Napoli vs Real Madrid - Champions League Preview and Odds

Published on: 06/03/2017

SSC Napoli vs Real Madrid - Champions League Preview and Odds

March 07, 2017 19:45pm - Stadio San Paolo

Referee: Cüneyt Çakır

Champions League - Knockout Stage

Holders Real Madrid will defend a 3-1 first-leg lead when they head to Italy to face Napoli in the Last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday night.

Pulsating game expected at Stadio San Paolo

Napoli may be 3-1 down at the halfway stage of this tie but as they showed in the first leg, they are capable of causing problems for the 11-time champions. Add a fiery home crowd into the equation and this match might end up being closer than many are predicting.

The Italian side have lost just one of their last 13 home matches in all competitions and just one of their last 11 at home in the Champions League. They have gained many admirers this season for their high tempo and entertaining style of play and will be looking to bring all their energy into this game. If they can somehow overturn the deficit, they will progress to the quarter-finals of Europe`s elite competition for the first time in their history.

Maurizio Sarri`s men took the lead in the first-leg thanks to an instinctive strike from Insigne. However, the Partenopei were pegged back thanks to goals from Benzema and Kroos, before Casemiro put the icing on the cake with an absolute stunner of a volley.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid will be looking to make it to the last eight for the seventh time in a row. The reigning champions have won just three of their last six away matches, having lost two and drawn the other. What`s more, they have won just one of their last five Champions League away games.

In three previous meeting between the two sides, the Spanish side won two with the other ending in a draw.

Team news

The home side will be without the injured pair of Dries Mertens (ankle) and Lorenzo Tonelli.

Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo may not recover from a knock in time, in which case he will join Fabio Coentrao and Raphael Varane in the Madrid treatment room.

Recent form (All competitions)

Napoli: WLLWL

Real Madrid: WDWLW

Betting odds and tips

Real Madrid will be clear favourites but the home side are strong at home and might just be worth a small bet at the 9/5 on offer.

You can back Napoli to win over 90 minutes at 9/5 with Bet365.

By Neil Morris

Published on: 06/03/2017

Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (06/03/2017 12:56:59) but are subject to change.