Starting With Real Madrid

What do you do when you know exactly what lineup and tactics your opponent will use?

Gao Shen's answer was simple: counter them head-on.

This confidence stemmed from Napoli's strength.

The starting lineup:

Goalkeeper: Handanovic

Defense: Vargas, David Luiz, Bonucci, and Maggio

Midfield: Biglia, Thiago Motta, and Rakitic

Forwards: Di Maria, Cavani, and Sanchez

Gao Shen stuck with the 4-3-3 formation used in the away game against Real Madrid, but he made a few adjustments to the starting lineup.

He replaced the Swiss right-back Lichtsteiner with Maggio—not because of injury, as no Napoli player had sustained one this season. The training and management by Buenaventura and Pintus had been exceptional, keeping the players in peak condition.

The change was a tactical decision. Bayern's left flank was anchored by Ribery, known for his exceptional dribbling, speed, and agility. Ribery's ability to control the ball and seamlessly transition to his next move made him a nightmare for defenders.

Lichtsteiner had consistently outperformed Maggio in recent competitions, but when it came to explosive speed and flexibility, essential qualities for dealing with Ribery, Maggio had the edge. Gao Shen wanted to use Maggio's pace to neutralize Ribery's rhythm and suppress Bayern's left flank.

Beyond that, Gao Shen deployed Biglia, Rakitic, and Thiago Motta in midfield to dominate possession and stifle Bayern's midfield trio: Ze Roberto, Van Bommel, and Schweinsteiger.

A key adjustment was Vargas's advanced positioning, pushing high to press Schweinsteiger. Thiago Motta played deeper, ready to slot into the defensive line and form a back three whenever Klose and Toni pressed forward.

Bayern's two center-forwards were traditional target men, reliant on service from midfield. Gao Shen's game plan was clear: cut off Bayern's supply line from midfield and isolate their strikers.

As for Napoli's attack, their trident up front had the speed and flexibility to exploit Bayern's defensive weaknesses. If Bayern dared to press high, Gao Shen welcomed the challenge.

The focus was on attacking the flanks.

…

Five minutes into the match, Napoli intercepted a pass near the halfway line and launched a quick counterattack. Although it faltered, they retained possession and reorganized.

Thiago Motta stepped forward and passed the ball to Maggio on the right flank, signaling him to push forward.

Maggio drove up the right side and sent the ball ahead to Sanchez, positioned just outside Bayern's penalty area, between Lahm and Breno.

Sanchez controlled the ball, turned sharply, and began cutting inside. With a burst of pace, he surged past Breno and sent a perfectly weighted through ball behind Demichelis.

Cavani, like a charging tank, muscled past Demichelis, reached Sanchez's pass, and fired a powerful shot from close range.

The ball hit the back of the net.

1-0!

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!"

"Just five minutes into the game, Napoli has broken through Bayern Munich's defense!"

The Stadio San Paolo erupted.

The Napoli fans roared in celebration, their cheers reverberating throughout the stadium.

Gao Shen leaped off the bench, pumping his fist in the air as he celebrated with his players. Scoring within five minutes against a European giant like Bayern Munich was the perfect start.

…

After taking the lead, Napoli didn't ease up. Instead, they kept up the intensity.

Four minutes later, they attacked down the right flank again, with Maggio and Sanchez once more leading the charge.

Maggio sent the ball to Sanchez, who dribbled into the right channel. Unable to break into the box, Sanchez suddenly changed direction, cut inside, and sent a looping cross toward the penalty spot.

Cavani pulled back to create space, while Di Maria darted into the box to meet Sanchez's delivery. The Argentine winger's shot was blocked by Demichelis, who slid in desperately, sending the ball out for a corner. It was inches away from an own goal.

Two consecutive attacks from the right rattled Bayern. Klinsmann, pacing anxiously on the sideline, shouted instructions to his players, urging them to stabilize the defense and stay disciplined.

In response, Van Bommel and Ze Roberto dropped deeper to protect the backline.

But in football, solving one problem often creates another.

As Bayern concentrated on shoring up their left flank, vulnerabilities emerged on their right.

In the 17th minute, Di Maria found himself one-on-one with Oddo.

The Argentine toyed with the Italian defender, executing a series of feints before poking the ball past him. Accelerating, Di Maria raced to the byline and whipped a precise cross into the six-yard box.

Cavani tangled with Demichelis and Breno, creating just enough chaos for Sanchez to sneak in behind Lahm and fire the ball into the net.

2-0!

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!"

"Seventeen minutes in, and Napoli has doubled their lead!"

"This is turning into a rout!"

"After dismantling Real Madrid 7-0 in the first match, Napoli is showing the same relentless attacking momentum at home."

"So far, Bayern Munich hasn't managed a single shot on goal."

"At this point, you have to wonder: is this really the group of death? Or is it only the group of death for everyone except Napoli?"

…

After conceding twice in rapid succession, Klinsmann had no choice but to adjust.

He ordered his team to sit deeper, tightening their defensive structure to avoid suffering the same humiliation Real Madrid had endured.

But this came at a cost. With both Klose and Toni lacking pace, Bayern's counterattacks lost their bite. Napoli's agile and mobile defense easily contained their efforts.

Without the ability to transition quickly, Bayern's attacks devolved into static positional play. Their midfield, overwhelmed by Napoli's press, couldn't create meaningful chances.

On the flip side, Napoli slowed their tempo in the second half, choosing to control possession and patiently probe Bayern's defense for openings.

Despite Klinsmann's adjustments, Bayern couldn't find a way back into the game.

The final whistle blew with Napoli securing a commanding 2-0 victory.

…

At Bayern Munich's headquarters on Säbener Strasse in Munich, the club's Big Three—Beckenbauer, Rummenigge, and Hoeness—watched the game unfold on a live broadcast.

From start to finish, Bayern had been thoroughly outclassed.

Napoli dominated in every facet of the match, leaving the Bavarian giants powerless.

Beckenbauer shook his head in amazement. "That 7-0 win over Real Madrid has given Napoli incredible confidence. This young coach is extraordinary."

In comparison, Klinsmann had been completely outmaneuvered.

From pre-match preparations to in-game adjustments, Gao Shen had comprehensively outperformed his counterpart.

"Napoli didn't even go all out in the second half," Hoeness noted. "They eased off, controlled the game, and still, Klinsmann couldn't find an answer."

"Napoli is the most versatile and tactically astute team in Europe this season," Beckenbauer added. "They can play any style, adapt to any opponent, and their squad is full of talent. Teams like this go far."

Rummenigge nodded solemnly. "This match highlights the gap we need to close. The evolution of European football has left us behind. It's clear we need major reforms at both the tactical and technical levels."

Germany's youth development had borne fruit in recent years, producing talents like Podolski, Kroos, and Badstuber. But Bayern's outdated system hindered them from maximizing this potential.

"Klinsmann has the vision, but he's not capable of executing it," Hoeness said bluntly. "Without Löw, he's lost."

"Real Madrid managed to beat Zenit tonight, so they've bounced back," Beckenbauer pointed out. "It's still an open race for the top two spots in the group. The third round will be critical."

Napoli would travel to St. Petersburg for their next match, facing harsh November weather and freezing temperatures—a significant challenge.

Even with Napoli riding high, one slip could derail their campaign.

"Regardless of Napoli's results," Hoeness said firmly, "we must beat Real Madrid in the next two matches. That's non-negotiable if we want to qualify."

***

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