Starting With Real Madrid

Chapter 423: Chapter 423: Beat Them Up



From a technical and tactical perspective, Zenit St. Petersburg resembles an unconventional Dutch team.

Under the leadership of their Dutch head coach, they utilize the classic Dutch 4-3-3 system. However, their approach is unique, almost an outlier.

What makes them atypical is their wingers—Arshavin and Dani. Neither of them are traditional wide players. Instead, they are attacking midfielders with exceptional individual skills, precise footwork, and superb abilities in passing, dribbling, and acceleration.

However, both share a common weakness: physical frailty.

And on the football pitch, everything is built on physicality.

This limits their ability to reach higher levels in the sport.

With Arshavin and Dani playing as wingers, Zenit's 4-3-3 system takes on an unconventional shape.

While their wingers are atypical, their center forward Pogrebnyak fits the mold of a traditional Dutch striker.

Tall and physically imposing, Pogrebnyak is strong with the ball at his feet and has decent passing ability. However, his value lies more in his tactical role than in his scoring prowess.

This type of center forward is a favorite in Dutch football systems.

With such a player up front and wingers providing unconventional support, Zenit's gameplay is built on teamwork and cohesion.

The results speak for themselves. During Dutch coach Dick Advocaat's tenure, Zenit's top scorers have never surpassed double-digit goals in a season. Instead, the goals are spread across multiple players, reflecting a collective effort.

This is the hallmark of a team focused on overall execution rather than individual brilliance.

In midfield, Tymoshchuk operates as a defensive anchor, flanked by two versatile midfielders who contribute to both attack and defense. Their back line features full-backs who excel in going forward and two central defenders providing stability.

Gao Shen has always believed that Guus Hiddink's success in leading Russia during the 2008 European Championship was partly built on the foundation laid by his compatriot Advocaat and the Zenit team Advocaat developed.

Zenit has never been a conservative side. They are aggressive and attack-minded, especially at home.

A perfect example was their performance in St. Petersburg. Despite taking a one-goal lead against Napoli, Advocaat continued to press for more.

In that match, Advocaat's intentions were clear, he wanted to secure a larger margin of victory.

However, Napoli held their ground, using defensive counterattacks to steal a point in the away game.

Now, it was Zenit's turn to face the challenges of playing away from home.

---

When Zenit's starting lineup was announced, Gao Shen had already returned to the locker room.

The lineup was as follows:

Goalkeeper: Malafeev.

Defenders: Hill, Krizanak, Robats, and Anyukov.

Midfielders: Denisov, Tymoshchuk, and Zyryanov.

Forwards: Arshavin, Pogrebnyak, and Dani.

Notably, Korean defender Kim Dong-jin, part of Zenit's squad, was listed as a substitute for the match.

In recent years, Zenit had made waves in European football, delivering surprise after surprise.

Aside from their domestic success in the Russian Premier League, Zenit had claimed significant scalps in Europe. In the Europa League, they eliminated teams like Standard Liege, Villarreal, Marseille, Leverkusen, and even Bayern Munich.

Their 4-1 away victory over Leverkusen and the stunning 4-0 home triumph against Bayern last season were standout moments.

This season, in the Champions League, Zenit found themselves in the "group of death" alongside Bayern, Real Madrid, and Napoli. Yet they continued to earn respect for their strong performances.

After a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Zenit in the away match, Gao Shen fully understood their strength. This was why he approached this game with caution, fielding his strongest lineup after rotating players during the AC Milan match.

Playing at home and aiming for a win, Gao Shen opted for a 4-3-3 formation:

Goalkeeper: Handanovic.

Defenders: Vargas, David Luiz, Bonucci, and Lichtsteiner.

Midfielders: Biglia, Thiago Motta, and Rakitic.

Forwards: Di Maria, Cavani, and Sanchez.

In this setup, Gao Shen benched Hamsik to bring in Thiago Motta. The decision aimed to stabilize the defense, especially when the full-backs pushed forward to support the attack.

Biglia and Rakitic were included to ensure dominance in midfield, while Hamsik was preserved for domestic league matches.

Gao Shen also made slight adjustments to the attacking strategy.

---

"Tonight, Sanchez will start on the left, and Di Maria on the right," Gao Shen instructed after the players returned to the locker room.

