Napoli will welcome Real Madrid to Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Tuesday for a UEFA Champions League Group C encounter between the two sides, with kickoff slated for 19:00 GMT.
Key Highlights
Napoli’s Average Start to the Season
Napoli played well in their match against Lecce, winning 0-4 away from home as their attention shifted to the visit of Real Madrid to Naples.
The win elevated Napoli to 3rd on the table with 14 points, four behind leaders Inter.
Napoli will look to translate their fine domestic form into the match against Real Madrid on Tuesday.
Real Madrid’s Table-Topping Start to their La Liga Season
Real Madrid warmed up for the trip to Naples by ending Girona’s unbeaten run with a 0-3 win away from home.
The win, Real Madrid’s seventh in eight matches, elevated them to first on the table with 21 points, one ahead of unbeaten Barcelona in second.
Ancelotti and his charges will hope to transfer this domestic form into a robust performance against Napoli on Tuesday.
Bet hereInjury Report
Napoli
Rudi Garcia has had a few niggles and injuries that hampered his side at the beginning of the season. Some of these problems are set to endure and affect the team choice for the home clash against Real Madrid on Tuesday.
Center-back Juan Jesus is set to miss the visit of Real Madrid on Tuesday with an injury to his biceps femoris muscle. The 32-year-old has been sidelined since September 23, 20-23. He has missed five of Napoli’s matches this season.
Rudi Garcia will also have doubts about the availability of Amir Rrahmani, who is nursing a muscle injury. Pierluigi Gollini is also recovering from a hand injury and might be a doubt for the visit of Los Blancos.
Rudi Garcia will look to pick a side that reflects the workload so far in Serie A as well as freshness and quality to face an experienced and high-quality side like Real Madrid on Tuesday.
Real Madrid
Carlo Ancelotti’s side have a few troubling injuries that have negatively affected the manager’s selections and team choices; these injuries are set to play a part in the team that faces Napoli on Tuesday.
Out with a ruptured cruciate ligament, first-choice goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has been sidelined since August 10th, and is expected to be out until March 10, 2024.
Center-back Eder Militao is also out with a significant cruciate ligament rupture. The 25-year-old has been out since August 13th and is also expected to be out of action until March next year.
Attacking midfielder Arda Guler is nursing a muscle injury he suffered on September 16, 2023. Estimations indicate that the 18-year-old will be back by September 26. The clash against Napoli will come too early for the youngster.
Possible Lineups
Napoli
A. Meret; M. Olivera, Natan, L. S. Ostigard, G. Di Lorenzo; P. Zielinski, S. Lobotka, A. Anguissa; K. Kvaratskhelia, V. Osimhen, J. Lindstrom
Real Madrid
K. Arrizabalaga; E. Camavinga, Nacho, A. Rudiger, D. Carvajal; T. Kroos, A. Tchouameni, F. Valverde; J. Bellingham; Joselu, V. Junior
Prediction
Napoli have built their form as the season has progressed and have regained their cutting edge in the final third and work ethic to dominate matches. They will look to impose themselves on Real Madrid playing at home and pose an attacking threat to Los Blancos.
Real Madrid will try to be positive and play on the front foot. They will press and look to keep the ball. However, they will not be shy from attacking on the counter and posing a threat from set pieces as well.
Real Madrid will win away from home and make it two consecutive wins in Group C.
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