Chapter 225: General

Less than a minute into the game, Napoli managed the first shot on goal.

Vidal seized the opportunity after a quick interception, and from about 30 meters out, unleashed a powerful long-range shot. The strike was forceful, and although the ball rocketed past with incredible speed, it veered just off target, flying out of bounds.

Roma's goalkeeper, Doni, dove to his right to cover the angle, and though the ball wasn't on target, the sheer power of the shot left him sweating.

Napoli's fans erupted in thunderous cheers at the San Paolo Stadium, chanting Vidal's name in admiration for his boldness and strength.

"Is this kid fearless or what?" Sacchi said, chuckling from his seat in the stands.

He hadn't paid much attention to Vidal before, knowing him only as a converted central defender forced into midfield by Gao Shen. His performance hadn't been exceptional up until now, but in tonight's game, he was demonstrating an aggressive, fearless style of play.

"He's a warrior!" Zidane also praised.

People often assume that technical ability or physical prowess is the most crucial element in a player's skillset, but Zidane knew better. Confidence and courage were the foundation of all successful professional athletes.

Without those two qualities, no amount of talent or strength would be enough to shine in the fast-paced environment of football. The game moves so quickly that players must make split-second decisions with no hesitation. A moment of indecision can turn a golden opportunity into a squandered chance, or worse, a costly mistake.

Players who sit on the bench for long stretches often lose this confidence. When they finally get their chance, their hesitation on the field becomes evident, leading to more mistakes and further diminishing their self-assurance. It's a vicious cycle that only the strongest can break.

But Vidal was not one to hesitate. His boldness on the field, his aggressive style of play, and his willingness to take risks made him invaluable.

"Where did Gao Shen find these players? It's like he's unearthed a treasure trove of talent," Sacchi remarked, shaking his head in amazement.

Zidane laughed. "I asked him the same thing, and all he said was, 'That's a secret I can't share.'"

Sacchi chuckled, "Typical Gao Shen."

"It's clear he's ready to take the fight to Spalletti tonight," Sacchi added, smiling in anticipation of the coming tactical battle.

…

Napoli's first shot sent a message to Roma, but the Giallorossi weren't going to back down. Within minutes, Pizarro attempted a long-range shot in response. However, unlike Vidal's effort, Pizarro's shot lacked accuracy and was easily dealt with by Napoli's defense.

Standing on the sideline, Gao Shen observed Roma's formation carefully.

He had a special ability to read the game, enhanced by his access to the Tactical Library, where he could study the insights and experiences of legendary coaches from all over the world. The knowledge he gained from the library allowed him to see patterns and weaknesses in a team's strategy that most coaches would miss.

In many cases, these patterns weren't something that could be put into words easily, but the Tactical Library had a way of simplifying the most complex concepts, which allowed Gao Shen to absorb and apply the knowledge swiftly.

After observing for a few minutes, he saw something crucial.

He immediately signaled to Biglia and Rakitic, instructing them to drop deeper. Napoli needed to pull their formation back and allow Roma to push forward. This was part of Gao Shen's plan to invite pressure and create space behind Roma's defense for a swift counterattack.

At the same time, he signaled to David Luiz, making a fist gesture. The Brazilian defender nodded, acknowledging the instruction.

David Luiz, with his long hair starting to take shape after Gao Shen's suggestion to grow it out, was more than just a defender in this game. He was a key part of Gao Shen's counterattacking strategy.

During a break in play, Gervinho jogged to the sideline for instructions, and Gao Shen stopped him.

"Tell everyone to pay attention to their goalkeeper. Doni's positioning is off."

Gervinho blinked in surprise but quickly understood. Gao Shen was pointing out an opportunity Doni was playing too far off his line. If the right chance presented itself, they could capitalize with a well-placed shot.

Gervinho nodded and relayed the message to Cavani, who then passed it to Sanchez and the other attackers.

It had been less than four minutes since the game started, but Napoli was already looking to exploit the smallest weaknesses.

Football fans watching the game at home often rely on broadcast cameras, which don't always capture the full picture of what's happening on the field. Because of this, it's easy to overlook why players make certain decisions. The cameras might show David Luiz charging out to intercept a pass, but not the buildup that led him to make that decision. Viewers at home might then assume that Luiz was being reckless, but they wouldn't see the whole tactical setup behind his move.

That's why Gao Shen's attention to detail was so crucial. He understood that a game wasn't just about what happened with the ball, but also about the movements and positioning of players off the ball. The right combination of these elements could make or break a team's performance.

By pulling Napoli's formation back and inviting Roma to press forward, Gao Shen was creating the conditions for a counterattack. He had seen the flaw in Roma's strategy, and now he was ready to exploit it.

In the ninth minute, Napoli had possession again, and the ball was passed back to the center-backs. Cannavaro played it to David Luiz, who took a step forward to control the ball.

Vučinić rushed towards David Luiz, and Totti lurked nearby, ready to pounce if the Brazilian made a mistake. Roma's midfielders, including Pizarro and Taddei, were also pushing forward, trying to close the space and apply pressure.

But David Luiz didn't hesitate.

With Vučinić bearing down on him, David Luiz calmly sidestepped the Roma forward and unleashed a long diagonal pass to the right wing.

If you were watching the game from an overhead camera, you'd see that Roma's aggressive pressing left their defense dangerously exposed. With their forwards and midfielders pushing up, De Rossi was left to cover a large portion of the field on his own, while the defenders had to cope with Napoli's speedy attackers.

Gervinho sprinted down the right wing, beating Tonetto to the ball. After a quick touch to control it, Gervinho cut inside and passed the ball toward the top of the penalty area.

Cavani was already charging forward like a freight train, leaving Roma's defenders scrambling to catch up. Chivu tried to slide in to block the ball, but Cavani was quicker.

The Uruguayan striker controlled the ball expertly with his right foot, took a quick glance at Doni's position, and then unleashed a perfectly weighted lob over the Roma goalkeeper.

Doni had been caught too far off his line, and Cavani's shot sailed over his head, bouncing into the back of the net.

As the ball hit the net, Doni fell to his knees in disbelief.

*GOALLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!*

"In the tenth minute, Napoli takes the lead! Cavani with a stunning lob!"

The San Paolo Stadium erupted in celebration as the home fans roared with joy.

Cavani sprinted toward the corner flag, his arms outstretched, shouting in triumph as his teammates rushed to join him in celebration.

The entire stadium reverberated with the sound of more than 55,000 ecstatic Napoli fans chanting Cavani's name.

The Uruguayan forward was on fire, and so was Napoli.