Rome, Italy.
The emblem of AS Roma adopts the city's coat of arms: a she-wolf suckling two hungry infants.
This has earned the club the nickname "The Red Wolves."
Currently, under the leadership of the Wolf King Totti, the Red Wolves are enjoying a strong run in Serie A.
Though there remains a certain gap between them and the two northern powerhouses—Juventus and AC Milan—Roma finished second last season thanks to their outstanding performance, directly qualifying for the Champions League group stage.
Without a doubt, based on current rankings, Roma is considered the strongest team in their group.
But in the previous round:
Dinamo Zagreb drew with Real Madrid
Leverkusen beat Roma 3–1
In that match, Roma player Mexès received a red card for a retaliatory action, leaving Roma a man down and ultimately costing them the game.
Mexès was subsequently suspended for two more matches.
This opening defeat left Roma players feeling stifled and demoralized.
That's why their upcoming home match is now especially important.
With the first loss behind them, Roma sits at the bottom of Group B, desperate for a win.
Their best chance? Dinamo Zagreb.
Despite Dinamo managing a shocking draw against Real Madrid in the first round, most European media remain unconvinced.
Some attribute the draw to luck.
Others argue that as a first-time participant in the Champions League, Dinamo simply can't go far. Subjectively, the media continues to underrate Dinamo.
After all:
One is Italy's second-best team
The other is Croatia's champion
Can the Croatian league even compare to Serie A?
From any angle, Roma appears to be the stronger side. Plus, unlike Real Madrid—who boast a top-tier attack but are shaky at the back—Roma has a more balanced approach on both ends of the pitch.
Even with Mexès suspended, they're still a formidable team.
For Dinamo Zagreb, this second Champions League match is crucial.
Although Zagreb and Rome aren't far apart, the Adriatic Sea separates them. To ensure proper rest, the club flew in directly.
On the flight, most players were asleep.
Suker was resting with his eyes closed, checking his system's cards.
Ever since the Champions League qualifiers, Suker had been drawing cards.
During the qualifiers, most cards were yellow-tier, with three per match but minor boosts.
But in the group stage, Suker finally pulled a black-tier card.
Yes—a black card!
He had assumed yellow cards upgraded directly to platinum, especially after drawing "Grealish's Dribbling", but this black card was an unexpected jackpot.
[Black Card (Skill Card) – De Rossi's Tackling] – [45%]
Daniele De Rossi, Roma's current midfield starter.
He debuted in Serie A just last year and is already a regular starter this season.
Currently still evolving as a central midfielder, De Rossi is expected to eventually specialize as a defensive midfielder.
Gifted and driven, De Rossi is known for his tough, resilient defense.
This card greatly enhances Suker's high-press ability—one of the best he's gotten so far.
He suspects platinum cards may only appear once he reaches the Champions League knockout stage, and diamond cards might be locked until the semi-finals or finals.
That shows how precious Inzaghi's Awareness card really is.
Beyond personal use, Suker believes this De Rossi card can have strategic benefits.
Suddenly—
"Whoa! We're in Rome!"
The shout startled Suker.
Turning, he saw Duimović pressed against the window.
"It's beautiful!"
Suker looked too.
The plane had just pierced the clouds, revealing Rome's glittering skyline at night.
Sprawling and filled with lights, Rome was a far cry from Zagreb, which went dark after sunset.
Other Dinamo players gradually woke up, equally excited.
After landing and clearing customs via the special sports corridor at the airport, the team boarded a pre-arranged bus to their hotel.
The match would be held on September 29 at night.
To adapt to the venue, the team flew out on the evening of the 27th, giving themselves a full day to train.
Upon arrival, they checked in and gathered in the hotel's conference room.
"Tomorrow's training will still focus on tactical drills. Don't forget our core attacking strategy," said coach Besic.
The players nodded solemnly.
Breaking down Italy's catenaccio is no easy task.
Besic placed his hopes on Suker—banking on his explosive speed.
The plan? Clear a runway down the wing, letting Suker charge full throttle to pierce Roma's defense.
Besic believed that Suker's dribbling and pace could pose a huge threat.
Dinamo's tactics hadn't changed. It remained their most potent weapon.
The idea was to bolster Suker's stamina and freedom so he could more effectively pressure the back line.
The next day, well-rested, Dinamo trained at a rented facility in Rome.
Training intensity was low, focusing on tactical movements and spacing.
Everything went smoothly.
Their strategy: press along the central axis, drawing Roma's defense inward, and then quickly switch play to the left flank—freeing Suker to charge forward.
After a day of drills, the squad gained confidence.
That night, everyone turned in early.
Around 9 PM, shouting echoed through the hallway.
Suker opened the door—
"Real Madrid drew again! It's chaos! CHAOS!"
It was Duimović yelling in the hallway.
Suker was stunned. Madrid drew? Again?
Doors flew open as other players gathered.
"Seriously?"
"This was at the Bernabéu, right? Leverkusen actually held them?"
"Let me see!"
Duimović flashed his phone: a text message.
Real Madrid 1:1 Leverkusen.
They stared in disbelief.
"Unreal!"
"Two straight draws for Madrid, and this time at home? Group B is officially a mess!"
This was Real Madrid—the Galácticos.
Even though they were held by Dinamo in Zagreb, most expected them to win easily at home.
Now they drew again.
Group B standings:
Leverkusen – 1 win, 1 draw – 4 pts
Real Madrid – 2 draws – 2 pts
Dinamo Zagreb – 1 draw (1 game in hand) – 1 pt
Roma – 1 loss (1 game in hand) – 0 pts
If Dinamo draws their next match, they could compete with Madrid for second place.
Win, and they're in the running for first.
The match hadn't even started, but the boys were fired up.
Why not go for it?
Qualifying for the knockout stage suddenly didn't seem so impossible.
Even a draw would be huge.
Maybe Madrid's draw had lit a fire in Dinamo's hearts.
Confidence was now surging.
Next day – Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
Not all top-tier teams have dedicated stadiums.
Roma shares the Stadio Olimpico with their rivals Lazio. It's a multi-purpose venue with a running track.
In Italy, many teams share grounds.
Like in Milan—Inter and AC Milan both use the same stadium.
Inter fans call it Giuseppe Meazza.
AC Milan fans call it San Siro.
What does it feel like to play in front of 100,000 fans?
It's like your eardrums might burst. Every roar makes your skin crawl.
The stadium was packed.
This might be the biggest crowd Suker and his teammates had ever faced.
And most were Roma fans.
Even though around 2,000 Dinamo fans made the trip, their cheers were drowned in the thunderous roar.
The message was clear:
"This is our home."