SSC Napoli vs Real Madrid is the biggest match of the second week in the 2023/24 UEFA Champions League group stages.
Madrid are the team to beat in the Champions League but Napoli are a rising star who many consider to be a dark horse. The Italian Serie A champions for the 2022/23 season surprised everyone by going to the quarter-final last season. Many expect them to be better this season but Real Madrid presents a real hurdle for them to scale.
Both teams won their opening matches in the ongoing Champions League. Both teams also scored in the dying minutes of their games to earn the result which gave them their first three points in the current iteration of the competition.
Napoli showed more attacking threat but Real Madrid were missing a certain Brazilian forward in that game. In their various leagues, the 14-time Champions League winners are coasting to another league title after winning five games on the bounce and earning the maximum points from all their games so far. Meanwhile, Napoli are wallowing outside the top four thanks to a slow start to the season. This is in contrast to how they started their Scudetto-winning run last season.
The Champions League has proven to be a neutral ground for all teams, however, which will give Napoli a morale boost. But facing Real Madrid in any competition is no mean feat.
An interesting match is on the cards for all fans, especially followers of the Italian Serie A, who are slowly making their way back into the limelight.
Match Tickets
SSC Napoli vs Real Madrid is available on streaming for fans in the United Kingdom. Those with cable television subscriptions will be unable to catch the match but it will be available on various streaming platforms.
TNT Sports (formerly known as BT Sport) is one of the major broadcasters of the UEFA Champions League. Fans can catch this match and all other Champions League games by downloading the Discovery+ app and subscribing to TNT Sports on their smart televisions or mobile devices to enjoy SSC Napoli vs Real Madrid.
Sky Sports streaming (via the Sky Sports app) will also cover some Champions League matches. Subscribers of Sky Sports can check the schedule to see if the SSC Napoli vs Real Madrid game will be broadcast on the platform.
Fans outside the UK are spoilt for choice as the game will be broadcast and streamed on a number of broadcast platforms like beIN Sports, CBS Sports, SuperSport and many more.
SSC Napoli vs Real Madrid tickets will be on sale on the websites of both clubs in a couple of days. However, due to the high stakes involved, it is expected to be sold out. As such, trusted retailers like Seatsnet.com will be many fans’ best bet for tickets.
The game will take place at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, home of Napoli on 3 October 2023. 8 P.M. is the kick-off time for the game.
Team News
Napoli have no injured players in their team which will give Rudi Garcia some peace of mind. What he will be dealing with is the best way to handle the Champions League-winning experience of Real Madrid when they come visiting the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
Another headache he will have is bringing out the best in Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen who has struggled in front of goal in recent times. Osimhen, however, will be looking to impress as he was linked with a move to the Santiago Bernabeu during the summer transfer window.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, will be welcoming Vinicius Jr. back to the team by the end of September if everything goes according to the plan for his recovery. The blistering winger has been out for almost a month with a biceps femoris muscle injury. Fans will be anticipating his return, especially after his incredible performance in the competition last season.
Madrid’s elimination from the competition at the semi-final stage and Manchester City’s win prevented him from getting a much-deserved Player of the tournament award. His Champions League season will most likely start against Napoli.
Teenage midfielder Arda Güler is also scheduled to return at the end of September, just before the Napoli game.
Outside Vinicius and Güler, Thibaut Courtois, Ferland Mendy, and Eder Militao continue to recover from their injuries.
Lineups
As stated earlier, the main focus for Rudi Garcia will be on getting Victor Osimhen firing on all cylinders again. The Nigerian striker is enduring a goal drought and has a lot to prove after his impressive 2022/23 season which saw him earn a Ballon d’Or nomination. He was also the man of the match as Napoli won in their opening Champions League game against Braga which shows that he is capable of pulling the team. In summary, Rudi Garcia’s lineup for Real Madrid will be similar to the lineup that traveled to Portugal to face Braga, as that is the best team he can put forward at the moment.
SSC Napoli: Meret; Oliveira, Juan Jesus, Rrahmani, Di Lorenzo; Zielinski, Lobotka, Zambo-Anguissa; Kvaratskhelia, Osimhen, Politano.
Real Madrid will have Arda Guler and Vinicius Jr. available for selection before the Napoli clash. It is unlikely that Guler gets a run in the team but Vinicius is more than likely to start. This will see Madrid’s attacking power increase significantly and their struggles in front of goal reduce. Luka Modric will also give way, leading to a 4-3-3 with Bellingham retaining his position behind the attack or slotting into the right midfield role. Rodrygo and Vinicius will take up their places in attack on the right and the left while Joselu goes more centrally.
Real Madrid: Kepa; Vazquez, Rudiger, Nacho, Alaba; Tchoaumeni, Camavinga, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Joselu, Vinicius Jr.
Prediction
SSC Napoli vs Real Madrid is one of the matchups of the group stages. It could end up becoming one-sided thanks to Real Madrid’s history in the tournament but it is hard to see Napoli being run over without putting up a fight.
The 14-time Champions League winners are one of the teams who, in the competition, tend not to have issues on away trips. Italian stadiums can be hostile but with Napoli’s general inexperience, Madrid may find it easy.
However, we believe it will be down to fine margins because Napoli will control most of the ball as the hosts. Sharpness in front of goal will be the deciding factor for both sides as they seek to earn three more points for their round of 16 charge.
Madrid will take this one narrowly.
SSC Napoli 1-2 Real Madrid.
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