Bellingham Valverde Real Madrid 2023-24

Real Madrid player ratings vs Napoli: Jude Bellingham is in Ballon d'Or-winning form! England midfielder on fire again before ferocious Fede Valverde helps win five-goal Champions League thriller

Jude Bellingham bagged his eighth goal of the season as Real Madrid ended Napoli's 13-game unbeaten Champions League streak at home, snatching a 3-2 victory in an enthralling encounter on Tuesday. The contest, in truth, could have gone either way, but Bellingham's virtuoso brilliance, coupled with a stunning Federico Valverde strike , saw off the Italian champions.

Napoli took the lead with their first chance of the night, as Kvicha Kvaratskhelia whipped a corner into the box, which Real Madrid goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga misjudged, and after the ball pinged off the crossbar, it fell kindly for Leo Ostigard to head into an open net.

But Madrid offered a response. Bellingham won the ball just outside the Napoli box, before feeding Vinicius Jr for a fine finish from a tight angle. The England international then put Madrid ahead shortly after with a magnificent effort, weaving through the Napoli defence before curling a shot past Alex Meret.

Napoli levelled things up again after the break, Piotr Zielinski smashing home from the penalty spot after the hosts were awarded a dubious spot-kick for a Nacho handball. Los Blancos found an edge as the game went on, though, and were good value for their winner as Valverde fired from distance, his 25-yard-effort hitting the bar before bouncing into the net off Meret's back. The home side pushed for a winner late on, but Madrid saw off late pressure to secure an important away win that leaves them with one foot in the Champions League knockouts.

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