In Group C of the UEFA Champions League 2023-2024, Real Madrid have won a ticket to the next round after the fourth round, with a total of 12 points. That means the last 2 rounds for them are just procedures.
However, coach Carlo Ancelotti did not think so, because the Royal team still needs at least 1 point to ensure the top spot.
Taking Napoli up at home at the Bernabeu in the fifth match, the Italian strategist still launched a strong lineup, with only 3 changes compared to the most recent match in La Liga.
Notably, Dani Ceballos returned to midfield after an injury, Brahim Diaz was paired with Rodrygo Goes in attack.
For Napoli, they know that a win in Madrid will put them in possession of a ticket to the round of 16 without having to care about the result of the remaining match between Braga and Union Berlin.
Coach Walter Mazzarri led Napoli for the first time in the Champions League after Rudi Garcia was sacked after only 1 draw with Union Berlin in the fourth round.
With the necessary conditions, the match took place enthusiastically at a fairly high speed right after the opening whistle. Rodrygo gave the first warning in the second minute, with the ball hitting the opponent's defense and finishing in the right position of goalkeeper Alex Meret.
Napoli responded 7 minutes later, but with much better quality. In the first real attack of the Italian team, Giovanni Di Lorenzo made a favorable pass for Giovanni Simeone to finish close to the goal.
After a quick test using goal-line technology, the referee confirmed that it was a goal for the son of coach Diego Simeone - who is leading the same city as Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid.
Real Madrid have never lost to Napoli in 5 encounters in the European Cup, including 2 wins in Madrid and they quickly interrupted the opponent's joy.
In the 11th minute, Diaz made the away team's players into spectators with a skillful dribble before bringing the ball to Rodrygo, the Brazilian striker with a skillful shot, equalizing the score.
11 minutes later, the "White Vultures" took the lead. David Alaba crossed the ball for Jude Bellingham, with a beautiful finish, the English midfielder scored the fourth goal in 4 matches he played in the Champions League this season.
The next developments in the first half continued to be exciting with opportunities for both sides, when Napoli even had more shots (7/6).
After the break, Real Madrid did not start the game very well, in which Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa equalized the score 2-2 for Napoli in the 47th minute. After that, there was a period of time when they left too much space for the opponent to attack.
Ancelotti soon made adjustments and Real Madrid regained control of the game with clear opportunities.
On a very unlucky day, Joselu could not take advantage of any opportunities, while young player Nico Paz came on from the 65th minute, scoring Real Madrid's first official goal with a beautiful away shot in the 84th minute.
In the 4th minute of injury time, Joselu finally did not let his day become a disaster when he finished neatly from Bellingham's pass. The Spaniard's first goal in the Champions League.
Winning 4-2, Real Madrid had all 15 points - the second team after Man City to do so, and the top spot in Group C. Meanwhile, Napoli is still only better than Braga - the team that drew 1-1 with Union Berlin, and the two teams will face each other directly in the sixth round to compete for a ticket to the next round.
