Unlucky Alex Meret Hands Real Madrid Win At Napoli

Alex Meret's unfortunate own goal handed Real Madrid a 3-2 win at Napoli on Wednesday which moved the Spanish giants top in Champions League Group C. Italian international goalkeeper Meret could do nothing to stop Federico Valverde's powerful, deflected shot crashing out off the bar and back into the goal off his outstretched arm 12 minutes from the end of an entertaining clash in Naples. That unlucky rebound maintained Madrid's perfect start to the group stage and moved them three points clear of both the Italian champions and Braga, 3-2 winners over bottom side Union Berlin earlier on Tuesday.

"It was a difficult match, very hard-fought right until the last minute," said Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti to Sky Sport in Italy.

"It seems absurd to me that that goal is given as a Meret own goal... Valverde is a great player and a great midfielder, he creates a lot and that was a great strike."

Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham scored the away side's other goals on former Napoli coach Ancelotti's return to southern Italy, giving Madrid a half-time lead after Leo Ostigard headed the hosts in front in the 19th minute.

England midfielder Bellingham, who also set up Vinicius' smart low finish, has now scored eight times in his first nine Madrid matches in all competitions and looked a class above most of the other players on the pitch.

"What's so amazing about Bellingham is that he's only 20. He has great quality, a strong personality and character," added Ancelotti.

"He's a young man of 20 who's showing everyone what extraordinary talent he has."

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