Napoli
Napoli's Emanuele Giaccherini celebrates with teammates after scoring against Genoa at San Paolo stadium, Naples, Italy, Feb. 10, 2017. Reuters/Ciro De Luca

Real Madrid will look to remain on course for a record seventh consecutive Champions League semifinal appearance against a Napoli side seeking to reach the last eight of Europe’s premier competition for the first time. Those bare statistics make discouraging reading for the side from southern Italy as it heads to the Spanish capital for Wednesday’s round of 16 first leg. However, Napoli can thankfully count on having a few more positive factors in its corner at the Bernabeu.

Likely most visible will be the presence of the man who looms large over the club’s history and was the star attraction on Napoli’s only previous visit to the Bernabeu 30 years ago. Diego Maradona was powerless to prevent Napoli crashing out to Real Madrid in the European Cup first round in 1987, but the man who led the Parteonpei to the greatest era in its history will be back cheering on his former team from the stands Wednesday.

Having also played for Barcelona during his illustrious career, Maradona will have added desire to see Napoli come out on top.

“We're happy that he'll be at the [Estadio Santiago] Bernabeu," Luka Modric said at Real Madrid's pre-match press conference. "Thank god he isn't playing. That's why we're happy [that he'll be in the stands]. "He is one of the best players in the history of football."

Even though Maradona won’t be able to contribute on the pitch, Napoli should still present plenty to concern Real Madrid. Maurizio Sarri’s side has Won 12 and drawn six of its last 18 games in all competitions and, despite losing leading striker Gonzalo Higuaín last summer, have top-scored in Serie A with 57 goals in 24 matches this season.

Much of that recent scoring spurt has been down to Belgian forward Dries Mertens, who has scored three hat-tricks in his last 10 appearances.

And Mertens’ coach insists that he won’t be switching up his team’s style just because they are heading to the home of the Champions League holder.

“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,” Sarri said Tuesday. “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 Bernabeu.”

Sarri will be boosted by having no major injury worries for the trip to the Bernabeu. Zidane, meanwhile, will be without only long-term injury victim Gareth Bale.

While still a point clear of La Liga and with two games in hand, Madrid could only finish second in its Champions League group after drawing three of its six games.

Prediction: While there are other more high-profile ties in terms of the recent European pedigree of the two sides, Real Madrid and Napoli has plenty going for it in the romantic stakes. And it could be a far closer matchup than many anticipate. Napoli has been one of the form teams in Europe in recent weeks, while Real Madrid has not always been convincing despite its continued good results. And against a Madrid team that conceded 10 goals in the group stage, Napoli could get an away goal or two to keep the tie very much alive heading back to Naples in three weeks’ time.

Predicted Score: Real Madrid 2-2 Napoli

Betting Odds (for first leg only)
Real Madrid: 4/7
Draw: 10/3
Napoli: 5/1

Kickoff Time: 2:45 p.m. EST
TV Channel: Fox Sports 2
Live Stream: Fox Sports Go, Fox Soccer 2Go

RELATED STORIES