Prediction: Napoli vs Real Madrid

Verdict: Draw

Best odds: 51/20

Bookmaker: ZetBet

One of the most anticipated matches in the group stage of the Champions League is set to unfold in Naples on Tuesday evening as Italian champions Napoli host Real Madrid at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

Napoli are entering this contest on the back of an impressive 4-0 victory over Lecce in Serie A, while Real Madrid secured a convincing 3-0 win over Girona in La Liga in their last outing.

Napoli

Napoli’s performance in Serie A this season has been far from perfect, but they secured their fourth league victory of the campaign by defeating Lecce 4-0 on Saturday, bringing their total points to 14 from seven games.

Under the management of Rudi Garcia, Napoli currently hold the third position in the Serie A table, trailing leaders Inter Milan by four points. They have won three of their last four matches in all competitions, including a 2-1 victory over Braga in their Champions League opener.

In the match against Braga, Napoli initially had a 1-0 lead, but Braga equalized in the 84th minute. However, the reigning Serie A champions managed to secure the win with an own goal from Sikou Niakate in the 88th minute, marking the start of the 2023/24 European campaign on a positive note.

Last season, Napoli reached the quarterfinals of the Champions League, their best-ever performance in the competition. They have high expectations for this season and aim to progress from the group stage. The clash against Real Madrid presents a significant challenge, with the two favorites in the group facing off.

The last time Napoli met Real Madrid in the round of 16 was during the 2016/17 season, and Real Madrid emerged victorious with 3-1 wins both at home and away.

Team News

Juan Jesus, Amir Rrahmani, and Pierluigi Gollini are sidelined for the Italian side.

While the injuries to Jesus and Rrahmani are significant, Napoli did not encounter any fresh injury problems in their recent Serie A victory over Lecce on Saturday.

Victor Osimhen, who has scored five goals this season, and Matteo Politano are both set to return in the attacking third of the field.

Real Madrid

Real Madrid, boasting 14 European Cups to their name, have shown strong form at the beginning of the 2023-24 season, with just one defeat, which occurred against their rivals Atletico Madrid last weekend.

Under the management of Carlo Ancelotti, the Spanish giants won every other match, including seven La Liga fixtures, bringing their total to 21 points and securing the top spot in the league. They responded impressively to their loss in the Madrid derby by defeating Las Palmas and Girona, scoring five goals and conceding none.

In their Champions League opener against Union Berlin on September 20, Real weren’t at their best, but they managed to secure all three points with a 94th-minute goal from Jude Bellingham.

Real have a strong record against Serie A opponents, winning each of their last eight matches against them. Additionally, they have been victorious in 14 of their last 15 games against Italian clubs.

While their away form in the Champions League has not been exceptional, with only seven wins in their last 23 away matches and eight defeats, their rich history in the competition makes them a formidable contender for this season’s trophy. It would be a surprise if they did not go far in the tournament once again.

Team News

Eder Militao, Thibaut Courtois, and Arda Guler all remain sidelined. David Alaba is also out of action due to a groin issue that forced him off in the match against Las Palmas.

Nacho is expected to continue in the middle of defence Alaba’s place. There are several key decisions to be made throughout the squad, with Fran Garcia potentially being brought back in at left-back, which would allow Eduardo Camavinga to return to his usual midfield role.

Luka Modric and Toni Kroos might find themselves on the bench for this match. In the attacking third, Rodrygo is pushing for a recall, and he could potentially start alongside Vinicius Junior, even though Joselu has been in impressive scoring form early in the season.

Conclusion

This should be a very interesting contest, and a very close one too. There is every chance that both sides seek to avoid defeat first and foremost, so a share of the spoils could well be on the cards.

Verdict: Draw

Best odds: 51/20

Bookmaker: ZetBet