Starting With Real Madrid

At the start of the second half, Napoli wasted no time threatening Inter Milan with a well-orchestrated attack down the left.

Quick passes between Vargas, Thiago Motta, Hamsik, and Sanchez saw the ball move fluidly through Inter Milan's half like a butterfly flitting between flowers. It was a dazzling display of quick passing and sharp movement, taking the ball from Napoli's defensive third to the edge of Inter's penalty area in no time.

After Sanchez cut inside, he laid the ball off to Cavani at the top of the box. Cavani took it to his right, but Montari and Cambiasso closed him down, blocking his shot. The ball deflected off Cambiasso's body and posed no threat to the goal.

But Napoli's attack didn't end there. They immediately pressed and formed a second wave. Vidal stepped up, shook off his marker, and unleashed a powerful shot, but it sailed just over the crossbar.

The fluidity of Napoli's passing and movement left the audience in awe.

It's rare to see such smooth and dynamic interplay in Serie A, especially during a clash of heavyweights like this.

---

Inter Milan, unwilling to back down, responded quickly with a counterattack.

They targeted Mancini on the left again, but Lichtsteiner rose high to clear the ball with a header, sending it out of play.

Soon after, Inter lost possession in the final third, and Napoli launched yet another swift counter.

---

The match settled into a rhythm of high-paced exchanges, with both sides trading attacks.

Napoli stuck to their trademark quick tempo, and Inter Milan, determined to stand their ground, fought fire with fire.

The commentators were quick to point out, however, that this frenetic pace didn't favor Inter Milan.

"This is playing into Napoli's hands. They thrive in this kind of high-tempo game."

"Mourinho appears determined to change the perception that he's too defensive."

"Not long ago, he was in the running for the Barcelona job, but his conservative style didn't sit well with their philosophy. That hesitation cost him the position."

"It's no secret that Barcelona's first choice was Gao Shen, but when he turned them down and recommended his former assistant Guardiola instead, Mourinho's candidacy fell through."

"Inter Milan also initially wanted Gao Shen as their head coach this summer. After he rejected them, they turned to Mourinho. Facing Gao Shen tonight, Mourinho seems eager to prove himself, not just to Inter but to the entire football world."

"But so far, the spotlight belongs to Napoli."

"After winning the domestic double last season, many feared this team was a one-hit wonder, and there was concern Gao Shen might leave in the summer. But neither happened."

"Tonight, Napoli looks more composed and mature than ever."

"This performance proves that Gao Shen's tactical philosophy has taken root. Napoli is no longer just a promising team, they are evolving into a dominant force that could remain at the top for years to come."

---

Ten minutes into the second half, Inter Milan had yet to register a single shot on target.

Even after Mourinho pushed Balotelli further forward to form a strike partnership with Ibrahimovic, Inter failed to create any meaningful threat.

Napoli's pressing game wasn't as aggressive as it had been last season, but it was far more suffocating.

They set up a defensive block around the halfway line, pinning Inter in their own half and preventing them from building any coherent attacks. Aside from occasional long balls, Inter couldn't muster any effective positional play.

And long balls? Napoli wasn't afraid of them.

Benatia had Ibrahimovic in his pocket all game. While the Swede occasionally had moments of brilliance, they were fleeting and ineffective. Meanwhile, Balotelli, who started on the right, frequently drifted into central positions to avoid facing Vargas, who had completely neutralized him.

Mourinho had instructed Balotelli to drop deep and help link play, but Thiago Motta shut him down repeatedly. Frustrated, Balotelli eventually stayed forward, waiting for service that never came.

With the midfield unable to connect and the front line isolated, Inter's attacks were repeatedly funneled to Mancini on the left. Predictably, Lichtsteiner dealt with him with ease.

---

After ten frustrating minutes, Mourinho had seen enough. He made a decisive substitution, replacing Mancini with Chilean midfielder Jimenez.

This change brought Inter Milan back to a 4-3-1-2 formation, a setup they had relied on successfully in previous seasons under Mancini.

The adjustment paid off initially. With more players in midfield, Inter began pressing higher and more effectively, even managing to pin Napoli back for brief periods.

Inter created a few chances, though none were particularly dangerous.

First, Ibrahimovic's long-range effort was blocked by Benatia. Then Montari tried his luck from 26 meters, but Handanovic comfortably saved it. Finally, Zanetti launched a speculative shot from the right, but it sailed harmlessly wide.

