Starting With Real Madrid

As Napoli fell back, Inter Milan steadily pressed forward. Mourinho substituted Muntari for Balotelli, while Gao Shen replaced Thiago Motta with Pastore.

The simultaneous substitutions by both teams reignited the atmosphere in the stadium.

The fans could feel it, both managers were making bold, strategic moves to counter each other. This could very well decide the outcome of the match. Even the commentators, who had been analyzing the deadlock, suddenly sounded more animated.

After all, the match had been stagnant for too long.

Most football fans don't obsess over tactics. They just want an exciting game with plenty of action. Ideally, every football match would resemble a high-scoring volleyball game.

"With these substitutions, Stankovic has dropped back to a defensive midfield role, and Inter Milan appears to have switched to a 4-3-3 with three forwards up front," one commentator observed. "On the other side, Napoli has adjusted to a 4-2-3-1. They've swapped the wingers—Sanchez has shifted to the left, Di Maria to the right—while Pastore takes on the No. 10 role."

Inter Milan's adjustment was evident: they started launching more long balls from the backline, targeting their three forwards directly. With three players positioned up front, at least one of them would almost always manage to get on the end of a ball. Once they secured possession, the forwards would either combine amongst themselves or wait for midfield reinforcements.

But Gao Shen quickly caught on and instructed his forwards to press higher, disrupting Inter Milan's long-ball strategy.

Napoli's central defenders, David Luiz and Bonucci, also asserted their dominance in the air. They focused on winning first-contact headers and returning the ball to the midfield as quickly as possible. This enabled Napoli to counterattack swiftly.

In this new setup, Pastore was given the freedom to roam in his attacking midfield role. The young Argentine's task was simple: drive at Inter's defense with the ball and create chances for the attacking trio ahead of him.

In the 83rd minute, Vargas played a ball to the left wing for Sanchez, who laid it off to Pastore.

Pastore drove diagonally into the left side of the penalty area, skillfully bypassing Zanetti, only to be tripped by Cambiasso as the Inter player chased back. Cambiasso received a yellow card for the foul. However, the subsequent free kick, lofted into the box, was easily claimed by Cesar, who leapt off his line to snatch the ball out of the air.

Despite Pastore, Sanchez, and Di Maria repeatedly getting the ball in dangerous areas, Napoli struggled to find the breakthrough. Inter Milan had packed their defensive line, ensuring that no Napoli player could make a move without being double-teamed.

On the other end, even with three forwards, Inter Milan's long-ball approach posed little threat to Napoli's defense. While Ibrahimovic and Balotelli managed to take a couple of long-range shots, neither effort came close to troubling the keeper. Their shot count rose from four to six, but none were on target.

Napoli's defense, led by David Luiz and Bonucci, had performed admirably, effectively neutralizing Inter Milan's forward trio. The Brazilian center-back, in particular, showed noticeable growth in composure after three years of playing in Italy.

From the sidelines, Gao Shen continuously urged his players to stay composed and disciplined.

Mourinho, who had been seated earlier, was now pacing near the touchline. The tension was palpable as the 80,000 Inter Milan fans in the stadium roared, willing their team to find a late winner. But as the clock ticked toward the 89th minute, hope began to fade. Many fans had already resigned themselves to a 0-0 draw and started leaving their seats.

The fourth official raised the board, signaling three minutes of added time.

The match had seen few interruptions in the second half, and the referee saw no need for excessive stoppage time.

Napoli launched one final attack. Di Maria dribbled down the right wing, his quick changes of direction and rhythm completely outfoxing Maxwell. He attempted a low cross to Cavani in the box, but Lucio tightly marked the Uruguayan striker, preventing him from controlling the ball. Samuel intervened and cleared it upfield.

Cavani, under Lucio's watchful eye, had been largely ineffective throughout the match. His usual energy and sharpness were missing.

The ball soared past the halfway line and landed outside Napoli's defensive third, targeting Ibrahimovic.

David Luiz stepped up and confidently headed the ball back into midfield.

Biglia, attempting to shield the ball from Balotelli, was forced to pass backward under pressure. He lofted a ball over his shoulder toward Inter Milan's half.

Lucio intercepted it with a header, but Napoli quickly regained possession.

