SWR: Chapter 1014/1016

Chapter 1014: This is the Champions League Quarterfinals

On the evening of April 2, at the Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid.

In the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals, Real Madrid faced Juventus at home.

When the match reached the 31st minute, Marcelo dribbled the ball down the left and played a one-two with Ronaldo, but the pass was intercepted by a Juventus defender. Ronaldo turned around, shielded the ball, and laid it back to Toni Kroos.

The German midfielder turned with the ball, held off his marker, and passed it back to Ramos.

Juventus' two forwards pressed Real Madrid's center-backs simultaneously. Quagliarella closed down Ramos immediately, but the Madrid defender quickly passed across to Pepe.

Another striker, Matri, immediately pressed Pepe.

Yes, in this match, Conte unexpectedly chose Matri to remain as a fixed point, with Quagliarella roaming, and Juventus relying more on long balls to counterattack.

Pepe controlled the ball, evaded Matri's pressure, and sent it wide to Carvajal on the right.

The Real Madrid right-back controlled the ball and advanced. Before Marchisio could close him down, he quickly passed to Di Maria, who had dropped deeper.

The Argentine controlled the ball with his back to goal and played it across.

Modric surged forward, received Di Maria's pass, cut diagonally in from the right half-space toward the outside, and dribbled quickly.

Di Maria also turned and sprinted forward at full speed.

Modric, dribbling at top speed, entered the Juventus box from the right edge of the area. Though Chiellini leaned into him and forced him off balance, Modric still managed to cut the ball back.

The pass rolled toward the right edge of the six-yard box. As it bounced, Di Maria, arriving at full pace, struck it first time with his left foot.

The shot flew at lightning speed straight into the goal.

Although Buffon reacted quickly, the shot was too sharp for him to stop.

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!"

"Di Maria scores!!!"

"Real Madrid break the deadlock!"

"1-0!!"

"In the 31st minute, Real Madrid broke down Juventus' defense on the right. Modric with the assist, Di Maria with the finish. A brilliant attacking move."

"After failing to find space on the left, Real Madrid switched play to the right and carved open a gap."

Amid thunderous cheers from the Bernabéu, Di Maria sprinted to the touchline and made a heart gesture toward the camera.

His teammates chased after him and celebrated the goal together by the sideline.

This is the Champions League quarterfinals!

…

On the touchline, in front of the home bench, Gao Shen raised his fists high in excitement as Di Maria scored.

1-0!

This lead was crucial for Real Madrid.

Before this match, Real Madrid had just rotated heavily after the international break and had nearly been held to a draw by relegation-threatened Zaragoza away. It was Higuaín's late goal that saved them.

That goal not only helped Real Madrid keep pressure on Barcelona, but also allowed them to approach the Juventus tie with a more relaxed mindset.

But Conte's starting lineup was somewhat unexpected.

Matri was deployed as a stationary target, with Quagliarella moving around, and Juventus leaned on long balls to counterattack.

Real Madrid stuck to their pre-match plan, dominating midfield and pressing Juventus back. But since the Bianconeri's wing-backs dropped deep, their shape resembled a 5-3-2, which frustrated Madrid's early attacks.

Real Madrid had nearly 70% possession and 13 shots, but only 4 on target.

It was clear how much defensive pressure Juventus had been under.

But Juventus' attack was no better. In the first 30 minutes, they had just 2 shots, none on target.

From the sidelines, Gao Shen kept urging his players to stay patient, control possession, maintain rhythm, and stretch Juventus' defense.

When playing possession football, patience was vital.

Impatience could easily lead to mistakes.

And it was the constant shifting of play and rotating wing attacks that finally created the crack in Juventus' defense, leading to Modric and Di Maria's combination.

"Stay calm!"

"Don't rush, control the tempo and keep the ball!"

"Xabi, slow it down in midfield."

"Pull the back line tighter."

Gao Shen paced to the technical area, giving continuous instructions.

These were cautious adjustments.

He was mainly worried about Juventus counterattacks.

If this were away from home, Gao Shen would not mind going all-out against Juventus. But at the Bernabéu, he could not allow them an away goal. So after scoring, Madrid had to slow down.

