2-3: Victory in Naples to top Champions League group | OneFootball

Real Madrid emerged victorious from the Diego Armando Maradona stadium in Naples as they secured their second win out of the two games they’ve played in Group C of the Champions League. The Whites now sit top of their group but had to work for the win after going down to Østigard’s early goal. The visitors fought back in the first half courtesy of goals from Vini Jr. and Bellingham, with the Englishman also setting up the Brazilian’s goal. In the second half, Zielinski equalised for the Italian outfit after a debatable penalty for a handball by Nacho as the ball rebounded onto his arm, but Ancelotti‘s men refused to lie down and sealed the three points in the 78th minute. Valverde‘s thunderbolt crashed off the crossbar off the Meret’s head and into the goal.

Madrid carved out the game’s first opening with six minutes on the clock, as Rodrygo found himself one-on-one with the keeper and his shot was well pushed away by Meret. Ancelotti‘s side were in control of the game, but they soon found themselves behind from a Napoli corner kick. Natan’s header struck the crossbar and Østigard reacted quickest to nod in the rebound (19’). The goal spurred on the Italians and the almost doubled their lead on 26’ when a long-range strike from Zielinski deflected off Rüdiger and missed the goal by inches.

Bellingham inspires comeback Real Madrid soon hit back to make it 1-1. Bellingham intercepted a pass from the Napoli defence to play in Vini Jr. who calmly slotted the ball past the keeper and into the net. The Englishman’s moment of true magic came just over the half-hour mark when he picked up the ball deep in midfield from Camavinga, danced past Zambo Anguissa and Østigard on his way into the box, beat another two defenders and fired the ball into the back of the net (34’). Ancelotti‘s boys had turned the game on its head, courtesy of Bellingham’s assist and his eighth goal of the season. On the stroke of halftime, Osimhen nearly equalised with another header, but Kepa pulled off a fine save. The second half started with controversy. Osimhen fired a shot in from inside the box in the 50th minute and Nacho threw himself into block the shot. The ball first hit the Madrid captain's leg and rebounded onto his hand. After the VAR had checked the play for three minutes, the referee went to the monitor and awarded a debatable penalty which was converted by Zielinski in the 54th minute.  The goal came as a real blow to Madrid, who soon found themselves under pressure from the home side. Ancelotti replied by introducing Mendy and Modrić in the 64th minute.

The clock ticked down and in the 74th minute the Whites almost took the lead again. Vini Jr.'s shot hit Natan and forced Meret into a fine save, the rebound fell to Bellingham and his header narrowly missed the target. Four minutes later, the goal of the night came. Modric’s out-swinging corner was headed away by the defence to Valverde who chested the ball down before unleashing a thunderbolt drive that crashed off the crossbar, off the keeper’s back and into the goal. The scoreline remained unchanged, as Ancelotti‘s men saw the game out well to secure their second victory in this season’s Champions League.