It was just over a mio the match, but no one could uand why both Napoli and Roma seemed to puch importan this free kiear the Roma penalty area.

  Except for the goalkeepers, all twenty pyers from both teams were packed inside or just outside Roma's penalty box.

  ****

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  The Roma defenders formed a solid line of seven pyers right in front of the small penalty area, with only a two-man ositioo guard against a direct free kick. Another pyer stood at the top of the penalty area, ready to step in and intercept any tactical py that Napoli might attempt.

  Napoli, oher hand, was equally prepared.

  Di Maria and Sanchez both stood at the spot of the free ki the right side of the penalty area, creating ambiguity as to who would take the shot.

  Meanwhile, Napoli's tallest pyers Pellé, David Luiz, Bonucci, Thiago Motta, and Vidal were all clustered in front of the small penalty area, positioning themselves to exploit Roma's defensive weaknesses. Bonucci was set to attack the near post, Pelé aimed for the ter, and David Luiz focused on the far post. Thiago Motta and Vidal hovered closer to the penalty spot, creating a yered formation that added to the pressure on Roma's defense.

  Outside the penalty area, Nainggon, Dossena, and Lichtsteiood guard at the top of the arc. They were ready to either charge into the penalty area or fall back defensively if Roma attempted a quick clearance.

  The tension among the fans alpable, and the usual roar of the Roma supporters softened as everyoched the se unfold with bated breath.

  Gao Shen stood firm on the sidelines, watg ily.

  He didn't kly which routine his pyers would execute — Napoli's set-piece tactics were varied, and the pyers had practiced multiple sarios to keep their options open. But Gao Shen was fident ihing: Di Maria wouldn't be taking the kick directly, as this position wasn't ideal for him.

  In Roma's teical area, Spalletti was visibly tense. Set-piece defense was a oint for Roma, and giving away a free kick to Napoli so early in the game felt like handing them an invitation to score.

  Spalletti was furious with Too's sloppy foul but had no other left-back options he could rely on. All he could do now was hope.

  The referee, having ehat both teams were set, took a few steps back to avoid interfering, standing just outside the penalty area arc.

  With a sharp, clear whistle, the py began.

  Napoli's pyers moved first.

  Both Thiago Motta and Vidal charged toward the near post, dragging several Roma defenders with them and creating the impression of a near-post assault. Di Maria, who had taken a few steps forward as if to shoot, then stepped over the ball, leaving it untouched.

  Pellé remaiill at his starting position, holding Mexès' attention. Then, almost in sync with Di Maria's feint, David Luiz made a quick move, cutting around Pelé and heading for the ter of the penalty area.

  Sanchez, without hesitation, took the actual kick, swinging his right foot and sending the ball flying over the two-man wall. It arced sharply, dropping fast toward the ter of the small penalty area.

  The ball was low and fast the perfect delivery for an attag header.

  With Roma's defenders pulled out of position, David Luiz found himself unmarked. Timing his run perfectly, he met the ball with a powerful header, barely needing to jump. The tact was , and the ball rocketed toward the left side of the goal.

  Roma's goalkeeper, Curci, had been drawn slightly toward the near post by the fake runs of Motta and Vidal. By the time he realized the ball was headed for the far side, it was too te.

  The rippled as David Luiz's header sailed in.

  "GOALLLLLLLLL!!!!"

  "David Luiz! He's do for Napoli!"

  "Just uwo minutes into the match, and Napoli have taken the lead! 1-0!"

  "What an incredible start! Napoli came out with a brillia-piece routine, and David Luiz made no mistake with that header!"

  "This is Roma's third set-piece goal ceded in their st fames clearly, their set-piece defense needs work!"

  Gao Shen couldn't tain his excitement. As soon as David Luiz's header hit the , he leapt into the air, fists ched, cheering with every ounce of energy he had.

  The Napoli coag staff erupted in celebration, hugging each other on the sidelines. It was the perfect start they had hoped for, maybe eveer.

  Gao Shen turo his assistants, his face beaming with exhiration. "I have a strong feeling this isn't just about one goal!" he shouted.

  The early goal gave Gao Shen a glimpse into Roma's fragile mental state. It was clear that they were rattled, their fidence shaken. The lingering effects of st season's humiliating 6-0 defeat, bined with their inability to secure wins at home against top teams this seasoaking a toll.

  Carlo caught on quickly. Gao Shen wasn't tent with a one-goal lead; he wanted more.

  Gao Shen was a coach who knew when to press an advantage. He sensed an opportunity to not only win but to dominate.

  Wasting no time, he ran to the edge of the teical area, signaling to his pyers to ge their strategy.

  Initially, his pn had been to get an early goal and then stabilize. But now, with Roma showing signs of vulnerability, he wao go for the jugur.

  "Keep pressing! Keep attag!" he yelled, gesturing for his pyers to maintain the pressure.

  The Napoli pyers, still riding the high from the goal, received the message with enthusiasm. They had just finished celebrating, but with Gao Shen's encement, they were ready to go again, eager to capitalize on Roma's shaky start.

  As the game resumed, Napoli's front line tio press high, sm Roma's defenders. Vidal and Nainggon were relentless in midfield, chasing down every ball, pressing Roma's midfielders with a tenacity that left them no space tanize.

  The bae, led by David Luiz, pushed up he halfway line, allowing Napoli to maintain stant pressure in Roma's half.

  Roma struggled to break free from Napoli's aggressive pressing. Every time they tried to move the ball forward, one of Napoli's midfielders or forwards was there, ready to disrupt the py.

  In the eighth minute, David Luiz found himself trag Totti deep into Roma's half. Totti, dropping back to receive the ball, found himself marked closely by David Luiz, who stu like glue. Thiago Motta dropped in to cover, allowing David Luiz to take more risks in his marking.

  At one point, Totti mao evade Luiz and received a pass from Pizarro. But as he turo pass it forward, Luiz intercepted, using his loo poke the ball away.

  Without hesitation, Luiz looked up and unched a long diagonal pass across the field, aiming for Sanchez on the right wing.

  Sanchez, unmarked and with open space ahead, trolled the ball effortlessly and began dribbling toward the penalty area. Too scrambled to close him down, but Pelé had already positioned himself in the ter, creating a perfect target for Sanchez's cross.

  Satempted a cut inside, but Too, desperate to prevent another Napoli attack, stuck out his leg, tripping Sanchez just outside the penalty box.

  The referee's whistle was immediate, and this time, he pulled out a yellow card for Too.

  It was Roma's sed foul in just a few minutes, and Napoli had earned another dangerous free ki the right side of the field.

  Spalletti, standing on the sidelines with his head in his hands, looked like a man on the verge of despair.