MY ACCOUNT
– Napoli won five of their six games in the Champions League group stage
– Eintracht Frankfurt won just one of three home games in the group stage
– Recommended bet: Napoli to win
The first legs of Champions League knockout ties are typically low-scoring, tentative affairs but Eintracht Frankfurt’s clash with Napoli at Deutsche Bank Park on Tuesday promises to be anything but that.
Napoli are a force to be reckoned with this season, having taken Serie A by storm with a 15-point lead at the summit, and Luciano Spalletti’s men have been touted as dark horses to win this season’s Champions League.
But standing in their way in the last 16 is an Eintracht Frankfurt team who also like to upset the apple cart, having won the Europa League last campaign.
Team news
Eintracht Frankfurt will have to do without right wing-back Dina Ebimbe, while midfielder Sebastian Rode is dealing with illness and is unlikely to feature.
The good news for Napoli is their top scorer Victor Osimhen has shaken off an injury and is in line to start but they will be without fellow forward Giacomo Raspadori.
The stats
Napoli have been exceptional in Serie A this season, winning 20 of their 23 matches, firing 56 goals in the process and conceding only 15 times.
But they were also in fine form in the group stage of the Champions League earlier this season, winning five of their six matches in a section featuring Liverpool, Ajax and Rangers.
Goals will surely be on the cards in this one given that both teams like to get forwards and Eintracht Frankfurt have seen an average of 3.55 goals per game in their home fixtures in the Bundesliga this season.
Napoli striker Osimhen is one to keep an eye on with the forward leading the way in Serie A’s scoring charts this season with 18 goals in 19 matches.
Prediction
Eintracht Frankfurt should not be written off entirely in this contest, especially given how much stronger they are at the Deutsche Bank Park than on their travels, but this is a special Napoli team.
It is hard to pinpoint a weakness in Spalletti’s side, who have the most prolific attack and the tightest defence in Serie A and barely broke a sweat in the group stage.
Any suggestions that Napoli are flat-track bullies merely making the most of playing in a subpar division were blown away in the Champions League group stage as they topped Group A with 20 goals scored and only six conceded.
Their group-stage campaign featured eye-catching away wins against Rangers (3-0) and Ajax (6-1) as well as a 4-1 dismantling of Liverpool at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia has been a revelation on the wing for Napoli this season, while striker Osimhen is finally showing his true potential through the middle and midfielder Piotr Zielinski looked in good shape in the group stage.
Eintracht Frankfurt will be well aware of Napoli’s attacking riches and may consider the best approach to the tie to be an attacking one and they also have players who can cause problems in the final third, including Randal Kolo Muani, who is on ten goals in the Bundesliga.
This should be an explosive first leg and is one not to be missed.
A Napoli win looks the best bet in this contest at 23/20 with LiveScore Bet.
