Osimhen Could Not Rescue Napoli As Real Madrid Beat Them 3-2
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.
