Real Madrid romped to a 4-2 win over Napoli on Wednesday to qualify in first place from their Champions League group.
Napoli’s defeat stopped them following in second place, with the Italians dealing with Braga within the last group match to resolve who progresses.
Record 14-time champions Madrid had been already by however secured prime spot with an entertaining win over the visiting Italian champions.
Giovanni Simeone put Napoli forward early on, with Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham shortly netting to show the sport round.
Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa levelled for the guests simply after half-time however Madrid teen Nico Paz smashed his workforce in entrance after 84 minutes and Joselu wrapped up the win in stoppage time.
“I’m so happy, this is a dream … for a moment I couldn’t believe it,” Paz instructed Movistar after serving to Madrid proceed their one hundred pc report — 5 wins from 5 video games.
“(My team-mates) were maybe even more happy than me, and I’m grateful to them for their support.”
Napoli, with Walter Mazzarri freshly reinstalled on the helm, began with Giovanni Simeone — the son of Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone — up entrance and he shortly pounced.
The Argentine ahead turned residence from Giovanni di Lorenzo’s cut-back and though Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin clawed his effort out, the ball had crossed the road.
However Madrid equalised nearly immediately, with Brahim Diaz breaking and Rodrygo brilliantly discovering the highest nook.
The Brazilian netted twice on the weekend for Madrid and has hit a wealthy vein of type, with six targets in his final 4 video games throughout all competitions.
Without Vinicius Junior, considered one of many Madrid stars out injured, his compatriot has raised his recreation.
Madrid took the lead by Bellingham after 22 minutes, planting an excellent header throughout Alex Meret and in, after David Alaba discovered him with a superb looking out cross.
Bellingham now has 4 Champions League targets in 4 video games for Madrid, and a complete of 15 in 16 appearances this season, making him by far the membership’s main scorer.
“Nobody could imagine him adapting like this here in this football, in this new club, he’s surprising everybody,” Ancelotti instructed Movistar.
“He’s spectacular at arriving in the box, he’s like a motorbike arriving in the area.”
Diaz got here near including a 3rd for Madrid however fired off-target, when he may need regarded for Bellingham or Rodrygo as an alternative.
England worldwide Bellingham had his ankle checked out earlier than the break, however emerged to maintain pulling the strings for Madrid within the second half.
Paz decisive
Napoli shortly pulled stage once more, with Zambo Anguissa blasting residence throughout Lunin after his tried cross was blocked again into his path.
Madrid had the sting on the Italian champions after that and Joselu and Rodrygo each got here near placing Ancelotti’s facet forward once more.
Meret made an excellent save to disclaim Bellingham as he bumped into the field, and one other to maintain out Antonio Rudiger’s header.
At the opposite finish Napoli substitute Victor Osimhen had a objective dominated out for offside.
Eventually Madrid discovered their third objective when substitute Paz hammered a low effort into the underside nook from lengthy vary to please the Santiago Bernabeu.
The 19-year-old midfielder is tipped as a star of the long run and made fairly the impression on his second Champions League look.
“He’s a talent, a youngster from the youth academy who’s working with us, he scored an important goal, for him and for us,” added Ancelotti.
Joselu, who had missed some presentable alternatives, made amends in stoppage time with a close-range end to place the cherry on the cake.
(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – AFP)
