Napoli vs Real Madrid Prediction, Betting Tips and Preview

Napoli entertain Real Madrid in a crucial Champions League round of 16 2nd leg clash this Tuesday night. Read the match predictions to find out why a home win is the betting tip at the San Paolo. Napoli are 1-3 down on aggregate after the first leg, so need to go for the win and come into the game on the back of a 1-2 victory away to Roma. Real Madrid won 1-4 at Eibar on Saturday and will be hoping that their defence can hold firm in Italy.

Napoli vs Real Madrid Preview

Napoli are sweating over the fitness of Dries Mertens but the Belgian is expected to make the starting XI. Partenopei have no other injury concerns, so are set to name their strongest team. That will see goalscorer from the first leg, Lorenzo Insigne cutting in from the left-flank and former Madridista Jose Callejon on the right.

Real Madrid have centre-back Raphael Varane ruled out through injury, so it will be Pepe alongside Ramos at the back for the visitors. Gareth Bale missed the 4-1 win at Eibar due to suspension while Cristiano Ronaldo was injured but both are expected to start here. They’ll line up either side of Karim Benzema who notched his fifth Champions League goal of the season in the first leg.

Team Predictions Napoli vs Real Madrid

Napoli 4-3-3 formation: Reina; Ghoulam, Koulibaly, Albiol, Hysaj; Hamsik, Jorginho, Zielinski; Insigne, Mertens, Callejon

Real Madrid 4-3-3 formation: Navas; Marcelo, Pepe, Ramos, Carvajal; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Ronaldo, Benzema, Bale

Napoli vs Real Madrid Betting Tips

• Napoli have won 6 drawn 1 and lost 3 of their last 10 matches
• Real Madrid have won 7 drawn 1 and lost 2 of their last 10 matches
• Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Napoli have scored an average of 2.0 goals and conceded an average of 1.3 goals per game
• Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Real Madrid have scored an average of 2.6 goals and conceded an average of 1.3 goals per game
• There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 6 of Napoli’s previous 10 matches
• There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 9 of Real Madrid’s previous 10 matches

Napoli vs Real Madrid Prediction

Napoli bounced back from their first leg defeat in good style to beat Chievo Verona 1-3 away but were poor in subsequent defeats to Atalanta and Juventus. However, they became the first side to beat Roma at the Stadio Olimpico this season last time out and as the stats above show, they have been finding the net with regularity.

Real Madrid have been far from convincing in recent weeks and were beaten 2-1 by an underperforming Valencia side. They then made heavy weather of overcoming Villarreal, needing to come from two goals down to win 2-3 and were subsequently held to a 3-3 draw at home to Las Palmas.

This game has goals written all over it and Napoli have to go on the attack. Real Madrid have shipped 8 goals in their last four matches, so the hosts will believe that they can overturn the deficit. I can see Napoli bagging a couple of goals here but Real Madrid are likely to catch them out on the break. I fancy the home side to win on the night but expect the visitors to do enough to make it through.

Free Betting Tips

Match Prediction
NAPOLI at 19/10 with William Hill

Over/Under Prediction
OVER 2.5 goals at 8/15 with Betfair

Correct Score Prediction
NAPOLI 2-1 at 10/1 with bet365

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