Real Madrid And Napoli Fight Out Epic Champions League Match

Forbes Business SportsMoney Real Madrid And Napoli Fight Out Epic Champions League Match David Ferrini Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. I’m an Italian football commentator specializing in UEFA competitions Following Oct 3, 2023, 05:57pm EDT | Press play to listen to this article! Got it! Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Five goal thriller: Napoli struck first but Real Madrid takes top spot with Jude Bellingham stunner at the Maradona NAPLES, ITALY – OCTOBER 3: Leo Ostigard of SSC Napoli celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal . .

. [+] during the UEFA Champions League match between SSC Napoli and Real Madrid CF at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on October 3, 2023 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Matteo Ciambelli / DeFodi Images via Getty Images) DeFodi Images via Getty Images Napoli scored first but Real Madrid won through a stroke of luck on matchday two of the UEFA Champions League.

With the score tied at 2-2, an Alex Meret own goal sent Los Merengues into outright first place of Group C, a result which keeps Napoli three points adrift in second place. Despite Madrid’s dominant start, Leo Østigard opened the scoring for the home side with a powerful header in the 17th minute. Eventually, Jude Bellingham took control, first intercepting and assisting for Vini Junior’s finessed bottom-corner equaliser, then executing a brilliant solo goal to send Los Blancos into the break with the lead.

Napoli began the second period with clear intent, winning and converting a penalty after Nacho Fernandez handled in the penalty box. Subsequently, Piotr Zielinski beat Kepa to equalise from the spot in the 54th minute, inspiring the Azzurri to search for the winner. With a quarter of an hour remaining and Napoli dominating, Real Madrid rallied through a Luka Modrić corner kick.

Napoli’s clearance from the set piece was volleyed by Federico Valverde, the Uruguayan’s 25-yard effort ricocheting off the crossbar, onto Napoli goalie Alex Meret, then into the goal. MORE FOR YOU Video Shows FC Barcelona Midfielder Gavi Giving Lewandowski Scolding As ‘Captain Without Armband’ FC Barcelona Receive Lionel Messi Return Promise From Inter Miami Owner FC Barcelona Need A Big Player Sale To Balance Books Next Summer: Reports Big Decisions for Don Carlo Four-time UCL-winning manager Carlo Ancelotti, who coached Napoli 73 times between 2018 and 2019, started Jude Bellingham over Joselu and Luka Modrić, allowing Real Madrid more ball-carrying flamboyancy between the lines. The England international’s contributions were decisive.

Modrić was deployed from the bench for Toni Kroos in the 64th minute. NAPLES, ITALY – OCTOBER 3: Jude Bellingham of Real Madrid scores his team’s second goal during the . .

. [+] UEFA Champions League match between SSC Napoli and Real Madrid CF at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on October 3, 2023 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Matteo Ciambelli / DeFodi Images via Getty Images) DeFodi Images via Getty Images Victor Osimhen was tightly marshalled by Antonio Rudiger and Nacho in the central corridor, the Nigerian working tirelessly with Matteo Politano and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to exploit space on the wings.

Osimhen’s bullet header in the 39th minute was spectacularly saved by Kepa, the Spanish shot-stopper vital throughout the match. With the Serie A champions chasing the game, Napoli coach Rudi Garcia turned to Geovanni Simeone and Jens Cajuste from the bench, the Partenopei pouring forward to find the equaliser. Østigard’s stoppage-time volley was then saved by Kepa sealing Napoli’s second loss of the season in all competitions.

With the 2-3 result, Real Madrid maintains its undefeated run against Napoli, a record which dates back to 1987. The Creation Of The Champions League Napoli and Real Madrid helped shape modern football. During the late 1980s, the two sides met in the first round of the European Cup, the competition that preceded the current format of the Champions League.

Only first-placed teams of each respective European domestic league qualified for the then two-legged knockout competition. On a high from winning a first-ever Serie A title, Napoli was drawn to face the then six-time winners in the first round. Unsurprisingly, the tie was embroiled in off-field mind games and on-field skirmishes.

Usually, teams of such stature met in the latter stages, and the thought of a heavyweight’s elimination so early in the tournament was recognized by many, including Milan owner and media magnate Silvio Berlusconi, as a footballing tragedy. It was all about the luck of the draw. Maradona’s Napoli , which contained Fernando De Napoli, Ciro Ferrara and Bruno Giordano, was phased out by Emilio Butragueño’s side while Ireland’s Shamrock Rovers met Cypriot’s Omonia and Switzerland’s Neuchatel Xamax were drawn against Finand’s FC Kussysi.

Berlusconi’s vision took five years. By 1992, The UEFA Champions League group stage configuration was born, two seasons after Napoli went out in the second round to Spartak Moscow on penalties. The Soviets also dumped Real Madrid out in the quarter-finals 3-1.

Napoli’s European glory of 1989. Raffaele Di Fusco,Massimo Crippa, Diego Armando Maradona, Francesco . .

. [+] Romano and Giuliano Giuliani of SSC Napoli celebrate his victory with the trophy during the UEFA Cup Final Second Leg match between Stuttgart and Napoli, at Neckarstadion, Stuttgart, Germany on May 17th 1989 (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images) Getty Images Bellingham Considered the “English Zidane” for Real During the summer transfer window, Ancelotti’s expenditure on new players far exceeded that of Garcia’s. Not counting the €5M ($5.

3M) loan fees paid for Kepa and Joselu, Don Carlo was permitted to spend €128M ($135. 5M) in total, €103M ($109M) of that disbursed solely on Jude Bellingham. Meanwhile, Aurelio De Laurentiis invested €52M ($55M) on Jesper Lindstrøm, Jens Cajuste and Natan , the latter replacing Kim Min-jae.

On November 29th, Napoli will travel to Madrid on matchday five of the group stage. Follow me on Twitter . Check out my website .

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