As is ary, the final round of La Liga kicks off at the same time.

  When Gao Shen received Bara's starting lineup, he was about to return to the locker room.

  The pyers had fiheir pre-match warm-up training, and he was heading back to prepare for the game.

  Real Madrid had assigned a scout to Athletic Bilbao's San Mames Stadium to keep track of the score and progress of the game there, so Gao Shen could quickly get updates.

  Seville is in the south of Spain, Bilbao is in the north, Madrid is in the middle, and the distances are quite signifit.

  The goalkeeper for Bara was Valdes, the back line sisted of Van Bronckhorst, Marcos, Puyol, ati. In the midfield were Thiago Motta, Deco, and Van Bommel, and the trident up front was Ronaldinho, Eto'o, and Giuly.

  From the starting lineup, it was clear that Bara didn't field their stroeam, but their lineup was still very strong.

  Rijkaard clearly wanted Giuly ati to atta the right, while Ronaldinho and Van Bronckhorst would focus on the left. This dual-sided attack strategy could give many oppos headaches.

  Additionally, on the bench were Xavi, Ia, and Larsson.

  The midfield saw a signifit rotation, with only Deco being a regur starter, and Thiago Motta repg Edmilson.

  What to make of Rijkaard's starting lineup?

  It was moderate, very middle-of-the-road, her going all out nor taking it too easy.

  His mentality was clearly flicted. He wao win but wasn't willing to risk everything.

  When Gao Shen saw the lineup, he felt uain.

  Since Rijkaard could field this lineup, it showed he had fiden it.

  As an oppo, Gao Shen's ability to interfere and influence was limited. The key was whether Athletic Bilbao would stay true to their word and give it their all, and if so, how much trouble they could cause Bara.

  Fortunately, Athletic Bilbao's tall ter-forward Llorearted.

  Bara's defenders weren't tall, and Llorente, who stood nearly two meters, had great advantages in both physical frontations and aerial duels. As long as he pyed, he would surely bee a signifit threat to Bara.

  Thinking of this, Gao She a bit relieved.

  But the feeling of having to rely on others was still very unfortable.

  ---

  Real Madrid had scouts at San Mames Stadium, and Bara had theirs at the Pizjuan Stadium.

  When Gao Shen got the Bara starting lineup, Rijkaard did the same.

  But the difference was that Real Madrid's starting roster eculiar.

  The goalkeeper was Casils, no surprise. The tral defenders were Helguera and Ramos, which was fine, but three full-backs were present: Arbeloa, Felipe, and ho, plus Beckham, Baptista, Guti, Pablo Garcia, and Ronaldo.

  Gao Shen had clearly rotated his squad, but the lineup looked strange.

  Rijkaard hahe list to Ten Cate. The assistant coach was still fuming about the lineup and didn't speak. He took the list, g it, and ha back to Rijkaard. His face clearly expressed oence: "Look, I told you, Real Madrid gave up on this game!"

  her Raul nor Zidane pyed, nor did Gravesen and De Red, Gao Shen's favorite midfield duo.

  From this lineup, it was likely that Beckham would py midfield and ho as right winger, as tried previously.

  However, could Felipe alone block Sevil's right side with Alves and Navas?

  From this perspective, it seemed Gao Shen had strategically abahe game.

  It was a wise and bold choice at the same time.

  "You still overestimate him!" Rijkaard said lightly.

  Ten Cate was silent.

  Was he really overestimated?

  From the starting lineup, it appeared so.

  Gao Shen's formations seemed unambitious, more like a strategic retreat.

  This disappoien Cate.

  After all, he's just a twenty-five-year-old rookie!

  ---

  With the referee's whistle, Sevil took advantage of their home field and unched a fierce atta Real Madrid.

  And as the game started, everyone realized that Real Madrid's formation was unusual.

  The goalkeeper was Casils. On the back line, Felipe, inally regarded as a left-back, stood on the edge of the ter line when kig off, while Abeloa was on the left, and ho on the right. Helguera and Ramos were the ter-backs.

  The double midfield ablo Garcia and Guti, with Baptista in front. Beckham still pyed as the right winger, and the sole forward was Ronaldo.

