Capítulo 287: Chapter 287: Advanced Gold Medalist
In Italy, the match between Napoli and Roma is often called the "Southern Derby."
These two clubs are the most competitive teams from southern Italy and have both won the Serie A title in the past. However, with Napoli's relegation years ago, the derby had lost its spark. Now, after seven years, Napoli was back in Serie A, fighting their way up the standings and rekindling this rivalry.
Currently, Napoli and Roma sit second and fourth in the league standings, respectively. The tension between them has only intensified since last season's Coppa Italia clash, where bitter grievances and on-field confrontations created an intense rivalry.
For this game, a total of 55,000 Roma fans filled the Stadio Olimpico, surpassing the attendance from their sixth-round match against Inter Milan. Clearly, Roma fans were filled with anticipation, hoping their team would restore some pride.
Napoli was equally invested in this match. Thousands of Napoli fans traveled to Rome to support their team. Club chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis and general manager Pierpaolo Marino also attended the game in person, a show of support that demonstrated how seriously Napoli was taking this clash.
As expected, Roma's chairman Rosella Sensi was also present, along with general manager Daniele Prade and technical director Bruno Conti. Since the game was scheduled for 5:00 PM, the two sides even had a pre-game lunch together.
With her father aging, Rosella Sensi had gradually taken over control of the club. Known as one of the few high-profile female executives in Italian football, she was keen to prove her business and footballing acumen, especially under the watchful eye of her father.
This season, Serie A was shaping up to be more competitive than ever. Napoli, the newly promoted team, had stormed into the league with an impressive start. Juventus had returned to form, AC Milan was showing potential, and Inter Milan remained strong at the top. The fight for the top four was intense, and each match held immense importance.
For Roma, securing three points in this home game was crucial, especially after disappointing home performances—a 2-2 draw against Juventus and a 1-4 loss to Inter Milan. Those results had left Roma's fans and executives feeling uneasy, with growing pressure on them to perform. Add to that the fact that Napoli was led by the "Italian public enemy," Gao Shen, and the stakes were even higher.
How good was Gao Shen as a coach?
Rosella Sensi wasn't an expert in tactics, but she respected the opinions of Bruno Conti, who had once told her, "If Napoli ever let Gao Shen go, we should immediately fire Spalletti and bring him to Roma." A statement like that was enough to make her realize Gao Shen's reputation in the football world.
Facing a coach of his caliber on home turf? That was no small challenge.
Indeed, in the executive box, from Rosella Sensi to Prade and Bruno Conti, the Roma executives all wore tense expressions, fully aware of the challenges they faced.
Meanwhile, in the home team's locker room at the Stadio Olimpico, Roma's head coach Luciano Spalletti was also feeling the pressure.
He'd just received Napoli's starting lineup, and it caught him off guard.
Napoli Starting Lineup:
Goalkeeper: Handanovic
Defense: Dossena, David Luiz, Bonucci, Lichtsteiner
Midfield: Vidal, Thiago Motta, Nainggolan
Forwards: Di Maria, Pellé, Sanchez
The backline and forward choices weren't surprising to Spalletti, but the midfield setup certainly was.
Vidal starting wasn't unexpected; the Chilean hadn't played during the international break, so he was fresh. Thiago Motta's inclusion was somewhat surprising but understandable. Gao Shen had been testing a 4-3-3 formation, with Thiago Motta in the holding midfielder role. Though Motta hadn't yet returned to his prime form from his Barcelona days, Gao Shen clearly believed in him.
What really caught Spalletti off guard was the inclusion of Nainggolan.
Nainggolan was a relatively unknown player, recently signed from Serie B side Piacenza, where he hadn't even been a regular starter. Yet, here he was, starting in one of the biggest games of the season for Napoli. Spalletti knew that Gao Shen's eye for talent was impressive, and any player he placed his trust in was bound to perform.
With Gao Shen's record of promoting young players like Parejo, Pastore, and Valencia, it was clear that Nainggolan was being set up to make a name for himself.
"We don't have much on this guy," Domenichini, Spalletti's assistant, said, "but he's supposed to be well-rounded with great stamina."
The lack of information was frustrating. Nainggolan was a bit of a mystery, but with Gao Shen's track record, he was worth keeping an eye on. Spalletti turned to his team, feeling both anticipation and anxiety.
"Remind everyone to be wary of that kid. Gao Shen has a knack for pulling surprises," Spalletti advised his staff.
Domenichini couldn't help but laugh. "Yeah, where does he keep finding these players?"
He'd seen Nainggolan on the training field earlier. With his mohawk hairstyle, he and Vidal looked like enforcers.
"Those two look like mafia hitmen," Domenichini joked.
Spalletti chuckled, momentarily easing the tension.
Roma Starting Lineup:
Goalkeeper: Curci
Defense: Tonetto, Ferrari, Mexes, Cicinho
Midfield: Pizarro, De Rossi, Mancini, Perrotta, Giuly
Forward: Totti
When Gao Shen received Roma's starting lineup, he couldn't help but laugh.
He'd guessed almost every position correctly.
Beside him, Carlo, Lucas, Buenaventura, and the other coaching staff members were all smiles. Their preparation had been spot on, and knowing the opponent's lineup only fueled the team's confidence.
"You see? Even our opponents are helping us out!" Gao Shen said, waving the Roma lineup in front of his players.
Before the game, they'd discussed possible lineups, running scenarios based on these predictions. Now that everything was falling into place, the players felt even more energized.
"Remember our game plan," Gao Shen reminded them. "We're going for an aggressive start. Let's get the first goal early and set the tempo."
He looked around, locking eyes with each player. "Are you confident?"
"Yes!" they responded in unison, their voices filled with determination.
The referee for tonight's match was Paolo Tagliavento, a newly promoted international official, known for his lenient style. Gao Shen had taken this into account, which was why he felt confident starting both Vidal and Nainggolan, his "gold medal enforcers." With a referee who wasn't likely to penalize every little foul, he could afford to play rough.
As usual, Spalletti came over to shake Gao Shen's hand before the match. The Roma coach seemed tense, and he exchanged only a few words with Gao Shen before heading back to his bench.
Gao Shen, on the other hand, was in high spirits.
Napoli won the coin toss and chose the side that would give them the advantage in the late afternoon sun. Roma took the kickoff.
As the referee blew the whistle to start the game, Roma immediately kicked off, passing the ball to Mancini on the left wing.
Nainggolan quickly closed in on him, pressing hard. Mancini, sensing the pressure, shielded the ball and then passed back to Tonetto.
Totti dropped back to offer support while Mancini sprinted forward, looking for space.
Tonetto tried a pass into the middle, aiming for Totti, but Thiago Motta intercepted it, sending the ball out for a throw-in.
Roma took the throw quickly, tossing it back to Totti. But Nainggolan and Lichtsteiner double-teamed him, forcing a turnover as Lichtsteiner cleared the ball upfield.
Pellé jumped to meet the clearance, heading it down to Di Maria, who passed it back to Vidal.
With Napoli now in possession, they launched a quick counterattack. Everyone surged forward, each player pushing hard.
Vidal, just past the halfway line, passed to Nainggolan on the right. Without hesitation, Nainggolan delivered a direct pass to Pelé up front.
Pellé, holding the ball with his back to goal, took two steps to his right and then laid it off to Sanchez.
Sanchez, now one-on-one with Tonetto, began to dance around him, feinting and making quick moves. Desperate, Tonetto resorted to a foul, bringing Sanchez down just outside the box.
Napoli had earned a dangerous free kick on the right side of the field.
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