In truth, if Gao Shen had not been cautious about the back line, Real Madrid's attack would have been even fiercer.

But he knew, once Juventus scored an away goal, the situation would get complicated.

This is why in Champions League knockout ties, the home team often plays conservatively, while the away team attacks with more risk.

After returning to his seat, Gao Shen listened to reports from his assistants.

Real Madrid's strategy was clear. In possession, they controlled and stretched the play, probing Juventus. Out of possession, they pressed high and aggressively.

Under Madrid's pressing, Juventus' midfield could not keep the ball.

When building out, Benzema pressed Bonucci, forcing Barzagli and Chiellini to take more touches. But since their passing was not reliable, they dared not advance the ball too much.

Modric's advanced positioning was the reason he could arrive near Pirlo just in time during the earlier move.

Real Madrid's wing advantage was also obvious, with Marcelo already showing signs of his sharp form.

Juventus, however, were being forced into long balls, relying on Matri to hold up play. But Pepe and Ramos dealt with aerial balls well.

This was the problem with Juventus' frontline.

Conte's idea was clear. Matri as a tactical center forward, holding up long passes, with Quagliarella running in behind to launch the second attack.

But Matri was not a true target man. His strengths were finishing and poaching, not holding the ball. As a result, Juventus' counterattacking plan was ineffective.

If Juventus had lined up in a 3-5-1-1, they would not have had an advantage, and might even have been more passive.

All of Gao Shen's pre-match plans were based on Juventus using 3-5-1-1.

He also knew well that in his previous life, Juventus only truly rose again after signing target men like Llorente and Mandzukic. Before that, they were still a level short.

As for Pirlo, while Modric was pressing him hard, the Italian was visibly frustrated.

For neutral fans, it might look like Pirlo's passing was unusually slow, dragging Juventus' counterattacks and buildup. Was he out of form?

But the reality was different.

Pirlo simply could not find passing options.

There was no one offering support.

This was Juventus' main problem. Their passing combinations could not open space.

Under Madrid's pressing, their technical level was exposed. To improve accuracy, they had to shorten passes, but shorter passes meant no penetration.

If they tried to expand their passing range, Madrid's pressing forced more errors.

It was an unsolvable dilemma.

By contrast, with superior technique, Real Madrid's passing was more accurate and their range wider. This stretched Juventus constantly.

The Bianconeri were struggling to defend.

Not only that, Real Madrid's defensive structure was compact and targeted.

…

In the 42nd minute, Juventus finally countered after an interception in midfield.

Pirlo found space at last and launched a trademark diagonal long pass to the right side of Madrid's penalty area.

Matri got there first, controlled the ball ahead of Pepe, and shielded it with his body.

But Real Madrid's recovery was swift. Carvajal had already tracked back.

With Pepe closing behind him and Carvajal arriving, Matri was trapped.

So the Juventus striker turned back and passed to left-back Peluso, arriving late into the attack.

Peluso looked up and delivered a cross into the box.

Quagliarella and Ramos both leapt to contest it, but Ramos won the duel and cleared with a header.

Quagliarella fell after landing, but the referee waved play on.

Xabi Alonso collected the clearance, controlled it, turned, and pushed forward.

Benzema dropped deep across the halfway line, raising his hand for the ball.

Ronaldo immediately made a cutting run, taking the central striker role and charging Juventus' defense.

Xabi Alonso passed to Benzema.

The French forward controlled it, spun left, and advanced. As he crossed halfway, he spotted Marcelo surging down the wing at full speed.

When he reached Juventus' 30-meter zone, Benzema released Marcelo.

The Brazilian left-back chased the ball down and drove straight into the left side of the penalty area. Without waiting for Isla to close in, he whipped in a left-footed cross toward the six-yard box.

Ronaldo sprinted in at top speed, beat Bonucci to the ball, and powered a header toward goal.

Buffon, stationed on the left side of goal, dived desperately, but it was too late.

The ball crashed into the net.

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!"

"CRISTIANO RONALDO!!!"

"2-0!!"

"Real Madrid double their lead!!!"

"Ronaldo outmuscled Bonucci and scored with a close-range header. Another deadly blow from Madrid!"

