Chapter 290: Perfect Victory

"Professional football has a short memory."

"It's been just over a year, but people seem to have forgotten how conservative Gao Shen was when he coached Real Madrid. Even his double crown was achieved through a strong defensive approach."

"Back when Capello was coaching Juventus, after losing to Real Madrid, he said publicly that no one should call Gao Shen 'Capello II' anymore, because Gao Shen was even more conservative than he was."

"But who would have thought that after coming to Italy, Gao Shen would become synonymous with attacking football."

"For him now, defensive counter-attacks are just returning to an old skill. He knows it like the back of his hand!"

This was the Italian TV commentator's reflection after watching Napoli's steady counter-attacking play.

And indeed, Napoli's approach to defensive counter-attacks felt natural and well-practiced.

Although they started with a defensive stance, Napoli's counter-attacking style wasn't simply about parking the bus; it was a flexible, multi-layered defense.

Mostly, they set up a press zone between the halfway line and about 30 meters in front of their goal, with Vidal and Nainggolan covering large areas with their intense running, while Thiago Motta anchored the line.

With the front three also pressing, Napoli's entire defense was meticulous and well-organized.

As soon as they won the ball, Napoli quickly launched counter-attacks down the flanks, attacking swiftly and ruthlessly.

On the other hand, Roma, after conceding two early goals, had their morale severely impacted, and the players' fighting spirit took a hit. Adding to that, their usual "wolf pack" attack style couldn't create enough threats against Napoli's defense, causing frustration throughout the Roma lineup.

Initially, Roma still managed to counter, but gradually, they started to lose heart.

In the 43rd minute of the first half, Napoli once again stole the ball in midfield.

Nainggolan caught up to Pizarro and, after successfully stealing the ball, passed it to Bonucci.

Bonucci, pressured by Totti, passed it out to Lichtsteiner on the right.

Perrotta and Mancini Jr. both pressed Lichtsteiner, trying to trap him.

Everyone knew that last season, Napoli's right flank had been their biggest weakness.

But Lichtsteiner, clearly stronger than Georgio Garics, held his ground. Even when forced wide, he shielded the ball with his body against the pressing Perrotta. Seeing Thiago Motta drop back in time to offer support, he quickly passed the ball to him.

This was a ball protection and pass that demonstrated solid skill. If Lichtsteiner's technique were weaker, a mistake here would have led to a dangerous counter-attack for Roma.

Thiago Motta received the ball, quickly advancing forward before passing it to Di Maria ahead.

Di Maria moved into open space, receiving Motta's pass while facing sideways, and continued dribbling forward, heading toward Cicinho's area.

By this point, Roma's defense had shifted to the center, leaving their left flank wide open.

As Di Maria drove forward, attracting Cicinho and De Rossi's attention, he passed the ball wide to the left flank.

There, Dosena sprinted forward, controlling the ball near the touchline and delivering a left-footed cross.

To avoid Cicinho's block, Dosena's cross had a high arc and wasn't particularly fast. When the ball entered the penalty area, Pellè was positioned with his back to the goal, Mexes marking him from behind, with Ferrari nearby and De Rossi closing in from the front.

Mexes marked Pellè closely, while De Rossi moved in for the clearance at the same time as Pellè, trying to disrupt his play.

But Pellè, tall and with long legs, got the first touch, though he failed to control it properly.

The ball deflected slightly to the left of both players.

Just as Pellè and De Rossi turned to chase the ball, a blue jersey suddenly surged into the penalty area, and before the ball hit the ground, Vidal struck it with a powerful volley.

The ball rocketed toward the lower left corner of the goal at lightning speed.

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!"

"3-0!!!!!!"

"Another brilliant goal from Napoli!"

"The Chilean midfielder, Arturo Vidal, strikes from the back!"

After scoring, Vidal turned around, sliding across the grass as he celebrated.

Napoli fans in the stands went wild with cheers.

Near the visiting team's bench, Gao Shen celebrated exuberantly with his assistants.

"It was a sharp and swift counter-attack!"

"Napoli's attack moved so quickly, transitioning from the right side forward to breaking Roma's defense from the left. It was a very deliberate counter-attack."

"Cicinho, who used to play under Gao Shen at Real Madrid, was clearly targeted tonight. Gao Shen knows him very well."

