Starting With Real Madrid

There wasn't much suspense in the match against Roma.

With both Totti and Perrotta, two of their key players, missing the first round of the league, Gao Shen didn't see Roma as much of a threat.

It wasn't that Roma wasn't strong, but without Totti and Perrotta, the Red Wolves would struggle to challenge Napoli.

Everyone understood Totti's importance, he was the link that connected the team, the heart of Roma's entire front-line system. Meanwhile, Perrotta's influence was fully demonstrated during their legendary 6-0 victory in the Italian Cup years ago.

Facing other teams, Roma might have had a fighting chance even without those two players. But against Napoli, it simply wasn't their day. The Giallorossi could only curse their bad luck.

Spalletti stuck with Roma's tried-and-true 4-2-3-1 formation:

Goalkeeper: Doni.

Defenders: Riise, Juan, Mexes, and Cicinho.

Midfielders: Pizarro and De Rossi as double pivots, with Vucinic, Aquilani, and Cassetti further forward.

Forward: Baptista.

Of note, Cicinho and Baptista were both players Gao Shen had worked with during his time at Real Madrid.

Vucinic, a versatile attacker, was long touted as Totti's successor. However, last season proved that while talented, he was no Totti.

Baptista, a new signing this season, was deployed up front, with Spalletti hoping to capitalize on the Brazilian's adaptability and physicality.

Aquilani, one of the standout midfielders in Serie A last season, had flashes of brilliance. While inconsistent, his ability to control the tempo of a game was undeniable—a trait that Valdano once described as "mesmerizing."

Knowing Totti and Perrotta were unavailable, Gao Shen opted for a 4-3-3 setup:

Goalkeeper: Handanovic.

Defenders: Dossena, Cannavaro, Benatia, and Maggio.

Midfielders: Thiago Motta as the anchor, with Hamsik and Vidal in more advanced roles.

Forwards: Sanchez, Cavani, and Valencia.

This lineup made Napoli's intentions clear: even in an away game, they were gunning for a win.

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Before kickoff, a minute of silence was observed in memory of Roma's president, Franco Sensi.

Sensi had passed away half a month earlier, but since the club had already been under the management of his daughter, Rosella Sensi, his death didn't disrupt Roma's operations.

However, the solemn tribute was still warranted.

Sensi's legacy was a mixed one, but one thing was undeniable, he had made significant contributions to Roma. He was also a leading figure in rallying southern Italian clubs to challenge their northern counterparts' dominance.

In fact, Italy's so-called "mini-World Cup era" could partly be traced back to the rise of southern teams like Roma and Lazio. Landmark events included Sensi's takeover of Roma and Cragnotti's entry into Lazio.

Gao Shen vividly remembered those early days of watching football—Batistuta joining Roma, Vieri heading to Lazio, and the excitement surrounding players like Mendieta. He also witnessed the eventual decline of both Roma and Lazio.

Lazio's downfall, in particular, left an impression on him.

When Nesta was sold to AC Milan, Gao Shen had been bitterly disappointed. Why not sell him to Real Madrid instead?

Sensi was an extraordinary figure, Roma an extraordinary team, and the city itself remarkable.

At the center of it all was Totti—the undisputed hero of both the club and the city.

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The game began, and without Totti, Roma found themselves on the back foot almost immediately, pinned down by Napoli's relentless pressure.

Their attacks lacked sharpness, and Napoli's defense held firm.

Maggio, making his season debut for Napoli, was energetic from the start. He linked up seamlessly with Valencia on the right flank, forcing Vucinic to drop back repeatedly to help with defensive duties.

On the left, Dossena and Sanchez worked in tandem to keep Cassetti and Cicinho under control, stifling Roma's play on both wings.

Without Totti, Roma's attack looked disjointed.

Baptista brought physicality, but he lacked the finesse and creativity to act as the team's playmaker. His inability to replicate Totti's role in connecting the front line was glaring.

Gao Shen's decision to deploy Thiago Motta as a deep-lying midfielder paid off. Along with center-backs Benatia and Cannavaro Jr., he formed a defensive triangle that effectively nullified Baptista's influence.

With Roma struggling to create chances, Napoli took control of the game early on.

In the 29th minute, Maggio made a dynamic overlapping run down the right. He whipped a cross into the box, aiming for Cavani. As the Roma defenders focused on marking Cavani, Hamsik surged forward unmarked and headed the ball into the net from close range.

Roma goalkeeper Doni dived in vain. The ball was out of his reach.

