Real Madrid C.F. eclipsed a dismal first half to end S.S.C. Napolis Champions League quarterfinal hopes with a clinical 3-1 win at the San Paolo in Naples on Tuesday <\/p>\n
Captain Sergio Ramos and Alvaro Morata struck one apiece as 11-time winners Real Madrid C.F. secured a seventh successive Champions League quarterfinal berth with a clinical 3-1 win over a spirited S.S.C. Napoli on Tuesday. <\/p>\n
Were happy to have won, said Real coach Zinedine Zidane. We suffered a lot in the opening half when they had us under a lot of pressure. <\/p>\n
But after a good talk about what we had to do in the second half, we were much better. <\/p>\n
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Real, who took a commanding 3-1 first leg lead at the Santiago Bernabeu last month, looked to be facing a tough night in Naples after Dries Mertens finished off a great attacking move to give the hosts a 24th minute lead. <\/p>\n
But Napoli coach Maurizio Sarri had warned of the threat from the worlds richest club, with the best players a day earlier. <\/p>\n
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And Zidanes Galacticos emerged from the half-time interval in far more clinical fashion. <\/p>\n
Ramos rose to head Real level six minutes after the restart and a second header which deflected off Mertens at Pepe Reinas near post gave the Spaniards a 2-1 lead by the 57th minute. <\/p>\n
Napoli saw late claims for a penalty waved away when Mertens tumbled in the box and suffered more woe in the first minute of added-on time when ex-Juventus striker Alvaro Morata came off the bench to hit their third for a 6-2 aggregate score. <\/p>\n
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The second goal took away practically any chance we had of trying to qualify, we probably need a little bit more aggression at the corner to try and put him off, said Sarri. <\/p>\n
It leaves us with a bitter taste because for the opening 55 minutes we were far superior. <\/p>\n
But thats mostly because our fans had so much expectations on us. Were sorry for our public, because we feel they deserved a lot more. <\/p>\n
But this (Real) is a team with great talent that, physically, were superior to us. <\/p>\n
Napoli required nothing short of a miracle if they were to reach the last eight for the first time -- although a bright opening reflected a growing belief in the football-mad southern city the Azzurri could cause an upset. <\/p>\n
Maurizio Sarris men had 11 shots in the opening period, the most Real had seen in a Champions League game since facing 15 against Juventus in 2013. <\/p>\n
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But neither Mertens, Lorenzo Insigne or Hamsik got shots past Reina in a busy opening period that had most of the 56,695 crowd in full voice. <\/p>\n
On Reals first real foray, Luka Modric outmanoeuvred Kalidou Koulibaly to deliver a back-post cross that Reina collected after a mix-up between Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. <\/p>\n
Gareth Bale then escaped down the right to deliver a cross that Kroos, from the edge of the area, volleyed straight at Reina. <\/p>\n
But Real were left ball-watching on 24 minutes after a slick passing move between Hamsik and Mertens that saw the Belgian run in to beat Keylor Navas at his bottom left corner. <\/p>\n
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The San Paolo erupted, but relief reigned moments later when Ronaldo rounded Reina to see his low drive come off the base of the post. <\/p>\n
Napoli could have had a second but Hamsik fired high and wide before seeing a shot from the right byeline blocked by Navas. <\/p>\n
When Hamsik gave away possession minutes after the restart, Krooss dangerous cross to the back post was cleared by the head of Mertens. <\/p>\n
The danger of Hamsiks error became apparent when Ramos rose to meet Krooss corner to stretch the back of the Napoli net. <\/p>\n
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Sarri added on Ramos: Hes world class at dead ball situations. He scores seven or eight goals a year like that. <\/p>\n
After Allan was cautioned for a challenge on Casemiro, the Brazilian was replaced by Marko Rog. <\/p>\n
But Napolis dream died a minute later. Kroos delivered again from the corner flag and Ramoss glancing header at the near post came off Mertens to leave Reina rooted to the spot. <\/p>\n
Napoli hit back, Rog setting up Hamsik for a cross that Navas got down low to smother. <\/p>\n
But as Napoli tired in the closing minutes, Morata ran in to meet the rebound after Reina spilled a Ronaldo strike. <\/p>\n
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Originally posted here:<\/p>\n
Sergio Ramos, Alvaro Morata strike as Real Madrid CF crush SSC Napoli - Hindustan Times<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Real Madrid C.F. eclipsed a dismal first half to end S.S.C. Continue reading