Bellingham (left) scored Real Madrid's second goal (Anatolia)
Young Nico Paz and Joselo scored in the final minutes to lead Real Madrid to a 4-2 victory over Napoli to secure the Spanish team top of Group C of the Champions League with one round to go on Wednesday.
Real Madrid, the record holder for winning the European title 14 times, achieved the full mark in 5 games to lead the group by 8 points ahead of the Italian, who are in second place, 3 points ahead of Portuguese Braga third in the standings.
Germany's Union Berlin are two points behind the standings after drawing 1-1 with Braga on Wednesday.
⚽️🔥 Real Madrid react quickly with Rodrygo's rocket #UEFA Champions League | #ريال_مدريد_نابولي #UCL | #beINUCL pic.twitter.com/2LRoBMVzqP
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) November 29, 2023
Giovanni Simeone opened the scoring for the visitors with a close-range shot in the ninth minute, but the response came quickly from Real as Rodrygo equalized with a wonderful touch two minutes later before Jood Bellingham scored the second goal with a header in the 22nd minute.
⚽️🔥 A perfect cross from Alaba translated by Bellingham with a header against Napoli #ChampionsLeague_| #ريال_مدريد_نابولي #UCL | #beINUCL pic.twitter.com/XCFw6Y63YM
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) November 29, 2023
Frank Anguissa equalized for Napoli two minutes into the second half.
⚽️🔥 Angisa equalised for Napoli with a great goal #ChampionsLeague | #ريال_مدريد_نابولي #UCL | #beINUCL pic.twitter.com/rLRP0YAYzR
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) November 29, 2023
But a superb strike from 19-year-old Nico Paz from distance put Real ahead again before Joselo extended the win and finally scored from close range in stoppage time.
⚽️🔥 Real Madrid regain lead with a great goal through Paz #ChampionsLeague | #ريال_مدريد_نابولي #UCL | #beINUCL pic.twitter.com/mvWdUygVgi
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) November 29, 2023
⚽️🙏 Joselo finally scores and a great gesture from Bellingham #ChampionsLeague | #ريال_مدريد_نابولي #UCL | #beINUCL pic.twitter.com/xbYF7yZMVL
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) November 29, 2023
Arsenal sweep Lance and qualify
In Group B, Arsenal made their way to the quarter-finals on a very cold night at the Emirates Stadium, after crushing Lens 6-6 with goals from <> different players to secure their place at the top of the group.
Saka celebrates in a special way after scoring Arsenal's third goal (Getty Images)
Arsenal took the lead in the 13th minute with a goal from Kai Havertz, who scored their brilliant goal moments before the end against Brentford last Saturday, before Gabriel Jesus doubled the score by sending two defenders in the wrong direction to push his shot into the opposite corner.
Havertz imprint on Arsenal's first goal #ChampionsLeague | #أرسنال_لانس #beINUCL #UCL pic.twitter.com/0JU65lPcJv
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) November 29, 2023
Bukayo Saka scored the third goal in the 23rd minute after playing a ball that tumbled in front of him with his body following a shot by Gabriel Martinelli, who struck the knockout four minutes later with a shot that changed course and left Lens goalkeeper Bryce Samba rushing into the air to no avail.
Jesus doubles the score for Arsenal #ChampionsLeague | #أرسنال_لانس #beINUCL #UCL pic.twitter.com/DkfIzKXTwO
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) November 29, 2023
Some Lance fans, who accompanied the team and who were frustrated and sad, began to light the fireworks and led to a brief halt to play.
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard added the fifth goal in the final shot of the first half, after receiving a long pass from Takehiro Tomiyasu from the right.
After a quiet start to the second half, Lance's Abdulkadir Khosanov stretched his arm to block the ball inside his team's penalty area in the 85th minute and a penalty was awarded after the VAR decision, and substitute Jorginho, who went down the net from the penalty spot, fired into the net to complete a miserable night for the visitors.
Source: Reuters