Napoli vs Real Madrid score, result, highlights as Bellingham inspires Los Blancos to Champions League win

Feargal Brennan

Napoli vs Real Madrid score, result, highlights as Bellingham inspires Los Blancos to Champions League win image

Real Madrid secured a dramatic 3-2 Champions League win away at Serie A champions Napoli thanks to another Jude Bellingham-inspired European night.

Carlo Ancelotti sealed three points on his return to Naples, as Vinicius Jr fired home Bellingham's assist before the England star's solo effort put Madrid 2-1 up at the break.

However, the home side were handed a route back into the match after the restart, as Piotr Zielinksi calmly slotted home from the penalty spot.

The game continued to ebb and flow in the closing stages before Fede Valverde's spectacular hit ricocheted off Napoli keeper Alex Meret and in to clinch three points for Los Blancos on a breathless night at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

MORE: UEFA Champions League group stage standings, results, schedule, and fixtures

Napoli vs Real Madrid final score

  Final Score Goal scorers
Napoli 2 Ostigard, Zielinski (p)
Real Madrid 3 Vinicius Jr, Bellingham, Meret (OG).

Lineups:

Napoli (3-4-3): 1. Meret (GK) — 22. Di Lorenzo, 3. Natan, 55. Ostigard, 17. Oliveira (Rui, 88)  — 20. Zielinski (Raspadori, 75), 99. Anguissa (Simeone, 88), 68. Lobotka (Cajuste, 88) — 21. Politano (Elmas, 70), 9. Osimhen, 77. Kvaratskhelia

Real Madrid (4-1-2-1-2): 25. Kepa (GK) — 2. Carvajal, 22. Rudiger, 6. Nacho, 12. Camavinga (Mendy, 64) — 18. Tchouameni — 8. Kroos (Modric, 64), 15. Valverde — 5. Bellingham — 7. Vinicius Jr (Ceballos, 85), 11. Rodrygo (Joselu, 75)

MORE: Watch this Champions League match in the United States on Paramount+

Unstoppable Bellingham keeps Real Madrid's midfield diamond shining

Jude Bellingham produced another Superman performance to get Real Madrid back on track after another uninspiring opening to a game this season.

Carlo Ancelotti's side struggled in the early stages before Bellingham grabbed the game in his fist and drove Real Madrid to find answers to their shortcomings.

His tenacity to win possession from an error and slip in Vinicius Jr for the equaliser showed his enduring ability to dominate in second-ball situations.

The second goal kept up his hot streak in front of goal, but it showed his devastating ability to drive from deep when needed and cause havoc for the opposition.

Ancelotti has placed him as a No.10 since the start of the season, as part of an overall plan to generate more goals from midfield and ease the transition to life after Karim Benzema.

However, he is a wrecking ball when in possession. No player in world football is better at breaking the line from midfield to defence than Bellingham right now. Ballon d'Or calls will continue to grow louder.

Hit and miss Kvaratskhelia needs to rediscover spark

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Victor Osimhen dismantled Serie A defences for fun last season as Napoli clinched their first Scudetto title since 1990.

38 league goals combined, including 12 for Kvaratskhelia in his first season in Italy, underlined their joint status as one of the deadliest duos in Europe.

Despite a handful of near misses against Real Madrid, Osimhen looks ready to chase down his haul from last season, with five Serie A goals already.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia of Napoli
Getty Images

Kvaratskhelia had five league goals by this point in 2022/23, but looks in need of jump start, to get his season up and running.

He remains full of tricks and pace, particularly cutting into the penalty area, and he came close with a superb goal after the restart. However, his confidence looks a little dented as he battles on in his second year in Naples.

Napoli vs Real Madrid as it happened, highlights, and commentary

FULL TIME: NAPOLI 2 REAL MADRID 3!

Real Madrid get over the line on an incredible Champions League night in Naples with Bellingham at the centre of another European win for Los Blancos.

Valverde's firecracker — or Meret's own goal — clinched successive Champions League victories for Ancelotti as they head back to the Spanish capital on a high.

90 mins: Five minutes added on.

88 mins: More changes from Napoli as Jens Cajuste, Giovanni Simeone and Mario Rui come on and Kepa is booked for timewasting.

