outside.
Ye Chen took a deep breath and slipped his headphones back on.
Beyond's "Glorious Years" playedâa perfect soundtrack for the moment.
Ye Chen had spent the past few days reading everything about the Ruhr Derby.
Schalke 04's hardcore fans had done everything they could to provoke him and his Dortmund teammates.
After watching one particular video, Ye Chen had slammed his phone down, fury igniting in his chest.
This wasn't just a game anymore.
This was war.
No wonder they say the Ruhr Derby doesn't need motivational speeches.
"The bells toll the signal for home.
In his life,
There's a touch of regret.
The meaning behind his dark skin,
Is a lifetime of struggle..."
Ye Chen closed his eyes, only opening them when the bus stopped. He tucked away his headphones and followed the team into the tunnel.
No one greeted the fans this time.
The players marched forward in silence, looking less like athletes and more like soldiers heading to the battlefield.
"Borussia!"
Dortmund fans roared out "Das Vereinslied", their anthem echoing through the stands.
This game meant everything.
In the locker room, Klopp wasn't his usual fiery self.
He calmly reiterated the tactics for the match.
Dortmund faced an unprecedented injury crisis, but so what?
Klopp's goal was simpleâ
Crush Schalke 04.
Send those miners from Gelsenkirchen home in tears.
4:25 PM.
Players lined up in the tunnel.
The referees and starting elevens were ready.
"Welcome to Westfalenstadion, ladies and gentlemen!"
"I'm your commentator, Mike, alongside my partner Jack!"
The stadium roared to life.
"Players from both sides are stepping onto the pitch!"
"Dortmund is lining up in a 4-3-3 formation!"
"Goalkeeper: Weidenfeller!
"Back four: Schmelzer, Hummels, Santana, and Piszczek!"
"Midfield trio: Captain Kehl, Götze the golden boy, and young Leitner!"
"Front three: Lewandowski, Barrios, and the â¬50 million sensation from ChinaâYe Chen!!"
Each name brought wild cheers, but the loudest by far was for Ye Chen.
He had won over Dortmund's notoriously tough fans with his performances.
When other clubs came calling, he stood firmâ
"I'm not leaving Dortmund. I belong here."
"Schalke 04 is also set up in a 4-3-3!"
"Goalkeeper: Unnerstall!"
"Defenders: Uchida, Fuchs, Papadopoulos, and Matip!"
"Midfield: Holtby, Baumjohann, and Jermaine Jones!"
"Forwards: Raul, Huntelaar, and Draxler!"
Schalke's strength was undeniable.
Raul, the legendary "Lord of the Rings."
Dutch international Huntelaar.
Future Liverpool star Matip.
And Uchida Atsutoâthe most handsome right-back in football.
But fitness was Schalke's biggest weapon.
They had rested for seven daysâplenty of time to train and prepare.
Yet, this was Westfalenstadion.
Europe's most intimidating fortress.
The coaches shook hands.
Huub Stevens led Schalke 04 after Ralf Rangnick's fallout with the board.
This was Stevens' second stint at Schalkeâhe had won the UEFA Cup (now the Europa League) with them in 1997.
Now, he'd revitalized Huntelaar and given young talents like Draxler a chance to shine.
In the stands, massive Dortmund flags waved long before kickoff.
The music, the crowdâeverything was at fever pitch.
The captains finished the coin toss.
Players took their positions.
Dortmund had the kickoff.
Lewandowski and Ye Chen stood over the ball.
Lewandowski clapped his hands and roared, "Let's go!"
Ye Chen raised an eyebrow.
He rarely saw Lewandowski like this.
That was the power of the Ruhr Derby.
Everyone was fired up.
"WHISTLE!"
The 139th Ruhr Derby was underway.
Fans from both sides sang from the first minute.
Dortmund's chants filled the air.
Schalke's traveling supportersâthough fewâscreamed just as loud.
They wanted to show their playersâ
"You're not alone out there!"
Lewandowski passed to Ye Chen, who immediately laid it off to Götze and charged forward.
The battle had begun.
TV viewers were ready.
No one wanted to miss a second.
In China, fans had learned their lesson.
One Guangzhou fan missed Ye Chen's last goal while picking up takeoutâ
Tonight, he was stocked with beer and snacks by 9 PM.
Because what's better than watching Ye Chen dominate on the weekend?