Napoli vs Real Madrid - Competition: UEFA Champions League
Dries Mertens scored twice as Napoli beat rivals Roma 2-1 at the
Stadio Olimpico last Saturday and reduced the gap from the Giallorossi
to 3 points. Prior to that, they lost to Atalanta in Serie A and
Juventus in the Coppa Italia. The Partenopei have won nine, drawn three
and lost two league matches in front of their own supporters. In the
Champions League group stage this season three home fixtures delivered a
4-2 win over Benfica, 3-2 defeat to Besiktas and 0-0 with Dynamo Kyiv.
Dries
Mertens is a doubt with a calf problem, though should be fit to feature
here. Arkadiusz Milik would be the substitute should the Belgian miss
out. Midfielder Allan has recovered from a thigh injury and is available
to play but he is likely to be benched as Maurizio Sarri is expected to
play with Amadou Diawara, Piotr Zielinski and Marek Hamsik in midfield,
behind the front trio that will surely include Lorenzo Insigne and Jose
Callejon.
Real
Madrid team coasted to a 4-1 win over Eibar at the weekend and .head to
Italy with a two-goal cushion thanks to a 3-1 first-leg victory at the
Bernabeu. Zinedine Zidane's men will be wary of that goal they conceded
on their home turf because away goals count double in this competition
and they are yet to keep a clean sheet in the 2016/17 Champions League.
They conceded 10 goals during the group stage – the joint worst record
among the last 16.
Ronaldo has recovered from a
knock and is expected to start while Gareth Bale is also available after
missing the Eibar match through suspension. Raphael Varane is Zinedine
Zidane's only injury issue ahead of their trip to Napoli, with Pepe
partnering Sergio Ramos at the heart of the defence. Karim Benzema is
likely to start as central forward while Luka Modric, Casemiro and Toni
Kroos will play from the off in the middle of the park.
Probable lineups:
SSC Napoli: Reina – Hysaj, Albiol, Koulibaly, Ghoulam – Zielinski, Jorginho, Hamsik – Callejon, Mertens (Milik), Insigne
Real Madrid: Navas – Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo – Kroos, Casemiro, Modric – Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo.
Date: 7 March 2017
Kick-off Time: 19:45 GMT
Venue: Stadio San Paolo, Napoli