Is Sergio Ramos Now Real Madrid’s Best Player?

Sergio Ramos is a man who has made a habit of scoring late or decisive goals and here he was again, transforming Real’s destiny when the tie appeared to be slipping away.

When Ramos rose to flick a Toni Kroos corner past Pepe Reina in the 51st minute, he proved that he has not lost his knack. His ninth goal of the season, bettering what was already his best haul for a single campaign, was followed six minutes later by another as the Spanish defender broke double figures for the first time in his career, and we’re only just into March. (The goal was later awarded to Dries Mertens as an own goal.)

It meant Napoli needed to score four; it meant Real were through, thanks to a man with true Champions League calibre.

Ramos has done this many times before: Just ask Atletico Madrid and Barcelona. He broke the hearts of Real’s city rivals in two consecutive Champions League finals, first netting a 93rd-minute equaliser (after 92 minutes and 48 seconds to be precise) in Lisbon in 2014, effectively a dagger to the heart of an Atleti side who were already celebrating on the inside.

The Real captain dished out more cruelty to the same opponents in Milan just under 10 months ago, putting his team in front and then netting their penultimate penalty in the shootout, handing Cristiano Ronaldo another championship.

Two Ramos goals in four minutes killed off Bayern Munich in the 2013-14 semifinals and it was he who salvaged a 1-1 draw in the last Clasico in December, a goal that effectively kept Real just a point behind their rivals with a game in hand, rather than four adrift.

On Tuesday night, Ramos’ interventions were again crucial and proof of his class.

Napoli’s performance, on the other hand, confirmed that they have yet to discover this class. Quick and powerful out of the blocks, just like they had been at the Santiago Bernabeu, Napoli once again fell short in their bid to muscle in among Europe’s leading clubs. Tuesday’s Champions League exit might raise more questions than offer the answers president Aurelio De Laurentiis had been hoping to see after his criticism of the tactics employed in the first leg.

Dries Mertens gave the seismologists something to register with his opening goal and as his shot struck the post in the 38th minute, there was an air of belief that this could indeed be Napoli’s consecration. But like so many times in Napoli’s recent history, however, they could not go the distance.

Coach Maurizio Sarri has formed a team that plays arguably the most attractive football in Serie A. Their quick-passing, attack-minded style may be enough to overrun most if not all their Italian rivals, but on the continent’s top stage, it still does not cut it.

This shortcoming was already evident in the first half when Napoli were dominating; one sensed that it would take just one mistake to ruin all their good work. On two occasions, Real had chances to go in front after a misplaced pass was pounced upon. Cristiano Ronaldo hit the post in what was an otherwise opaque first half from the Ballon d’Or winner, but he and his team then showed a quality that Napoli have yet to learn.

The incisive, clinical edge Real displayed in six second-half minutes is something Napoli now need to discover if they are to come back stronger next season. A 2-1 victory over Roma in Serie A last weekend shows they do not necessarily freeze when the stakes are high, a result got them back in the hunt for Italy’s second automatic starting berth in next season’s Champions League, but that game may also have contributed to Tuesday night’s elimination.

Tiredness, both physically and mentally, didn’t just creep into their game following Ramos’ first goal; it overwhelmed them. While Real have had years understanding how to dose their energy successfully for a rhythm of a game every three to four days, Napoli are still learning it.

The potential is there, and they showed it in glimpses over the two legs, but now they need to show it over a more prolonged period if they are to take the next step and have teams like Real on the ropes for more than just 45 minutes.

They may not yet have a team capable of winning the Champions League, but Napoli certainly have fans the envy of Europe.

“The pressure should all be on Real Madrid,” said Sarri before the match. “They are the world champions, they are the European champions, they are the richest club in the world and so they are expected to go through, but we have the best fans in the world and we will see that [on Tuesday].”

The 59,140 fans at the Stadio San Paolo — at least according to the official figures, without considering how many had also sneaked a way in — proved Sarri right. Lines had been forming outside the stadium from as early as midday. When the gates opened at 3 p.m. local time, still five hours and 45 minutes prior to kick-off, the rush to get in suggested the game was about to get underway. There had been over 200,000 ticket requests for a game an entire city wanted to see.

City centre traders expected a dip in business, closing early to ensure their staff could get home to watch the game. Some shops did not even open. “Closed due to nerves” was the sign hung on the shutters of one store.

It was a night when an entire city was united in support of its football club, one of those uniquely Neapolitan experiences. The now customary karaoke chorus of the Champions League anthem was followed by a first intonation of the club’s own (unofficial) anthem, “Un giorno all’improvviso” or “One day, all of a sudden.”

Un giorno all’improvviso, mi innamorai di te. / Il cuore mi batteva, non chiedermi perché. / Di tempo ne è passato, ma siamo ancora qua. / E oggi come allora difendo la Città

(One day, all of a sudden, I fell in love with you / My heart was beating faster, don’t ask me why / It was a long time ago, but here we are still / And today like then, I am going to defend this city)

Their team may not have been able to deliver the result they were looking for, but the fans’ love will not waver, and they will still be there when Napoli embark on their next Champions League campaign.