The 15-minute break was over.
The second half of the match between Manchester United and Sheffield United still held no suspense.
Gao Nuo scored two more goals in the 58th and 77th minutes, a header and a kick, completing his hat-trick.
The full match ended with Manchester United securing a dominant 4-0 victory.
Wang Xiaochuan was substituted in the 72nd minute of the match. Based on his performance today, Wang Xiaochuan had many highlights, with excellent passing, receiving, and defense in midfield, which not only impressed Chinese fans but also attracted considerable attention to Sheffield United.
After this match, the Chinese player derby prompted many Chinese fans to start buying Wang Xiaochuan's jerseys and merchandise.
Sheffield United's owner made a fortune; signing Wang Xiaochuan was a wise choice.
Besides Gao Nuo and Wang Xiaochuan in the Premier League, Hu Hetao and Ai Feierding in La Liga also performed exceptionally, playing brilliantly on Malaga's left wing.
Li Hao had little competitiveness at Atletico Madrid, and Li Qiang had already begun arranging a transfer to move Li Hao to the Bundesliga during the winter window.
The team's strength and player treatment would certainly be weaker than Atletico Madrid.
However, Li Qiang's requirement was simple: a starting position.
Li Hao strongly supported this transfer arrangement; for him, a similar salary was fine, as improving his game was the current priority.
Other young Chinese players studying abroad also generated news, more or less, boosting the confidence of domestic fans.
January 1, 2026, marked the start of the New Year's Day holiday.
At a barbecue stall in a small town, Chinese fans finally started discussing the performance of Chinese players while watching a match.
“I say, Fatty, what have you been busy with lately? Haven't seen you at Fangfang Barbecue to watch a game in a while!”
“Sigh, busy with work. My son just turned 1, so I have to work hard to earn money.”
“Haha, alright then. Since you're here today, let's have a good couple of drinks.”
“Alright, boss, an extra set of cutlery and a beer mug, please.”
“Fatty, have you been watching the Bundesliga lately? Weren't you a loyal Bundesliga fan before?”
“I haven't had time to watch the games, but I've kept up with the news. Those young players have been playing well recently.”
“Indeed. Today's fans are truly fortunate. Ever since Gao Nuo broke through, these young players have become increasingly fierce.”
“Come! Come! Come! Let's have a toast first!”
“Ha! The draft beer here is still the best.”
“Hey, have you seen Wu Tong, the player from Hamburger SV, who's been playing well recently?”
“Yes, I have. He has a bit of Gao Nuo's initial vibe, a right-winger with a weaker left foot, and his speed isn't slow at all!”
“Moving from the youth team to the first team in two months, he really is a bit like Gao Nuo.”
“Haha, the young players in the 2. Bundesliga are also playing well, it's just a shame we can't easily watch their matches.”
“Come on, let's have another one. We'll watch the Premier League at 10; it's the Manchester City derby today, so we need to drink more.”
“Cheers!”
Half a season passed, and just as the fans chatted, Chinese players studying abroad blossomed in multiple areas.
Gao Nuo led Manchester United on a triumphant run, placing second in the Premier League standings, just 2 points behind leaders Manchester City. In the top scorer list, Gao Nuo and Haaland each scored 18 goals, tied for first, while Mbappé was temporarily third with 14 goals.
Wang Xiaochuan had solidified his starting position at Sheffield United, earning the nickname "Xiaofu." This was partly because he resembled Xiaofu from Doraemon, and partly because Chinese fans compared Wang Xiaochuan to Casemiro, leading to the popular "Fat Tiger Xiaofu" meme.
Ai Feierding and Hu Hetao grew increasingly formidable at Malaga, the Chinese left-wing twin stars, though not as dazzling as Gao Nuo, still lit up a corner of La Liga.
The young players all showed significant improvement, with right-winger Wu Tong officially entering Hamburger SV's rotation, gaining many opportunities to play. In 6 substitute appearances, he scored 1 goal and provided 2 assists, a veritable low-budget Gao Nuo.
At 9:50 PM, Zhan Jun and Zhang appeared on screen punctually in the live broadcast room.
“Hello, audience friends, and Happy New Year!”
“I am delighted to once again be with Zhang to commentate on today's Premier League match.”
“On New Year's Day, the derby between Manchester United and Manchester City is truly a gift on the football field.”
“Today's match is full of highlights, not only a city derby but also the showdown between Gao Nuo and Haaland. Viewers watching today will not be disappointed.”
After Zhan Jun warmed up the audience, Zhang began his work for the day.
“Ah, the Premier League matches are becoming even more intense now. Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea—five of the Big Six teams—are all vying for the top spot.”
“Ah, the gap between first and fifth is only 6 points. This is the most competitive Premier League season in years.”
“Ah, Gao Nuo has lived up to expectations; one could say he's completely transformed! Joining the rivalry of Haaland and Mbappé, along with Vinicius and Musiala in La Liga, European football is entering a new era of 'Five Tiger Generals' after the 'Absolute Dual Prodigies.'”
Zhan Jun interrupted Zhang while looking at the footage provided by the director.
“We see Gao Nuo and Haaland having a conversation during warm-ups. Both of them look relaxed, so they should be in good form. We anticipate an exciting showdown today.”