  After the opening, Real Madrid sought stability areated to their own half, further boosting Sevil's fidence.

  Pying at home and aiming for Champions League qualification, Sevil couldn't afford to hold back.

  Juande Ramos saw Real Madrid's starting lineup and believed they were going to give up the game strategically. He further enced his team to use their home advao unch a fierce atta Real Madrid.

  He wao crush Real Madrid!

  But Real Madrid clearly defended Sevil's right fnk tonight.

  Felipe pressed forward to tain Alves, and Abeloa sat back to guard Navas.

  This meant Sevil's attempts to py on the right several times failed to threaten. It wasn't until the fourth mihat Mares the middle sent a direct pass, and Fabiano tried to break through ho, but Ramos, quickly returning, teamed up to steal the ball and failed to form a shot.

  After Real Madrid got the ball, they unched a terattack.

  Guti took the ball over the ter line and quickly passed to Beckham on the right.

  The Englishman crossed to Baptista, but Sevil's defense was fast, and Baptista passed back to Guti tanize.

  After several passes, Guti passed the ball to ho on the right.

  The Brazilian right-back, peting with Alves for a p the Brazilian national team, decisively dribbled irying to break through Sevil's defense.

  ho's dribbling drew the defense's attention, but he returhe ball to the right just in time for Beckham.

  The Englishman stopped, g the penalty area, and made a direct pass.

  The ball was hurriedly given and aimed for Ronaldo, but Sevil's goalkeeper Palop decisively attacked and puhe ball away.

  Although he didn't catch it, he cleared it some distance.

  The ball didn't fly far. After Guti regained possession, he passed it to Baptista at the top of the penalty area.

  Without hesitation, Baptista stopped and fired a powerful shot.

  Baptista was very familiar with Sevil. This shot was fast and fierce, straight into Sevil's goal, opening the sg for Real Madrid, 1-0!

  ---

  When Gao Shen saw his team's first terattack result in a goal from the sidelines, he sighed with relief.

  "Nice job!" Gao Shen shouted loudly.

  The Real Madrid coag staff and bench pyers behind him stood up and cheered for Baptista's goal.

  For this game, Gao Shen had moved Guti bad put Baptista iag midfield to involve him more in the offense.

  Taking the lead in five minutes was a good start for Real Madrid!

  ---

  In Bilbao, at San Mames Stadium, Athletic Bilbao suppressed Bara early with active pressing.

  Llorente was very active up front, and Bara's midfield was not dominant.

  This led to the visiting team starting very passively.

  In the fifth mihe ball assed to Llorente. After holding the ball with his back, he turned a a wonderful pass.

  Elora on the right rib slid into the penalty area quickly and snted from the ribs of Van Bronckhorst and Marcos. After catg the ball, she took the sed shot of the game.

  Yes, both shots came from Athletic Bilbao.

  Both times were saved by Valdes.

  Valdes, often unreliable, was solid tonight.

  After the Bara goalkeeper grabbed it from the ground, he roared, urging his teammates to be careful and vigint.

  Rijkaard also rushed to the sidelines, shouting angrily at the pyers' mistakes.

  Anyone could see that Bara was under immense pressure tonight.

  "All cheer up! Be careful!" Rijkaard roared.

  As he turned back, he saw his assistauring to him. Knowing there must be news from Sevil, he took quick steps to the bench.

  "What's the matter?" Rijkaard asked anxiously.

  "Real Madrid scored."

  Amid the noise, Rijkaard didn't hear clearly, but he heard Real Madrid a his heart sink. He stepped closer, "What did you say?"

  "Real Madrid scored!" the assistant in charge of trag the Sevil game shouted.

  Rijkaard's hands shook, and he gritted his teeth.

  It only took five minutes for Real Madrid to score?

  Dammit!

  He cursed a a sense of panic.

  That ing brat ushing him into a desperate situation!

  Bara had to score tonight!

  No matter what, they had to win!

  No matter how many goals Real Madrid scored in Sevil, it wouldn't matter!

  Thinking this, Rijkaard took a deep breath, walked to the and area, and shouted at his pyers, signaling them to press up and withstand Athletic Bilbao's pressure.

  Bara had to trol the game's rhythm!