Real Madrid travel to Naples to face Napoli on Wednesday evening, hoping to make it back-to-back wins in their Champions League group-stage campaign.
Los Blancos edged past Union Berlin 1-0 at home in their first game, thanks to a stoppage-time winner from Jude Bellingham. They have been in strong form at the start of the 2023-24 campaign, suffering just one defeat, which came away to their bitter rivals Atletico Madrid last weekend.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men have responded impressively to the defeat in the Madrid derby by beating Las Palmas and Girona respectively. However, the Spanish giants will be in for a different challenge altogether against Napoli, who won their opening European game against SC Braga and head into this mouthwatering clash off the back of a 4-0 thrashing of Lecce in Serie A.
Real Madrid Team News
David Alaba hasn’t recovered from the groin injury he suffered against Las Palmas last week. He will miss the trip to Napoli, while Eder Militao, Thibaut Courtois and Arda Guler remain unavailable for selection.
Predicted Real Madrid lineup vs Napoli (4-3-1-2)
Goalkeeper
Kepa Arrizabalaga is a certainty in goal for Real Madrid, and he will look to build on the back-to-back clean sheets against Las Palmas and Girona.
Defence
As Alaba hasn’t recovered from a groin problem, Carlo Ancelotti is expected to stick with the same back four that started against Girona in La Liga at the weekend.
This means Nacho should partner Antonio Rudiger in central defence in the Real Madrid lineup, while Dani Carvajal and Eduardo Camavinga will continue to operate from right-back and left-back respectively.
The Real backline, as well as the goalkeeper, have to be at their best to keep an in-form Napoli side at bay.
Midfield
Luka Modric hasn’t played since the disappointing loss to Atletico Madrid, so Ancelotti could give the Croatian maestro a chance to earn some redemption in this big game.
Modric could be joined by Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde in the Real Madrid engine room, with Toni Kroos dropping out. The trio of Modric, Valverde and Tchouameni will look to use the ball well and dictate the pace of this game against a well-drilled Napoli side.
Attack
Jude Bellingham has been Real’s standout performer so far this season and scored the winner in the stoppage-time against Union Berlin in their last Champions League game. The England international will be the creator-in-chief from the No.10 position behind the two strikers.
Rodrygo Goes is pushing to be recalled in attack in the Real Madrid lineup, with the Brazilian potentially starting alongside the fit-again Vinicius Jr. despite Joselu’s impressive scoring form early in the campaign.
With creative players such as Bellingham and Modric capable of finding them in the final third, Rodrygo and Vinicius could cause all kinds of problems for the Napoli defence.