With one round of games left, Real Madrid secured the top place in Champions League Group C with a 4-2 fightback victory over Napoli on Wednesday thanks to two late goals by 19-year-old Nico Paz and Joselu.
The 14-time winners, who had already guaranteed their spot in the round of 16, kept up their perfect record of 15 points from five games, eight points more than the Italian champs.
In order to advance to the next round, second-place Napoli (seven points) must draw their last match against Braga (four points), third.
Union Berlin is in last place with two points after their Wednesday 1-1 tie with Braga.
After a strong start, Madrid was taken aback by a swift counterattack by the visitors. Giovanni Di Lorenzo helped Giovanni Simeone open the score in the ninth minute with a close-range effort that first seemed to have been saved by goalkeeper Andryi Lunin.
The goal-line technology verified that the ball had over the line slightly, but the referee decided to leave it that way.
In the 22nd minute, Jude Bellingham’s header gave Madrid the lead. Two minutes later, Rodrygo equalized with a beautiful shot into the top corner.
Bellingham became the first player in Real Madrid history to score in each of his first four European Cup games with that goal, marking his 15th goal in 16 appearances in all competitions this season.
The Englishman has exceeded the goals scored by Madrid giants Ferenc Puskas (11), Pruden Sanchez (13), Alfredo Di Stefano (11), and Cristiano Ronaldo (13), surpassing the latter’s record of 14 in 42 games with Borussia Dortmund last season.
“He enters the box like a motorcycle; he’s amazing at it,” Movistar Plus host Carlo Ancelotti said of Madrid’s manager.
It’s unexpected because no one could have predicted how quickly he would have adapted to this club and the kind of game he is playing. He astounds teammates, supporters, and even opponents.”
Madrid persisted in their pressure, and in the thirty-first minute, Brahim Díaz had a chance to increase their advantage but his effort sailed wide.
But Napoli took full advantage of their first opportunity after the interval, as Frank Anguissa equalized the score with a rebound in the 47th minute. Meanwhile, replacement Joselu cost Madrid many opportunities, including a clear sitter from close range in the 79th.
In the 84th minute, Real Madrid took the lead once again thanks to a stunning strike from beyond the area by academy midfielder Paz, another replacement.
In extra time, Joselu scored the fourth goal with a tap-in.
“It was a challenging, intricate match,” Ancelotti said.
“However, we mustered the strength to prevail amid the match’s most trying moments. The intensity shifted in the last twenty minutes, which were excellent.
“We battled and triumphed till the very end, accomplishing our goal of placing first in the group. Let’s go to bed now; we’re tired.”
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