Despite these efforts, Inter's brief resurgence was more a reflection of Napoli allowing them to attack than any true turnaround.

---

On the sidelines, Gao Shen remained calm, signaling his players to stay composed.

He had no intention of making substitutions just yet.

Gao Shen wanted to see how his players handled the pressure.

As a coach, he believed it was crucial to understand his team's limits, both offensively and defensively.

Because only by pushing them to their breaking point in high-pressure matches could he know how best to utilize them in future games.

This kind of intense, real-world test was something no training session could replicate.

"Honestly, Mourinho must be feeling pretty frustrated," Carlo remarked with a wry smile.

Zidane nodded. "He doesn't have the players to execute his system properly, especially on the wings and up front."

In Mourinho's tactical blueprint, a dominant central striker and dynamic wingers were essential.

But Inter's current squad wasn't built for that. Ibrahimovic, while incredibly talented, wasn't a true tactical focal point. His individual brilliance often overshadowed his lack of integration within the team's system. His reliance on solo efforts made him less effective than a player like Cavani in a cohesive tactical setup.

Balotelli, on the other hand, was still a raw talent. At just 17, he lacked the tactical discipline to play Mourinho's preferred style.

Inter's wingers were another weak spot. Mancini wasn't capable of replicating the impact of players like Robben or Duff.

"Mourinho probably hoped Balotelli could break through on the right," Zidane continued. "He's got the speed and physicality to trouble Vargas, but who would've thought…"

Zidane chuckled, shaking his head. Balotelli had quickly realized that Vargas wasn't someone he could bully. After a few failed attempts, he stopped trying altogether, effectively crippling Inter's right flank.

With Maicon hesitant to push forward for fear of leaving gaps behind, Inter's attack became one-dimensional.

"It just goes to show," Gao Shen said, "you can't build a strong team just by assembling a bunch of stars."

At that moment, Inter launched another attack, but Thiago Motta intercepted the ball just outside Napoli's penalty area.

Without hesitation, he initiated a counterattack with a long pass forward.

Cavani shielded the ball expertly from Burdisso, laying it off to Sanchez, who cut inside and unleashed a shot. However, it was blocked by Cambiasso.

The ball ricocheted out of the penalty area, landing at Vidal's feet.

Vidal didn't hesitate. He sprinted forward and struck the ball on the half-volley.

The shot rocketed toward goal like a missile.

Cesar leapt, fully stretched, but couldn't reach it.

The ball smashed against the crossbar with a thunderous thud, drawing gasps from the crowd. It rebounded back into play, and chaos erupted in Inter's penalty area as both teams scrambled for the ball.

---

Watching from the sidelines, Gao Shen noticed Cannavaro and Thiago Motta urging their teammates to push up.

Despite Inter regaining possession and advancing their line past midfield, Gao Shen couldn't help but smile.

"These guys are really maturing," he said proudly.

For Gao Shen, moments like these meant more than goals or victories.

This growing maturity would make Napoli even more competitive, especially in the Champions League.

---

In the 67th minute, Gao Shen made his first substitution, replacing Hamsik with Parejo.

The young Spaniard brought fresh energy to Napoli's midfield, enhancing their control of the ball in Inter's half.

Five minutes later, a fascinating sequence unfolded.

Napoli circulated the ball around Inter's 30-meter area, probing for an opening but finding none.

Mourinho's defensive organization was impressive. The back four and three midfielders held their ground, forming a compact, impenetrable block.

Inter's attackers, led by Balotelli and Jimenez, began pressing aggressively to disrupt Napoli's rhythm.

But Napoli stayed composed. Parejo and Vidal exchanged quick passes, then linked up with Thiago Motta, drawing Balotelli and Jimenez out of position. When they pressed harder, Napoli calmly recycled the ball back to Cannavaro, Vargas, and Benatia.

Balotelli chased after the ball like a headless fly, only to be outmaneuvered time and time again.

Eventually, Benatia launched a long ball forward, sending it into Inter's penalty area.

Cavani rose to challenge Burdisso for the ball, attempting to head it back to the edge of the penalty area for his teammates. Unfortunately, his header lacked precision, and the ball glanced off his head before bouncing out for a goal kick.

This sequence perfectly captured the contrast between the two teams.

Zidane, watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but marvel.

"This kind of play happens almost every day in Napoli's training sessions," he remarked.

It was, quite simply, a masterclass in rondo—or as it's more commonly known, "monkey in the middle."

***

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