Chapter 1 Lyon Caught Off Guard

Lyon was slow to get into the game and didn’t put enough pressure on in the forward areas. This allowed Marek Hamšík, who had dropped back to act as a defensive midfielder, to feel very relaxed. He was able to calmly organize the play from deep, then suddenly accelerate when the ball entered the opponent's half, seeking a chance to deliver a fatal blow.

The two wingers, Maggio and Sánchez, would be key to this match.

After the match began, the commentators also noticed Napoli's change in formation.

"Ah… in this match, Mazzarri has not lined up in his usual 4-3-3 formation, but has instead used Napoli's 3-4-3 formation from last season. This is quite surprising—because at the end of last season, he said that the team would not continue to use 3-4-3 in the next season. We all thought he didn't like this formation. Who would have thought..."

The 3-4-3 formation always gives people the impression that there are a lot of loopholes in the defense, that it is not safe at all. Although Napoli's defense is indeed generally poor, with many problems, another function of the 3-4-3 is often overlooked. That is its super-strong attack, especially the kind of offensive that comes from the flanks, like a rising tide, wave after wave, constantly surging.

Because the 3-4-3 eliminates the two full-backs and adds two wingers, the positions of the wingers and wingers are closer, allowing them to form a closer connection and launch attacks more effectively. Unlike the 4-3-3, the distance between the winger and the full-back is too large, and it takes more time for the full-back to rush up, consumes more energy, and the risk naturally increases. What if they can't get back after going up?

There would only be two center-backs behind them.

Now, with three center-backs, they can spread out, and the defensive midfielder drops back at the same time, providing four defensive players, covering both the center and the flanks. The wingers don't have as much defensive pressure, and they can put more energy into the attack.

And when defending, the two wingers retreat to become full-backs, and the two forwards retreat to become wingers, turning the formation into a 5-4-1.

In fact, the defensive problems are not as big as everyone thinks.

It's just that this tactic requires a lot of running ability from the players, as well as a very high awareness of covering.

In the match against Lyon, Mazzarri deployed the 3-4-3, also intending to catch Lyon off guard.

They were indeed caught off guard!

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"Hamšík controls the ball. Lyon's players didn't come up to defend him. He can calmly control the ball, turn around, and then look up to observe… He passes the ball!"

The ball was passed by Hamšík to his defensive midfield partner, De Jong. The Dutchman dribbled forward, but quickly encountered Lyon's defense. Facing the opponent's defense, De Jong did not hold onto the ball, giving the opponent a chance to get close, but instead directly passed the ball out.

This time, his pass was aimed at Sánchez.

After receiving the ball on the wing, Sánchez unleashed his dribbling skills, advancing rapidly along the flank.

In the previous league match against Siena, he started and played the full ninety minutes for the first time, which played a crucial role in his recovery.

He is now full of confidence, daring to dribble and attack, no longer afraid of physical contact or confrontation with defensive players.

Lyon's midfielder Delgado (Cesar_delgado) came up to defend, but as an attacking player, his defense was just for show, otherwise it would be a foul.

Sánchez cleverly flicked the ball away, while twisting his body to avoid Delgado's charging body, breaking through Delgado's defense very beautifully!

A burst of cheers rang out from the Napoli fans in the stands.

One of the ways to show home advantage is that when a player from your own team performs well, you should not hesitate to give them your applause and cheers, encouraging your own players while also creating psychological pressure for the opposing players.

Of course, not all home team players can get their unreserved support…

After Sánchez shook off Delgado, he did not continue to dribble, because not far ahead was Lyon's right-back Anthony Réveillère, who had blocked the position. Sánchez's attempt to force a breakthrough would probably only lead to a dead end.

So, just after dodging Delgado's defense, he passed the ball to Cassano, who came up to meet him.

Cassano passed the ball to Chen Yingxiong, who was diagonally in front of him.

As the ball flew towards Chen Yingxiong, a piercing booing sound rang out from the north stand, which was occupied by extremist fans…

Chen Yingxiong received the ball with his back to the direction of the attack. He did not turn around directly, but instead sent the ball directly to the left flank. A diagonal pass, the ball flew into the gap behind Lyon's defense.

At the same time, Sánchez also rushed past Réveillère!

"He got the ball!"

The previous booing stopped and turned into cheers—these Napoli extremist fans are really not afraid of getting tired. The conversion between boos and cheers was so fast, without any mistakes… It's really admirable!

Just as Chen Yingxiong passed the ball, Arshavin had already rushed into the penalty area. He cut in diagonally, not stopping in front of the goal, but rushing straight to the near post.

And what about Chen Yingxiong? After passing the ball, he turned around and ran into the penalty area. He also ran diagonally, but he was running towards the far post, exactly intersecting with Arshavin's run.