"Once again, Juventus' defense was torn apart down the wing."

"Conte's three-man defense has been brutally exposed at the Bernabéu tonight."

"In the last 15 minutes of the half, Real Madrid scored twice."

"This should be a huge concern for Conte and his Juventus players."

(To be continued.)

Chapter 1015: Advancement

"It's still Real Madrid attacking down the left."

"In tonight's game, both of Real Madrid's flanks have been very active."

"Look here, Ronaldo carries the ball forward."

"Marcelo quickly overlaps, and the two combine well on the wing."

"Ronaldo drives the ball to the byline, and Marcelo joins in."

"But there's no chance, Isla sticks close to Marcelo and the ball runs out of play."

"Juventus defended well this time and didn't allow Real Madrid another breakthrough."

"It must be said, Juventus' two flanks have been under enormous pressure tonight."

"This is Marcelo's first appearance in the Champions League since his injury last October, and it also shows that the squad Gao Shen has carefully built this season is now almost complete."

"With Marcelo and Carvajal, both full-backs with strong attacking ability, and Ronaldo and Di Maria in front of them, Real Madrid's flanks are incredibly sharp."

"Here's the throw-in."

"Marcelo finds Benzema."

"The French striker, inside the box, uses his body to hold off Barzagli, with Bonucci closing from behind."

"No way through, so Benzema shields the ball and lays it back to Ronaldo."

"Here's Ronaldo, looking to drive into the box, but Juventus' defense is tight."

"He passes again, and now the ball is at the edge of the box."

"The edge of the penalty area is unmarked."

"Toni Kroos arrives…"

"Just hit it…"

"A long-range shot!"

"The ball is in!!!"

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!"

"Toni Kroos! Toni Kroos!"

"A long-range strike from outside the box rockets straight into the top right corner!"

"Buffon stretched to save, but the shot was unstoppable!"

"From the German midfielder, Toni Kroos!"

"In the 69th minute, Real Madrid score again, it's 3-0!"

"Tonight at the Bernabéu, this has completely become an offensive showcase for Real Madrid."

"Juventus can only sit back and absorb the blows, unable to even launch a threatening counterattack."

"As the top favorite for the Serie A title, Juventus still show a clear gap in strength compared to Real Madrid."

"After advancing from the group stage, Gao Shen's team overcame numerous challenges against Manchester United and Barcelona. Now they've stabilized and are showing the qualities of a true powerhouse."

"Watch the replay again."

"Kroos' long shot came so suddenly, at such a tricky angle, threading between Bonucci and Chiellini before flying into the top corner."

"Buffon was helpless against such a strike."

"This is Toni Kroos, the German midfielder."

"Last summer, Real Madrid traded Khedira for him from Bayern Munich. Gao Shen was under huge pressure then. Everyone thought Khedira, star of the European Championship, was the better choice. Why swap him for Kroos?"

"But now, every Real Madrid fan must be grateful to Gao Shen, because this deal was worth it!"

"With that world-class long-range strike, along with his excellent passing and organization tonight, Toni Kroos has shown the potential to become a world-class midfielder."

"He may not be fully mature yet, but given time, he will certainly grow into the core of Real Madrid's midfield. Alongside Modric and Xabi Alonso, he can form a golden midfield for the club."

…

Gao Shen was surprised by Kroos' goal, but it made sense.

From the first half into the second, Real Madrid had created plenty of chances. But aside from the two first-half goals, they hadn't scored again.

At halftime, Gao Shen told his players with full confidence that more goals would come in the second half.

He even said bluntly, "I want to finish this tie in the first leg!"

He didn't want to leave suspense for the away leg.

Now, with Kroos' goal, the result was secure.

"I think Juventus' biggest problem is they don't have enough players," Zidane remarked as Gao Shen walked back to sip water.

Gao Shen nodded.

There was still a huge gap between this Juventus and the Juventus of his previous life.

The biggest difference was in midfield.

"They don't have a ball-winner in midfield who can consistently pressure the opponent," Gao Shen explained.

In his past life, Juventus had Vidal. With Marchisio and Pirlo, their midfield trio could both attack and defend. Vidal, able to do both, was indispensable.

