Starting With Real Madrid

Real Madrid's starting lineup has been revealed!

Goalkeeper: Casillas.

Defensive line: Marcelo, Heinze, Cannavaro, and Ramos.

Midfielders: Van der Vaart, Gago, Mohamed Diarra, and Robben.

Forwards: Raul and Ruud van Nistelrooy.

It's a classic 4-4-2 formation.

When Gao Shen saw this lineup, his first reaction was that Schuster wasn't being conservative at all for a home game.

Sacchi had once told him that the three home matches in the Champions League group stage were absolutely critical.

This wasn't just true for Napoli, a rookie in the Champions League, but even for a powerhouse like Real Madrid. Winning their home games ensures they secure the top spot in the group.

Failing to top the group would likely mean facing another group winner in the Round of 16. In that case, Real Madrid might face an early elimination, stopping at the Round of 16 again.

As for the possibility of failing to qualify from the group stage? That's unimaginable for a club like Real Madrid.

"It's likely still the same approach," Carlo analyzed. "Van der Vaart and Robben will push forward, forming an attacking triangle with Ruud van Nistelrooy, while Raul hovers around Ruud to create opportunities."

"The midfield uses a double-pivot system, with Gago handling the organization and Diarra focusing on defense."

This was the primary tactic Schuster employed with Real Madrid.

Zidane nodded, agreeing with Carlo's analysis. This was undoubtedly Schuster's intent.

Or rather, this was a very traditional and bluntly speaking, old-school tactical approach.

"Ruud van Nistelrooy is a pure striker. Van der Vaart, since his serious injury in the Netherlands, has lost much of his pace. His ability to attack from the wings isn't strong, and his role is more about passing and arriving late to finish. That's why Marcelo will play a more prominent role on the left, which explains why Schuster has benched Drenthe."

Drenthe, a Dutch left-winger, was versatile and could play anywhere on the left side of the pitch. Some even referred to him as "Davids II."

Of course, these kinds of labels are thrown around often, but genuine successors are rare. Take the so-called "Zidane II," for example.

"But this creates an issue. Robben will cut in from the right, and Ramos will also need to push forward. If both flanks play like this, isn't he worried about being exposed at the back?"

"Moreover, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Van der Vaart, and Robben aren't exactly the type to press aggressively in the front. That leaves only Raul to lead the press. Does this mean he's planning for Gago and Diarra to push up as well?"

Zidane had a deep affection for Real Madrid, but as Gao Shen's assistant coach, he naturally had to view things from Napoli's perspective. To him, Schuster's setup felt flawed.

In other words, it seemed extremely risky.

"If Gago and Diarra push forward, Heinze and Cannavaro will have to follow suit. Then the question is, can Heinze and Cannavaro really stop Cavani if Napoli breaks through?" Carlo pointed out.

Last weekend, Napoli had allowed Pelle to play the full game, clearly planning to start Cavani for this match.

"I just don't get it," Zidane frowned, shaking his head.

Both of them turned to Gao Shen.

"There's nothing hard to understand," Gao Shen said with a calm smile. "Schuster is still stuck in traditional thinking."

The reason Zidane found it difficult to comprehend was that he had been with Gao Shen for a while now. Over the past year or two, Zidane had been exposed to Gao Shen's tactical philosophy, and his ideas had naturally started aligning with Gao Shen's.

That's why he couldn't understand Schuster's lineup.

Wasn't this the same outdated, unbalanced system from the Galacticos era?

But from the perspective of traditional 4-4-2 tactics, it wasn't anything outrageous. It was simply a more aggressive, attack-oriented setup. After all, Real Madrid had always been like this at home, using offense to dominate their opponents.

In the past few years, aside from Gao Shen's and Capello's tenures, when had Real Madrid ever played defensive counter-attacking football?

"For now, let's stick to the basics, stay solid, don't take risks, and observe what Schuster plans to do."

Gao Shen believed that Napoli, with their current strength, would capitalize on any tactical mistakes Schuster made.

---

Napoli's Starting Lineup:

Goalkeeper: Handanovic.

Defensive line: Vargas, David Luiz, Bonucci, and Lichtsteiner.

Midfielders: Biglia, Thiago Motta, and Rakitic.

Forwards: Di Maria, Cavani, and Sanchez.

In Real Madrid's home dressing room, Schuster was also analyzing Napoli's lineup.

There were some surprises.

Last weekend, when he noticed that neither Biglia nor Rakitic had played, he suspected that Gao Shen was saving them for this match. But what he hadn't expected was that Napoli would opt for a 4-3-3 instead of their usual 4-2-3-1.

Was this a shift towards a three-midfield system?

