Starting With Real Madrid

Gao Shen stared intently at the pitch where both Zidane and Beckham stood at the penalty spot, each poised as if ready to take the free kick.

The placement of the ball was ideal, offering a prime opportunity for a skilled free kick taker to score.

Both Zidane and Beckham were renowned masters of free kicks. Either of them could capitalize on this chance, depending on who could seize the moment.

Arsenal had arranged a five-man wall near the top of the penalty area, shielding the left side of the goal. Raul positioned himself to the right of the wall, with Arsenal's two-man wall to his right.

The defensive setup clearly highlighted Arsenal's cautious approach to defending this free kick.

Gao Shen himself was uncertain about who would ultimately take the kick, but he felt Beckham had a slightly higher probability.

The Englishman's desire to make an impact was palpable, particularly since this marked his return to England since joining Real Madrid.

As referee Lubos blew the whistle, Zidane stepped forward first, feinting a shot. Simultaneously, Raul darted towards the right, creating a deceptive gap in the middle of the defensive wall.

Following Zidane's move, Beckham swiftly approached, planting his left foot beside the ball before curling a trademark shot with his right. The ball sailed gracefully over the five-man wall, describing a perfect arc before dipping sharply into the left side of the goal.

Lehmann, despite reacting swiftly, was unable to stop the ball in time. Though he managed a desperate dive, the ball crossed the line before his fingers could deflect it.

"GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!" erupted the Real Madrid's fans, their cheers echoing through the stadium.

Gao Shen leaped from his seat, pumping his fists in jubilation.

After landing, he continued to exult, his arms raised in triumph as he cheered loudly.

"Excellent job!!!"

Meanwhile, Beckham sprinted towards the sidelines in celebration, his teammates following in a frenzy.

"The referee has confirmed the goal!"

"Real Madrid takes the lead in the away game, 1-0."

"Beckham's direct free kick has put them level on aggregate, 1-1 with an away goal apiece."

The Real Madrid players rushed to embrace Beckham at the sidelines, while Gao Shen turned to celebrate with Maqueda, Lucas, and the coaching staff.

1-0!

Now both teams were back on level terms!

...

...

In Madrid's Odaleza district, the air seemed to hum with the collective cheers of countless fans as the live TV broadcast relayed Beckham's stunning goal.

In his living room, Carlo couldn't contain his excitement, jumping to his feet and pumping his fists in celebration.

His wife, beside him, shared his enthusiasm, the couple embracing tightly as they cheered on Real Madrid.

The goal had come suddenly, yet it felt completely justified.

From the opening moments, Real Madrid had besieged Arsenal with unwavering determination and relentless attacks, repeatedly testing the Gunners' defense. The goal seemed inevitable.

Now, with the score leveled at 1-1 on aggregate, Real Madrid's situation had dramatically improved.

After the initial excitement, Carlo's thoughts returned to what Gao Shen had told him earlier.

"At Highbury, you'll see a completely different Real Madrid."

And indeed, that prophecy had come true.

The first 20 minutes alone had left an indelible impression on everyone.

This Real Madrid, playing at Highbury, displayed more grit and resilience than their recent performances at the Bernabeu and against Atletico Madrid.

In the opening exchanges, they had attacked ferociously, refusing to retreat despite Arsenal's counterattacks. It was a testament to the team's determination.

Gao Shen had clearly instilled in every player the necessity of scoring in this game.

"It's been many years since I've seen a Real Madrid like this," remarked Mrs. Carlo, a seasoned football enthusiast.

Carlo nodded in agreement. Who could argue with that?

"Can we win tonight?" she asked, a hint of concern in her voice.

Carlo looked into her worried eyes, suddenly feeling a jolt of reality.

"It's difficult, very difficult," he replied somberly.

Real Madrid faced not just a tough opponent in Arsenal but also their own physical limitations.

"But he's proven something tonight. Unlike us, he chose a harder, yet more correct path to greatness. Now, he's leading this team towards hope, reigniting that fire in every player's heart."

"Why has Ronaldo seemed lackluster? It's not in his nature to be lazy, nor is it a lack of self-discipline. He's overcome injuries that would have ended others' careers. Is it a lack of heart? A lack of ambition?"

Carlo shook his head.

"No, it can't be. Ronaldo has always hungered for success. Why did he leave Inter Milan for Real Madrid? Because he craved championships."

"Then why has he struggled here?"

Carlo paused, choosing his words carefully.

"Maybe it's because he's never won the Champions League. Not at Barcelona, not at Inter, and not here. He's never even gotten close."

"Does he not want it?"

"No, he does. But he's seen no hope."

"People get used to darkness when they've never seen the light. But once you've glimpsed that light, even for a moment, you can't bear the darkness anymore."

"In the game against Atletico, Gao Shen showed them that light. Now, every player is willing to give everything, because they can't go back to the darkness of before."

"And tonight, at Highbury, Gao Shen and his Real Madrid have shown the world that light within them."

"After tonight, Real Madrid can never go back."

Ronaldo, Carlos, and the others would have to reconsider their place in the team and their commitment to its cause.

Regardless of their past deeds, right or wrong, they all shared a renewed sense of purpose.

...

...

Following Real Madrid's breakthrough, Arsenal found themselves momentarily disorganized, struggling to regain their footing as the momentum swung against them.

Gao Shen urged his players to capitalize on Arsenal's disarray, pushing for a second goal to establish a definitive advantage.

Yet, unexpectedly, after a high-energy opening 20 minutes, Real Madrid's players began to tire, failing to exploit their hard-earned advantage.

Wenger responded swiftly, making tactical adjustments that quickly turned the tide in Arsenal's favor.

Approaching the 40th minute, he pushed Reyes forward, shifting to a 4-4-2 formation and launching relentless attacks and counterattacks.

Real Madrid, caught off guard, found themselves pushed onto the back foot.

In the 43rd minute, Ljungberg threaded a precise through ball to Henry, who deftly controlled it and surged into the penalty area between Ramos and Helguera.

Though both Real Madrid central defenders attempted to contain Henry, they were unable to stop him in time, resulting in a foul inside the penalty area.

The referee promptly blew his whistle, signaling Ramos for a clear infraction and awarding Arsenal a penalty.

Henry opted to take the penalty himself. Despite Casillas guessing the direction correctly, Henry's shot was swift and decisive, finding the bottom right corner of the net beyond Casillas's reach.

Just before halftime, Arsenal had reclaimed the lead, 2-1 on aggregate.

The entire Highbury Stadium erupted in jubilation, energized by Arsenal's sudden resurgence.

Initially awed by Real Madrid's early onslaught, the Arsenal faithful now felt victory within reach.

Real Madrid appeared weary, Arsenal looked poised to triumph.