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Record 14-time winners Real Madrid extended their perfect start to the 2023-24 UEFA Champions League season with a win over Italian champions Napoli at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Wednesday night (November 29). Playing without many of their top players, Los Blancos dug deep and came out with an impressive 4-2 victory over the Partenopei on Matchday 5, with Jude Bellingham once again taking home the Player of the Match Award.
Real Madrid Youngsters Shine In Morale-Boosting Victory In The Champions League
Real Madrid were without Vinicius Junior, Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni, Luka Modric, Eder Militao, and Thibaut Courtois on Wednesday night, with the last two being long-term absentees. In the absence of multiple first-team players, Carlo Ancelotti fielded a front two of Brahim Diaz and Rodrygo and deployed Dani Ceballos in midfield alongside Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde, and Toni Kroos. The team took a while to settle down, with Napoli drawing first blood through Giovanni Simeone in the ninth minute.
However, Los Merengues’ response came swiftly, courtesy of an excellent bit of play from Brahim Diaz and a thunderous right-footed finish from Rodrygo. After seeing the pair thump home the equalizer, Bellingham joined the party, putting Real Madrid’s noses in front in the 22nd minute. David Alaba floated a superb long ball from deep, which Bellingham tracked and steered past Alex Meret with a flawless header.
Real Madrid preserved the lead for the remainder of the first half but succumbed to the pressure just a couple of minutes into the second 45. Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa scored Napoli’s equalizer with a powerful right-footed half-volley. In the 58th and 62nd minutes, substitute Joselu got two excellent opportunities to put Madrid back in front, but the Spaniard’s sub-par finishing allowed the visitors to escape, scot-free.
Ancelotti’s men got the goal they desired in the 84th minute, with 19-year-old Nicolas Paz…
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Author : Sushan Chakraborty
Publish date : 2023-11-30 07:05:28
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