Football

UCL action returns as Real Madrid travel To Napoli

La Liga leaders Real Madrid have started their preparations ahead of Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League travel to Italy to face Napoli. The Los Blancos recorded a 2-0 win over Girona in La Liga at the weekend to move to the top of the table ahead of their closest rivals, Barcelona and the team they defeated on Saturday.

Los Blancos have not had it rosy despite an excellent start to the season, which has seen them lose just once this season, in the Madrid derby two weeks back. Their first UEFA Champions League game of the season was a 1-0 victory over Germans Union Berlin at Santiago Bernabeu, with a late goal from summer signing Jude Bellingham securing the victory.

The 20-year-old was also on hand to help secure the victory over Girona at the weekend, scoring a goal and providing an assist to take his tally to six goals and two assists in seven La Liga games this season.

For the return to Naples for Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, Jude Bellingham has undoubtedly been included in the squad traveling to Italy alongside Vinicius Junior, Brahim Diaz, Rodrygo, Joselu, Camavinga and a host of others

There are other games coming up in the second matchday of the UEFA Champions League group-stage for this season as Premier League club Arsenal travel to RC Lens, Bayern Munich will be in Denmark to face Copenhagen while Manchester United welcome former forward Wilfried Zaha and his Turkish club side Galatasaray. Real Sociedad would be the guests of RB Salzburg, and Union Berlin would host Braga.

Complete squad list for Real Madrid:

Goalkeepers: Lunin, Kepa, Cañizares.

Defenders: Carvajal, Nacho, Lucas Vázquez, Fran García, Rüdiger, Mendy, Carrillo.

Midfielders: Bellingham, Kroos, Modric, Camavinga, Valverde, Tchouameni, Ceballos.

Forwards: Vinicius, Rodrygo, Joselu, Brahim.

Tuesday’s UCL Fixtures:

Salzburg – Real Sociedad

Union Berlin – Braga

FC Copenhagen – Bayern Munich

Inter – Benfica

Lens – Arsenal

Manchester Utd – Galatasaray