In this match, Padoin was far inferior to Vidal. Juventus' midfield was completely outplayed.

Of course, this also had something to do with Conte being suddenly suspended for a long period before the season started. With a full season, he could probably solve some of these issues.

As for the frontline, Juventus really needed a true striker.

Someone like Llorente or Mandzukic.

The media and fans worldwide might rave about false nines, like Barcelona with Messi at center, calling it advanced. But in reality, that style requires immense team strength.

Even Barcelona often suffered for it.

Without a proper center forward, their attack was not as threatening.

Interestingly, Leeds United under Gao Shen also faced a similar issue this season.

Icardi was a fine goalscorer, but his tactical role and ability to link play as a striker were lacking. That cost Leeds several tough matches and many points.

That was partly due to Sarri's system as well.

Still, Icardi had scored more Premier League goals than anyone except Van Persie, Suarez, and Gareth Bale, ahead of Liverpool's Benteke and Swansea's Michu.

The Argentine had built a name for himself.

At the very least, he could score goals.

Meanwhile, Manchester City's attack had exploded this season, with Van Persie, Suarez, and Bale occupying the top three spots on the scoring charts.

But City also had problems. Pellegrini hadn't managed the dressing room well.

Like in the first round of the Champions League group stage, when they suffered a shock defeat away to Porto.

This season, Manchester City had lost several games unexpectedly.

That could become a major hidden danger for them in the Champions League.

…

Real Madrid eventually defeated Juventus 3-0 at home.

Late in the game, both sides made substitutions. Real Madrid strengthened their control in midfield and created more chances, continuing to threaten Juventus' goal.

Juventus made changes to tighten their defense, especially in midfield interceptions.

Interestingly, after conceding the third goal, Conte completely abandoned his initial two-striker approach, replacing Matri and Quagliarella with Vucinic and Giovinco.

Clearly, he realized his starting tactics had been flawed.

When the match ended, Gao Shen walked to the visitors' bench to greet Conte. The Italian legend took the initiative to hug him.

"We couldn't hold the ball in the final third," Conte admitted helplessly.

Gao Shen smiled, "You need a center forward."

Although there was still a second leg to play, the outcome was essentially decided.

Even in Turin, Gao Shen was confident of advancing.

"Actually, I thought about it, but I didn't have time. In midfield, I originally wanted Nainggolan from Napoli, but you know, that bastard De Laurentiis demanded a sky-high price," Conte said bitterly.

Gao Shen laughed. This time, he was the one benefiting from De Laurentiis.

Because he had brought Nainggolan to Napoli, Gao Shen was entitled to 20% of any transfer fee.

De Laurentiis was holding firm partly for Gao Shen's sake, so how could he complain?

"Nainggolan is worth it. Good ball-winning midfielders are very scarce in European football right now."

What Gao Shen said was true.

There were only a handful of top ball-winners: Matuidi at PSG, Vidal at Bayern Munich, and Schneiderlin, who after just one season at Leeds, was immediately poached by Ferguson for a high price.

And then?

Who else?

Bayern had stockpiled a few, like Gustavo and Tymoshchuk, but both were defensive midfielders whose positions clashed with Pirlo.

Vidal and Khedira together, though, made Bayern truly stacked.

Still, Khedira's form at Bayern had dropped.

Conte had asked about him in the winter, but Bayern refused, and Khedira wasn't about to leave six months after arriving.

For German players, Bayern was a matter of belief.

Atletico Madrid had Mario Suarez, but his value was also high.

"I'll be going now. See you in Turin!"

Conte shook Gao Shen's hand again, then turned and walked into the tunnel.

He and Gao Shen actually shared a good relationship. Back when Gao Shen taught many courses in Italy, Conte had attended them all and often exchanged ideas with him.

Sometimes, Gao Shen missed his days in Italy.

There, he had made many friends among young coaches and built connections that shaped European football in the years to come.

…

Back at the home bench, Gao Shen welcomed the players off the pitch as usual, congratulating them warmly.

Beating Juventus 3-0 at home had laid a solid foundation for reaching the semifinals.

