Real Madrid's starting lineup has been revealed!

  Goalkeeper: Casils.

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

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

  Forwards: Raul and Ruud van Nistelrooy.

  It's a cssic 4-4-2 formation.

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

  Sacchi had oold 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 ehey secure the top spot in the group.

  Failing to top the group would likely mean fag anroup winner in the Round of 16. In that case, Real Madrid might fa 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, f an attag triah Ruud van Nistelrooy, while Raul hovers around Ruud to create opportunities."

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

  This was the primary tactic Schuster employed with Real Madrid.

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

  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 ihernds, has lost much of his pace. His ability to attack from the wings isn't strong, and his role is more about passing and arrivio finish. That's why Marcelo will py a more promi role on the left, which expins why Schuster has benched Drenthe."

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

  Of course, these kinds of bels 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 o push forward. If both fnks py like this, isn't he worried about being exposed at the back?"

  "Moreover, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Van der Vaart, and Robbe exactly the type to press aggressively in the front. That leaves only Raul to lead the press. Does this mean he's pnning fo and Diarra to push up as well?"

  Zidane had a deep affe 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 fwed.

  In other words, it seemed extremely risky.

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

  Last weekend, Napoli had allowed Pelle to py the full game, clearly pnning to start i for this match.

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

  Both of them turo Gao Shen.

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

  The reason Zidane found it difficult to prehend 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 uand Schuster's lineup.

  Wasn't this the same outdated, unbanced system from the Gacticos era?

  But from the perspective of traditional 4-4-2 tactics, it wasn't anything eous. It was simply a mgressive, attack-oriented setup. After all, Real Madrid had always been like this at home, using offeo domiheir oppos.

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

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

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

  There were some surprises.

  Last weekend, wheiced that her Biglia nor Rakitic had pyed, 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 perf exceptionally this season, Napoli's attag power would undoubtedly take a hit.

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

  He was vinced 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 pd py 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 fnks as much as possible. But we exploit this and go all out from the start!"

  Schuster's eyes gleamed with determination.

  He had harbored a deep dislike fao Shen ever since his days coag Real Madrid.

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

  His pn was simple: crush Napoli in a way that showcased Real Madrid's dominance, pying the attag football their fans adored.

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

  ---

  As the pyers from both teams ehe stadium uhe guidance of Dutch referee Peter Vink, appuse thuhrough 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 ted his name, a testament to his enduring popurity. Even the live entary marveled at the admiratioill anded in Madrid.

  "In 2006, when Real Madrid was in turmoil, Gao Shen stepped in as interim coad turhe season around. In just over three months, he not only revived the team but also defeated formidable oppos, miraculously overtook Bara to win La Liga, and led Real Madrid to an ued 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, watg from the sidelines, had no love fao Shen.

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

  Let's see how he falls apart tonight!

  In the dressing room earlier, Schuster had id out his tactical pn. Now, he was brimming with fidence.

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

  Seeing Zidaed there made his blood boil.

  Before taking over Real Madrid, Schuster had wanted Zidao be his assistant. Zidane had deed, g his ck of coag qualifications and iions. Yet not long after, Zidane had pursued his coag lise and joined Gao Shen in Naples.

  It felt like a sp to Schuster's face.

  Now, he despised both Zidane and Gao Shen.

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

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

  "Holy, you look better g thaending to smile," Gao Shen said dryly.

  Schuster's expression darkened. "Let's hope you won't be g ter."

  "Feeling that fident?" Gao Sheed, 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, watg Schuster's retreating figure. "Why is he so fident? Does he have something up his sleeve?"

  Zidane and Carlo exged gnces, equally uneasy.

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

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

  His main was the opening phase of the match.

  ---

  And Gao Shen's worries proved to be justified.

  Napoli, beio the Champions League, cked experience, and the Bernabeu's atmosphere made them visibly tense. Meanwhile, Real Madrid, with their wealth of Champions League pedigree, immediately unched a fierce offensive.

  Within just 24 seds, Robben cut ier receiving the ball on the right wing, fag Vargas. His cross aimed for Raul, but David Luiz intercepted and cleared the ball.

  However, Real Madrid quickly reanized and sustained pressure, f secutive ers 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 fnk. Ramos skillfully forced his ast Vargas and delivered a precise cross into the penalty area.

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