Defending champions Real Madrid overcame a spirited Napoli to move into the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League with a comprehensive 3-1 victory in the second leg of the round-of-16 tie played at the Stadio San Polo.
It was Napoli who began the scoring on the night via a Dries Mertens goal in the 24th minute. However, Real Madrid pulled two back in quick succession via Sergio Ramos as the club captain first rose the highest to nod the ball home and subsequently saw his header deflected off Mertens head.
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With the game virtually out of their reach, Napoli were pressed for time and resources and their agony was complete when Alvaro Morata tucked in a rebound in injury time of the 2nd half to help the visitors win 6-2 on aggregate.
Here are the player ratings from the game.
Napoli
Pepe Reina – 6/10
It looked like Reina was set for one of his lucky days when Cristiano Ronaldo missed a gilt-edged opportunity with the scores still level. However, that was not the case to be as Real Madrid soon found the required attacking impetus. There is nothing the Spaniard could have done about the goals his side shipped. He was generally tidy in possession and always looked to build up play from the back.
Faouzi Ghoulam – 5/10
The Algerian left-back was threatened throughout the game by the pace and physicality of Gareth Bale and it would be safe to say he struggled to deal with the Welshman’s towering presence. The only positive aspect of the player’s game were his set-piece deliveries.
Kalidou Koulibaly – 6/10
Koulibaly began the game on a suspicious note as he struggled at times to gauge the dangers around him. However, he grew with the game and was instrumental in his side keeping an effective check on the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.
Raul Albiol – 5/10
Like Ghoulam, the former Real Madrid man Albiol struggled to keep pace with the opposition once they made their darting runs behind the Napoli defence. However, he was a much more reliable presence in the air and provided his side with the required muscle in the air throughout the game.
Elseid Hysaj – 5/10
The right-back was up against some of the best in the business and failed to leave a lasting impression on the game as he was largely restricted to his defensive duties. Perhaps, Napoli would have been better served if the Albanian had provided them some more attacking outlets on the right-hand side.
Marek Hamsik – 6/10
Hamsik was instrumental in his side taking the lead in the first half as he slipped a good pass into the path of Mertens. The Slovak looked threatening with the ball at his feet and was not afraid to have a pop at the goal himself when presented with an opportunity. However, he was largely poor with his efforts.
Allan – 6/10
The Brazilian did his job of hassling the Real Madrid midfield perfectly and was also effective with his distribution of the ball to either of the flanks. He was substituted in the 2nd half, though, after receiving a booking and we believe that Napoli looked more resilient with him on the pitch.
Amadou Diawara – 7/10
The 19-year-old central midfielder was tidy in possession and kept things ticking for his side as he played an excellent link up between his side’s defence and attack. He was vital to Napoli bossing the possession for large durations of the game and was one of the impressive players for the club on the evening.
Dries Mertens – 8/10
The Belgian was a constant menace to the Real Madrid defence with his incessant running and tucked home a smart finish to give his side the deserved lead in the first half and struck the outside of the post subsequently via a half chance. Despite the service drying up as the game proceeded, Mertens remained a constant threat to Madrid.
Lorenzo Insigne – 5/10
The Italian was one of the players to watch in the first half as he constantly created time and space for himself and looked to threaten the Madrid defence alongside Mertens. However, his performance fell drastically in the 2nd half.
Jose Callejon – 5/10
The former Real Madrid man had an evening to forget as his former teammates ensured that they dealt with his threat appropriately and without much fuss. He created very few opportunities for himself during the game and struggled to get behind the Los Blancos defence.
Substitutes
Marko Rog – 5/10
The Croatian was guilty of missing a good opportunity as he failed to control his shot after coming on for Allan and failed to add to his side’s muscle in the middle of the park.
Piotr Zielinski – 5/10
Introduced in the 75th minute, the Polish international failed to take his chances and did not make an impact on the game.
Arkadiusz Milik – 5/10
The Polish international was provided just 20 minutes of game time on the evening which he failed to make an impact in.
Real Madrid
Keylor Navas – 6/10
Navas made a couple of smart saves during the game and was unafraid to come out to handle Napoli’s threat. He was also good with his dealing of the corners and set pieces and definitely had a better evening than his counterpart in the Napoli goal.
Sergio Ramos – 8/10
The Real Madrid captain rose to the occasion yet again as he thumped home his side’s equalising goal and then also played a crucial part in his side’s 2nd goal of the evening. At the rear end of the pitch, he kept things tidy and dealt effectively with the Napoli attacks.
Marcelo – 6/10
The Brazilian had a rather quite evening when it came to attacking matters. However, he did play his part in keeping Callejon in check effectively, thus helping his side assert their dominance on the game.
Daniel Carvajal – 6/10
Carvajal struggled to keep pace with the marauding duo of Insigne and Mertens in the first half. However, he grew with the game and had a solid 2nd half. Perhaps, his worst moment of the game was when he blazed one over from close range late in the game.
Pepe – 7/10
Like Ramos, Pepe too played a crucial role in keeping the Napoli attack at bay. The Portuguese was not afraid to step out of his comfort zone and mop up for his teammates when needed as he made crucial tackles and interceptions through the game.
Casemiro – 6/10
The 25-year-old midfielder was key to Real Madrid asserting their dominance on the game as he had to shield his centre-backs. While he was largely amiss during the first half when it came to the effective defending department, his performance improved after Real Madrid found the equaliser,
Luka Modric – 6/10
Modric had a game to forget by his standards as he failed to have the desired level of impact. His passing and his work rate remain tidy nevertheless. His creativity though was curtailed by the presence of numerous Napoli players around him.
Tony Kroos – 7/10
The German central midfielder provided both the assists for Sergio Ramos’ goal and looked threatening with his distribution of the ball when his side was on the counter-attack.
Karim Benzema – 5/10
Benzema had a couple of half-chances that he wasn’t able to convert and he was forced to remain irrelevant to the game by the Napoli midfield and defence for large durations of the game.
Cristiano Ronaldo – 6/10
The Portuguese superstar was guilty of missing a golden opportunity in the first half when he struck the base of the woodwork. However, he remained a constant threat for open play and set pieces and played a crucial role in his side’s 3rd goal.
Gareth Bale – 6/10
Bale caused all kinds of problems for Ghoulam as he constantly looked to get behind him. He had a couple of chances that he wasn’t able to convert. However, his biggest contribution of the evening was his work defensively as he constantly tracked back and helped add to his side’s defensive options.
Substitutes
Lucas Vasquez – 6/10
Replaced Bale in the 68th minute and provided his side with the required width down the right-hand side of the pitch.
Alvaro Morata – 7/10
The prolific Spaniard scored despite being provided just 13 official minutes on the pitch as he tucked home a rebound in the injury time of the 2nd half.
Isco – NA