Over the course of the season, Napoli's wingers had often switched flanks during matches, so the players weren't surprised at first.

However, Gao Shen quickly added, "No switching tonight."

Sanchez and Di Maria exchanged surprised glances.

"Boss, you mean fixed positions?" Sanchez asked, seeking clarification.

"Yes," Gao Shen confirmed. "Sanchez, stay on the left. Di Maria, stick to the right. Attack with everything you've got from those positions."

Though puzzled, the two players nodded in understanding.

Gao Shen continued, "You've all experienced the trip to St. Petersburg. You know how challenging that away game was for us. It wasn't easy for us to play there, and it's not easy for them to come here either.

"But this isn't St. Petersburg. This is Naples. This is our home. From the first minute, we need to hit them hard, break through their defense, and make them feel the full force of our attack!"

His words ignited a spark in the players, filling the locker room with fighting spirit.

"Sanchez, Di Maria, your task is to take on their full-backs, Hill and Anyukov. With your abilities, you should dominate them. Cavani, the center is yours."

The Uruguayan forward nodded firmly, determination etched on his face. "Leave it to me, Boss."

"Watch out for Tymoshchuk," Gao Shen reminded. "He'll drop deep to help their defense when needed."

"Got it," Cavani replied confidently.

Gao Shen then outlined a few additional tactical adjustments, based on Zenit's lineup.

The overall strategy had been drilled into the players throughout the week. What remained were minor tweaks and reminders. During the match, he would make further adjustments as needed—this was the essence of in-game management.

Finally, Gao Shen emphasized one key point: possession.

"We must dominate the ball. Keep it on the ground. Play short, precise passes. That's where we have the advantage. Make them chase us!"

Napoli was well-versed in this style of play.

Gao Shen's team had developed a versatile approach—they could defend and counterattack, launch relentless offensives, control possession with precision, or press their opponents into submission.

In short, they adapted to the opponent's weaknesses.

"Remember," Gao Shen concluded. "If we win tonight, we secure our place in the knockout stages. I know you won't let me down."

---

The referee for the match was Jonas Eriksson from Sweden.

As the players took their positions on the pitch, Gao Shen approached Zenit's coaching bench and extended a friendly handshake to Dick Advocaat.

Gao Shen respected the Dutch coach's abilities. Building a team as formidable as Zenit was no small feat.

Zenit's Europa League triumph, which included victories over Bayern and a dominant performance in the Super Cup against Manchester United, was a testament to Advocaat's tactical brilliance.

During their pre-match exchange, Gao Shen asked casually about Zenit's adjustment to Naples' climate. Advocaat's wry smile said it all—his team was struggling with the unfamiliar conditions.

"I hope we'll see a great game tonight," Gao Shen said with a smile.

Advocaat, understanding the subtle implication, didn't respond.

Napoli's home advantage, combined with Zenit's current challenges, clearly put the Russian side in a precarious position.

Of course, the outcome would still depend on the players' performances.

---

With Eriksson's whistle, the match began.

Zenit took the first possession, but Napoli immediately pressed high, forcing the Russian team to pass back under pressure.

Under heavy pressure, Zenit resorted to launching a long ball forward.

David Luiz rose above the rest, heading the ball back into midfield.

Rakitic controlled it smoothly, quickly passing it forward to initiate a counterattack.

But Zenit's defensive line organized swiftly, and by the time the ball reached Di Maria, their back line was already set.

Di Maria had no choice but to play it back.

Thiago Motta, receiving the pass, switched the ball to the left side. Vargas advanced, passed it to Biglia, and quickly moved forward to provide support.

After a quick give-and-go with Biglia, Vargas passed the ball to Sanchez. However, the Chilean winger found his path blocked by Anyukov and Zyryanov, forcing him to pass back.

Biglia, unmarked, took control again. Spotting an opportunity, he sent a perfectly weighted long pass to the edge of Zenit's penalty area.

Cavani shielded the ball with his body, trapping it on his chest. As Zenit's two central defenders, Robats and Krizanak, quickly closed in, he deftly adjusted.

Rather than attempting to turn and shoot under pressure, Cavani chose to lay the ball off, passing it horizontally to the edge of the penalty area.

A sky-blue figure surged forward at full speed, meeting Cavani's pass with a direct, thunderous strike.


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