Real Madrid came from a goal down against Napoli in the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie to progress to the quarter-finals.
Napoli were utterly dominant in a one-sided first half and took the lead on 24 minutes when Marek Hamsik put Dries Mertens through on goal as Real’s defence went missing.
But captain Sergio Ramos netted one and had another header deflected in by Mertens after the break to put the holders in control.
Alvaro Morata then followed up Cristiano Ronaldo’s shot to complete a comfortable victory.
Real’s defensive weakness was perfectly exploited by Napoli’s game plan in the first-half – a high-press put Pepe and Marcelo under pressure before Hamsik threaded a perfect through ball to Mertens who finished well in the bottom corner.
But the Italian side ultimately failed to take their other chances – Hamsik fizzed multiple shots wide before Mertens hit the woodwork and Real eventually made them pay.
The Spanish giants have now reached their seventh successive Champions League quarter-final and are unbeaten in their last 12 Champions League matches (W7, D5); their longest run without defeat in the Champions League or European Cup.
47 games in a row – but Ronaldo frustrated again
Real Madrid increased their Spanish record of scoring in 47 consecutive games with a win in Italy, but their Portuguese star striker is enduring his longest barren patch in the Champions League – Ronaldo has now gone six games without a goal.
He has five assists in seven Champions League appearances this term – his most in the competition in a single season for Real – but despite playing his part in Morata’s strike, he could claim neither a goal nor an assist as he twice hit the woodwork.
Back from injury, having missed Saturday’s 4-1 win over Eibar, Ronaldo had Real’s best chance in the first half, but he could only hit the woodwork from a tight angle having rounded Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina.
Once again Real looked leaky at the back – the likes of Hamsik, Lorenzo Insigne and Mertens carving them open with relative ease during the first half.
But captain Ramos came to their rescue and Real never looked back.
Captain fantastic
The 30-year-old may be a defender by trade and have a reputation for his red card collection, but he has also made a name for himself at the other end of the pitch.
Ramos is one of only three defenders to have scored in two different European Cup finals.
Alongside Tommy Gemmell (Celtic 1967 and 70), who passed away last week, and Phil Neal (Liverpool 1977 and 84), he scored in both the 2014 and 2016 Champions League finals against Atletico Madrid.
And he came to his side’s rescue once again in Naples with two emphatic headers, one deflected by Mertens, at a crucial period in the second half.
With Real Madrid completely outplayed in the first 40 minutes and a goal down courtesy of Mertens’ crisp strike, Ramos rose highest from two Toni Kroos corners straight after the break to silence a 57,000-strong crowd inside the San Paolo stadium.
On a tricky night in Italy, where Real Madrid’s record is somewhat shaky (18 losses, eight draws and now six wins), the Spain international stepped up when Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Ronaldo flew under the radar.
12 on the trot – the stats you need to know
- Real Madrid are unbeaten in the past 12 Champions League matches (W7, D5); their longest run without defeat in the Champions League or European Cup.
- Real Madrid have reached the Champions League quarter-finals in each of the last seven seasons.
- Dries Mertens has now scored 17 times in his last 16 games in all competitions for Napoli.
- Seven of Napoli’s past 10 Champions League goals have either been scored (5) or assisted (2) by Dries Mertens.
- Real Madrid have progressed from each of their last nine Champions League ties in the last 16 or beyond when they’ve won the first leg.
- Napoli, meanwhile, have now been eliminated on each of the previous five occasions they have lost the first leg of a last 16 tie in European competition.
[BBC]