1–0!

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After taking the lead, Napoli maintained their grip on the game.

Hamsik and Vidal dominated the midfield, pressing relentlessly and disrupting Roma's attempts to build any rhythm.

Maggio, meanwhile, was a constant threat on the right.

In the 42nd minute, he delivered another excellent cross. Cavani nearly scored with a powerful header, but the ball flew just over the bar.

Roma tried to rally in the second half, but Napoli quickly reasserted control.

In the 52nd minute, Sanchez dazzled the crowd on the left wing, dribbling past three defenders before unleashing a curling shot towards the top-right corner. Unfortunately, the ball struck the post and bounced out.

Just six minutes later, Valencia and Maggio combined on the right to earn a corner kick. Napoli's set-piece was sent to the far post, where Benatia rose high for a header. The ball struck the crossbar and ricocheted into a chaotic penalty area. Vidal reacted first, smashing the ball into the net.

2–0!

That goal sealed Roma's fate.

Both Gao Shen and Spalletti made substitutions after that. Gao Shen aimed to widen the lead, while Spalletti hoped to turn the tide.

But without Totti orchestrating the attack and Perrotta anchoring the midfield, Roma struggled to pose any real threat.

Napoli's defense remained solid, and the match ended 2–0. It was a smooth, commanding victory for Napoli, giving them a perfect start to the season.

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Elsewhere, Inter Milan also claimed a 2–0 victory, defeating Sampdoria away from home. Ibrahimovic and Muntari provided the goals, and the team's performance showed noticeable improvement compared to their Italian Super Cup outing.

The return of Materazzi from injury helped solidify Inter's defense, while new signing Pandev made an instant impact, assisting Ibrahimovic's opening goal.

With both Napoli and Inter winning, the two teams joined the league's top four.

However, the standout performers of the first round were Torino and Lazio. Torino claimed a 3–0 home win against newly promoted Lecce, while Lazio thrashed Cagliari 4–1 away.

As it stood, Lazio led the standings, followed by Torino, with Inter and Napoli occupying third and fourth, respectively.

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Napoli's victory over Roma earned widespread praise, especially given it was an away match against a traditionally strong opponent.

Arrigo Sacchi, in his column, highlighted the team's consistency from the Italian Super Cup to the league opener, noting that Napoli now exuded the maturity of a title contender.

Sacchi predicted that the Serie A title race would primarily be a two-horse race between Napoli and Inter Milan. Of the two, he leaned toward Napoli, citing Gao Shen's tactical acumen and the team's rapid growth.

However, Sacchi also warned that challenges lay ahead, particularly with the two-week international break followed by the demands of competing on multiple fronts.

"Last season, Napoli's momentum was repeatedly disrupted by international match days, leading to a slump in November and December," Sacchi noted.

"This season, Gao Shen claims to have addressed this issue with a clear plan in place. Now, it's time to see if the team can deliver."

After the break, Napoli would face Fiorentina at home, a formidable opponent who finished sixth in Serie A last season. Prandelli's side had ambitions of breaking into the league's top four, making it another tough test.

And immediately after Fiorentina, Napoli would travel to Madrid to face Real Madrid at the Bernabéu.

This match marked Napoli's long-awaited return to the Champions League and the debut appearance for many of their players in Europe's most prestigious competition.

It would also be Gao Shen's first return to the Bernabéu as a visiting coach since leaving Real Madrid.

How would the Madrid fans receive him?

The buildup to this match had already captured the attention of fans and media worldwide.

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As the media frenzy around Napoli grew, Serie A took a brief pause for international matches.

With Napoli's rise in prominence, more and more of their players were being called up for international duty, a testament to the team's strength but also a potential headache for Gao Shen.

The frequent travel and matches could wear players down, disrupting their form and making it difficult to maintain peak condition.

Gao Shen also left the team during this time, delegating training and preparation duties to Carlo and the rest of his coaching staff. His destination was Milan, where he would attend an important event.

Since 1999, UEFA had held an annual summit for elite coaches at its headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, during the international break in early September. This UEFA Elite Coaches Summit was an exclusive gathering, reserved only for head coaches of teams participating in the Champions League.

Although 32 teams took part in the group stage, only about 20 head coaches received invitations. Not everyone attended, some were unavailable, while others declined for various reasons but those who did represented the best minds in world football.

For Gao Shen, this was his first invitation to the prestigious event, and there was no question about attending.

He had another reason to go: he wanted to meet his idol, Sir Alex Ferguson.