UEFA Champions League Quarterfinals Draw held on Friday 17 March 2017 at Uefa headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland at 12:00 CET. There is only 1 Italian Serie A team participating in the Quarterfinals: Juventus.
Here is the complete UEFA Champions League Quarterfinals Draw:
Atlético de Madrid v Leicester City Football Club
Borussia Dortmund v AS MONACO
FC Bayern Munich v Real Madrid C.F. Juventus v FC Barcelona
Juventus v Barcelona Precedents
Juventus and Barcelona met in the 2015 final in Berlin. Result: Barcelona winning 3-1
Stats Goals: Ivan Rakitić (4), Luis Suárez (68) and Neymar (90+7) scored for Barcelona, Álvaro Morata (55) for Juve
Juventus and Barcelona with 7 competitive meetings. Stats showing Barcelona with 3 wins, Juventus with 2 wins, 2 draws.
Juventus and Barcelona met in the 2002/03 last eight. Stats showing it was 1-1 in Turin and 2-1 to the hosts in Barcelona
Former Barcelona defender Dani Alves playing for Juventus will return to face Barcelona at Camp Nou.
It’s the big match, NAPOLI vs REAL MADRID, the most important match so, far, for Napoli this season. Napoli despite losing and eliminated in the Champions League is applauded by the fans at the San Paolo Stadium for their courageous battle. Real Madrid qualifying with an aggregate result of 5-2.
Real Madrid won on the First Leg at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium with a 3-1 result. The goals for Real Madrid were by Kraim Benzema, Kroos, and Casemiro while for Napoli the goal was scored by forward Lorenzo Insigne. In the Second Leg, the goal for Napoli is scored by forward Dries Mertens and for Real Madrid the goals were by Sergio Ramos with 2 headed goals and Alvaro Morata.
Forza!!!!!! Napoli opening the score in the 24th minute. It is forward Dries Mertens to defeat Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas with a left footed shot to the bottom right corner. The assist is by Captain Marek Hamsik. San Paolo exploding rooting for Napoli encouraging the players to believe! Way to go for Mertens scoring 17 goals in the last 16 official games with Napoli.
Photo: facebook.com/SSCNapoli
UFFAAAAAAAAA what a blow! Real Madrid Captain Sergio Ramos equalizing the score for the 1-1 in the 51st minute. Ramos defeating Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina from close range following a corner with a headed shot to the top right corner. The assist is by Toni Kroos with a cross. The corner is conceded by Napoli defender Elseid Hysaj.
Napoli making the first substituion in the 56th minute. Marko Rog replacing Allan.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Real Madrid taking the lead in the 57th minute!!!!! Again, it is Sergio Ramos playing a super game to overturn the result. Ramos defeating goalkeeper Pepe Reina with a headed shot and again following a corner conceded by Napoli defender Faouzi Ghoulam!!!!
Real Madrid making the first substitution in the 68th minute. Lucas Vázquez replacing forward Gareth Bale.
Napoli making the second substitution in the 70th minute. Arkadiusz Milik replacing forward Lorenzo Insigne.
Real Madrid making the last substitution in the 80th minute. Isco replacing Luka Modric.
The final blow in the 91st minute with the ex-Juventus player Álvaro Morata catapulting Napoli. Morata defeating goalkeeper Pepe Reina with a right footed shot. The action originated by forward Cristiano Ronaldo with a left footed shot forcing Reina to save in the center. The ball was still in the area and there you go Morata to put the end.
Here is NAPOLI official starting lineup – formation by coach Maurizio Sarri:
A total of 56,695 attendance with an earning of 4.484.302,00 euros.
Photo: facebook.com/SSCNapoli
UEFA Champions League Round of 16
Round of 16, Second Leg
Napoli 1 – 2 Real Madrid
Tuesday 7 March 2017
San Paolo Stadium
Naples, Italy
20:45
Referee: Cüneyt Çakır (TUR)
Assistant referees: Bahattin Duran (TUR) and Tarik Ongun (TUR)
Fourth official: Mustafa Eyisoy (TUR)
Additional assistant referees: Hüseyin Göçek (TUR) and Barış Şimşek (TUR)
Here are NAPOLI vs REAL MADRID official lineups – formations for the Champions League Group Round of 16, Second Leg on Tuesday 7 March 2017 at the San Paolo Stadium in Naples, Italy at 20:45.
