Real Madrid won 3-2 against Napoli on Wednesday, moving the Spanish giants to the top of Champions League Group C thanks to Alex Meret’s terrible own goal.
Federico Valverde’s powerful, deflected shot crashing out of the bar and back into the goal off his outstretched arm 12 minutes from the finish of an intriguing duel in Naples could not be stopped by Italian international custodian Meret.
That unlucky rebound kept Madrid’s perfect start to the group stage intact, putting them three points ahead of both the Italian champions and Braga, who beat bottom side Union Berlin 3-2 earlier on Tuesday.
Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham scored the away side’s other goals on former Napoli coach Carlo Ancelotti’s return to southern Italy, giving Madrid a half-time lead after Leo Ostigard headed the hosts into a 19th-minute lead.
Piotr Zielinski had given Napoli hope that they could build on a recent burst of good form when he smashed in a 54th-minute penalty harshly given for a Nacho handball while challenging Victor Osimhen.
Nigeria forward Osimhen was playing for Napoli after backing supporters following a row with the club over an insulting video on social media, telling his countrymen that they were not racist.