© Reuters
Head-to-head record
Previous meetings: 6
Real Madrid wins: 5
Draws: 1
Napoli wins: 0
Napoli have only returned as a major force in the Italian game over the past decade, after years in the wilderness, meaning they have only ever faced Real Madrid six times in their history.
Los Blancos have not been ideal opponents for the Neapolitans either, as they are still yet to win in those six previous meetings, losing on five occasions.
The most recent meeting came in the Champions League in November 2023, and despite falling to defeat, Napoli played their part in a thrilling six-goal encounter.
Real led at the break even though Giovanni Simeone gave Napoli an early lead at the Bernabeu, before Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa levelled the match again at 2-2, but Carlo Ancelotti's side netted two late goals the put the game to bed in a 4-2 victory.
The reverse fixture in that campaign saw Real edge an entertaining encounter 3-2, as a thunderous strike from Federico Valverde, which cannoned off the back of Alex Meret in the Napoli goal, saw Los Blancos claim victory in a game where both sides led inside the first half again.
The Partenopei also provided Real Madrid with their first challenge on the way to lifting the Champions League in 2016-17 when they met in the last 16.
Almost all of the 78,000 inside the Bernabeu were left stunned when Lorenzo Insigne scored an incredibly audacious strike from around 40 yards out to put the visitors ahead in the first leg, but Real roared back to win 3-1, thanks to goals from Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos and Casemiro.
The scoreline was repeated in the second leg as Zinedine Zidane led his Real side into the quarter-finals, despite falling behind on the night again thanks to Dries Mertens's 24th-minute goal, but the Belgian went on to put through his own net as Napoli went down 3-1 again.
Back in 1987 when Diego Maradona led Napoli to a first-ever Scudetto, Napoli qualified for a maiden European Cup campaign.
However, standing in their way in the first round were the almighty Real Madrid, and even Maradona's greatness could not inspire Napoli to a win, as a 2-0 first leg defeat in Spain ultimately saw them crash out 3-1 on aggregate.
Previous meetings
Nov 29, 2023: Real Madrid 4-2 Napoli (Champions League Group Stage)
Oct 03, 2023: Napoli 2-3 Real Madrid (Champions League Group Stage)
Mar 07, 2017: Napoli 1-3 Real Madrid (Champions League Round of 16 second leg)
Feb 15, 2017: Real Madrid 3-1 Napoli (Champions League Round of 16 first leg)
Sep 30, 1987: Napoli 1-1 Real Madrid (European Cup First Round second leg)
Sep 16, 1987: Real Madrid 2-0 Napoli (European Cup First Round first leg)
Andrew Delaney