Without Hamsik, who had been performing exceptionally this season, Napoli's attacking power would undoubtedly take a hit.

"As expected, they'll aim for stability at the start," Schuster said with a smirk.

He was convinced Gao Shen wouldn't dare to take risks at the Bernabeu.

In this stadium, only a handful of teams had the audacity to go toe-to-toe with Real Madrid. Napoli was certainly not one of them.

A rookie in the Champions League should know their place and play defensively.

After all, wasn't this what Gao Shen was good at?

Wasn't it also the style most Serie A teams relied on?

"He's clearly wary of Van der Vaart, Ruud van Nistelrooy, and Robben. That's why he's using three midfielders to protect the flanks as much as possible. But we can exploit this and go all out from the start!"

Schuster's eyes gleamed with determination.

He had harbored a deep dislike for Gao Shen ever since his days coaching Real Madrid.

Tonight, in front of 70,000 to 80,000 Real Madrid fans, Schuster was determined to humiliate Gao Shen and shatter the myth surrounding him.

His plan was simple: crush Napoli in a way that showcased Real Madrid's dominance, playing the attacking football their fans adored.

"After tonight, when Real Madrid fans think of Gao Shen, they'll only remember his cowardice and the humiliation of a crushing defeat!" Schuster said through gritted teeth.

---

As the players from both teams entered the stadium under the guidance of Dutch referee Peter Vink, applause thundered through the Bernabeu.

Gao Shen followed Napoli's squad out and was greeted with enthusiastic cheers from the Real Madrid fans.

More than 70,000 fans chanted his name, a testament to his enduring popularity. Even the live commentary marveled at the admiration he still commanded in Madrid.

"In 2006, when Real Madrid was in turmoil, Gao Shen stepped in as interim coach and turned the season around. In just over three months, he not only revived the team but also defeated formidable opponents, miraculously overtook Barcelona to win La Liga, and led Real Madrid to an unexpected Champions League title, achieving the double."

"This made him one of the most celebrated coaches in Real Madrid's history and a fan favorite."

But Schuster, watching from the sidelines, had no love for Gao Shen.

Hmph, just a fraud who knows how to win people over with flattery!

Let's see how he falls apart tonight!

In the dressing room earlier, Schuster had laid out his tactical plan. Now, he was brimming with confidence.

Still, before the match started, he walked over to the visitors' bench.

Seeing Zidane seated there made his blood boil.

Before taking over Real Madrid, Schuster had wanted Zidane to be his assistant. Zidane had declined, citing his lack of coaching qualifications and intentions. Yet not long after, Zidane had pursued his coaching license and joined Gao Shen in Naples.

It felt like a slap to Schuster's face.

Now, he despised both Zidane and Gao Shen.

Schuster forced a smile as he approached Gao Shen. "Welcome to the Bernabeu."

Gao Shen extended his hand briefly, offering a cold handshake. He didn't even bother with a "thank you."

"Honestly, you look better crying than pretending to smile," Gao Shen said dryly.

Schuster's expression darkened. "Let's hope you won't be crying later."

"Feeling that confident?" Gao Shen retorted, unimpressed.

Schuster smirked. "Tonight, you and your team are going to die here!"

With that, the German turned on his heel and walked away, exuding arrogance.

Gao Shen stood there, watching Schuster's retreating figure. "Why is he so confident? Does he have something up his sleeve?"

Zidane and Carlo exchanged glances, equally uneasy.

Real Madrid's starting lineup and tactics seemed straightforward, so what else could Schuster possibly have planned?

"Let the team know: play cautiously at the start. Stay solid and avoid taking risks," Gao Shen instructed.

His main concern was the opening phase of the match.

---

And Gao Shen's worries proved to be justified.

Napoli, being new to the Champions League, lacked experience, and the Bernabeu's atmosphere made them visibly tense. Meanwhile, Real Madrid, with their wealth of Champions League pedigree, immediately launched a fierce offensive.

Within just 24 seconds, Robben cut inside after receiving the ball on the right wing, facing Vargas. His cross aimed for Raul, but David Luiz intercepted and cleared the ball.

However, Real Madrid quickly reorganized and sustained pressure, forcing consecutive corners in the early minutes.

Then, in the seventh minute, Real Madrid broke through Napoli's defense.

From deep in midfield, Diarra passed to Ramos, who was charging up the right flank. Ramos skillfully forced his way past Vargas and delivered a precise cross into the penalty area.

Inside the box, Ruud van Nistelrooy shook off Bonucci's marking and surged forward. Positioned near the edge of the six-yard box, he connected with a powerful header, sending the ball straight toward the goal.