Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham scored a goal each as already qualified Real Madrid beat second-place Napoli 4-2 to win its Champions League group on Wednesday.
Joselu and teenager Nico Paz also found the net to give the record 14-time European champion its fifth straight win in Group C. The result frustrated Napoli’s bid to reach the knockout stage before the final round of matches.
“It was a difficult match,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. “But we got the victory and reached our goal of finishing first in the group.”
Napoli, second on seven points, need a draw in their final game against Braga, third on four points, to qualify for the knockout stage.
Union Berlin are bottom on two points after a 1-1 draw against Braga earlier on Wednesday.
Madrid started well but were surprised by a quick counter-attack by the visitors, with Giovanni Di Lorenzo assisting Giovanni Simeone to open the scoring with a close-range strike in the ninth minute that at first sight looked like it had been saved by goalkeeper Andryi Lunin.
Zambo Anguissa equalized with a powerful shot from a tight angle in the 47th before 19-year-old Paz found the net for his first Champions League goal with a right-footed shot from outside the area in the 84th. Joselu sealed the victory four minutes into stoppage time off a pass by Bellingham.
Joselu apologized to the fans at the Bernabeu while celebrating after having missed a few good chances earlier in the match.
Rodrygo was replaced in the final minutes bothered by what appeared to be cramps. Bellingham appeared to injure his ankle late in the first half but continued in the match.
“It’s about pushing your teammate, your friend, the soldier next to you over the line,” Bellingham said about Joselu. “We know what he can do when the ball’s delivered in the right area. Tonight he put a few wide but that’s the life of a striker. It was important for me to look for him more than anything. Especially in that area of the pitch, I’m happy for him.”
Rodrygo was replaced in the final minutes bothered by cramps. Bellingham appeared to injure his ankle late in the first half but continued in the match.
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