"Listen to the cheers of the Bernabéu fans. This is what you deserve!" Gao Shen shouted with a smile.

The Real Madrid players were jubilant, clearly satisfied with the result.

But Gao Shen's mind had already shifted to another match being played at the same time.

Barcelona versus Paris Saint-Germain.

The first leg was at the Camp Nou.

PSG were led by Ancelotti, one of Gao Shen's close friends.

Meanwhile, Barcelona head coach Vilanova had officially returned to the team.

Gao Shen wanted to see whether Vilanova's return would change Barcelona.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 1016: Barcelona, if you come over here again, I will call the police

2-2!

It was level!

This was another Champions League quarterfinal match, held at the Camp Nou in Barcelona at the same time.

Barcelona drew 2-2 with Paris Saint-Germain at home.

In order to accommodate both star strikers Ibrahimovic and Cavani, Ancelotti set up in a 4-3-1-2 formation.

Argentine talent Pastore played in the hole, while Chantôme, Matuidi, and Beckham formed the midfield trio.

This setup allowed PSG to withstand Barcelona's overwhelming pressure at the Camp Nou.

In the 31st minute, Messi broke the deadlock with an assist from Dani Alves.

But no matter how hard Barcelona pushed afterward, PSG held firm and survived until the second half.

First, Ibrahimovic equalized in the 80th minute. Then, in the 89th minute, Sanchez set up Xavi to restore Barcelona's lead, seemingly securing the win.

But in the final minute of stoppage time, Ibrahimovic assisted Cavani to score the decisive goal.

2-2. Ancelotti's team left the Camp Nou with a draw.

More importantly, they carried home two valuable away goals.

Not only did the attacking stars perform, but PSG's center-back pairing of Benatia and Thiago Silva was excellent, leaving a deep impression.

Ancelotti's choices may have looked conservative, but to leave the Camp Nou unscathed with two away goals spoke volumes.

What mattered most was that PSG's massive investment was beginning to pay off.

…

At the Bernabéu, Gao Shen received the news. After returning to Valdebebas, he dismissed the players but stayed with his staff to watch the replay.

The winner of these two teams would be Real Madrid's opponent in the semifinal.

For now, things were still unclear, but Ancelotti's tactics and the result gave PSG a slight advantage.

Barcelona's problems remained obvious.

Their attack lacked penetration, while defensive flaws were exposed.

On top of that, Messi was injured in the first half and replaced by Fabregas at halftime.

That cast serious doubt over Barcelona's second leg in Paris.

"Fatty An's defensive organization is unquestionable."

That was Gao Shen's main impression of Ancelotti's PSG.

Italian coaches are tactical masters, each with unique defensive and attacking concepts. Ancelotti is among the very best. Back when he coached Juventus, he was known for his conservative style.

"This match exposed Barcelona's weaknesses and gave Paris a slight edge, but it also revealed Paris' own problem."

"Midfield organization," Zidane noted.

"Yes. Ancelotti tried to use Beckham as the organizer, but it didn't work," Gao Shen replied.

He had coached Beckham in his first spell at Real Madrid and knew the Englishman's strengths. At his age, his mobility had dropped sharply. His passing remained excellent, but he was not a deep-lying playmaker.

In short, Beckham was no Pirlo.

"In a 4-3-1-2 system, one of those three midfielders has to be a true organizer like Pirlo."

To be honest, Ancelotti would probably curse Gao Shen for saying that.

Because Ancelotti originally wanted Verratti from Napoli.

But thanks to Gao Shen's intervention, Verratti joined Real Madrid instead of PSG.

That left Ancelotti searching the market for a deep-lying playmaker and finding no one.

Players like Pirlo, Verratti, Xabi Alonso, or Carrick were rare.

Bastian Schweinsteiger at Bayern Munich was another example.

When Bayern's management had to choose between Schweinsteiger and Toni Kroos for a deeper role, they decisively picked Schweinsteiger.

The hottest player on the market was Dortmund's Gündogan, but he was already attracting Barcelona, Arsenal, and Manchester United.

Gao Shen had spoken with Madrid's technical staff and was interested in him.

Gündogan's market value was around 30 million euros.