82 mins: Half chance for Natan at a corner but Real Madrid clear. Official confirmation coming through that Valverde's thunderbolt has been counted as a Meret own goal. Dani Ceballos comes on for Vinicius Jr.

78 mins: GOLAZO FOR REAL MADRID! 3-2!

Modric's corner is cleared to the edge of the box and Fede Valverde fires a ROCKET past Meret! A slight deflection on the strike but that was INCREDIBLE from Valverde!

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75 mins: BIG CHANCE FOR REAL MADRID!

Dani Carvajal's drive is saved by Meret and Bellingham can only head the loose ball wide! Giacomo Raspadori and Joselu come on.

70 mins: First change of the night for Napoli as Elif Elmas comes on for Politano and Bellingham picks up a caution.

67 mins: Double change from Ancelotti as Luka Modric and Ferland Mendy replace Camavinga and Kroos. Kvaratskhelia's close-range hit is blocked.

63 mins: Vinicius Jr almost dances through inside the box but Natan and Ostigard recover well to block off the Brazilian.

60 mins: One way traffic after that spot kick as Kvaratskhelia thumps one just off target and Zielinski forces a stop from Kepa.

55 mins: ZIELINSKI EQUALISES!

Kepa guesses the right way but Zielinski's spot kick clips the post and nestles in the back of the net!

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54 mins: PENALTY TO NAPOLI! ZIELINSKI TO TAKE!

54 mins: VAR CHECK FOR HANDBALL AGAINST NACHO!

53 mins: Piotr Zielinski sprays a cross into the box but Osimhen's header is deflected behind for a corner.

50 mins: No changes from either side at the break as Kvaratskhelia's hooked pass to Osimhen is gathered in by Kepa.

46 mins: BACK UNDERWAY IN NAPLES!

HALF TIME: NAPOLI 1 REAL MADRID 2!

Bellingham at the forefront for Real Madrid once again as the former Borussia Dortmund star teed up Vinicius Jr for the equaliser and then buried an emphatic second for the visitors!

43 mins: Two quickfire chances for Napoli as Politano swings a tame effort straight at Kepa and Osimhen's header from a corner drifts off target and Natan is booked.

40 mins: WHAT A SAVE FROM KEPA!

Osmihen hangs in the air in the Real Madrid box but his header is superbly tipped over the bar by Kepa!

34 mins: BELLINGHAM FOR REAL MADRID! 2-1 TO LOS BLANCOS!

Superb stuff from Bellingham as he scores in back-to-back Champions League games at Real Madrid!

The England international storms forward from midfield, and bullies past Ostigard in the Napoli box, to smash home past Meret......ruthless from Bellingham!

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30 mins: First booking of the night as Eduardo Camavinga pulls back Politano.

27 mins: REAL MADRID EQUALISE!

A huge error from Giovanni Di Lorenzo at right back and Bellingham slips in Vinicius Jr to curl Real Madrid level from inside the box!

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25 mins: Napoli with a penalty shout, as Victor Osimhen's strike hits Antonio Rudiger, but it's just a corner for the home side.

19 mins: GOAL FOR NAPOLI! 1-0 TO THE HOSTS!

Kvaratskhelia's corner is headed against the bar by Natan and his centre-back partner Ostigard powers home the loose ball to give Napoli the lead!

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18 mins: Rodrygo's early chance the closest to a breakthrough at either end so far in Naples with Aurelien Tchouameni's long range effort flying over the top of Meret's bar.

15 mins: Bellingham with a half chance just inside the box but it's deflected over the bar!

10 mins: Matteo Politano's low skidded effort is easily gathered by Kepa early on as the two sides look to feel each other out.

Rodrygo then bursts in behind the Napoli back line and Alex Meret is out quickly to make the block!

KICK OFF: NAPOLI VS REAL MADRID!

5 mins to KO: Despite Ancelotti's mixed record against Italian sides, Real Madrid have been DOMINANT against Serie A opponents!

15 mins to KO: Centurion Kroos on duty for Los Blancos!

Veteran German midfielder Toni Kroos makes his 100th Champions League appearance for Real Madrid tonight and his 149th overall in the competition.