“Ah, both teams are fielding their full starting lineups. The Manchester City derby rarely disappoints.”
Zhang and Zhan Jun continued to introduce some match-related information, and as 10 o'clock struck, the match officially began.
Manchester United's defensive issues remained the same as at the beginning of the season; Michael Carrick's relentless attacking fully unleashed the abilities of Gao Nuo, Rashford, and Antony.
Manchester United scored 56 goals in 20 League matches, ranking first in Premier League goals scored.
At the same time, they conceded 32 goals in 20 League matches, ranking last among the top 7 teams in the League.
Beautiful in attack, a sieve in defense.
Manchester United once again became strong in attack and weak in defense.
Manchester City's performance in recent years can be summed up in one word: 'stable!'
Their balanced offense and defense, coupled with their formidable strength, struck fear into other Premier League teams.
In the 6th minute of the match, Manchester United attacked.
Bruno Fernandes received a pass from Mount and looked for an attacking opportunity.
Rashford on the left and Neymar on the right simultaneously surged forward, stretching Manchester City's defense.
Rice dropped back in midfield, providing protective cover, while Mount pushed forward after passing, offering central support.
Gao Nuo lingered deep in Manchester City's defense, constantly moving between onside and offside positions.
Bruno Fernandes's observation ended there, as Rodri was already closing in to press.
He backheeled the ball to Rice, and Bruno Fernandes surged into the right half-space.
Gao Nuo saw Mount and Bruno Fernandes's runs and dropped back from an offside position.
Rice waited for Rodri to cover to the right and then threaded a direct pass through the middle.
Gao Nuo received the ball with his back to goal, shielding it, while Ruben Dias behind him began to push and shove.
“Here!”
Mount turned his head to check Rashford's position and shouted to Gao Nuo.
Gao Nuo, busy shielding the ball and battling physically, had limited vision. Hearing his teammate call for the ball, he pushed his backside back, created space, and then, with great trust, passed the ball to the left.
Manchester City's defense reacted quickly, moving rapidly towards Mount.
Ruben Dias, experienced and decisive, immediately tracked Gao Nuo's run into the box, denying Mount the chance for a wall pass.
Manchester City's defensive response was solid and decisive.
Mount showed no panic; the quick glance he took before calling for the ball had already completed his plan for this attack.
Mount faked a shot, drawing defensive attention, while the ball slipped between his legs and continued to roll to the left.
Rashford appeared, and the defender behind him reacted a beat too late, allowing Rashford to burst into the box.
Facing Ederson, Rashford struck a powerful shot towards the bottom-left corner, and the ball flew swiftly into the net.
Just 6 minutes into the match, Manchester United led 1-0.
Trailing, Manchester City completely unleashed themselves. The match had just begun, and both teams entered an intense attacking battle.
In the 13th minute, Manchester City had a corner kick opportunity.
Haaland won the first header in the box, but his header was cleared by Alejandro Balde near the post.
In the 18th minute, Manchester United launched a counter-attack.
Antony advanced on the right wing, broke past a defender, and delivered a cross from the byline.
Gao Nuo, holding off a defender in the box, hit a volley that flew into the stands.
In the 26th minute, Manchester United won the ball back in the attacking third.
Gao Nuo anticipated the opponent's passing lane and made an early slide tackle to intercept the ball.
Bruno Fernandes quickly surged forward and began a series of one-two passes with Gao Nuo.
Gao Nuo, receiving the ball at the edge of the box, wasn't greedy. After drawing all defensive attention, he laid the ball off horizontally.
Bruno Fernandes shot from the top of the box; Ederson couldn't save it, but unfortunately, the ball grazed the post and went out of bounds.
In the 32nd minute, Manchester City launched an attack.
Rodri began to organize from the back, and after 7 consecutive passes, the ball smoothly moved through midfield to the left side of the pitch.
Foden dribbled inward, Vanderson was fooled by a feint, and veteran Varane came over to cover.
Foden seized the opportunity, sending a diagonal pass into the box from the half-space. Haaland was pulled by Lisandro Martínez, missing a shooting opportunity in the middle.
The ball rolled to the far post, and Alvarez slid in for a shot, but Alejandro Balde was a step quicker, blocking the ball's path early, and the ball narrowly rolled out of bounds.
Nübel was very lucky today; several times, Alejandro Balde helped block shots that he couldn't reach in time.
After half an hour of back-and-forth action, the players' tackles on the field became increasingly aggressive.
Rice received an early yellow card for an overly aggressive slide tackle.
Rodri also received a yellow card for tackling Gao Nuo from behind.
Antony's breakthrough on the wing was intercepted, and he pulled down Ake while trying to win the ball back, receiving a verbal warning from the Referee.
Vanderson's pass went astray, and Varane, covering, collided with an opponent, a tactical foul, and the Referee decisively showed a yellow card.
Intense attacking combined with high-intensity challenges; the city derby never lacked passion.
As the Referee's judgment became increasingly strict, both teams on the field began to control the pace of the game.
The first half ended with Manchester United still holding a 1-0 lead, and both teams returned to the locker room.
