In the packed stands of the Stadio San Paolo, the ecstatiapoli fans cheered wildly, with many waving banners celebrating the team's return to Serie A. The whole stadium erupted in song and dance as they celebrated.

  De Laurentiis sat in the chairman's box, a stubblint and sharpness in his otherwise aged eyes.

  "Six years, two months, and nine days!" he said with emotion.

  Marino, seated beside him, felt a surge of se as well.

  That was how long it had been sinapoli's relegation.

  For the past six years, two months, and nine days, the ey and its people had been waiting for this day.

  Over those years, Napoli had also gohrough bankruptd restructuring, with everyone enduring despair and then experieng a rebirth.

  Gao Shen's arrival had ied a new soul and vitality into the team, giving everyone hope once more.

  Thus, at this moment, the Napoli fans filling the stands of the San Paolo were filled with joy, encement, and hope, as they believed this season was not just about avoiding relegation but aiming for the championship!

  It might seem a tall order, but they khat if they believed and shouted loudly enough, they could make it happen.

  Just like the football legend Maradona back then, they too would bee the heroes of this city.

  "There will be some trouble tonight," Marino said solemnly.

  When De Laurentiis turo look at him, Marino quickly eborated, "Cagliari's defense hasn't ged at all this summer. They had one of the best defenses in Serie A st season, and Giampaolo clearly intends to maintain that level. He's adopted a 4-3-2-1 Christmas tree formation, which will definitely pose problems for our attack."

  De Laurentiis was no novice to football; he knew Serie A wasn't easy. But...

  "I believe he will find a way," De Laurentiis replied with a faint smile.

  Somehow, at some point, he had developed an unshakable faith in Gao Shen.

  It was a fidehat was hard to describe.

  Perhaps it began from their very first meeting when Gao Shen's words had instilled that belief in him.

  "Tonight, more than 50,000 Napoli fans have e here fao Shen, for the team. This is the most important game for Napoli in over six years, no, even i decade."

  After saying that, De Laurentiis couldn't help but let his gaze drift to the home team's dugout.

  The pyers from both sides had not yet taken the field, and the area was still empty, but De Laurentiis could already picture Gao Shen standing there, anding his team.

  He had always been like that.

  "He never disappoints, does he?" De Laurentiis murmured.

  It was a question aimed at Marino, but also at himself.

  ---

  "Do you all know what this game means to us tonight?"

  In the home locker room, just before the pyers were about to head out, Gao Shen was delivering his final pep talk.

  The pyers nodded in unison.

  They uood.

  Whether it was from the pre-match media ce, the fans' cheers and encement, or the intense focus of the coag staff and ma, they could feel the weight of this match.

  It was the most signifit game for Napoli i years.

  Perhaps, even the most symbolic battle.

  After more than six years of absence, bankruptcy, restructuring, ah, Napoli was finally ba the Serie A stage, once agaiing itself to fans around the world.

  Only those who had experie firsthand, like captain Montervino, could truly uand just how difficult it had been, how much struggle and sweat it took to get Napoli to where they were today.

  Two days ago, Gao Shen had even specifically asked Montervino to share with the team the entire process of Napoli's bankruptd rebuilding, to evoke a deeper resonance among the pyers and igheir passion.

  And ihe pyers' morale and focus were high.

  "There are more than 50,000 Napoli fans waiting for us out there, and I am certain that, like me, none of you want to disappoint them because they have been waiting for six long years!"

  Six years—what a long time!

  Many of the pyers here were just kids six years ago.

  Teenagers often don't know the taste of hardship and 't truly grasp how long six years feel.

  But they could sehe longing and anticipation from the fans outside, as well as the hopes from everyo the club for this match.

  "I won't say anything more. Tonight, we will win this game no matter what, and we must not lose!" Gao Shen said emphatically.

  "Our oppos are strong; they are not pushovers. They will do everything they to stop us and may eve to ultra-defeactics, so be mentally prepared for a tough battle."

  "Remember, you are about to py in a Serie A match!"

  "You are about to take your first step towards the Serie A title!"

  ---

  With a steady and aggressive approach, Gao Shen lined up a 4-2-3-1 formation.

  In goal was Handanovic, with a back line of Vargas, Paolo avaro, Bonucci, and Lichtsteiner. In the midfield double-pivot were Biglia and Rakitic, while the front trio sisted of Di Maria, Hamsik, and Sanchez, supp the loriker i.

