Bellingham on target as Real win at Napoli, Lens stun Arsenal, More woes for United.

Staff Reporter.

Jude Bellingham further enhanced his status as Real Madrid’s star player, scoring and assisting as they beat Italian champions Napoli 3-2 at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in the Champions League.

The England midfielder carried the ball from 40 yards out, charged deep into Napoli’s defensive third and then proceeded to weave his way through their backline before curling a shot cutely into the bottom right corner to give his side a 2-1 lead at half-time.

Defender Leo Ostigard had earlier put Napoli in front in the 19th minute, reacting quickest to head in after Natan’s effort came back off the crossbar, but Vinicius Jr levelled for Real when he was played through on goal by Bellingham.

Napoli came out with intent in the second period and their hard work was rewarded when Piotr Zielinski equalised from the penalty spot.

Referee Clement Turpin did not initially give the penalty when Victor Osimhen’s shot was blocked by Nacho Fernandez but, following a video assistant referee check, the French official was told to take another look on the pitch side monitor and he overturned his decision.

Real grabbed the winner with just over 10 minutes left when Federico Valverde’s thunderbolt of a shot cannoned off the crossbar and went in via the back of goalkeeper Alex Meret.

Meanwhile Elye Wahi put in an excellent performance as Lens came from behind to shock Arsenal 2-1l in the Champions League.

Wahi’s first-time finish into the bottom left corner after a cross from Przemyslaw Frankowski saw the home side take the lead in the 69th minute.

The Gunners rode some early pressure from Lens before Gabriel Jesus opened the scoring after a 14th-minute through-ball from Bukayo Saka, who then went off injured.

Lens levelled with a superb finish from Adrien Thomasson, who curled into the far corner.

Saka went off after 33 minutes in another blow for Mikel Arteta’s side on a difficult night in Europe’s top-tier competition.

Elsewhere Manchester United‘s woeful season lurches from one damaging loss to another as Galatasaray took advantage of some calamitous defending to record a comeback Champions League 3-2 win at Old Trafford.

Ten-man United led twice through young striker Rasmus Hojlund, the second a brilliant effort as the 20-year-old took advantage of Davinson Sanchez’s slip to race 50 yards and beat Fernando Muslera with a deft finish.

But the hosts could only hold their advantage for a combined 10 minutes, as first old-boy Wilfried Zaha, then Kerem Akturkoglu levelled.

Then, after Mauro Icardi had failed to convert the penalty that followed a terrible Andre Onana mistake that led to Casemiro’s red card, the Argentine made amends when he sped clear of the hosts’ defence nine minutes from time and found the finish.

It is the first time United have started a Champions League group-stage campaign with successive defeats, and piles the pressure on manager Erik ten Hag, whose side are bottom of the table, four points behind their visitors who are second, behind Bayern Munich.

United have now lost two on the trot following Saturday’s Premier League defeat by Crystal Palace, five of their past seven games and six out of 10 in all competitions since the start of the season.

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