The twenty-sixth round of Serie A was destio be unusual from the very first game.

  At home, Roma crushed Parma 4-0 with goals from Aquini, Totti, and Vuic.

  This decisive victory set a bzing tone for the twenty-sixth round of the league.

  Following that, Ai's team managed only a 1-1 draw with Lazio at home.

  After a strong streak of victories over the winter break, A's form had started to falter.

  The demands of the Champions League seemed to be taking their toll, as Min's performances had visibly dropped retly, causing them to frequently drop points in Serie A. They still hadn't been able te the gap from fifth pce to fourth.

  Meanwhile, Juventus suffered a shock 2-3 defeat at home against Fiorentina.

  Ranieri's team had now fully lost any ce at the Serie A title, and they even risked losing their fourth pce spot. With this loss, they were only one point ahead of Fiorentina.

  This result once again proved Gao Shen's earlier statement that the fastest way to close a standings gap is through head-to-head matchups.

  With this victory, Fiorentina had closed the gap from four points to just oh a narrow win at the Stadio delle Alpi.

  Now, all eyes turo the most anticipated game of the round.

  ...

  The finale of the twenty-sixth round was Napoli vs. Inter Min.

  Not only was this game the focus of Serie A, but it was also a decisive battle that fans around the world eagerly awaited.

  At the pre-match press ference, Gao Shen boldly decred that this game was Napoli's most important battle of the season a Battle of Heartbreak Ridge in the Serie A season.

  "It's a shame that we didn't get a win at San Siro earlier in the season. We deserved it, but for various reasons, we didn't take all three points. I've even had my pyers rewatch that game to remind them of what happened."

  "In fact, before tonight's game, I'll make my pyers rewatch our 0-3 defeat from st season. I want them to remember that humiliating game!"

  Yes, humiliation.

  Gao Shen had always used this word to describe st season's game.

  He never belittled his team, even though they were a Serie B side back then. Nor did he justify their loss simply because they were up against a powerhouse like Inter. All he saw was that, oapoli had been powerless against Inter Min.

  A year had passed.

  Today's Napoli was no longer a Serie B team. They were the sed-pce team in Serie A, and they were here to challeer Min for the title!

  "My pyers, my colleagues, and I will do everything we to defeat Inter Min at the Stadio San Paolo and recim the top spot in Serie A!"

  Gao Shen's powerful and defiaion stirred the hearts of fans not only in Italy, but throughout Europe and even around the world.

  The story of Hamlet endures because its core spirit the drive for revenge and justice resonates with everyone.

  Today, Gao Shen and his Napoli team were like the returning prince, poised for vengeance.

  Even in a, media outlets hyped up the match, suggesting that Gao Shen was embodying the ese idiom, striking back with all his might.

  An authoritative ese neer even published a rare entary on the game, stating that Gao Shen had already won by ceously fag Inter Min head-on.

  "In him, we see a tenacious, unyielding, and hardw spirit that doesn't bow to power!"

  Not just in a, but across Asia and around the world, this game was receiving unpreted attention.

  It wasn't merely a battle for the Serie A title; it ic showdown of revenge.

  Even in the Uates, a try typically indifferent to soccer, The New York Times ran a pre-game story, calling it the most anticipated game in European football so far this season.

  "Media from all around the globe have gathered in the southern Italian city of he Stadio San Paolo, which inally had more than 54,000 seats, was expao hold 60,000, yet it still couldn't meet the demand of eager fans. Nearly 200 tries and tless TV stations will be broadcasting the game live…"

  "This is more than just a Serie A game—it's a celebration for soccer fans worldwide!"

  …

  To aodate fans in various time zohe game was scheduled for 7:30 PM on Sunday night.

  But iy, as soon as night fell, fans had already started entering the stadium.

  Napoli's president, De Laurentiis, hosted a special bahat night to wele send Diego Maradona, who had flown in frentina.

  Maradona had been io attend Inter Min's tennial celebration, but with the showdown in Naples fast approag, he chose to fly to Naples early to support their game against Inter.

  Before the match, Maradona told reporters, "Given the choice between Napoli and Inter Min, I chose Napoli without hesitation!"

  Along with Maradona, several distinguished guests were in attendance, including Arrigo Sacchi, Je Valdano, Zinedine Zidane, Pep Guardio, and Johan Cruyff. Additionally, Italian coag legends like Trapattoni, Capello, and Lippi were also present to watch the match.

  All of this made the Stadio San Paolo the ter of attention.

  De Laurentiis was in high spirits, practically buzzing as he mingled with various guests, chatting with Naples' political and business elite as well as with legends of the football world. He also had his hands full with media from around the world, all eager to interview him.

  De Laurentiis had never experienced such a moment of prestige as he did tonight.

