Napoli is heading into this clash on the back of an impressive 4-0 victory over Lecce in Serie A, showcasing their recent form. Meanwhile, Real Madrid secured a 3-0 win against Girona in La Liga during their previous outing. Napoli's Serie A campaign hasn't been flawless, but they notched their fourth league win of the season with the convincing win over Lecce, taking them to 14 points from seven games.
In the Serie A standings, they currently occupy third place, trailing leaders Inter Milan by four points. Napoli has been performing well, having won three of their last four matches in all competitions, including a 2-1 victory against Braga in their Champions League opener.
Speaking of the Braga match, it was a closely contested affair. Braga managed to equalize at 1-1 in the 84th minute, but an unfortunate own goal from Sikou Niakate in the 88th minute allowed Napoli to kickstart their 2023-24 European campaign with a crucial win.
Last season, Napoli reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League, marking their best-ever performance in the competition. They have high expectations of advancing from the group stage this season, especially with this eagerly anticipated showdown against the top two favorites in their section.
Napoli's most recent encounter with Real Madrid was in the round of 16 during the 2016-17 season, where the Spanish giants emerged victorious with 3-1 wins both home and away, advancing with a commanding 6-2 aggregate score. Real Madrid, boasting 14 European Cups to their name, has begun the 2023-24 campaign on a strong note, with only one defeat to their bitter rivals, Atletico Madrid, in their recent outings.
Under the guidance of Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid has claimed victory in every match except for the Madrid derby. They currently lead the La Liga standings with an impressive 21 points, responding admirably by defeating Las Palmas and Girona, scoring five goals while conceding none after the derby setback.
Real Madrid's track record against Serie A opposition is quite formidable, having won their last eight encounters. Additionally, they have been victorious in 14 of their last 15 matches against Italian clubs.
While Real Madrid's away form in the Champions League hasn't been flawless, with just seven wins in their last 23 away games and eight defeats, Napoli should take confidence from this fact. However, Real Madrid's storied history in the competition means that they remain a formidable contender for this season's trophy, and it would be a significant surprise if they did not make a deep run in the tournament once again.
INJURIES & SUSPENSION
Napoli is currently facing the challenge of having three key first-team players sidelined due to injuries. Juan Jesus, Amir Rrahmani, and Pierluigi Gollini are unavailable for the Italian side. While the absence of Jesus and Rrahmani is significant, Napoli did not encounter any fresh injury setbacks during their recent victory over Lecce in the league on Saturday.Fortunately for Napoli, Victor Osimhen, who has already scored five goals this season, and Matteo Politano are expected to make their return to the forward line. As a result, there are no major surprises anticipated in the lineup for the home team.
On the other hand, Real Madrid is also dealing with a few players who are unavailable for selection. Eder Militao, Thibaut Courtois, and Arda Guler are among those sidelined. Additionally, David Alaba remains out of action due to a groin issue he sustained against Las Palmas last week, causing him to miss the match against Girona. Consequently, Nacho is likely to continue filling in the central defensive position.
There are crucial decisions to be made across the pitch for Real Madrid. Fran Garcia could potentially be brought back as the left-back, allowing Eduardo Camavinga to return to his customary midfield role. Both Luka Modric and Toni Kroos might find themselves on the bench for this contest. Meanwhile, Rodrygo is pressing for a recall in the forward line, and he could potentially start alongside Vinicius Junior, despite Joselu's impressive scoring form at the beginning of the season.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Napoli possible starting lineup:Meret; Di Lorenzo, Ostigard, Natan, Olivera; Anguissa, Lobotka, Zielinski; Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Kepa; Carvajal, Rudiger, Nacho, F Garcia; Camavinga, Tchouameni, Valverde; Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vinicius
EXPERT PREDICTION
Napoli 2-2 Real Madrid
