Casemiro scores with a volley from 30 meters, putting Real Madrid one step closer to the quarter-finals.

Midfielder Casemiro scored a spectacular goal to help Real Madrid defeat Napoli 3-1 in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16.

Goals: Benzema 19', Kroos 49', Casemiro 54' - Insigne 8'

The star midfielder wearing the number 14 shirt shone brightly when he unleashed a volley from approximately 30 meters out, from the right wing of Real's attacking formation. After the shot, the ball traveled in a rainbow arc at such speed that goalkeeper Pepe Reina could only watch helplessly.

Casemiro scored a memorable goal against Napoli. Photo: Reuters

Before Casemiro scored, Real had already come from behind to lead Napoli 2-1. Dani Carvajal flicked the ball with the outside of his foot to Benzema's equalizer, and Ronaldo passed the ball to Kroos who slotted it home for the next goal.

Napoli only managed to surprise in the early stages of the match. In the eighth minute, exploiting a positional error by goalkeeper Keylor Navas, Lorenzo Insigne curled a shot from about 30 meters to open the scoring. This goal caused considerable anxiety among Real Madrid fans, until Benzema equalized.

Insigne celebrates after scoring the opening goal.

Napoli also had several other good opportunities but couldn't convert them into goals. The most notable of these was Mertens' curling shot in the 68th minute from just 10 meters, which narrowly missed the Real Madrid crossbar.

The reigning champions also had several opportunities to extend their lead to 4-1 but failed to convert them. In a rare start for Real, James Rodriguez disappointed by shooting straight at goalkeeper Pepe Reina. Marcelo also let the fans down with a close-range diagonal shot that went wide by a meter.

Real's narrow victory may be due to Ronaldo not being in his best form. Apart from the pass to Kroos, CR7 didn't create any situations that would have forced Pepe Reina into a difficult position. Both of Ronaldo's unmarked shots went wide of the goal.

Kroos placed a precise shot into the net after a pass from Ronaldo.

With a 3-1 victory in the first leg, Real Madrid holds a significant advantage in the quarter-finals. In the second leg in Italy, the defending champions can afford to lose by just one goal and still advance.

Meanwhile, a goal at the Bernabeu gives Napoli hope to try harder. If they win 2-0 in the second leg, the Italian team will advance to the quarter-finals on the away goals rule.

According to VNE