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Napoli vs Real Madrid; UEFA Champions League Round of 16

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Napoli vs Real Madrid. UEFA Champions League Round of 16.

San PaoloAttendance56,695.

Napoli 1

  • D Mertens (24th minute)

Real Madrid 3

  • S Ramos (51st minute)
  • D Mertens (57th minute own goal)
  • Á Morata (91st minute)

2-6

Napoli v Real Madrid preview: Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale to return

Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (C) gestures beside Real Madrid's Welsh forward Gareth Bale (L) and Atletico Madrid's midfielder Carrasc
Image: Gareth Bale (left) and Cristiano Ronaldo are set to return to the starting line-up for Real Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale have been named in Real Madrid's Champions League squad for the last-16, second-leg tie against Napoli.

The duo missed their comfortable 4-1 victory over Eibar in La Liga at the weekend, and will return for the trip to Naples on Tuesday night, which sees Real attempt to defend a 3-1 lead from the first leg.

Zinedine Zidane's side fell behind to an early Lorenzo Insigne goal that night, but hit back with strikes from Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos and Casemiro to put themselves in the driving seat to make the quarter-finals.

Team news

Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri has confirmed that Dries Mertens will start despite being withdrawn early from their 2-1 win over Roma on Saturday after suffering from cramps.

Allan (thigh) is still doubtful, but the Italian side have a fully fit squad otherwise.

NAPLES, ITALY - DECEMBER 18:  Dries Mertens of SSC Napoli celebrate the victory after the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and FC Torino at Stadio San Paol
Image: Dries Mertens will be fit for Napoli

Four-time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo was sidelined for their win over Eibar with an injury which coach Zinedine Zidane described as "nothing serious", while Bale returns following a one-match domestic ban.

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Kroos, Dani Carvajal and Marcelo were all also left on the bench at the weekend and should return to the XI.

Opta stats

There have been 11 previous instances of a team losing the first leg of a knockout tie 3-1 away from home; four of those sides have progressed, including the last three in a row.

Real Madrid have progressed from each of their last eight Champions League ties in the last 16 or beyond when they've won the first leg.

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Highlights of the La Liga game between Eibar and Real Madrid

Napoli, meanwhile, have been eliminated on each of the previous four occasions they have lost the first leg of a last 16 tie in European competition.

Real Madrid are unbeaten in their last 11 Champions League matches (W6, D5); should they avoid defeat in this game it would represent their longest run without defeat in the Champions League or European Cup.

Napoli have lost just one of their 10 Champions League home games (W7, D2), however, their one defeat came this season (3-2 v Besiktas).

Real Madrid have lost just one of their last nine away games in the Champions League (W4, D4).

Madrid have won just one of their last nine Champions League games away in Italy; the win in that run came at this stage in last year's competition though.

Betting

Napoli are 5/1 outsiders to qualify and 17/10 to win on the night, with Real Madrid 13/10 to secure their progress with a win. Zinedine Zidane's men head into the second leg as 4/1 outright second favourites, while Napoli are the second longest priced side left in the competition at 100/1. Cristiano Ronaldo heads the first goalscorer betting at 7/2.