Madrid secure group top spot
Goals from Rodrygo, Bellingham, Nico Paz and Joselu clinched the win over Napoli and ensured the team will finish top of the table with one game to spare.
Real Madrid only needed a draw to progress to the Champions League round of 16 draw as group winners, but they managed to achieve their objective with just one game to spare by coming from behind to overcome Napoli. They did so before the interval courtesy of goals from Rodrygo, who has scored six in his last four games, and Bellingham, who has found the net in all four of his Champions League appearances. Anguissa equalised after the break, but academy product Nico Paz, with a powerful left-footed drive in the 81st minute, and Joselu, in stoppage time after an assist from Bellingham, earned the three points for Ancelotti's side, who have a 100%-win record so far in the group stage.
Real Madrid started on the front foot, but Napoli took the lead in the first ten minutes after Simeone's strike. The Whites responded immediately and hit back straight from the kick-off to bring the scores level again. Brahim recovered the ball in midfield, swivelled nicely and fed Rodrygo on the left and the Brazilian continued his goal-scoring exploits when he cut inside and scored with a precise curling shot from the edge of the area. It was the Brazilian's sixth goal in his last four official outings.
Bellingham on the scoresheet once again
The game was being played at breakneck pace and the hosts continued to create chances in the Napoli box. Ancelotti's men went ahead with the next chance. Alaba spotted Bellingham's run and played the ball over Natan's back for the Englishman to head in and extend his Champions League goalscoring run in the 22nd minute. The midfielder has now been on target in all four games he has played this season in the competition. With the score at 2-1, the madridistas could have extended the lead on the half hour mark with a speedy counterattack initiated by Rodrygo that Brahim concluded with a cross-shot that narrowly missed the target.
The second half began in the worst possible way. Anguissa equalised with a right footed drive from inside the box after latching onto a rebound. Everything was still to play for with practically the whole second half ahead. And Madrid had the chance to make it 3-2 in the 62nd minute. Mendy whipped in a cross and Joselu failed to hit the target from inside the six-yard box with the keeper out of position. 15 minutes later, Ancelotti's charges had another chance to strike. Bellingham floated the ball into the box with his left foot and Rüdiger's header was brilliantly parried away by Meret.
Madrid seal the three points
Madrid only needed a draw to ensure that they would qualify for the last 16 as group winners, but they continued their quest for the win. They went close in the 79th minute when Bellingham found himself one-on-one with Meret, but the keeper once again came up trumps. The rebound fell to Joselu, who headed the ball wide. Six minutes, however, saw the deserved third goal. Youth product Nico Paz scored with a powerful long-range effort from the left. And there was even time for Joselu to add a fourth in stoppage time after Bellingham's sublime assist with the outside of the boot. Madrid sealed the victory to prolong their 100%-win record and a place in the last 16 of the Champions League as winners of Group C.