30 mins to KO: Boyhood Real Madrid fan Khvicha Kvaratskhelia is on a mission tonight!

45 mins to KO: Real Madrid's man of the moment Jude Bellingham will be aiming to repeat his Champions League debut with Los Blancos tonight!

1 hour to KO: NAPOLI TEAM NEWS IN!

Napoli line up as expected with Osmihen and Kvaratskhelia in attack!

1 hour and 45 mins to KO: Carletto back in Naples!

Ancelotti's return to Naples is one of the key pre-match stories ahead of this tie and the Los Blancos coach has only won three Champions League games from eight when managing a non-Italian team against Serie A opposition.

Getty Images

1 hour and 45 mins to KO: REAL MADRID TEAM NEWS IS IN!

Ancelotti reverts to type and opts for a early team news reveal here in Napoli!

Just one change from the weekend win at Girona as Rodrygo replaces Joselu in attack!

2 hours to KO: Birthday-boy Kepa Arrizabalaga has been ever present for Real Madrid following his loan move from Chelsea in August, with four clean sheets in seven starts!

Napoli vs Real Madrid lineups

Napoli are without defensive duo Juan Jesus and Amir Rrahmani with Rudi Garcia sticking with Natan and Leo Skiri Ostigard at centre-back. Osmihen leads the attack alongside strike partner Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Napoli lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Meret (GK) — Di Lorenzo, Natan, Ostigard, Oliveira  — Zielinski, Anguissa, Lobotka — Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia.

Napoli subs (12): Contini (GK), Idasiak (GK), Rui, Elmas, Simeone, Zerbin, Cajuste, Lindstrøm, D'Avino, Zanoli, Gaetano, Raspadori.

Ancelotti is without David Alaba through injury, but Antonio Rudiger is fit to start. Eduardo Camavinga remains at left back and Rodrygo starts up front.

Real Madrid lineup (4-1-2-1-2): Kepa (GK) — Carvajal, Rudiger, Nacho, Camavinga — Tchouameni — Kroos, Valverde — Bellingham — Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo.

Real Madrid subs (10): Lunin (GK), Canizares (GK), Modric, Joselu, Vazquez, Ceballos, Garcia, Diaz, Mendy, Carrillo.

Napoli vs Real Madrid live stream, TV channel

This Champions League match from the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona kicks off at 9:00 p.m. local time in Naples.

Below are the corresponding times, TV channels, and live streams to watch the match in regions around the world:

  Date Kickoff time TV Streaming
USA Tue Oct. 3 3:00 p.m. ET TUDN USA, Univision Paramount+, ViX, Univsion NOW, Fubo
Canada Tue Oct. 3 3:00 p.m. ET DAZN
UK Tue Oct. 3 8:00 p.m. BST TNT Sports 3 discovery+
Australia Wed Oct. 4 5:00 a.m. AEST Stan Sport
India Wed Oct. 4 12:30 a.m. IST Sony LIV, JioTV
Hong Kong Wed Oct. 4  3:00 a.m. HKT beIN Sports 5 beIN Sports Connect
Malaysia Wed Oct. 4 3:00 a.m. MYT beIN Sports Connect
Singapore Wed Oct. 4 3:00 a.m. SGT beIN Sports Connect
New Zealand Wed Oct. 4 7:00 a.m. NZST beIN Sports Connect

USA: This game is available to stream on Paramount+. Spanish-language coverage is provided by TUDN and Univision, which is available to stream via Fubo.

Canada: Every Champions League game this season is live streaming exclusively via DAZN in Canada.

Australia: Every UEFA Champions League Match. 4K UHD. Exclusive & Ad-free on Stan Sport. The Home of UEFA Champions League

UK: This match will be available for live broadcast and streaming via TNT Sports and discovery+.

Feargal Brennan

Feargal Brennan Photo

Feargal is a content producer for The Sporting News. He has been working with TSN since the start of 2022 after stints with Reach, Amazon UK and Squawka in a nomadic career in the football media pyramid. Always with a keen eye on Arteta's 'Reds' and Kenny's Ireland 'Greens' and a 100% five-a-side penalty record.