Rakitic controlled Lucio's clearance with his chest and immediately delivered a grounded pass to Pastore, who found himself in open space.

The Argentine midfielder took a moment to survey his options before executing a perfect lofted pass over Inter Milan's defensive line.

The ball arced beautifully, bypassing Lucio, Samuel, and the rest of Inter's backline, and dropped just outside the penalty area.

Di Maria, who had been lingering near Lucio and Maxwell, suddenly exploded into action. With a burst of speed, he raced past both defenders and chased down the ball.

The Argentine winger, seemingly unaffected by playing nearly ninety minutes, reached the ball first.

On the touchline, Gao Shen's excitement was palpable. He had seen Pastore's positioning and knew immediately that this was their chance.

When Pastore delivered the pass, Gao Shen shouted, "Go! Go!"

Di Maria's blistering pace allowed him to reach the ball before Cesar could intervene. With a delicate touch, Di Maria lobbed the ball over the advancing goalkeeper.

The ball floated toward the goal as Di Maria collided with Cesar, leaving both players sprawled on the ground.

But the play wasn't over.

Sanchez, sprinting like a whirlwind, chased after the ball as it bounced toward the goal. Just as it neared the line, Sanchez slammed it into the back of the net.

"GOAL! GOAL! GOAL!"

"Napoli has scored! Sanchez has done it!"

The commentator's voice rang out as Sanchez roared in celebration, sprinting toward the sideline and shouting to his teammates. Di Maria, still recovering from his collision, was mobbed by his fellow players.

Gao Shen leapt into the air, punching his fists and shouting, "Yes! That's it!"

The Napoli bench erupted in wild celebration. For ninety minutes, they had fought tooth and nail, and now, in the dying moments of the match, they had broken through.

"Napoli has done it!" the commentator exclaimed. "A relentless ninety-minute assault, and in the final minutes, they've found the winning goal!"

The stadium fell into stunned silence as the traveling Napoli fans erupted with joy.

"It's 1-0! Tonight's game was truly a peak showdown, with both sides playing at an exceptional level and showcasing remarkable tactical qualities.

But in the end, Napoli relied on a high-speed sprint in the final moments of the game to score a decisive winning goal, securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory!

All the Napoli players rushed to the sidelines, celebrating with unrestrained joy.

Gao Shen clenched his fists and shouted, "This is what makes football so captivating!"

It might take ninety minutes of effort without a single goal, but when that goal finally comes, it makes everything worthwhile—at least, for the victors.

After the euphoric celebration, Gao Shen turned and embraced every member of the coaching staff, with special attention to Buenaventura and Pintus. Napoli's ability to deliver such an intense sprint in the dying minutes of the match was thanks in no small part to the hard work of these two fitness coaches. Pintus, in particular, had played a critical role. While the outside world may not know much about him, everyone within Napoli was well aware of his immense contributions.

Since the start of the summer training camp, Pintus had introduced a grueling regimen. After completing each day's training session, he would lead the players in long-distance runs. It's worth noting that this wasn't part of the regular training schedule.

In other words, the players continued their normal training as planned, and the long-distance running was added on top of that. For any player, this extra workload was a massive challenge and an even bigger test of endurance.

Even though Pintus ran alongside them every time, the players were full of complaints. It ultimately took Gao Shen stepping in to mediate and convince the squad to continue the program.

Now, Gao Shen fully understood Pintus' vision.

After regular training, when players were already at their most fatigued, physically drained and mentally exhausted, adding long-distance running pushed them even further. It wasn't just about building stamina; it was a trial of willpower, forcing the players to grit their teeth and push past their limits. And just moments ago, wasn't it Sanchez and Di Maria who delivered that final sprint? They succeeded despite being utterly drained, their energy depleted, and their bodies pushed to the brink.

That sprint was the result of months of unrelenting effort. Day after day, the team endured exhausting post-training runs, pouring sweat for the exact moment that decided tonight's match.

And that effort brought back an invaluable goal for Napoli!

With this in mind, Gao Shen wrapped one arm around Pintus and the other around Buenaventura. Tonight, while Di Maria, Sanchez, and Pastore were undoubtedly the heroes on the pitch, Buenaventura and Pintus deserved equal recognition for their contributions behind the scenes.

***

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