Starting With Real Madrid

Gao Shen never expected any special treatment from the referee. In fact, it was almost impossible for Napoli to gain such an advantage.

Given Napoli's status in European football, they could barely influence referees in Serie A, let alone the Champions League. All Gao Shen cared about was ensuring Napoli wouldn't be disadvantaged.

Collina's message had been clear: he trusted Howard Webb, the appointed referee. Webb had years of Premier League experience, a league known for its lenient approach to physical confrontations. That suggested the Englishman would allow more contact than usual.

Of course, Napoli would have to figure out the exact limits themselves.

Webb would only let things go within reason. If their challenges crossed the line, cards would come out regardless. But even a slight shift toward more physical freedom was good news for Napoli.

Against Barcelona, especially when dealing with Messi and Iniesta, hesitation would be fatal.

After Collina left, Gao Shen immediately convened a coaching meeting.

His staff had a unique advantage: most came from La Liga, so they were well-versed in Spanish teams' tactics and how they manipulated referees. And after three years in Serie A, they'd also mastered the art of Italian defensive discipline.

Collina's subtle hint told them plenty.

"At kickoff, let Biglia, Rakitic, Thiago Motta, or Bonucci test the waters," Zidane suggested.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

David Luiz, though talented, was too impulsive. A reckless early foul might earn him a quick booking, shackling him for the rest of the match. Bonucci, however, was a Serie A product—cautious, clever, and adept at dancing on the edge of a foul without drawing cards.

"Tell the players to be cautious, especially with Messi. The cage needs to be tight," Gao Shen instructed.

Zidane and Carlo nodded.

This wasn't cheating. Far from it.

Every top team analyzed referees' tendencies and exploited the rules to their advantage. Football, like war, was about leveraging every permissible edge to defeat the opponent.

Somewhere across the city, Villar was probably feeding similar insights to Barcelona's camp.

Napoli even received official notice from UEFA earlier: Barcelona had requested that the pitch be watered before the match, citing dryness.

Dryness?

Forecasts predicted a temperature of 23°C with 71% humidity, hardly dry conditions. The real reason was obvious. Watering the pitch would speed up the ball's movement, aiding Barça's passing game.

Too much water, however, might cause mistakes.

Mourinho had once poured sand onto Stamford Bridge's surface to slow down opponents. The principle was the same: manipulate conditions within the rules.

---

The Champions League final wasn't just a football event, it was a magnet for political and business elites.

Rome's Stadio Olimpico that night was packed with dignitaries from Italy, Spain, and across the European Union.

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, a Naples native and lifelong Napoli fan, was present. So was Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who also happened to own AC Milan. Ministers, senators, and other officials crowded the VIP section.

Spain's King Juan Carlos and Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero were there to support Barcelona. UEFA President Michel Platini, flanked by his executive committee, observed from a prime seat.

In total, more than 62,000 spectators filled the stands.

Each club had received just over 20,000 tickets, with the rest distributed to sponsors and officials. The local advantage gave Napoli slightly more supporters in the crowd but not enough to make a decisive difference.

---

As the players completed their warm-ups and headed back to the dressing rooms, a brief but spectacular pre-match ceremony unfolded.

The show was drenched in Roman iconography: actors dressed as gods from ancient mythology paraded across the pitch to the soaring strains of Now We Are Free from Gladiator.

The climax came when golden-clad models marched in with the Champions League trophy.

The sight of the famous Big-Eared Cup sent the stadium into a frenzy.

The battle hadn't even started, yet the intensity crackling through the crowd made it feel like it was already underway.

Every fan in the Stadio Olimpico was swept up in the electric atmosphere, their collective passion creating a wall of sound that reverberated through the stadium.

Football had that kind of magic, it could ignite hearts and melt away logic.

---

"We're ready," Gao Shen announced.

In the Napoli dressing room, his players sat on the edge of their seats like soldiers awaiting the call to battle.

