The first round of Serie A ca to an end with AC Milan defeating Lazio 3-0 at ho.
With this victory, Milan's points total moved from "-8" to "-5", but they still sat at the bottom of the Serie A table.
Suker found this Serie A penalty system pretty disgusting.
If they were going to deduct points, couldn't they just do it at the end of the season?
Instead, they had to start the season with a "-8" on the table, making it psychologically tough for Milan players even to look at the standings.
Ever since the Calciopoli scandal, the penalties against Milan had beco stricter.
At such a sensitive ti, the referees would rather make mistakes against Milan than let anything slide.
For example, in the first round, three through balls to Inzaghi were called offside.
Clearly, the whole of Serie A was viewing Milan through a tainted lens.
This ant Milan players had to be extra vigilant.
After the league match, Milan didn't get much rest.
On September 14, they had to play their Champions League group match.
Due to the delayed start of Serie A, they didn't have enough ti to prepare or adapt.
Other leagues, like Ligue 1, had already kicked off in early August. This showed just how much Calciopoli had affected Italian football.
On September 11, when Suker returned to his villa, he saw a red Ferrari parked outside.
He didn't own a car, so the parking space was usually empty—only used when Gisele Bündchen was around.
He opened the door and walked inside.
The house was spotless as usual. Gisele Bündchen sat on the couch, wearing a face mask and watching TV.
She had on a loose T-shirt and casually wore Suker's training pants on her lower half.
"Surprise!" Gisele laughed and raised her arms when she saw Suker walk in.
Suker said, "You're treating this place like a hotel."
Gisele was extrely career-driven.
As the world's top supermodel, she had to attend countless events.
And this was her scaled-back schedule—before, she was flying all over the world almost year-round.
"This ti I ca back mainly for a comrcial shoot."
While Suker was cooking in the kitchen, Gisele hugged him from behind and said with a smile, "It's the La Perla lingerie ad. You didn't forget, did you?"
Suker thought about it. He did have an ad shoot coming up.
"I think it's on Thursday," he said.
Gisele nodded. "That's right."
Suker turned his head. "Then why are you back so early?"
"Don't you want back?" Gisele asked with dissatisfaction.
Suker shook his head. "It's not that—I'm just surprised."
Gisele chuckled, then asked suddenly:
"If I gave up my career to return to family life, but needed to make a coback at so point, and it required you to sacrifice your football career, would you do it?"
Suker didn't even look back.
"No way!"
He answered flatly.
Gisele's outlook was different from Suker's.
She believed that one of them should return to family life—either a full-ti housewife or a full-ti househusband.
But Suker believed that a family didn't need to be together every mont. Plus, his job didn't require globe-trotting like hers.
Gisele kept bringing up this issue, and Suker's answer was always the sa.
"Let's eat."
Suker laid the dishes out on the table.
Gisele was visibly upset.
But Suker wasn't in the mood to comfort her. He had too many things to deal with.
League matches, Champions League, European qualifiers, and now even comrcials.
He was so busy he could barely focus on training.
They ate in silence.
Lately, things between Suker and Gisele had beco a bit delicate.
Gisele was always thinking about the future and making plans in advance.
That wasn't a bad thing!
But Suker felt they should focus more on the present. And honestly, part of it was because Gisele was starting to think about marriage.
But Suker wasn't ready for that step yet—or more accurately, he didn't plan to marry so soon.
This created a difference in philosophy between them.
Dating is a process of adjustnt.
Two people express their thoughts, then gradually try to adjust.
If it works, move to the next stage.
If not, then cut it off quickly.
The new season of the Champions League arrived.
As the defending champions, AC Milan remained highly anticipated despite all their troubles.
Group H:
AC Milan (Serie A)
Lille (Ligue 1)
AEK Athens (Greece)
Anderlecht (Belgium)
It was a favorable group—not too much pressure.
But as always, there are no easy gas in the Champions League.
So Milan had to be well-prepared.
Fortunately, even though several key players had left—like Shevchenko—Milan had found a breakout star in Suker and a resurgent Kaka.
September 14, 7:00 PMSan Siro Stadium
Roars of excitent swept through the stadium like waves.
AC Milan fans jumped and cheered, forming a red-and-black wall of support.
The entire stadium reverberated with thunderous cheers.
66th MinuteScore: AC Milan 3 – 1 AEK Athens
"After conceding first in the first half, Milan rallied through Suker's powerful pressing. Kaka equalized, and then in the second half, Suker scored two in ten minutes to seal the win!"
"Suker! He's been phenonal this season!"
"From the very start of the season, across league and Champions League, he's already scored four goals. His explosive power has made Milan's counterattacks lethal!"
Comntator Aldo Serena shouted in excitent.
Suker's performance was stunning.
After Shevchenko left, many thought Milan would struggle offensively this season.
They expected Gilardino to carry the load.
But with Gilardino still injured, Suker had already exploded onto the scene.
The cara panned to the stands.
Suker stood basking in the cheers.
In front of him was the "Cello" fan group.
One fan shouted:
"Suker, I have a great celebration idea—you should pretend to play the cello!"
Suker turned and walked away.
What kind of idea was that?
No originality at all!
Back on the field, Suker high-fived Kaka and others in celebration.
"Great pass!" Suker said, patting Kaka on the shoulder with a big smile.
He was right!
Kaka had finally found his rhythm this season.
This match, Kaka's dribbling and breakthroughs had created both of Suker's goals.
Compared to driving the attack himself, Suker had benefited from Kaka's revival—commonly known as "goal-poaching."
On the flip side, Kaka was smiling too.
His performance was unquestionable, but the best part was that Suk was always in the right place.
It made setting him up so much easier.
Never underestimate the art of poaching.
All great strikers are masters of "eating the cake."
If you can't even do that, you don't belong on the front line.
Suker's clinical finishing combined with Kaka's dynamic drives made Milan's counterattacks terrifying.
One Kaka was already a handful!
Add Suker ahead of him? That's pure fear.
"Nothing we can do…"
AEK's center-back Cirillo leaned on his knees, shaking his head.
He was a top defender in the Greek league, but here in the Champions League, it just wasn't enough.
AEK's back line had been torn apart.
At first, they even scored a goal and thought they might pull off a draw—or even a win.
Then AC Milan turned it on.
Faced with the attacking power of Suker and Kaka, they had no answers.
Both of them were just too fast.
Too much impact.
They simply couldn't stop them.
"Give one more! One more!" Suker shouted as he ran back toward his own half, holding up a finger.
Two goals already.
He wanted to complete his first hat trick of the season!
He wanted to capitalize while his form and team support were at their peak—score as much as possible.
This season, Suker was going for the Golden Boot.
Champions League Golden Boot, League Golden Boot—
I want them both!
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