Real Madrid, who have already qualified for the Champions League, won their group on Wednesday with a 4-2 victory over Napoli, who were in second place. Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo scored goals apiece.
With goals from Joselu and teenage sensation Nico Paz, the record-setting 14-time European champions won Group C for the seventh time in a row. Although Napoli had hoped to advance to the knockout stage prior to the last round of matches, the outcome foiled their plans.
The encounter was challenging, according to Carlo Ancelotti, the coach of Madrid. “However, we were able to achieve our goal of finishing first in the group and secured the victory.”
In his first sixteen appearances for Madrid, Bellingham has netted fifteen goals, four of which were in the Champions League.
Everyone was taken aback by Bellingham. The unexpected happened, according to Ancelotti.
Napoli trail Madrid by eight points with three points between them and Braga, which played the second group match at home and drew 1-1 with last-place Union Berlin. To play for a berth in the round of 16, Napoli will host Braga in the penultimate round.
Giovanni Simeone, son of Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone, scored the first goal for the visitors nine minutes into the encounter at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium from close range.
Within two minutes, Madrid responded as Rodrygo found the top corner for his sixth goal in his last four outings with the Spanish side. In the 22nd, Bellingham headed in a goal for Madrid, his fifth in his previous five appearances.
In the 47th, Zambo Anguissa got the game even with a strong drive from close range. In the 84th, Paz, who was just 19 years old, scored his first goal in the Champions League with a right-footed strike from beyond the box.
After Raúl González (18 years, 113 days) and Rodrygo (18 years, 301 days), Paz became the third-youngest player to score for Madrid in the Champions League at the age of 19 years, 82 days.
“We created chances to score a third ourselves just before conceding the third goal,” Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri stated. We should have played it cautiously when we were tied because we knew Madrid were strong on the counter. Up until we fell down 3-2, we performed quite well.
In the fourth minute of stoppage time, Joselu finished off a feed from Bellingham to secure the win. After missing a couple of decent opportunities early in the match, Joselu celebrated by apologizing to the Bernabeu crowd.
When asked about Joselu, Bellingham explained that it was all about helping his comrade, buddy, or fellow soldier cross the finish line. We are aware of his capabilities when the ball is placed in the correct spot. He missed a couple chances tonight, but that’s the striker’s life. Keeping an eye out for him was my top priority. In particular, I’m pleased for him in that part of the field.
In the dying minutes, Rodrygo was substituted out due to cramping. It seemed like Bellingham hurt his ankle towards the end of the first half, but he kept playing nevertheless.
