SWR: Chapter 929/931

Chapter 929: Real Madrid Is Different Tonight

Afternoon.

In a penthouse overlooking Central Park in New York, Guardiola sat in the living room, staring at the TV as it broadcast the live pre-match coverage of the highly anticipated Clásico.

Led by the match officials, players from both sides walked out of the tunnel one after another.

Guardiola was familiar with tonight's referee, Carlos Delgado Ferrero, a seasoned 42-year-old official with plenty of experience.

The starting lineups were displayed on screen.

Barcelona lined up in their classic 4-3-3.

Goalkeeper: Valdés
Defenders: Alba, Puyol, Piqué, Alves
Midfielders: Busquets sitting deep, with Iniesta and Xavi ahead of him
Forwards: Sánchez, Messi, and Pedro

Agüero was not in the starting XI, sitting on the bench along with Fàbregas.

It was clear Vilanova still preferred to trust Barcelona's core group.

Real Madrid also used a 4-3-3.

Goalkeeper: Courtois
Defenders: Marcelo, Ramos, Pepe, Arbeloa
Midfielders: Xabi Alonso as the holding midfielder, with Kroos and Modrić ahead
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema, and Di María

There had been a lot of speculation about whether Gao Shen would start Casillas in this Clásico, but clearly he was sticking with Courtois.

The Belgian youngster had been rock solid this season. After Casillas made several errors early on, he had been completely overtaken in the competition for the starting spot. Now, not even a match of this magnitude could win him back his place.

It was clear Casillas had lost ground in this battle. His only real chance to turn things around now was to perform brilliantly in the Champions League. Otherwise, it was only a matter of time before Courtois permanently replaced him.

There was nothing particularly surprising about either lineup. What really caught Guardiola's attention was the pre-match rhetoric, especially the provocative remarks Gao Shen made during yesterday's press conference.

That wasn't easy to pull off.

…

"Didn't you say you wouldn't touch football at all this year?"

His wife, Cristina Serra, stepped out of the bedroom with a sleepy expression, clearly having just woken up.

Their two children were likely still playing with toys inside. At that age, they had boundless energy.

"I'm just watching, not touching," Guardiola replied with a wry smile.

That had been his promise when they came to New York—to take a year off and fully rest.

The United States was often called a football desert, with limited coverage of the sport.

But Guardiola had clearly underestimated it.

Football had a decent presence here too, especially for marquee fixtures like El Clásico. The coverage was thorough and detailed.

He was surprised to see how popular his old friend had become in the U.S., especially on Twitter.

Cristina knew her husband too well.

She sat down beside him, glanced at the TV, and saw that it was a Barcelona vs Real Madrid match.

The broadcast cut to the benches, showing Vilanova and Gao Shen.

She immediately understood why Guardiola was watching.

"So, who do you think will win?" she asked.

With kickoff approaching, Guardiola's eyes stayed on the screen. "Real Madrid."

"So certain?"

"Yeah."

"But this is Camp Nou."

"The influence of home and away matches is becoming smaller and smaller, especially for Gao Shen."

"But doesn't Barcelona still have a chance?" she asked again.

Guardiola narrowed his eyes, paused, then said, "From the moment they walked out onto the pitch, it was already over."

"Why?"

"I don't know. Just a hunch."

Realizing that sounded weak, Guardiola added, "Gao Shen doesn't do things impulsively. All those pre-match provocations and outrageous remarks were calculated. He was trying to provoke Barcelona."

"And then?"

"Tito fell for it. He retaliated. He wants to prove himself too badly, and that emotion will rub off on the players."

"I don't see how wanting to win is a bad thing."

Guardiola was silent for a few seconds, then looked at her and said, "Barcelona's football requires patience."

Cristina didn't respond.

There was no way she could know Barcelona better than Guardiola did.

"Gao Shen is different from me. He says he's a pragmatist with a hint of idealism. That's why he engages in mind games before matches."

His analysis made sense, but Cristina still found it hard to believe.

Could you really predict the outcome of a football match just by watching the teams walk out?

…

Guardiola wasn't the only one who sensed it.

At the visiting team's technical area at Camp Nou, Gao Shen had felt it too.

He'd been on the sideline for a while now, but Vilanova still hadn't come over to shake hands.