Napoli official starting lineup against Real Madrid
Photo: twitter.com/apetrazzuolo
Photo: facebook.com/SSCNapoli
UEFA Champions League Round of 16
Round of 16, Second Leg
Napoli – Real Madrid
Tuesday 7 March 2017
San Paolo Stadium
Naples, Italy
20:45
Referee: Cüneyt Çakır (TUR)
Assistant referees: Bahattin Duran (TUR) and Tarik Ongun (TUR)
Fourth official: Mustafa Eyisoy (TUR)
Additional assistant referees: Hüseyin Göçek (TUR) and Barış Şimşek (TUR)
It’s the big match, NAPOLI vs REAL MADRID, the most important match so, far, for Napoli this season. Here is the preview for Napoli – Real Madrid valid for the UEFA Champions League Group Round of 16, Second Leg on Tuesday 7 March 2017 at the San Paolo Stadium in Naples, Italy at 20:45.
Let’s start from the basic point: The qualification for the Champions League Quarterfinal. Napoli not only must win the match with more than 3 goals considering that Real Madrid won on the First Leg at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium with a 3-1 result. The goals for Real Madrid were by Kraim Benzema, Kroos, and Casemiro while for Napoli the goal was scored by forward Lorenzo Insigne.
If Napoli win 1-0, it won’t be enough for the qualification. Napoli need at least a 2-0 victory to make it. Needless to say that a 0-0, 1-1, 2-2, draw wont’ work either.
It’s tough to think that Real Madrid won’t be able to score at least a goal or just play for the 0-0 result knowing they can qualify to the Quarterfinals with that result. The pressure is for Napoli to “go all for it like hungry lions” to overturn the result.
Napoli need to coordinate well the midfield to provide forwards with goal opportunities. The key player for me in this aspect is midfielder Marek Hamsik to move the pieces of the game. It is the shining moment for strikers Dries Mertens and Lorenzo Insigne to deliver historical goals to secure the qualification. Insigne already scored against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu.
Challenge is also for Napoli defense Raúl Albiol and Koulibaly to be compacted and not allow space for Benzema or Cristiano Ronaldo to score. Goalkeeper Pepe Reina must be at his best to be an iron wall. It’s a tough homework because Real Madrid have scored in their last 16 games. The ideal scenario will be for Napoli to open the score in the first 15 minutes, that would be a BA BA BA BOOM to unleash Napoli fever and defeat the current Champions. Real Madrid the absolute leader in Europe winning 11 Champions League while for Napoli it would be the first one….
Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri says that “Even if we have just 3% of the chance to qualify, we have to be focused on this goal”. Well, my friends, I will root for Napoli against all odds. It’s a tough game because my favorite team in La Liga is Real Madrid. Yet, when it comes to Italian teams in European competition, I definitely root for SERIE A teams. Come on Napoli!!!!!!!! Forza Napoli.
Surely, the added boost for Napoli will be the fans at the San Paolo Stadium with their roaring support “scatenare l’inferno”.
Napoli’s objective is to reach the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals for the first time.
Real Madrid have won their last six round of 16 ties
Probable lineups – formations NAPOLI vs REAL MADRID
Napoli (4-3-3): Pepe Reina; Hysaj, Raúl Albiol, Koulibaly, Ghoulam; Zielinski, A.Diawara, Marek Hamsik; Jose Callejón, Dries Mertens, Lorenzo Insigne.