But to buy from Dortmund, you never paid less than that. Once a bidding war started, the price would only rise.

The transfer market is like a battlefield. When supply is scarce, the price depends on determination, not value.

That's why clubs selling star players often try to bring in as many bidders as possible.

Another emerging option was Leeds United's Jorginho, though he was still a step below Gündogan.

He was younger and had played only one Premier League season. His performances were promising, but not convincing enough yet.

Still, players of this type were extremely rare.

Another headline for the summer was Monaco.

After being taken over by Russian billionaire Rybolovlev, they were set to return to Ligue 1 and had already promised a massive spending spree to rival PSG.

Meanwhile, Leeds United were battling Monaco for the signing of young French talent Mbappé.

Both clubs, along with other European giants, were very keen, even Real Madrid.

Mbappé had even visited Madrid, but Gao Shen had been too busy to meet him.

Now, Leeds' technical director Borrell had already traveled to France three times personally.

…

"If we face Barcelona, we'll have the advantage," Gao Shen said confidently.

If word got out, it would cause an uproar, but it was true.

"But against PSG, our midfield will be more dominant. The key is breaking down their defense."

Benatia was a player trained by Gao Shen himself, and he knew exactly how strong the Moroccan was.

And Thiago Silva needed no introduction, a world-class defender.

Together, PSG's central defense was elite.

Add three defensive midfielders in front, and breaking them down would be no easy task.

On the bench, they also had Sakho, Alex, Van der Wiel, Ménez, and Lucas Moura.

Lucas Moura was a player Gao Shen had admired before PSG snapped him up. Leonardo, PSG's technical director, had a sharp eye for young talents.

"Handling their counterattacks would be the big issue," Zidane agreed.

No one could afford to underestimate Cavani, Pastore, or Ibrahimovic.

Barcelona had just been punished with two goals.

"So, I'd rather face Barcelona," Gao Shen admitted with a smile.

Pick the softer opponent.

Zidane, Carlo, and the others all laughed.

"Barcelona will cry. After four meetings already this season, and another one?" Carlo joked.

Hierro added, "Barcelona will say, 'If you come here again, we're calling the police!'"

After beating Juventus 3-0 in the first leg, it was natural for Real Madrid to look ahead to the semifinal.

Gao Shen was not worried about stumbling in Turin.

He would not allow it.

…

Real Madrid beat Juventus 3-0 at home.

Barcelona were held 2-2 by PSG at home.

Two games on the same night with opposite outcomes created a huge stir in Spain.

Real Madrid's 3-0 win all but secured their semifinal place, sending fans into wild celebrations.

AS editor-in-chief Alfredo declared that Madrid had shown supreme dominance.

Especially with Marcelo back, Madrid's wings were unstoppable, and Juventus had no way to defend.

Marca also noted that this was the first time Gao Shen's Real Madrid had played with a full lineup, and they delivered a near-perfect performance.

"There is no doubt, this team is thrilling to watch!"

While Real Madrid drew praise, Barcelona faced heavy criticism.

Their home match ended 2-2, handing PSG two away goals. For the second leg, Barcelona would need to attack.

But judging from the first leg, they had no real answers for PSG's defense.

Worse, Messi's injury ruled him out of the return match, a huge blow.

If even with Messi they couldn't crack PSG, what could they do without him?

Bookmakers across Europe shifted the odds, making PSG favorites to advance.

Clearly, Ancelotti's team had earned more recognition.

The Italian coach was rebuilding at PSG after a difficult stint at Chelsea.

…

Although Barcelona struggled in the Champions League, they were still dominant in La Liga.

In Round 30, at the Camp Nou, they beat Mallorca 5-0, with Sanchez scoring a hat-trick and Fabregas a brace.

All five goals came in the first half.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, beat Levante 5-1 at home.

Gao Shen rotated heavily. Ronaldo played only the first half and scored once. Higuaín netted twice, while Kaka and Jesé added one each.

After the 30th round, Real Madrid traveled to Turin, while Barcelona headed to Paris.

Unlike Madrid, brimming with confidence, Barcelona looked more like a team heading into a life-or-death battle.

(To be continued.)