Strangely, Gao Shen wasn't upset—he seemed to enjoy it.

"He's probably still mad at me," Gao Shen chuckled.

Zidane, Carlo, Hierro, and the others exchanged glances, speechless.

Some of Gao Shen's remarks before the match had clearly struck a nerve.

Over the summer, Barcelona changed coaches. Vilanova and Guardiola had parted ways, and this was Vilanova's sore spot. Gao Shen had intentionally exposed that wound and offended him deeply.

And now he still expected Vilanova to act cordial?

Just listen to the boos from the Camp Nou crowd. They were all aimed at Gao Shen.

99,345!

That was tonight's attendance. Basically full capacity!

"Honestly, you should thank Figo," Zidane laughed.

"Because of the pig's head?" Gao Shen smirked.

Everyone laughed. At least the guy had some self-awareness.

Ever since Figo had been pelted with a pig's head at Camp Nou, stadium security had tightened, and such items were strictly banned.

Otherwise, Gao Shen might've made history tonight—as the first coach to be taken out by hostile fans in the dugout.

…

It wasn't until the players had already taken their positions that Vilanova reluctantly walked over and shook Gao Shen's hand.

From start to finish, he only said, "Welcome to Camp Nou," then turned and left.

It was perfunctory, but Gao Shen didn't mind.

With both teams on the field, their intentions were already clear.

Iniesta and Messi stood in the center circle, ready for kickoff. Sánchez and Pedro were on the flanks.

Barcelona clearly intended to hit hard from the start.

"In last season's Champions League knockout stage, we caught them off guard right at kickoff. Vilanova learned from that. He wants to seize the initiative early," Gao Shen said, turning to the bench.

Carlo had experienced that Champions League clash himself and understood the logic on both sides.

But this time, Real Madrid wouldn't attack early.

Gao Shen's priority tonight was solid defensive organization.

In his view, against Barcelona, if you defend well and counter precisely, every attack is dangerous.

Of course, this wasn't a passive deep block. That would be suicide.

So, Real Madrid deployed their defensive line from the halfway line back to about 30 meters from goal. If needed, they would drop back gradually.

…

With the referee's whistle, Messi tapped the ball to Iniesta.

The midfielder quickly returned it to Busquets, positioned deep in the center circle.

Benzema immediately pressed Busquets, who passed to Xavi nearby.

It was clear Barcelona didn't plan to recycle through the center backs.

Benzema feinted, as if to press Xavi, forcing the midfielder to pass back to Busquets again.

Cristiano Ronaldo, stationed near the left touchline, had been shadowing Alves. But it was Toni Kroos who stepped up first to press Xavi.

Busquets returned the ball to Xavi once more, but Kroos closed in, forcing Xavi to pass back to Puyol.

Benzema tracked Busquets instead of challenging Puyol, while Kroos stayed tight to Xavi, cutting off his passing lane.

What surprised Barcelona was that Benzema didn't even attempt to press Puyol, who had the ball nearby. Instead, he continued shadowing Busquets.

That puzzled the Barça players.

You're so close—why not press?

Usually, if Benzema stepped forward, Puyol, Piqué, and Busquets would form a triangle to pass around him easily.

But Benzema didn't bite. That made Barcelona feel like they were swinging at air.

As Busquets advanced and Benzema tracked him, Puyol and Piqué exchanged glances, realizing something was off.

Real Madrid was different tonight!

With no other option, Barcelona's backline moved up.

Busquets and Piqué exchanged passes at the halfway line, but Benzema stuck to Busquets, not allowing him time on the ball.

Xavi dropped deep again, but Kroos followed tightly, forcing him to receive with his back to goal and return the ball to Piqué.

Left with no choice, Piqué drifted left.

Busquets looked to find Alba or Iniesta on that side, but Di María, Modrić, and even Benzema shifted quickly to cut off options.

Barcelona was forced to pass back again.

For over a minute, the ball circled between the defenders and Busquets, never crossing the halfway line.

"Real Madrid's defensive shape tonight is compact and disciplined."

"Barcelona's passing can't even get into the attacking half."

Messi had no choice but to drop deep to support.

Piqué, unable to find a forward option, spotted Messi in a pocket between Kroos and Cristiano Ronaldo and played the pass.

Messi turned.

The game suddenly kicked into high gear.

(To be continued.)

