Real Madrid secure top spot after recovering to beat Napoli in Champions League
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Real Madrid's Nico Paz celebrates with teammates after scoring their third goal against Napoli.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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MADRID – Jude Bellingham earned more plaudits in his debut Real Madrid season after becoming their first player to score in each of his first four Champions League games with a header in their 4-2 win over Napoli on Nov 29.
In the process, Real secured top spot in Champions League Group C with one match to spare.
Real coach Carlo Ancelotti was effusive in his praise for Bellingham, who was named the Player of the Match after taking his goal tally to 15 in 16 games in all club competitions.
The Italian said: “He’s spectacular in getting into the box, he comes into the box like a motorbike. It’s surprising because nobody could have imagined such fast adaptation. He surprises the fans, teammates and even rivals.”
Napoli, who are eight points behind Real (15), need a draw on Dec 12 against Braga, third on four points, to qualify for the knockout stage. Braga were held 1-1 by bottom-placed Union Berlin at home.
Real had trailed after just nine minutes at the Santiago Bernabeu, with Giovanni Simeone, son of Atletico Madrid coach Diego, scoring with a close-range strike.
But the hosts hit back just two minutes later, as Rodrygo equalised with a fine effort before Bellingham gave them the lead with a 22nd-minute header off David Alaba’s cross.
Napoli made the most of their first chance after the break, with Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa making it 2-2 in the 47th minute.
Two Real substitutes then came on to secure victory. Teenage midfielder Nico Paz restored Real’s lead with an 84th-minute stunner, before Joselu scored with a tap-in in added time, assisted by Bellingham.
“It was a difficult, complicated match,” Ancelotti said. “But during the most difficult part of the match we found the energy to win. The last 20 minutes were very good and changed the dynamic... Now, let’s get some rest, we need it.”
In Group D, Inter Milan scored three second-half goals through Marko Arnautovic, Davide Frattesi and Alexis Sanchez to rescue a 3-3 draw with hosts Benfica after Joao Mario’s hat-trick.
It was the first time Inter had come back from three goals down in the Champions League.
Inter, who had already qualified, are level on 11 points with leaders Real Sociedad, while Benfica are bottom with one point, three behind third-placed Salzburg. REUTERS, AFP