  This was the most aggressive lineup Gao Shen could field.

  Giampaolo's Cagliari set up in a 4-3-2-1 formation, also known as the Christmas tree.

  In goal was Fortin, with a back four of Del Grosso, Bianco, Diego Lopez, and Ferri. The midfield trio sisted of Paro, ti, and Biondini, while Fini and Foggia pyed just behind the sole striker, Matri, who was co-owned by Cagliari and A.

  ---

  As soon as the whistle bleoli immediately unched a wave of attacks against Cagliari.

  This had already bee a trademark tactic for Napoli.

  However, Serie A teams were a different breed.

  Last season, in Serie B, teams often struggled to cope with Napoli's high pressing and would easily crumble under pressure. But Cagliari showed posure, anizing their tight defeh remarkable discipline.

  With four defenders, three midfielders, and two more pyers dropping deep, Cagliari set up three lines of defense, effectively sealing off the spaside and around their penalty area, making it hard for Napoli to create clear ces.

  They had also learned not to dwell on the ball. Whehey regained possession, they immediately u forward, as if the ball were burning their feet, f Napoli to chase it down and win it back again.

  But after winning it back, they were faced with Cagliari's disciplined defense once more.

  Just as Gao Shen anticipated, Cagliari ying with a deep defensive line, refusing to leave any gaps for Napoli.

  After more than ten minutes of relentless pressure, Napoli had no choice but to slow dowempo, hoping to lure Cagliari out of their shell.

  But Cagliari remained firmly entrenched, relying on Matri for their attacks, with Fini and Foggia supp him.

  This was, in fact, a typical trait of the 4-3-2-1 formation. It oftehe team disected between the front and back, but the defense remained solid.

  After all, when you have seven pyers packed inside and outside the penalty box, how could it not be solid?

  ---

  Gao Shen had expected this situation for a while, so he wasn't panig. He stood calmly on the sidelines, occasionally reminding his pyers to stay posed, be patient, and focus on passing and movement to disrupt the oppo's defense.

  Gradually, Napoli took trol of the game, but they struggled to produy threatening shots.

  It wasn't until the 24th mihat Cagliari registered the first shot of the match, a le effort.

  However, their defense remained resilient.

  As much as it frustrated him, Gao Shen had to admit that Giampaolo's defensive coag was impressive.

  Gao Shen quickly made adjustments, instrug Di Maria and Sao create more threats on the wings.

  Napoli soon geed some promising opportunities from the fnks, but when the ball reached the middle, it was often difficult to vert the ces into goals.

  The defensive line was always crowded, with pyers blog every angle. i and Hamsik found themselves smothered.

  Crossing and long passes were also proving iive against Cagliari's well-drilled defense.

  Later, Gao Shen signaled for Rakitic to push forward and actively joiack, especially utilizing his le shooting ability.

  But Cagliari had prepared for this too.

  Both Rakitid Hamsik mao get shots off from distance, but with three defensive midfielders and a solid back four, the shots often struck defenders, failing to trouble the goalkeeper.

  As time ticked by, Napoli maintaiheir domi couldn't find a ast Cagliari's defense.

  Even Gao Shehe true level of a Serie A defense for the first time.

  Especially when a team adopts such a servative tactical approach; they could seemingly hold out forever.

  ---

  "Damn it, they're pying fwlessly!" Gao Shen muttered with a bitter smile.

  Carlo and the others could only respond with wry smiles.

  Napoli ying well; the pyers were giving their all, and their trol of the game was evident. Yet, they still couldn't trahat into goals.

  "Actually, it's not fwless," Carlo added. "It's just that we 't capitalize on our numerical advantage."

  The problem was the sheer number of defenders blog the way.

  "In this tight defeup, Parejo may struggle to make an impact," Carlo tinued.

  Gao Shen nodded. Against such a deep and disciplined deferategy, any team in the world would struggle.

  Moreover, there was hardly any effective solution other than to keep pushing, maintaining pressure, and f the oppo into making mistakes.

  The problem was, Cagliari were pying ly, rarely g dangerous free kicks to Napoli.

  It was obvious they had prepared well.

  Giampaolo had essentially withdrawn into his shell, challenging Gao Shen with a taunt.

  "If yood enough, break through!"

  But for now, Gao Shen had to admit that he didn't have a clear answer.

  "Keep attag in the sed half! I refuse to believe they hold out for the entire 90 minutes without faltering!" Gao Shen decred, his determination hardening.