Chapter 930: 15 Seconds

As soon as Messi dropped back, Xabi Alonso, positioned behind him, reminded Toni Kroos to stay alert.

The German wasn't just marking Xavi, he was also tracking Messi's movements closely. When he saw Piqué controlling the ball and shifting right, he anticipated the pass to Messi.

Without hesitation, Toni Kroos charged forward.

Just as Piqué released the ball, Kroos stepped in to intercept, using his body to block off Messi.

The Argentine was momentarily stunned by the interception and tried to regain the ball, but Kroos' physical advantage was clear. After successfully winning possession, he quickly passed left.

Ronaldo received the ball and immediately surged forward, cutting diagonally into the open space on the left, drawing both Busquets and Alves toward him.

Benzema reacted quickly. Noticing Busquets commit to Ronaldo, he peeled away from the center and moved to the left. With Piqué and Puyol holding the central line, there was no space for him in the middle.

Ronaldo understood the signal and, just before Busquets arrived, delivered a diagonal pass to Benzema. Then, he burst forward at full speed.

Benzema controlled the ball and, just as Piqué approached, cut inside with his right foot and shook him off. He then lobbed a pass with his right foot toward the top of the penalty area, aiming for Ronaldo.

Unexpectedly, Puyol charged out and headed the ball clear before it could reach Ronaldo.

The clearance didn't go far, landing just outside Barcelona's 30-meter zone.

Toni Kroos, who had planned to follow up as part of the second wave, had to stop and contest for the ball with Xavi. But Xabi Alonso had already read the play, surged forward, and intercepted it cleanly.

Just as he controlled the ball, Pedro closed in to press.

Xabi Alonso glanced up and spotted Di María on the right, raising his hand for the ball. He quickly delivered a diagonal pass into open space.

Di María was completely unmarked. After stopping the ball, he drove forward, surged into the penalty area, and sent a low cross with his left foot into the box. Ronaldo burst in, aiming to tap it home.

But at the crucial moment, Valdés rushed out and made a desperate dive, getting to the ball just before Ronaldo.

The Portuguese forward had no choice but to pull back.

The entire Camp Nou erupted in a collective sigh of relief after narrowly avoiding disaster.

Real Madrid's attack had been blistering.

From interception to counter to follow-up pressure, Barcelona barely had time to react.

"Fifteen seconds!"

The commentator was stunned.

"From the interception to the counterattack, then to Barcelona's clearance, followed by Xabi Alonso's pass to Di María and his cross—then Valdés' intervention. The entire sequence lasted just 15 seconds."

"Real Madrid's counterattack was lightning fast. You could say it completely split open Barcelona's defensive structure."

"In fact, the moment Benzema laid it off to Ronaldo, the defense was nearly breached. Di María's cross afterward absolutely carved them open. If Valdés hadn't come off his line, it would've been 1-0."

"We're only 1 minute and 30 seconds into the game, but we already see Real Madrid's tactical plan clearly."

"This is what a top-tier coach looks like—no gimmicks. Just pure tactical execution."

"The strategy is simple: stay compact defensively and strike quickly on the break. And those counterattacks are sharp. We saw Kroos, Modrić, and Xabi Alonso all breaking into Barcelona's half, even getting into the final third."

"Meanwhile, the two full-backs, Marcelo and Arbeloa, are staying more conservative—likely a defensive directive. But Real Madrid's counterattack is absolutely lethal."

"Barcelona better pay attention. This is no fluke."

…

Valdés rolled the ball out, and the match resumed.

The rhythm seemed to return to the early-game tempo.

Barcelona continued to circulate the ball in the back, while Real Madrid defended tightly along the halfway line.

The difference now was that Iniesta began dropping deeper to support the build-up, with Modrić shadowing him closely.

Both Kroos and Modrić were willing to push higher than Benzema, but as long as Xavi and Iniesta weren't in threatening positions, they immediately retreated to maintain shape.

The high level of tactical discipline from Real Madrid's players left a deep impression.

Even Vilanova, on the sideline, was visibly concerned.

Only two minutes had passed, yet the ball had barely crossed midfield, and Barcelona had already been threatened by a Real Madrid counter.

Vilanova walked to the edge of the technical area and gestured for his players to stretch the field wider, calling for more switches of play to shift Real Madrid's defensive block.