"And tonight, Napoli used his side as their main attacking channel!"

The first half ended with Napoli leading 3-0.

By that point, the match seemed to be firmly under control.

Napoli was highly likely to win, but Gao Shen warned his players to stay vigilant during the half-time break.

"Remember, don't give our opponents even a sliver of hope!"

"I want a complete victory!"

"A perfect victory!"

Gao Shen continued to stir up his players' fighting spirit.

At this stage, while Napoli was still some distance from the level of Inter Milan, there was no question that Gao Shen was confident facing Roma, especially after such a smooth first half.

As long as Napoli held onto the lead and prevented Roma from scoring, Gao Shen would be satisfied.

More importantly, this victory would help lift the team's spirits after their draw with Inter Milan and give them a psychological edge for their upcoming match against Juventus.

Meanwhile, Roma was reflecting on their first-half tactics.

Spalletti made a change at half-time, substituting Cicinho with Cassetti.

This substitution was clearly in response to the goal conceded just before the end of the first half.

While Cicinho's offensive ability was undeniable, his defense was a well-known weakness.

Back when Gao Shen was at Real Madrid, he hadn't been satisfied with Cicinho's defense, which was why he had favored Arbeloa.

Spalletti seemed to believe that Cicinho's defensive shortcomings had contributed to the goal Napoli scored late in the first half.

As the second half began, Roma pressed forward aggressively.

Napoli continued to defend steadily, waiting for counter-attack opportunities.

Vidal and Nainggolan's relentless running and defensive coverage in midfield was truly remarkable.

Together, they created a solid human wall in midfield, making it extremely difficult for Roma to penetrate Napoli's defense, let alone reach the penalty area.

Time and time again, the Red Wolf Legion's efforts were thwarted.

In the 65th minute, Spalletti substituted Mancini with Vučinić.

Last season, Mancini had posed a significant threat on Napoli's right side, and Garics had struggled to contain him.

But tonight, Lichtsteiner had kept Mancini at bay, nullifying his influence.

Due to defensive responsibilities, Lichtsteiner's offensive contributions were limited, but his defense was solid and reassuring.

As soon as Vučinić came on, he tried to create chances on the left, Napoli's right side, but as he attempted a dribble,

Lichtsteiner intercepted him cleanly.

After several passes, the ball was intercepted by Roma.

This time, Totti dropped deep to receive the ball. After turning, he attempted a forward pass to link up with Giuly.

The two tried a one-two combination on Napoli's left side, but David Luiz intervened, breaking up the play. Totti, frustrated, nearly stumbled and fell.

In his frustration, the Roma captain fouled David Luiz in retaliation.

No question about it tonight, the Brazilian defender's performance had been outstanding.

Not only had he scored twice on the offensive end, but he was also a rock in defense, leaving a lasting impression.

If he was considered the scapegoat in their last match against Inter Milan, tonight he was Napoli's hero.

After getting up, David Luiz quietly set the ball for a free kick.

The referee immediately blew his whistle, disallowing a quick restart.

Both Roma and Napoli took their positions, with the Napoli players pushing up.

Everyone knew this pass would likely target Pellè, so the Italian striker became the focal point of Roma's defense, with Mexes and Ferrari marking him closely.

Pellè, noticing the focus on him, dropped back, allowing Di Maria and Sanchez to advance, adding more complexity to Roma's defense.

As Ferrari followed Pellè, Mexes, Cassetti, and Tonetto were left to cover the back.

David Luiz delivered a low, fast free kick straight to Pellè.

The Italian striker and Ferrari both jumped, but Pellè, with his height and strength, took the better position and headed the ball into the penalty area.

Both Di Maria and Sanchez darted forward.

Sanchez, arriving at the top of the box, shielded the ball with his body, blocking Mexes and Tonetto. As the ball bounced, he sent it to the right of the penalty area and chased after it.

Mexes and Tonetto desperately tried to catch up, but Sanchez, agile and determined, pressed forward.

Goalkeeper Curci braced himself in the small box, squatting and ready to block Sanchez's shot. But Sanchez's volley sped past him, brushing the right post and slipping into Roma's net.

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!"

"4-0!!!!!"

"Another emphatic goal from Napoli!"

"Sanchez's sharp counter-attack seals Roma's fate tonight!"

"Napoli claims another convincing victory, following their triumph over Udinese!"