Real Madrid vs Napoli: Champions League Match Preview, Team News, Lineups and Prediction

Real Madrid host Napoli in Champions League on matchday 4 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday. Both teams sit in 1st and 2nd position in Group C, respectively.

Los Blancos have already beaten Napoli 3-2 in the reverse fixture at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium, where Bellingham showed his class against the Italians.

Napoli on the other hand, have won two, drawn one and lost one game so far in the Champions League this season.

Match Preview

Real Madrid have four wins out of four in the Champions League this season and will most probably finish first in their group. The La Liga giants only need a point here to ensure they secure their position in the round of 16.

Ancelotti’s side are coming into this game after a comfortable 3-0 win over Cadiz, which moved them to the top of La Liga, following Girona’s 1-1 draw against Athletic Club.

Real Madrid have not lost at home since early April. They have won eight of their last nine Champions League home games, with a draw against Manchester City in last season’s semi-final.

Moreover, Real Madrid has won all their last nine games against Serie A opposition.

If Napoli beats Real Madrid at the Bernabeu, they will progress along with the Spanish side. With Union Berlin not performing at a high level this season, Napoli have got a good chance of qualifying for the next round.

Napoli were looking very promising last season under Luciano Spalletti, as they won the Serie A title and reached the quarterfinals of the Champions League.

However, Rudi Garcia replaced him, but could not get them good results and was sacked four months into the season.

Walter Mazzarri replaced him and will face Madrid for the first time in his career. Mazzarri’s team won 2-1 away from home against Atalanta, which can be considered a good start for him.

Real Madrid team news

Vinicius Junior, Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, Thibaut Courtois and Eder Militao will all miss the clash against Napoli.

Luka Modric could also be out for the game after he suffered a slight muscular problem against Cadiz this weekend.

Lunin may start again in goal, as Kepa Arrizabalaga is still out with an injury. Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo both shrugged off injury problems against Cadiz, but they will be fit and are expected to start this game.

Napoli team news

Both left-backs of Napoli are out with injury, as Mathias Olivera was stretchered off in the first half of their win at Atalanta, and Mario Rui was already out.

Juan Jesus is expected to start at left-back, while Amir Rrahmani and Natan will start as centre-backs.

Victor Osimhen made his long-awaited comeback after spending seven weeks out in the weekend win, coming off the bench shortly after the hour mark. He will replace Giacomo Raspadori in the starting XI.

Real Madrid vs Napoli: Predicted line-ups

Real Madrid (4-3-1-2): Lunin; Lucas Vazquez, Rudiger, Alaba, Nacho; Valverde, Kroos, Brahim Diaz; Bellingham; Joselu, Rodrygo

Napoli (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Natan, Juan Jesus; Lobotka, Zambo Anguissa, Zielinski; Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia

Prediction

Real Madrid 2-1 Napoli

Real Madrid need just one point to progress from the group, and despite several injury issues, they will get a win at the Bernabeu.

It will be really tough for Mazzarri’s side to beat Madrid at home, but if they do beat them, it will help them to grow in confidence as they face Inter and Juventus next in Serie A.