But in the third minute, something surprising happened again.

When the ball was on Barcelona's left side—Real Madrid's right—Cristiano Ronaldo had dropped back into the zone usually occupied by Toni Kroos, deep in his own half, helping maintain compact defensive shape.

"Is he using Ronaldo like a midfielder?" Vilanova muttered to himself.

But thinking of Ronaldo's earlier sprint, it was clearly not the case.

If Puyol hadn't headed that ball, Ronaldo would've been through on goal.

And later, Di María's cross nearly found him again in the middle.

Clearly, Gao Shen hadn't restricted Ronaldo's attacking instincts. He had only defined his defensive role and positioning.

"Damn it, why is Ronaldo willing to listen to him?" Vilanova muttered, unconvinced.

If he asked Messi to do the same, the Argentine would've given him a look and walked away.

But he shook off the frustration and walked to the touchline, signaling Xavi and Iniesta to drop deeper while instructing Busquets to push forward.

"Let's see if Benzema tracks Busquets all the way."

…

Barely two or three minutes into the game, and both managers had already traded several tactical moves.

But fans in the stands wouldn't notice these subtleties.

All they could see was Barcelona adjusting, with Xavi dropping deeper while Busquets began advancing with the ball.

Benzema didn't follow him this time, leaving the zone to his midfield teammates.

Just as Real Madrid adjusted their defensive assignments, Messi dropped into space to receive from Busquets.

The two combined brilliantly just outside Real Madrid's 30-meter area.

First, Busquets passed to Messi and surged forward. When Messi returned the pass, Busquets cleverly used his heel to flick it back to Messi.

That tight-space one-two caused momentary disorder in Real Madrid's shape.

Modrić and Kroos overlapped their positioning slightly.

Messi spotted the opportunity and drove into the right-hand channel.

But just as he did, Xabi Alonso was there.

The veteran read the danger perfectly, shadowing Messi with disciplined positioning and composure.

Unable to break through, Messi laid it off to Sánchez outside the penalty box.

The Chilean winger recognized the cue. He took a touch, cut inside, and dribbled laterally across the top of the box, forcing Xabi Alonso to shift focus. Otherwise, Sánchez would've had a clean look at goal.

Xabi Alonso followed, but Sánchez slid a pass to the left side of the box.

Messi surged forward and controlled it, but Arbeloa was already there, arms tucked behind his back, staying tight.

"Excellent defensive work by Real Madrid this time."

"There's long been talk that Gao Shen's defensive acumen is on par with his attacking setups. Many doubted that before, but tonight, we're seeing proof. That sequence from Barcelona was slick, but Real Madrid's defense was exceptional—especially their spacing and coordination."

"If Barcelona's attack dazzles, then Real Madrid's defense is like a wall of steel."

Messi was now facing Arbeloa one-on-one at the edge of the box. Left with no better option, he crossed the ball.

But Pepe had already positioned himself perfectly, clearing it with authority.

Barcelona's build-up had been impressive, but Real Madrid's defense was just as composed.

Just when it seemed like both teams might take a breath, Pepe's clearance dropped into the center circle of Real Madrid's half.

Puyol read the bounce early and moved to block it, but Benzema came charging in and held him off with his back. Before the ball hit the ground, Benzema used his strength to bump Puyol slightly off balance.

The Barça captain staggered slightly. As the ball fell, Puyol leapt to challenge, but Benzema leaned back and nodded the ball past him. Then, he turned quickly.

It was a clever play. Benzema used his body well to fend off the defender. But Puyol didn't give up. As Benzema turned, Puyol grabbed at him to prevent the chase.

The ball was trapped between the two, both trying to gain control. They each made a touch. Eventually, Benzema nudged it to his left—toward the center circle—and then used his body to shield the ball from Puyol.

Now with space, Benzema laid the ball off to Toni Kroos, who had found space unmarked.

Xavi was just arriving but couldn't apply pressure in time.

Kroos took a touch, looked up, and didn't see Ronaldo in position—but Di María was ready.

So, he launched a long diagonal pass toward the right wing.

Di María burst forward with blistering pace.

Alba chased closely behind, both sprinting at full throttle.

But Di María got there first, nodding the ball forward with his head. After reaching the byline, he spun and brought the ball back inside, driving into the right edge of the penalty box before Alba could close down.