The two men's runs had been practiced repeatedly in training, so there was no hesitation. Their goal was to pull Lyon's defenders away from the center of the penalty area, leaving it empty, so as to create opportunities for their teammates…

Who was he creating opportunities for?

After Cassano passed the ball to Chen Yingxiong, he moved to the center, but he did not go in immediately, but paused outside the penalty area, avoiding becoming the most eye-catching target. After Arshavin and Chen Yingxiong both entered the penalty area, a huge gap was pulled out in front of him.

At the same time, Sánchez, who received the ball from Chen Yingxiong, also successfully broke through. He looked up, then crossed the ball before Réveillère returned to block him!

The ball was neither for Arshavin at the near post, nor for Chen Yingxiong waiting at the far post, but drew an arc, falling only in the middle of the goal!

Cassano started rushing in at the moment Sánchez passed the ball. He and the ball arrived at the designated spot together, then without hesitation, directly poked his foot out to shoot!

"Antonio—"

Cassano's toe poked the ball, and the ball changed direction and shot towards the goal!

Because the distance was too close, and Cassano's poke was so sudden, even if goalkeeper Lloris reacted, he was still half a beat late!

"—Cassano!!! Cassano!!! Napoli took the lead in the twelfth minute of the game! They have a wonderful start!"

The volcano named San Paolo erupted. All the Napoli fans stood up from their seats. They raised their arms, and for a moment, there was nothing but blue in the entire stadium. They shouted, "forza_napoli!!!"

The cheers soared into the sky!

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Mazzarri on the sidelines raised his arms and waved them vigorously. He was not only happy that the team took the lead, but also happy that his tactical strategy had worked.

This goal was the result of him letting all three forwards enter the penalty area. If it were still like before, with only Chen Yingxiong in the penalty area, and Cassano and Arshavin were more active on the wings, then there would never be such a goal. Because Chen Yingxiong would have to engage in a melee with the opponent's center-backs in front of the goal. Although Chen Yingxiong was not afraid of such a melee, if there was a better way to score, who would choose such a stupid way to attack?

"Napoli have taken a one-goal lead! They have taken a solid step in their quest for European competition on their home turf!"

"Beautiful! Beautiful attacking coordination! Starting with Hamšík's pass, De Jong, Sánchez, Cassano, and Hero all received the ball. Although Arshavin didn't receive the ball, his diagonal run was crucial! He attracted the attention of Lyon's defenders... Plus, Chen Yingxiong's diagonal reverse run, the front of Lyon's goal was instantly emptied! It's really a wonderful team goal!"

This was indeed a wonderful team goal. Every Napoli player who participated in the attack rushed to one spot and embraced each other.

First, Chen Yingxiong intercepted Cassano, who wanted to go to the corner flag to celebrate the goal, and hugged him around the waist. Then Arshavin rushed up and hugged the two of them, and then, like a magnet, Sánchez, Hamšík, Inler, Maggio… These people rushed up in a swarm and surrounded them in layers.

They celebrated to their heart's content near Lyon's penalty area, and the dejected Lyon players became their best backdrop.

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"Napoli are in high spirits at their home ground—"

This commentator is right. No matter what opponent they face, Napoli always have a kind of fearless spirit at their home ground. Because they know that the fans in this stadium will support them at all costs and create trouble for their opponents, which will give them endless confidence.

Therefore, Napoli have a very good record at their home ground. Last season, they successively defeated strong teams such as Juventus, Roma, AC Milan and Inter Milan at their home ground. Four home wins, this is a remarkable achievement, enough to illustrate the terrifying status of the Stadio San Paolo.

Such a terrifying home atmosphere has brought trouble to many visiting teams. This is Lyon's first match at the Stadio San Paolo. Before coming, they didn't know what kind of existence the Stadio San Paolo was. They might have thought that it was no different from other away games. No matter how terrifying this place is, could it be more famous than the San Siro stadium?

Now they know how wrong they were before!

This place is much more terrifying than the San Siro Meazza…

Every fan wearing the sky blue Napoli jersey seems to never know fatigue. Their throats don't need to rest either. They can always stimulate Lyon's players' nerves in different ways. If Lyon's players perform poorly, that's fine, but as long as a player performs well, he will inevitably be greeted with relentless and piercing boos, pouring down from all directions, giving people a feeling of "being besieged on all sides."

Fighting in such an environment does make them very uncomfortable.

Many people simply cannot perform at their normal level.

However, to Chen Yingxiong, these boos were no different from the sound of the waves in the Bay of Naples—he was completely used to such long boos.

After a season-long baptism of boos from Napoli fans, for Chen Yingxiong, there is no longer a "hell stadium" or "devil's home stadium" in this world.

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ps, there will be three updates today, and three updates tomorrow as well. Two consecutive days of three updates, shouldn't everyone give some votes as a token of appreciation?