If Napoli was to win tonight, it would be because these men gave everything on the pitch.

"I just want to emphasize a few more points," Gao Shen continued.

Zidane stepped forward and placed the tactical board on the stand. Gao Shen immediately pointed to Messi's name, circled in red.

"Messi will start centrally and drop very deep to receive the ball. When that happens, our midfielders need to follow him immediately. He's not just their link between midfield and attack; if he picks up momentum with the ball at his feet, it's lethal. We can't let that happen!"

The players all nodded.

They'd drilled this exact scenario over and over.

"On Barcelona's right flank, we'll see Alves and Eto'o working together. When Messi drops deep, Eto'o will make diagonal runs into the penalty area from the right half-space. Alves will push up aggressively to exploit the space left behind. We need to stay alert—Eto'o's diagonal runs and Alves' overlapping runs are key threats."

Gao Shen's gaze locked on Vargas, Biglia, and Sanchez, who would play as an inverted left winger tonight.

All three gave quick nods.

"On the opposite side, Puyol will be filling in for Abidal at left-back. Henry will be lurking, and Iniesta's forward runs are dangerous too. Stay sharp, don't ball-watch, don't lose your man."

Napoli's tactical plan was clear: absorb pressure, stay disciplined, and break with speed down the wings.

With Sanchez and Di María both playing as inverted wingers, Napoli would target Barcelona's defensive vulnerabilities.

Piqué and Yaya Touré would form Barça's center-back duo, a pairing with exploitable weaknesses. Touré often stepped forward instinctively, leaving space behind, while Piqué's sluggish turning speed made him vulnerable to fast transitions.

That's where Cavani came in.

"When we press, we'll set up near the halfway line. Cavani, you'll drop back slightly to harass Busquets and let Touré and Piqué have the ball. Especially Touré."

Gao Shen paused, his lips curling into a faint smile.

"If I were Guardiola, I'd tell Touré not to advance at all. But habits are hard to break, right?"

He turned his eyes toward David Luiz.

The room burst into laughter.

Everyone knew Luiz's adventurous streak. The Brazilian grinned sheepishly, scratching his head as his teammates teased him.

"If Touré starts dribbling forward, don't hesitate, hit him hard. Be quick, be decisive, and take the ball cleanly. The moment we recover possession, we go straight for goal."

He mimicked a knife-slash gesture.

This was Napoli's core philosophy tonight: don't waste energy chasing possession against the masters of tiki-taka. Instead, stay compact, intercept, and launch direct counterattacks against Barcelona's fragile defense.

Barça's backline might excel when pressing high and building play, but when forced to retreat, their weaknesses were laid bare.

Gao Shen was convinced that if Napoli could execute the plan, they'd score.

---

Tactically, everything had been covered.

Now came the emotional spark.

Gao Shen walked to the center of the room, and his players instinctively stood up, forming a circle around him.

He looked each one in the eye.

"Listen to me," he said, voice low but firm. "We have a real shot at winning this game. But once we step onto that pitch, anything can happen. We might go behind early. We might even concede twice in quick succession."

The players shifted uneasily, but no one spoke.

"If that happens, stay calm. Stay united. Stick to the plan. Trust me."

"Yes, boss!" came the unified response.

Gao Shen let the silence linger for a moment, then continued.

"This will be the hardest game you've ever played. Barcelona is stronger than any team we've faced so far, even stronger than Manchester United."

He raised his right fist.

"But you've got something special. You fought through the group of death. You eliminated three Premier League giants. And now you're here, Champions League finalists."

He took a deep breath.

"No matter what anyone says, we earned this. We deserve this. We are just as good as Barcelona. Maybe better."

The players' eyes burned with intensity.

"We've overcome every obstacle. Tonight is the final step. Stay smart, stay disciplined, and fight for every ball. If we do that, we'll lift that trophy!"

He clenched his fist tighter.

"For Naples! For yourselves! For history!"

The team roared as one.