Coach: Maurizio Sarri
Real Madrid (4-3-3): Keylor Navas; Carvajal, Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo; Modrić, Casemiro, Kroos; Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Stats BEFORE the game. Top scorer of NAPOLI: Forward Dries Mertens with 4 goals
Top scorer of REAL MADRID: Karim Benzema with 5 goals
Napoli
Goals
Goals
Real Madrid
Mertens, Dries
4
5
Benzema, Karim
Milik, Arek
3
2
Morata, Alvaro
Hamsik, Marek
2
2
Cristiano Ronaldo
Gabbiadini, Manolo
1
2
Bale, Gareth
Insigne, Lorenzo
1
2
Varane, Raphael
Stats. Her are the last 5 games of NAPOLI: 2 wins, 3 lost
04/03/17
SA
Roma – Napoli
1:2
27
28/02/17
CI
Juventus – Napoli
3:1
S
25/02/17
SA
Napoli – Atalanta
0:2
26
19/02/17
SA
Chievo – Napoli
1:3
25
15/02/17
UCLK
Real Madrid – Napoli
3:1
1/8
Stats. Here are the last 5 games of REAL MADRID: 3 wins, 1 draw, 1 lost
04/03/17
PD
Eibar – Real Madrid
1:4
26
01/03/17
PD
Real Madrid – Las Palmas
3:3
25
26/02/17
PD
Villarreal – Real Madrid
2:3
24
22/02/17
PD
Valencia – Real Madrid
2:1
16
18/02/17
PD
Real Madrid – Espanyol
2:0
23
Match officialsNAPOLI vs REAL MADRID
It is Referee Cüneyt Çakır from Turkey to direct the game Napoli – Real Madrid. Çakır will be assisted by Bahattin Duran (TUR) and Tarik Ongun (TUR). The fourth official will be Mustafa Eyisoy (TUR).
There are 4 precedents with Referee Cüneyt Çakır directing a match with Napoli:
Europa League: Villarreal 2 – 1 Napoli, 24 February 2011
Champions League: Marseilles 1 – 2 Napoli, 22 October 2013.
Champions League: Atletico Bilbao 3 – 1 Napoli, 27 August 2014
Europa League: Napoli 2 – 2 Wolfsburg, 23 April 2015
Called up playersNAPOLI vs REAL MADRID
Here are NAPOLI official called up players by coach Maurizio Sarri for the Champions League Group Round of 16, Second Leg, Napoli vs Real Madrid on Tuesday 7 March 2017 at the San Paolo Stadium in Naples, Italy at 20:45.
To be added
Photo: facebook.com/SSCNapoli
Here are REAL MADRID 22 official called up players by coach Zinedine Zidane for the game against SSC Napoli:
Here are the declarations of Napoli Coach Maurizio Sarri ahead of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 Second Leg on Tuesday 7 March 2017 at the San Paolo Stadium in Naples, Italy at 20:45.
Sarri is clear that most critics consider Real Madrid, the defending Champions, the favorites to win. “Real are the title favorite and they are feeling pressure. We are trying to exploit all our qualities and chances playing as we usually do. Real are the team that collected more trophies in the World, they are the richest Club and everybody thinks that they are the title favorite, as it should be. Our aim is to show our qualities and try to take the lead, we hope to be lucky”.
As for Napoli protecting the net to block Real Madrid strikers from scoring, Sarri saying, “It’s not a casuality that they won 46 games in a row up to now, they have a high-quality offensive strategy and also many players with high physical characteristic. We should have a well-organized defense in order to contain them and impose our game. We should control their pressure since the very beginning. This is the only way to open up space even if it will be dangerous. We should try. We cannot check them in advance because anything can prevent their talent. We definitely have to be focused on our performance, have the right self-esteem. Even if we have just 3% of the chance to qualify, we have to be focused on this goal”.
Photo: facebook.com/SSCNapoli
UEFA Champions League Round of 16
Round of 16, Second Leg
Napoli – Real Madrid
Tuesday 7 March 2017
San Paolo Stadium
Naples, Italy
20:45
Referee: Cüneyt Çakır (TUR)
Assistant referees: Bahattin Duran (TUR) and Tarik Ongun (TUR)
Fourth official: Mustafa Eyisoy (TUR)
Additional assistant referees: Hüseyin Göçek (TUR) and Barış Şimşek (TUR)
By Anna Italia
Real Madrid Tickets
