Napoli 2-3 Real Madrid: Bellingham helps Los Blancos to entertaining victory in Naples

7 months ago
Please Share to your Social Media
Please Follow Naijamerit on Social Media
Jude Bellingham celebrates in front of his Real Madrid team-matesJude Bellingham has scored in both appearances in the Champions League this season

Jude Bellingham further enhanced his status as Real Madrid's star player, scoring and assisting as they beat Italian champions Napoli at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in the Champions League.

The England midfielder carried the ball from 40 yards out, charged deep into Napoli's defensive third and then proceeded to weave his way through their backline before curling a shot cutely into the bottom right corner to give his side a 2-1 lead at half-time.

Defender Leo Ostigard had earlier put Napoli in front in the 19th minute, reacting quickest to head in after Natan's effort came back off the crossbar, but Vinicius Jr levelled for Real when he was played through on goal by Bellingham.

Napoli came out with intent in the second period and their hard work was rewarded when Piotr Zielinski equalised from the penalty spot.

Referee Clement Turpin did not initially give the penalty when Victor Osimhen's shot was blocked by Nacho Fernandez but, following a video assistant referee check, the French official was told to take another look on the pitch side monitor and he overturned his decision.

Real grabbed the winner with just over 10 minutes left when Federico Valverde's thunderbolt of a shot cannoned off the crossbar and went in via the back of goalkeeper Alex Meret.

The victory puts Carlo Ancelotti's side at the top of Group C with six points from their opening two games, having beaten Union Berlin 1-0 in their first outing.

Napoli - who had gone 14 games unbeaten at home in the Champions League - are second and only clear of third-placed Braga on head-to-head after beating the Portuguese side 2-1 last month. Braga came from two goals down to win 3-2 at Union Berlin earlier on Tuesday.

Bellingham becoming leading man

Both clubs made it to the semi-finals of the Champions League last season and, at times, showed tonight that they have enough about them to enjoy another deep run in the competition.

Rudi Garcia, who replaced Luciano Spalletti as Napoli manager in the summer, would have been pleased with the way his side got going on home soil, pressing Real high up the field and forcing the Spanish giants to cheaply give away possession.

They deservedly broke the deadlock from a set-piece as Chelsea loanee goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga came for the cross but ended up punching thin air.

Garcia, however, will be frustrated at the way the Italian champions let that early intensity to fizzle out, allowing the visitors to force their way back into the clash.

It was another enthralling chapter in the ever-exciting career of Bellingham as the former Birmingham City midfielder continues to show he is one of the world's best players.

He has shown an ability to score a wide variety of goals since joining Real in the summer but Tuesday's will rank among the best he has scored in his career, gliding through Napoli's backline and showing composure to apply the finishing touch.

Follow reaction of Napoli's match against Real Madrid and the rest of Tuesday's Champions League action

Line-ups

Napoli

Formation 4-3-3

1Meret22Di Lorenzo55Østigård3Bernardo de SouzaBooked at 45mins17OliveraSubstituted forMário Ruiat 88'minutes99Zambo AnguissaSubstituted forSimeoneat 88'minutes68LobotkaSubstituted forCajusteat 88'minutes20ZielinskiSubstituted forRaspadoriat 75'minutes21PolitanoSubstituted forElmasat 70'minutes9Osimhen77Kvaratskhelia

Substitutes

6Mário Rui7Elmas14Contini16Idasiak18Simeone23Zerbin24Cajuste29Lindstrøm50D'Avino59Zanoli70Gaetano81Raspadori

Real Madrid

Formation 4-3-1-2

25Arrizabalaga RevueltaBooked at 89mins2Carvajal6Nacho22Rüdiger12CamavingaBooked at 29minsSubstituted forMendyat 64'minutes15Valverde18Tchouaméni5BellinghamBooked at 70mins8KroosSubstituted forModricat 65'minutes11RodrygoSubstituted forJoseluat 75'minutes7Vinícius JúniorSubstituted forCeballosat 84'minutes

Substitutes

10Modric13Lunin14Joselu17Vázquez19Ceballos20García21Díaz23Mendy31Cañizares34Carrillo

Live Text

Match ends, Napoli 2, Real Madrid 3.

Second Half ends, Napoli 2, Real Madrid 3.

Attempt saved. Leo Østigård (Napoli) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Victor Osimhen with a headed pass.

Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Giovanni Simeone (Napoli).

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

Delay in match because of an injury Kepa (Real Madrid).

Attempt blocked. Giacomo Raspadori (Napoli) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Attempt blocked. Eljif Elmas (Napoli) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Leo Østigård.

Foul by Dani Ceballos (Real Madrid).

Giovanni Simeone (Napoli) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Kepa (Real Madrid) is shown the yellow card.

Substitution, Napoli. Mário Rui replaces Mathías Olivera.

Substitution, Napoli. Giovanni Simeone replaces André-Frank Zambo Anguissa.

Substitution, Napoli. Jens Cajuste replaces Stanislav Lobotka.

Corner, Napoli. Conceded by Ferland Mendy.

Substitution, Real Madrid. Dani Ceballos replaces Vinícius Júnior.

Nacho (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Victor Osimhen (Napoli).

Corner, Napoli. Conceded by Nacho.

Read full article
Please Follow Naijamerit on Social Media
< Back | News content