Before the match, the entire world khat Real Madrid o attad expected Weo set up targeted tactics against Real Madrid's attack, perhaps even ying traps t down the Gacticos at Highbury Stadium.

  As it turned out, Wenger did adopt a more banced, even defensive lineup and tactics.

  However, Real Madrid did initiate their offerategy right from the start.

  But no oicipated just how resolute Real Madrid would be in their attack.

  From the outset, the Gacticos dispyed an intense pressing game, sparing no effort to push Arsenal back.

  Despite Arsenal's preparations, they found it challenging to cope with Real Madrid's aggressive approach. Particurly after Raul's cle header, everyone was left in a nervous sweat.

  If not for Lehmann's heroic save, Real Madrid would have equalized.

  Real Madrid tio dominate, making it nearly impossible for Arsenal to move the ball past midfield.

  The eeam, from o Raul, from Beckham to Zidane, despite his t height and typically slower pace, exerted themselves tirelessly across all three lines, from midfield to the right wing.

  Wherever the ball went, Zidane was there.

  This gave the impression that they inteo py a full-court press.

  In a football match sting 90 minutes, such relentless effort begs the question: what will they do in the sed half and the closing stages?

  Yet, Real Madrid showed no signs of relenting, throwing themselves into tinuous pressing and pushing, showing a determination to break through.

  Initially, many thought their intense pressing might st only five minutes. After ten minutes passed, it was clear Real Madrid had no iion of letting up, maintaining pressure on Arsenal in their own half.

  Fifteen minutes into the game, signs of fatigue began to show for Real Madrid, yet they persisted with their aggressive stance.

  Throughout, Gao Shen stood stoically ooue, unmoving.

  As the head coach, he couldn't py, but his presence signaled solidarity with his pyers.

  When Negredo intercepted the ball iag third and quickly pyed it back, he found Cesc Fabregas, who dribbled forward and swiftly passed to a dropping Henry.

  Henry ceously took on the challenge, shaking off De La Redd before Ramos could intervehen quickly sending a through pass behind Ramos.

  Ljungberg sprinted forward at full tilt, beating Elguera to the ball and pierg into Real Madrid's penalty area, setting up a beautiful solo opportunity.

  Instantly, Highbury Stadium erupted.

  This was Arsenal's first threatening terattack of the game.

  Previous attempts had been stifled by Real Madrid deep in their own half.

  This time, Elgra's rea was a beat too slow, and Ljungberg broke through ly.

  The Swedish star raced after the ball. Casils hesitated in goal, unwilling to it.

  At the critical moment, Ramos, having just tackled Henry, sprinted back with incredible speed, catg up just as Ljungberg burst into the penalty area. He positioned himself well, using his body to block Ljungberg and force him off bance, ultimately tumbling into Real Madrid's penalty area, pulling Ramos down with him.

  Casils pounced on the loose ball.

  Highbury Stadium fell silent.

  Was it a penalty?

  All eyes turo referee Lubos from Slovenia.

  Lubos waved away Ljungberg's appeal, indig no foul had occurred.

  Boos cascaded from every er of Highbury Stadium.

  ...

  Gao Shen gritted his teeth on the sidelines.

  Moments ago, he appeared calm, but inside, nerves were taut.

  A penalty could spell the end of Real Madrid's hopes in this match.

  In football, even with meticulous preparation, the oute hinges on the pyers' performan the field and the referee's decisions.

  All a coach do is minimize the margin for error.

  Gng at the home team's bench, Gao Shen noticed Wenger protesting vehemently at the fourth official over the non-call, a sight that secretly filled him with pride.

  Wenger's rea firmed that Real Madrid posed a gehreat, increasing the pressure on Arsenal.

  Could there be a clearer validation than this?

  "Elgra cks fidence," assistant coach Maguida remarked, joining Gao Shen's side.

  Gao Shen nodded knowingly. Elgra had hesitated in that defensive moment.

  This was not ued. Since Hierro's departure, Real Madrid's defense had seen numerous ges. Even world-css pyers like Samuel and avaro, or future Ballon d'Or winner avaro, left the club withaining their peak form.

  What other reason could there be for Woodgate, Samuel, and avaro to deliver world-css performances after leaving Real Madrid?