  Throughout the evening, he held his head high, brimming with pride, practically radiating an air of aplishment. And he deserved it.

  After all, he was the one who had personally recruited Gao Shen to Napoli, a decision that had transformed the club's fortunes.

  After the ba, De Laurentiis led his distinguished guests into the stadium to take their seats.

  …

  When the pyers returned from their warm-ups, Gao Shen received Inter Min's starting lineup.

  Mani had set up his team in a 4-3-1-2 formation. This was his typical Champions League strategy with a three-man midfield, a more servative setup. In Serie A, Inter usually used a 4-4-2 formation.

  It was clear that Mani roag this game with caution.

  "It seems the rumors were true," Lucas said.

  Before the game, some media outlets had reported that when Moratti visited Inter's training base, he had instructed Mani to prioritize a draw to retaiop spot, because the club's tennial celebration was ing up weekend.

  After leading Serie A for most of the season, if Inter were to lose the top spot before their tennial and then fail to reverse their loss to Liverpool in the Champions League, what would bee of Inter Min's tenary celebration?

  Judging by the starting lineup, Mani indeed seemed to be pying it safe.

  The lineup was as follows:

  Goalkeeper: Julio Cesar.

  Defense: Maxwell, Chivu, Materazzi, and Mai.

  Midfield: Vieira, Cambiasso, and Zai formed a three-man midfield with Stankovic ahead of them.

  Forwards: Suazo and Ibrahimovic.

  Oiceable ge was that Suazo was starting up front instead of Cruz.

  "This really reveals Mani's mi. Suazo is more effective on the terattack with his speed, while Cruz is more suited for physical battles," Gao Shen quickly deduced Mani's approach.

  It wasn't hard to guess, given that Mani didn't have many other options.

  Gao Shen had long assessed that Inter Min was not in peak form and would be relut to go head-to-head with Napoli.

  Anyone could see that Napoli had been steadily improving i weeks, reag a peak, whereas Inter was at a low point. If Iried to py aggressively, they would likely be torn apart by Napoli.

  "From the lineup, you see Mani's internal struggle. He's afraid of taking risks, afraid of g, but he still wants to win, so he's pying it safe. That's just Mani's personality," Gao Shen analyzed fidently.

  If this were a team managed by Benitez or Ferguson, Gao Shen might have hesitated, but Mani redictable.

  With a smirk, Gao Shen said, "We go on the offensive, fidently and boldly!"

  ...

  Napoli stuck to their tried-aed 4-2-3-1 formation for this match.

  Goalkeeper: Handanovic.

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

  Midfield: The double pivot sisted of Biglia and Rakitic, with Di Maria, Hamsik, and Sanchez in front of them.

  Forward: i as the loriker.

  This lineup represehe best of Napoli's squad this season.

  After weeks of meticulous adjustments by Gao Shen and his coag staff, this set of pyers erf at their peak.

  In fact, sihe winter break, Gao Shen had been preparing specifically for this match, as well as for two other crucial games following it. These were must-win battles; otherwise, Napoli's season could quickly slip away.

  ...

  When the pyers returo the locker room after warm-ups, the coag staff sprang into a.

  Gao Shen listed Inter Min's starting lineup and the likely tactics he predicted from Mani, making targeted adjustments and instrus to his own pyers.

  The choice of Inter's lineup didn't surprise him, though he hadn't expected Maxwell, Cambiasso, and Ibrahimovicall carrying injuries to start. This raised a question in Gao Shen's mind: just how fit were these three pyers?

  He quickly regrouped his thoughts and faced his pyers, gathering them around.

  "Three key points!" Gao Shen raised three fingers, looking each pyer in the eye with iy.

  "First," he began, "remember what I told you before the game. Inter Min's midfield—Vieira is aging and has suffered too many injuries. Cambiasso and Zai aren't natural midfielders, so their positioning be erratic. When they fall back, they tend to retreat too deep, leaving space around the edge of the penalty area."

  He looked directly at Hamsik, Rakitid Biglia, who all nodded, fully uanding the message.

  "Sed," he tinued, "the goalkeeper. I don't o eborate. Keep this firmly in your minds!"

  This time, the eeam ogether, uanding the importance of testing Julio Cesar whenever possible.

  "And third…" Gao Shen paused, letting the tension build. He sed the faces of his pyers, his expression fierd determined.

  "From the sed the whistle blows, I want you to press forward with maximum iy. I want you to suffocate Inter Mihem every inch of space, and leave them no breathing room. Strahem hard, don't let them escape. Make them feel the full force of Naples!"

  He let his words hang in the air, his voice fierce, almost predatory.

  "Have you all got that?" Gao Shen roared.

  "Got it!" the pyers responded in unison, their voices filled with fire and vi.