Logo

Logo

Champions League preview: Real Madrid face tricky trip to Napoli

Is a two-goal deficit too much or will Napoli spring a surprise on Tuesday night? 

Champions League preview: Real Madrid face tricky trip to Napoli

Holders Real Madrid have a 3-1 advantage but will have to be wary of a comeback from Napoli when the sides clash in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League round-of-16 tie at the Stadio San Paolo on Tuesday night.

The tie is very much open after Napoli scored a priceless away goal at the Santiago Bernabeu. And the Gil Azzurri are a team that are notoriously difficult to beat owing to the fact that their fans create a hostile environment like no other.

Still, Zinedine Zidane’s men have the upper hand and will fancy their chances of progressing to the quarters for the seventh consecutive season come Tuesday.

Advertisement

Real Madrid

At one point all-conquering, the Los Blancos have had a dramatic loss of form after their 40-game unbeaten streak came to an end in January. Losses to Sevilla, Celta Vigo and Valencia have shown their are chinks in their armour as arch-rivals Barcelona have overtaken them in the league standings.

Rumours over star forward Cristiano Ronaldo’s rift with teammates have been circulating in what has been a lean season by his impossibly-high standards. The Portuguese was rested for the weekend win over Eibar and alongside Welsh winger Gareth Bale (Currently suspended for domestic competitions but not the Champions League) will form the two focal points for every Madrid attack.

With a vulnerable defence, which rarely keeps a clean sheet, the onus will be on midfielders Luka Modric and Toni Kroos to nip Napoli’s dangerous counterattacks in the bud. And with Raphael Varane injured, Pepe will step in to partner Sergio Ramos in centre defence which makes the visitors a little more susceptible and Napoli will look to exploit that weak link on Tuesday.

Apart from Varane, full back Fabio Coentrao is the only casualty as Madrid have travel to Napoli with an almost-full squad.

Napoli

In red-hot from prior to their first-leg clash with Madrid, things have gone downhill for Maurizio Sarri’s men since then. An embarrassing home defeat to Atlanta was followed by a loss to Juventus in the Italian Cup semifinal but a thrilling away win over Roma at the weekend suggests the Gil Azzurri aren't throwing in the towel yet.

They have an extremely potent attacking trio in Lorenzo Insigne, Jose Callejon and Dries Mertens and their speed on the counter will prove crucial against a leaky Madrid defence. While Insigne gave Napoli the lead in the first leg, the Italian side were unable to build on their great start and and failed to put away the few chances they got afterwards. A repeat of that cannot happen on Tuesday for their opponents will make them pay for every reprieve that is gifted to them.

Aiding Napoli in the tie will be their vociferously passionate fans who will give their utmost to prove just why the San Paolo is such a difficult place to get a result and even if Madrid progress to the quarters, it won’t be all smooth sailing.

Centre back Lorenzo Tonelli is the only injury concern for the home side.

Super Stat: The last time Madrid travelled to Napoli was in 1987, when the UEFA Champions League was called the European Cup and the tie ended in a 1-1 draw!

Advertisement