  So, could Gao Shen bme Elgra for g fidence?

  "Should we ease up?" Maguida suggested, clearly worried. Another sustained period of pressing could lead to Real Madrid's own colpse before Arsenal's.

  But Gao Shen shook his head resolutely, stepping to the toue and calling out to his pyers by name. He sighem to maintain their aggressive stance, instructed Ramos to keep a close wat Elgra, and advised Beckham to drop back more frequently.

  It was a bold decration:

  Keep pressing, keep attag!

  ...

  The oute would be decided in this test!

  This was the message Gao Shen had instilled in his Real Madrid pyers in the days leading up to the match, in the pre-game pep talks, and through in-game adjustments.

  His determination and resolve were palpable, aimed at breaking through Arsenal's defenses decisively.

  If they couldn't scainst Arsenal, let Arsenal scainst them!

  Real Madrid had no other choice!

  After losing 0-1 at home in the first leg, their fate was sealed.

  Yet Gao Shen had made adjustments.

  Negredo hadn't found much success against Senderos.

  Despite Senderos's earlier struggles against Afri pyers like Andy Cole, his physical attributes and defensive abilities remairong, earning him trust from We a young age.

  Negredo wasn't finding much space against Senderos, weakening Real Madrid's attag pivot in the front line.

  So Gao Shen shifted his strategy, moving Zidane forward.

  Zidane was a unique pyer.

  While fans around the world saw him as a cssic midfielder, that bel only scratched the surface.

  A closer look revealed that Zidane wasn't ideally suited to an attag midfield role due to his physicality.

  At 1.86 meters tall, he possessed a robust physique akin to an iron tower, rare among top pyers. His delicate footwork, ability to shield the ball, and turning skills were world-css. Moreover, his running ability was uimated, honed during his time at Juventus, enhang his defensive a.

  Former Frenational team coach Jacquet had remarked on multiple occasions that Zidarue potential had yet to be fully tapped at Real Madrid.

  Behind this statement y the belief that Real Madrid had utilized Zidane primarily as an attag foregleg his running and defensive capabilities.

  A pyer of such versatility and skill, shouldn't he be deployed further up the field, pying a more pivotal role?

  The issue y in his physicality.

  Despite his Afri roots providing remarkable agility, his high ter of gravity, slower pace, and ck of explosive speed made Zidane less suited to a forward role.

  It was a blemish in his otherwise stelr career.

  But his t stature, elite ball trol, a handling skills meant he rarely lost possession in his prime.

  Even now, Zidane's abilities remained intact.

  Gao Shen's decision to push him forward was aimed at maximizing his strengths and pensating fredo's tai.

  This approach had been practiced extensively in targeted training sessions the day before.

  ...

  Twenty minutes into the match, Arsenal began to challenge Real Madrid and frequently crossed the halfway line.

  Yet, Real Madrid persisted.

  Whehey had an opening, they quickly formed a high press iag third, attempting to pin Arsenal deep in their own half.

  Arsenal also capitalized on defensive pses by Real Madrid, mustering a shot that sailed wide of the post.

  In the 22nd minute, Felipe battled Hleb on the right wing, winning Real Madrid a throw-in opportunity. The Brazilian full-back quickly uhe ball bato py.

  Negredo trolled the throw-in with his chest, shielded the ball with his back, and swiftly id it off to Gravesson to reset the defensive line.

  Several passes ter, the ball found its way to the right fnk, where Beckham was waiting.

  Receiving the ball, the English midfielder gnced upfield and executed another long, diagonal pass.

  The ball traversed most of the pitding precisely on the left side of Arsenal's penalty area.

  Zidane, appearing seemingly out of nowhere, plucked the ball from the air with a delicate touch. Fag a double-team from Eboue and Kolo Toure, he deftly sidestepped them and swiftly returo the edge of the penalty area.

  Raul dashed into position, poised to strike, only filberto Silva to slide in and trip him from the front of the penalty arc.

  Referee Lubers blew his whistle decisively, brandishing a yellow card filberto Silva.

  Deafening boos erupted anew from every er of Highbury Stadium.

  Real Madrid had won a free ki a highly advantageous position.

  Zidane and Beckham stood poised at the spot.