In Italy, the match between Napoli and Roma is often called the "Southern Derby."

  These two clubs are the most petitive teams from southern Italy and have both won the Serie A title in the past. However, with Napoli's relegation years ago, the derby had lost its spark. Now, after seven years, Napoli was ba Serie A, fighting their the standings and rekindling this rivalry.

  Currently, Napoli and Roma sit sed and fourth in the league standings, respectively. The tensioween them has only intensified si season's Coppa Italia csh, where bitter grievances and on-field frontations created an intense rivalry.

  For this game, a total of 55,000 Roma fans filled the Stadio Olimpico, surpassing the attendance from their sixth-round match against Inter Min. Clearly, Roma fans were filled with anticipation, hoping their team would restore some pride.

  Napoli was equally ied in this match. Thousands of Napoli fans traveled to Rome to support their team. Club chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis and general manager Pierpaolo Marino also attehe game in person, a show of support that demonstrated how seriously Napoli was taking this csh.

  As expected, Roma's chairman Rosel Sensi was also present, along with general manager Daniele Prade and teical director Bruno ti. Sihe game was scheduled for 5:00 PM, the two sides even had a pre-game lunch together.

  With her father aging, Rosel Sensi had gradually taken over trol of the club. Known as one of the few high-profile female executives in Italian football, she was keen to prove her business and footballing a, especially uhe watchful eye of her father.

  This season, Serie A was shaping up to be more petitive than ever. Napoli, the newly promoted team, had stormed into the league with an impressive start. Juventus had returo form, A was showing potential, and Inter Min remairong at the top. The fight for the top four was intense, and each match held immense importance.

  For Roma, seg three points in this home game was crucial, especially after disappointing home performances—a 2-2 draw against Juventus and a 1-4 loss to Inter Min. Those results had left Roma's fans and executives feeling uneasy, with growing pressure oo perform. Add to that the fact that Napoli was led by the "Italian publiemy," Gao Shen, and the stakes were even higher.

  How good was Gao Shen as a coach?

  Rosel Sensi wasn't an expert in tactics, but she respected the opinions of Bruno ti, who had oold her, "If Napoli ever let Gao Shen go, we should immediately fire Spalletti and bring him to Roma." A statement like that was enough to make her realize Gao Shen's reputation in the football world.

  Fag a coach of his caliber on home turf? That was no small challenge.

  Indeed, in the executive box, from Rosel Sensi to Prade and Bruno ti, the Roma executives all wore tense expressions, fully aware of the challehey faced.

  Meanwhile, in the home team's locker room at the Stadio Olimpico, Roma's head coach Luo Spalletti was also feeling the pressure.

  He'd just received Napoli's starting lineup, and it caught him off guard.

  Napoli Starting Lineup:

  Goalkeeper: Handanovic

  Defense: Dossena, David Luiz, Bonucci, Lichtsteiner

  Midfield: Vidal, Thiago Motta, Nainggon

  Forwards: Di Maria, Pellé, Sanchez

  The bae and forward choices weren't surprising to Spalletti, but the midfield setup certainly was.

  Vidal starting wasn't ued; the Chilean hadn't pyed during the iional break, so he was fresh. Thiago Motta's inclusion was somewhat surprising but uandable. Gao Shen had beeing a 4-3-3 formation, with Thiago Motta in the holding midfielder role. Though Motta hadn't yet returo his prime form from his Bara days, Gao Shen clearly believed in him.

  What really caught Spalletti off guard was the inclusion of Nainggon.

  Nainggon was a retively unknown pyer, retly signed from Serie B side Piaza, where he hadn't even been a regur starter. Yet, here he was, starting in one of the biggest games of the season for Napoli. Spalletti khat Gao Shen's eye for talent was impressive, and any pyer he pced his trust in was bound to perform.

  With Gao Shen's record of promoting young pyers like Parejo, Pastore, and Valencia, it was clear that Nainggon was bei up to make a name for himself.

  "We don't have mu this guy," Domenii, Spalletti's assistant, said, "but he's supposed to be well-rounded with great stamina."

  The ck of information was frustrating. Nainggon was a bit of a mystery, but with Gao Shen's track record, he was worth keeping an eye on. Spalletti turo his team, feeling both anticipation and ay.

  "Remind everyoo be wary of that kid. Gao Shen has a knack for pulling surprises," Spalletti advised his staff.

  Domenii couldn't help but ugh. "Yeah, where does he keep finding these pyers?"

  He'd seen Nainggon oraining field earlier. With his mohawk hairstyle, he and Vidal looked like enforcers.

  "Those two look like mafia hitmen," Domenii joked.

  Spalletti chuckled, momentarily easing the tension.

  Roma Starting Lineup:

  Goalkeeper: Curci

  Defeoo, Ferrari, Mexes, ho

  Midfield: Pizarro, De Rossi, Mani, Perrotta, Giuly

  Forward: Totti

  When Gao Shen received Roma's starting lineup, he couldn't help but ugh.

  He'd guessed almost every position correctly.

  Beside him, Carlo, Lucas, Bueura, and the other coag staff members were all smiles. Their preparation had been spot on, and knowing the oppo's lineup only fueled the team's fidence.

  "You see? Even our oppos are helping us out!" Gao Shen said, waving the Roma lineup in front of his pyers.

  Before the game, they'd discussed possible lineups, running sarios based on these predis. Now that everything was falling into pce, the pyers felt even more energized.

  "Remember ame pn," Gao Shen remihem. "We're going for an aggressive start. Let's get the first goal early ahe tempo."

  He looked around, log eyes with each pyer. "Are you fident?"

  "Yes!" they responded in unison, their voices filled with determination.

  The referee for tonight's match aolo Tagliavento, a newly promoted iional official, known for his le style. Gao Shen had taken this into at, which was why he felt fident starting both Vidal and Nainggon, his "gold medal enforcers." With a referee who wasn't likely to penalize every little foul, he could afford to py rough.

  As usual, Spalletti came over to shake Gao Shen's hand before the match. The Roma coach seemed tense, and he exged only a few words with Gao Shen before heading back to his bench.

  Gao Shen, oher hand, was in high spirits.

  Napoli won the toss and chose the side that would give them the advantage ie afternoon sun. Roma took the kickoff.

  As the referee blew the whistle to start the game, Roma immediately kicked off, passing the ball to Mani on the left wing.

  Nainggon quickly closed in on him, pressing hard. Mani, sensing the pressure, shielded the ball and then passed back to Too.

  Totti dropped back to offer support while Mani sprinted forward, looking for space.

  Too tried a pass into the middle, aiming for Totti, but Thiago Motta intercepted it, sending the ball out for a throw-in.

  Roma took the throw quickly, tossing it back to Totti. But Nainggon and Lichtsteiner double-teamed him, f a turnover as Lichtsteiner cleared the ball upfield.

  Pellé jumped to meet the clearance, heading it down to Di Maria, who passed it back to Vidal.

  With Napoli now in possession, they unched a quick terattack. Everyone surged forward, each pyer pushing hard.

  Vidal, just past the halfway line, passed to Nainggon on the right. Without hesitation, Nainggon delivered a direct pass to Pelé up front.

  Pellé, holding the ball with his back to goal, took two steps to his right and then id it off to Sanchez.

  Sanchez, now one-oh Too, began to dance around him, feinting and making quick moves. Desperate, Too resorted to a foul, bringing Sanchez down just outside the box.

  Napoli had earned a dangerous free ki the right side of the field.