Deutsche Bank Park plays host to Eintracht Frankfurt’s first-ever game in the Champions League knockout stage as runaway Serie A leaders Napoli come to town on Tuesday.
Sought-after striker Randal Kolo Muani found the net in Die Adler’s routine 2-0 home victory over Werder Bremen at the weekend to help his side keep pace with the Bundesliga top four.
It was Frankfurt’s third multi-goal margin triumph in their last four outings in domestic competitions (L1), but this is uncharted territory for last season’s Europa League winners.
Oliver Glasner led his side to a historic triumph in Europe’s second-tier competition last term, overcoming Scottish powerhouse Rangers in the grand final to bring home the first piece of European silverware since 1980.
But Frankfurt could be well over their heads here, with high-flying Napoli touching down in Germany to maintain their remarkable campaign on multiple fronts.
Dynamic duo Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Victor Osimhen added to their tally as Luciano Spalletti’s charges brushed Sassuolo aside 2-0 on Friday night to preserve a 15-point lead at the Serie A summit.
And while they’re seemingly on the verge of snapping a 33-year Scudetto wait, the Italian giants have lifted expectations, especially after a sublime Champions League group-stage campaign.
Except for a 2-0 loss at Liverpool on the final matchday, Napoli won all five remaining games in Group A to progress as group winners for the first time since 2016/17.
Match Preview
Eintracht Frankfurt
Frankfurt navigated a nerve-shredding Group D finale to advance into the Champions League group stages for the first time in the club’s history, finishing runners-up to Tottenham Hotspur.
Though their victory in this tie would have to come at long odds, Die Adler fans must be safe in the knowledge their heroes have only lost two of their 19 European fixtures under Glasner (W10, D7).
On top of Frankfurt’s impressive continental run under the former Wolfsburg boss, the Germans have been on the receiving end in only two of their 11 previous encounters against Italian opposition (W6, D3).
Napoli
Napoli’s sublime form during the Champions League group phase saw them make it to the round of 16 for the first time since 2019/29, doing so as the most prolific team in the competition with 20 goals.
Spalletti’s men have been in scintillating form since suffering a shock Coppa Italia exit to Cremonese in mid-January, racking up five straight wins in Serie A, four of which came by 2+ goals ‘to nil.’
Another triumphant trip is on the cards, with Napoli winning their last two European clashes against German opponents by multi-goal margins after going winless in the first ten beforehand (D5, L5).
Eintracht Frankfurt vs Napoli Potential Line-ups
Eintracht Frankfurt (3-4-2-1): Kevin Trapp; Hrvoje Smolcic, Evan N’Dicka, Tuta; Aurelio Buta, Daichi Kamada, Djibril Sow, Philipp Max; Jesper Lindstrom, Mario Gotze; Randal Kolo Muani.
Napoli (4-3-3): Alex Meret; Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Kim Min-jae, Amir Rrahmani, Mario Rui; Stanislav Lobotka, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Piotr Zielinski; Hirving Lozano, Victor Osimhen, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
How to Watch?
Frankfurt vs Napoli, alongside all other matches in Europe’s most prestigious club competition this season, is available to watch online via Champions League live streams.
And if you are interested in attending a future UCL game, see our Champions League tickets page for more information.
Eintracht Frankfurt vs Napoli Prediction
Frankfurt know a thing or two about building a fortress, as evidenced by their stellar 100% win ratio across four competitive home matches in 2023, averaging three goals per game.
But if there’s a side able to disrupt the harmony and tear the German’s home stronghold apart, it’s Napoli, who netted at least three goals on two of their three Champions League travels this season.
We don’t expect the Partenopei to decide this tie on Tuesday, yet we can envisage the visitors’ narrow win.
Eintracht Frankfurt 1-2 Napoli
