Reina: Napoli have waited 30 years for Real Madrid clash

Two quick-fire goals saw Real Madrid survive an early scare to win 3-1 at Napoli on Tuesday and reach the Champions League quarterfinals for a seventh successive time. Real Madrid were struggling, trailing 1-0 on the night and starting a possible elimination from the competition until the No. 4 intervened.

He also hit a post late in the first half after Cristiano Ronaldo had done the same for Real.

Real Madrid responded five minutes later.

Ronaldo is now enduring his longest goal drought in Europe as he has failed to net in his last 613 minutes in the Champions League. “We scored twice from set-pieces, but they’re part of the game as well”. Actually, the German midfielder is the best associate for Sergio Ramos.

The Italian feels that the difference in fitness proved to be the difference between the two sides.

The hosts seemed to relish a rare full house and offered early sighters through Mertens, who had an effort deflected over, before Marek Hamsik fell just short of making contact with a risky cross. It’s going to suck when Ronaldo converts a stoppage time penalty that gives Real the 2-1 win. Subs: Vazquez 5, Morata 7, Isco 5.

Hmm, shots fired back then, it seems.

In-form Partenopei ace Dries Mertens capped off a well worked move to put the hosts 1-0 ahead after 24 minutes, with Zinedine Zidane’s men having to endure wave after wave of Napoli pressure in the first half.

However, in their next chance on goal, Napoli hit the post as well on the 37th minute. Insigne wins a free-kick after being tripped by Carvajal.

Napoli captain Marek Hamsik was the hero of the first-half, but very much the villain of the second. Things are precariously placed for the defensively shaky defending champions Real who could bow out on away goals.

Real Madrid are the favourites at [2.44], with Napoli out at [2.92] and the draw at [3.9]. The skipper attacks the ball and it takes a deflection and nestles in the net.

No longer the tricky speedster down the wing at the Santiago Bernabeu, Ronaldo has assumed a central forward role up front for European champions Madrid, scoring 18 LaLiga goals this season.