European action returns in October with the second round of the group-stage games of the UEFA Champions League. Real Madrid and Napoli are the big boys in this group, and this game is very crucial as to who emerges top of the Champions League Group C. Playing away to Napoli isn’t an easy ride, but this is a competition that Real Madrid loves to play in and we have ourselves a very interesting game at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Napoli picked up another big win in the Serie A, beating Lecce 4-0 away from home to keep up the chase with both Milanуіу teams. The Partenopei would be looking to grab all three points on home soil, and should they achieve that, it would make it three competitive wins in a row for Napoli for the first time this season.
Real Madrid recovered from the derby defeat against Atletico Madrid with two wins in their last two games, hammering Las Palmas 2-0 at home and beating Girona 3-0 away. Carlo Ancelotti’s men had a good start in the Champions League with a 1-0 win over Union Berlin, and they are also top of the Spanish League.
| ℹ️ Tournament: | UEFA Champions League 2023/24, Group C, Matchday 2 |
| 🏟️ Venue: | Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Naples, Italy |
| 🗓️ Date: | 3 October 2023 |
| ⏰ Time: | 8:00 p.m. GMT on Tuesday |
Real Madrid is the favorite to win this tie, but the Italians do not trail by a big margin on the value, according to the football betting odds. The Spanish team is priced at 2.50 (6/4) to take all three points in Italy, while a win for Napoli is worth 2.62 (13/8). A draw has the highest value for the full-time result, with the odds for a tie set at 3.60 (13/5).
Napoli grabbed a hard-fought 2-1 win over Braga in their first game of the UEFA Champions League this season in Portugal. They are facing a more difficult opponent on Tuesday, but their form in the last few weeks has been top-notch, and they would be very confident ahead of this tie. Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are getting back to form just in time for this clash, and they are going to test Real Madrid’s defense.
Real Madrid handed Girona their first loss of the season over the weekend, and they are one of the best teams in Europe. The Whites have dropped points just once this season, which was in the 3-1 derby loss against Atletico Madrid, but they still lead the standings in Spain. Real Madrid also labored hard for a win in their first game, winning all three points with few seconds on the clock, and they would be hoping for a much easier game in Italy.
The last meeting between Real Madrid and Napoli was in the UEFA Champions League knockouts in 2017, where the Spanish side progressed to the quarterfinals, beating Napoli 6-2 on aggregate. So far, that has been the only meeting between these two teams, as the Spaniards maintain a perfect record against the Italians.
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Real Madrid has been able to go about their business in attack despite losing Karim Benzema in the summer transfer window. The 14-time European champions aren’t heavy scorers this season, but they have found the back of the net in all their games this season, and they are playing with more caution at the back.
Real Madrid have scored in the range of 1 to 2 goals in 78% of their games this season, and the only teams that conceded three goals to the Whites were Almeria and Girona. While Napoli isn’t expected to keep a clean sheet against Real Madrid, they have not conceded more than two goals in a game this season. Backing Real Madrid to score one or two goals is a very safe option on Champions League 23/24 predictions.
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Jude Bellingham has emerged as the unlikely hero in attack for Real Madrid, and he is their top scorer in all competitions. The English midfielder has flourished well in Carlo Ancelotti’s new 4-3-1-2 formation, and he scored the winner for Real Madrid against Union Berlin last time in the UEFA Champions League. Jude Bellingham has netted seven goals in eight games for Los Blancos, and there is a very valuable offer on Real Madrid’s number 5 to grab at least a goal against Napoli.
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Real Madrid cannot relax here as they are up against a Napoli team that has scored eight goals in their last two games. Both teams are averaging at least two goals per game in their domestic league this season, and this game has all the markers of a high-scoring game. Real Madrid has struggled to keep clean sheets against tough teams, and they conceded against the likes of Atletico Madrid and Real Sociedad. A bet on both teams to score has very valuable UCL betting odds.
Amir Rrahmani and Juan Jesus are out of the Napoli team to face Real Madrid, as both players are sidelined until late October. Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia were given some rest in the game against Lecce, and they are both expected to start in attack alongside Matteo Politano.
Arda Guler suffered a relapse, and his debut is delayed even further as he is out for a few weeks. David Alaba is in doubt for this game, while Eder Militao and Thibaut Courtois aren’t available until next year. Real Madrid received a huge boost with Vinicius Jr. rejoining the team after an injury.
Napoli vs Real Madrid is one of the biggest games this week, and there are great offers from the bookmakers in this crunch clash. You can make extra cash from this game by using our expert football tips and betting predictions.
