Soccer Football – Champions League – Group C – Napoli v Real Madrid

Real Madrid Secure Thrilling 3-2 Victory Over Napoli in Champions League Clash

NAPLES, Italy, Oct 3 (Reuters) – Real Madrid put on a spectacular performance to secure a 3-2 victory against Napoli in a thrilling Champions League Group C clash on Tuesday. The match, held at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples, Italy, was full of excitement and dramatic moments, culminating in an unfortunate own goal by Napoli’s Alex Meret that handed the victory to Real Madrid in the second half.

Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham were the standout performers for Real Madrid in the first half, both finding the back of the net to cancel out a headed goal by Leo Ostigard for Napoli. However, a penalty by Piotr Zielinski early in the second half drew Napoli level.

The decisive moment came in the 78th minute when Federico Valverde unleashed a stunning long-range shot that struck the crossbar and deflected off Meret’s head into his own goal, giving Real Madrid the lead and eventual victory.

With six points from two games, Real Madrid currently tops Group C, three points ahead of Napoli and Braga. Union Berlin is at the bottom of the group with no points.

Real Madrid started the game with great intensity, with Vinicius Jr and Bellingham causing chaos for the Napoli defense. Vinicius Jr, who was making his second appearance after a month-long injury layoff, looked explosive and formed a strong partnership with Bellingham, reminiscent of their early-season form.

After Napoli took the lead with Ostigard’s header, Real Madrid quickly recovered with goals from Vinicius Jr and Bellingham in the first half. Vinicius Jr’s strike came after an interception by Bellingham, who then set up his teammate for a brilliant angled finish. Bellingham himself scored a mesmerizing goal, dribbling past three Napoli defenders before finding the back of the net.

Napoli fought back in the second half and equalized through Zielinski’s penalty. Real Madrid’s players and coach Carlo Ancelotti vehemently disputed the decision, arguing that the ball had deflected off the foot of defender Nacho before hitting his hand during a tackle.

The match reached a fever pitch as Napoli pushed for a winner in front of their passionate home crowd. They came close with a Khvicha Kvaratskhelia strike that narrowly missed the target, while Real Madrid goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga made several impressive saves to deny Victor Osimhen.

However, it was Real Madrid’s veteran midfielder Luka Modric who had a significant impact on the game. After providing an assist for Bellingham, who unfortunately missed a close-range chance, Modric delivered a corner that resulted in the winning goal. Valverde’s powerful long-range shot struck the crossbar and deflected off Meret’s head, sealing the victory for Real Madrid.

“Modric has delivered. We needed more control, and he came in really well, using his experience and quality to influence the game when we needed it,” said Ancelotti, praising the Croatian midfielder’s contribution.

In conclusion, Real Madrid’s thrilling victory over Napoli showcased their strength and resilience in the Champions League, positioning them at the top of Group C.

Reporting by Fernando Kallas in Madrid Editing by Toby Davis

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