Eintracht Frankfurt have it all to do when they travel to Naples to take on Napoli in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday.
Italian giants Napoli will be keen to add the finishing touches against Eintracht Frankfurt and secure their first-ever qualification to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.
Goals from Victor Osimhen and Giovanni Di Lorenzo made the difference in Frankfurt as Napoli put in the perfect away day display, smothering their opponents and ensuring they return with an advantage to defend. As long as Luciano Spalletti’s men keep their heads, it should be a regulation fixture for them at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
Napoli will be keen to avoid a repeat of their 2011/12 campaign where they let Chelsea steamroll them 4-1. Frankfurt are, with all due respect, a far inferior opposition and will also be without their star attacker in Randal Kolo Muani.
Oliver Glasner’s men have failed to win a single game since their loss in the return leg, managing two draws and a loss in their three Bundesliga games during this period. Die Adler have no choice but to attack from the go in Naples, and this could work in the home side’s favour.
Napoli have lost just once in Europe this season, a rather convincing defeat away to Liverpool in the group stages. However, they dismantled the Reds 4-1 at home in a ruthless display that had Europe sit up and take notice.
Frankfurt went on a dream run to secure the UEFA Europa League crown last season. Overturning the 2-0 deficit against Napoli to progress to the quarter-finals will see them top that and put in a night to remember for their fans. The Italian job is not impossible, and a lot will depend on who scores first on the night. The Hard Tackle looks at how both sides could line up on the night and what tactics they might employ.
Team News & Tactics
SSC Napoli
📌 Monday morning traininghttps://t.co/ocmjCqkqgR
— Official SSC Napoli (@en_sscnapoli) March 13, 2023
The Serie A leaders were stunned at home by Lazio earlier this month. But they rallied to down Atalanta at the weekend to re-establish their 18-point lead at the top of the table.
Luciano Spalletti’s men have not just played other teams off the park but have also shown the mental fortitude of champions. While the first Scudetto since the Diego Maradona era beckons, Europe remains an undiscovered frontier for the Gli Azzurri.
Progressing to the final eight will in itself see them make history and put them within touching distance of perhaps writing a new chapter in footballing folklore. Napoli are the dark horses, and one would imagine that it suits them well.
First-choice goalkeeper Alex Meret is expected to return to the playing XI, while defender Kim Min-jae is likely to shake off a knock to feature. Hirving Lozano remains in contention despite a muscle injury, while Giacomo Raspadori is still ruled out as he continues to recover from a thigh injury.
Napoli are likely to retain faith in their 4-3-3 formation that has worked a charm all season. Meret should return in goal behind the back four of Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Kim Min-jae, Amir Rrahmani and Mario Rui.
Stanislav Lobotka will be expected to anchor the midfield, giving Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Piotr Zielinski the freedom to push forward. This will allow Matteo Politano and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to provide the width and link up with Victor Osimhen upfront.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Meret; Di Lorenzo, Kim, Rrahmani, Rui; Anguissa, Lobotka, Zielinski; Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia
Eintracht Frankfurt
The German side have a mountain to climb and will have their work cut out in the absence of Randal Kolo Muani. The French striker could not have picked a worse time to get suspended and will be missed by the visitors at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.
Frankfurt will also be without the injured duo of Eric Junior Dina Ebimbe and Jesper Lindstrom. Oliver Glasner has an otherwise fully-fit squad at his disposal and is likely to deploy the playing XI in a 3-4-2-1 formation.
While playing three at the back is a massive risk against a team like Napoli, the wing-backs are likely to drop back to make it a back five. It also gives the visitors the option to counterattack whenever Napoli are caught out of position. Given that they cannot play it safe on the night, Frankfurt might as well go for it.
#SGE have named a 21-man travelling squad for Wednesday’s @ChampionsLeague tie with @sscnapoli. 🦅#NapoliSGE | #SGEuropa pic.twitter.com/owCXyHJfWY
— Eintracht Frankfurt (@eintracht_eng) March 14, 2023
Kevin Trapp should start in goal behind the defensive three of Tuta, Makoto Hasebe and Evan Ndicka. Philipp Max and Aurelio Buta will start as the full-backs and will have key roles at either end of the pitch on the night. The duo will also be tasked with keeping Hirving Lozano and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia quiet, a difficult proposition in the easiest of times.
Doing so will handicap Victor Osimhen, starving him of service. However, much will also depend on how the midfield duo of Sebastian Rode and Djibril Sow assert dominance centrally. Daichi Kamada and Mario Gotze are likely to be deployed as dual number tens, acting in a playmaking role behind striker Rafael Borre, who will lead the Frankfurt attack on the night.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Trapp; Tuta, Hasebe, Ndicka; Buta, Sow, Rode, Max; Kamada, Gotze; Borre
Key Stats
- Napoli are on a two-game winning streak against German opponents in all competitions.
- Eintracht Frankfurt have travelled to Naples just once, winning the UEFA Cup Round of 16 clash in 1994 by a score line of 1-0. Both teams have faced off thrice so far, with Napoli winning once and Eintracht Frankfurt coming out on top twice.
- Progress on the night will see Napoli make it to the quarter-final of the competition for the first time in their history.
- Eintracht Frankfurt have not failed to score in any of their away games in the UEFA Champions League this season.
- Napoli have scored 22 goals in the competition so far this campaign, the third-highest of any Italian side in a single Champions League run so far.
Player to Watch
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has been incredible in his first season for Napoli 😲 pic.twitter.com/gzXz0t55Mj
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) March 13, 2023
The 22-year-old has already made four assists in the UEFA Champions League this season, more than any other player in the club’s colours in a single European campaign. He averages a goal contribution per game and is likely to once again be a handful for opposition defenders.
Kvaratskhelia is not just a goalscorer but also a creator who has formed a brilliant relationship with Victor Osimhen and Hirving Lozano in the front three. Having scored at the weekend against Atalanta, Kvaratskhelia will take some stopping should he be allowed to set the pace of the game.
Prediction
Napoli 2-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
Without Randal Kolo Muani, Frankfurt lack bite upfront, and it could come back to haunt them at full-time. Napoli are a beast at home and will seek to score the opener and put the game to bed. It is likely to be an open game, with Frankfurt given no choice but to attack. This should play into Napoli’s hands, letting them set the tempo and secure a comfortable win on the night.