(Football news) Real Madrid won 3-0 over Girona in La Liga the last time around, while Napoli came into the match off a crushing 4-0 victory over Lecce in Serie A.
Even if Napoli hasn’t played flawlessly in Serie A this season, they picked up their fourth league victory on Saturday by defeating Lecce with four unanswered goals. As a result, they now have 14 points after seven games.
Rudi Garcia’s team has won three of their past four games across all competitions, including a 2-1 victory against Braga in their Champions League debut. Rudi Garcia’s team is currently third in the Serie A table, four points behind champions Inter Milan.
The game between Braga and Napoli was actually tied at 1-1 after 84 minutes on September 20, but Sikou Niakate’s own goal in the 88th minute gave Napoli a vital victory to start their 2023–24 European campaign.
The Blues’ performance in the Champions League last year, when they advanced to the quarterfinals, was their best-ever showing in the tournament. This season, they will be hoping to advance from their group after watching the match between the two group favourites.
Real Madrid and Napoli last faced off in the round of 16 of the 2016–17 competition, with the Spanish powerhouses winning 3-1 on the road and at home to progress 6-2 on the overall score.
The 2023–24 season has gotten off to a fantastic start for Real Madrid, a team with 14 European Cup victories. They have only lost once, last weekend at the hands of Atletico Madrid, one of their most ferocious rivals.
Other than the loss in the Madrid derby, Carlo Ancelotti’s team has won every game, including seven in La Liga. With 21 points overall, they are now leading the league. They have also impressively bounced back by defeating Girona and Las Palmas while scoring five goals and allowing none.
When Los Blancos faced Union Berlin in their Champions League debut on September 20, they were far from at their fanciful best, but they still managed to earn all three points thanks to a goal from Jude Bellingham in the 94th minute.
Real Madrid has triumphed in 14 of their past 15 games against Italian clubs, while they have lost just one of their last eight contests against Serie A opposition.
But the fact that the capital team has only managed to win seven of their previous 23 away games in the Champions League while suffering eight losses should give Napoli optimism.
Real Madrid’s extensive history in this competition makes them a force to be reckoned with when it comes to this year’s trophy, and it would be shocking if they did not once again make it far into the competition.
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