And at that moment, Real Madrid's second wave of attackers arrived!

(To be continued.)

Chapter 931: You've Been Fooled

As many people have said, Di María was born with the instincts of a classic South American forward.

Much like Suárez, when he plays, he often pulls off unexpected moves that catch everyone off guard—only for people to realize afterward just how clever they were.

Just like right now.

Everyone, including Real Madrid's own players, thought Di María would send a cross into the middle or far post, aiming for Benzema or Ronaldo. Both were already in position. As long as the ball got through, and as long as Barcelona's defenders didn't intercept it, it was almost guaranteed to result in a goal.

But after dribbling into the box from the right and drawing Puyol's attention as the captain tracked back, Di María suddenly chose to cut the ball back to the top of the box.

The move surprised everyone.

Barcelona's defenders had their eyes fixed on Di María, anticipating a traditional cross, but he went the opposite direction.

Real Madrid's players also instinctively pulled back slightly, wary of being caught offside.

Modrić was the first to arrive at the top of the box to receive Di María's cut-back. Without stopping, he played a quick pass forward.

At that moment, Benzema had his back to goal and had just dropped deep. He received the ball from Modrić and controlled it toward his right, which was the left side of the goal.

Piqué didn't have time to intervene, and though Alves came charging to close him down, Benzema beat him to the ball and knocked it into the left side of the penalty area.

Ronaldo, having just returned from an offside position and established himself, burst forward at full speed. He met Benzema's through ball and struck it first-time with his left foot.

The ball flew low and fast, almost in a straight line, and slammed into the left side of Barcelona's net.

"Cristiano Ronaldo!"

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLL!"

"In the 4th minute, Real Madrid have taken the lead at Camp Nou!"

"A brilliant finish from Cristiano Ronaldo!"

After scoring, Ronaldo sprinted wildly in celebration, but still turned around to call his teammates forward to share in the moment.

Boos echoed around the Camp Nou stands, yet Real Madrid fans' cheers could still be heard amidst the jeers.

"Just four minutes in, and Real Madrid have struck first."

"No one expected such a high-tempo start from both sides."

"There was no feeling-out phase—both teams went straight for it. And Real Madrid have made the breakthrough in just four minutes."

"To all of you watching at home, trust me—this match will be electric!"

"Now that they're behind, Barcelona are going to come out even more aggressively!"

…

On the sidelines, Gao Shen clenched his fists and shouted in excitement.

Then he turned and gave high-fives to each of his assistant coaches to celebrate.

"That was a gorgeous play," Hierro said with excitement.

Real Madrid hadn't won at Camp Nou in years. Each visit had ended in a tough loss.

But tonight, this start gave everyone belief.

"Di María is unbelievable," Zidane praised the Argentine, but he didn't forget to mention his compatriot either. "And Benzema—smart as ever. That turn and pass were brilliant."

Gao Shen laughed.

Real Madrid had never lacked attacking talent. If there were problems, they usually came down to defensive structure—and that was on the head coach.

But Gao Shen knew full well, Barcelona wouldn't just sit back and give up.

He immediately walked to the touchline and, as the Real Madrid players returned from celebrating, he kept shouting at them, signaling for calm.

Stay composed. Stick to the game plan. No rushing. No greed for goals.

He especially called out to the midfielders—Xabi Alonso—and defenders like Ramos and Pepe to stay sharp.

Before the goal, some Real Madrid players still held doubts about the "advanced tactics."

But now, after effectively shutting down Barcelona's famed passing rhythm and scoring an early goal, everyone was bought in.

Barcelona had hardly produced a meaningful threat.

Ramos even rallied his teammates loudly on the pitch.

With Casillas absent, he had begun to take command like a true general.

…

"Looks like you guys got lucky tonight," Rosell said awkwardly in the presidential box, watching Ronaldo's celebration.

Just before kickoff, during dinner, he had confidently told Florentino that Barcelona would humble Gao Shen at Camp Nou to avenge the pre-match war of words.

But the game hadn't even settled, and Real Madrid were already ahead.

Florentino maintained his signature warm smile.

To describe it metaphorically, he looked like a modern-day Maitreya Buddha.

Impossible to read, but very clearly in a good mood.

