Real Madrid v Napoli: line-ups, where to watch, form guide
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
Article summary
Perhaps the tie of the round sees holders Madrid defend their enviable home record in the UEFA Champions League against Europe's in-form team, Napoli.
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Article body
- Holders Madrid eyeing seventh straight quarter-final appearance
- Free-scoring Napoli unbeaten in 18 matches in all competitions
- Merengues have won 28 of last 33 European home games, losing once
- Dries Mertens has scored 14 goals in last 11 outings
- Italian visitors have full-strength squad to choose from
- Get the latest from Madrid in our live match blog
Possible line-ups
Real Madrid: Navas; Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Kroos, Casemiro, Modrić; Vázquez, Benzema, Ronaldo.
Out: Bale (match fitness)
Napoli: Reina; Hysaj, Koulibaly, Albiol, Ghoulam; Zieliński, Diawara, Hamšík; Callejón, Mertens, Insigne.
Misses next match if booked: Koulibaly
Where to watch
Fans can find their local UEFA Champions League broadcast partner(s) here.
Zinédine Zidane, Madrid coach
The first leg is at home and we want to take advantage, to damage our opponents' hopes – but obviously they can do the same to us. We're ready for it. Napoli play good football and Sarri is doing a great job as coach, evidenced by their results. It's going to be a great game.
Everyone wants to win the Champions League but it's a long, hard road and we're on it. That's the good thing. We've got all our players back [though the first leg comes too soon for Gareth Bale].
Maurizio Sarri, Napoli coach
We take risks if we play a defensive game or if we play with our usual style, so I don’t see why we should change. We need to be ourselves, face the match with the idea that we are facing the European champions but it's important for us to see up to what point we can compete with sides on a world level. The first thing we need to think about is that it is beautiful to play against Real Madrid at the Bernabéu.
The only thing I would not accept would be a performance with fear. Many people ask me about the stadium. This stadium is difficult, almost mystical, but it's the teams that have played here that were brilliant. Madrid are used to winning at home, but it's because they're a great side, not because of the stadium. We've had difficult games before, for example against Beşiktaş in Turkey, but our side can play well both at home and away. We're quick on the counterattack but can also control games and situations.
Weekend results
Osasuna 1-3 Madrid (Sergio León 33; Ronaldo 24, Isco 62, Lucas Vázquez 90+3)
Madrid were made to work for the points against the Spanish Liga's bottom-placed side but – with the help of Cristiano Ronaldo's 14th league strike of the campaign – stayed clear at the head of the standings.
Napoli 2-0 Genoa (Zieliński 50, Giaccherini 68)
Emanuele Giaccherini tapped in his first Serie A goal for Napoli as Sarri's team extended their unbeaten streak to 18 matches.
Form guide (all competitions, most recent first)
Madrid: WWDWLL
Napoli: WWDWWW
Reporter's view: Joe Walker (@UEFAcomJoeW)
The return of the UEFA Champions League is a happy coincidence for Zidane as it also marks the return to the fold of a number of players, including Dani Carvajal and Marcelo. The full-back duo will almost certainly start and will be key for Madrid as they seek to end Napoli's 18-game unbeaten run. The reigning champions are 11 undefeated at home in this competition themselves and will want to extend their proud record of having reached at least the quarter-finals in each of the last seven seasons.
Did you know?
Leo Beenhakker's Madrid overcame Napoli 3-1 on aggregate in the sides' only past encounter, in the first round of the 1987/88 European Champion Clubs' Cup. Find out more in our extensive match background.