After hearing Rosell's jab, Florentino chuckled and replied, "Yes, scoring in the fourth minute—pure luck."

"There's still plenty of time left. We'll bounce back," Barcelona vice president Bartomeu chimed in, trying to ease the tension.

In truth, the situation was already quite awkward.

Even after the restart, Barcelona hadn't found any answers to Real Madrid's defense.

They tried to pass forward, and Messi dropped deeper to support, but just getting into Real Madrid's half was a challenge—let alone their penalty area.

This made Rosell and the Barcelona board visibly frustrated in the stands.

Even with their famed possession game, they couldn't break through.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid's defense and midfield stayed tight and disciplined.

"Florentino, your side is playing pretty conservatively tonight," Rosell jabbed again.

But the Real Madrid president still smiled calmly. "Perhaps Gao Shen anticipated how dangerous Camp Nou would be, so he decided to be cautious."

Oh?

If they hadn't already scored, maybe that line could've worked.

But they had scored—and to say this now was downright humiliating.

Florentino might as well have pointed to Rosell's face and said:

You've been figured out. Gao Shen knew exactly what you were planning.

You've been fooled. Idiots!

…

Barcelona tried repeatedly to push the ball forward.

But again and again, they were denied.

Could you believe that the La Liga leaders hadn't even registered a single shot in the first 10 minutes?

Not just shots—they'd only entered Real Madrid's penalty area twice.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid were growing more composed and patient after taking the lead.

The 100,000 Barça fans in Camp Nou were growing restless.

They came to see Barcelona thrash Real Madrid—to avenge earlier humiliations.

Instead, they were watching them concede first.

They'd already had to endure the pre-match trash talk. Now they were watching their team be dominated on the pitch too?

Puyol began pushing forward more and getting involved in the midfield build-up.

There was no other option. The midfield couldn't break the press, and the full-backs' forward runs were neutralized by Di María and Ronaldo.

Speaking of Ronaldo, the Portuguese star was putting in tremendous effort defensively tonight.

Barcelona finally managed to create a half-chance.

Sánchez dribbled in from the left, tried to cut inside, then laid it off to Iniesta, who returned it with a through ball. Sánchez slipped into the box again.

He attempted to square the ball toward Messi in the center, but Pepe stepped in and cleared it decisively.

Just three minutes later, Barcelona launched another attack.

Again from the left.

This time, after receiving from Iniesta, Sánchez shook off Arbeloa, cut inside on his right foot, and fired a shot.

But Courtois handled it cleanly.

"Barcelona's first shot of the match—14 minutes in."

"So far, Real Madrid's defense has looked very solid and organized."

"Here comes a corner."

Xavi took it quickly, but Courtois came out decisively and caught it in the air.

"Courtois has been rock solid, giving Barcelona no second chances."

After landing, he looked to distribute quickly to Marcelo. But Barcelona pressed immediately, so Courtois changed his mind and threw the ball across to Arbeloa on the right.

Arbeloa found Modrić, and Real Madrid attempted a build-up.

Di María dropped deep to link up with Modrić and Arbeloa, but they couldn't create much danger.

Barcelona then stepped up their pressing on Real Madrid's right and central areas, forcing Toni Kroos to recycle the ball back to Courtois.

Messi pressured the Belgian keeper, but Courtois calmly played the ball left.

Ramos sprinted to the left sideline to meet it, then played a quick ball up to Marcelo.

"Real Madrid switching play, now attacking from the left."

"Marcelo drives forward with Pedro closing him down."

Ronaldo was hugging the right sideline, ready to receive, but suddenly Benzema came over from the middle and pointed toward the space in front of him. Behind him was Piqué.

Marcelo heard the call and saw the signal. He feinted past Pedro and fired a sharp pass forward with his left foot.

The ball hugged the ground and reached Benzema.

The French striker was half a step ahead of Piqué and got to the pass first. He didn't stop—just gave it a quick touch with his right foot.

A slick flick behind Barcelona's defense.

Almost at the same moment, Ronaldo broke free from Alves and surged forward with explosive pace.

Alves raised his hand for offside, but neither the referee nor the linesman responded.

"Beautiful!"

"Cristiano Ronaldo!"

"A perfectly timed run, he's through on goal!"

"Ronaldo charges into the box—he's one-on-one with Valdés!"

(To be continued.)