Both licking their wounds from heavy defeats, Napoli and Eintracht Frankfurt collide at the iconic Stadio Maradona on Tuesday night. With both teams desperate to reignite their Champions League campaigns, expect fireworks in southern Italy.
Table of Contents
Napoli vs Eintracht Frankfurt: Match Essentials
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Competition | UEFA Champions League (League Phase) |
| Date | Tuesday |
| Venue | Stadio Maradona, Naples |
| Napoli Form (UCL) | L-W-L |
| Frankfurt Form (UCL) | W-L-L |
| Last Meeting | Napoli 2-0 Frankfurt (2022-23 UCL) |
| Napoli Home Record (UCL) | 1 loss in last 18 matches |
| Expected Goals | High-scoring encounter likely |
Napoli: Fortress Under Pressure
Antonio Conte’s side currently tops Serie A, but their Champions League journey has been turbulent. After falling 2-0 to Manchester City and edging past Sporting Lisbon, disaster struck against PSV Eindhoven—a 6-2 hammering despite Scott McTominay’s brace.
The red card curse has haunted them twice already this campaign, disrupting their rhythm at crucial moments. However, domestic form offers hope. Recent victories over Inter Milan and Lecce showcase their resilience, while Napoli’s home fortress at the Maradona remains formidable—just one defeat in their last 18 Champions League matches there.
Goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic has emerged as an unlikely hero, saving penalties in consecutive matches. His heroics kept Como at bay last Saturday, maintaining Napoli’s unbeaten home record this season.
Injury News: Billy Gilmour faces a late fitness test after picking up a muscular problem. The good news? Midfield anchor Stanislav Lobotka returned to the bench, while defender Amir Rrahmani made his first start in two months. Rasmus Hojlund, who boasts seven goals in eight Champions League appearances, should lead the line.
Eintracht Frankfurt: Defensive Disaster
Frankfurt’s season has been a rollercoaster of extremes. After crushing Galatasaray 5-1 on opening matchday, Die Adler have suffered identical 5-1 thrashings against Atletico Madrid and Liverpool. The pattern is alarming: they’ve conceded 25 goals in their last eight matches across all competitions.
Manager Dino Toppmoller faces mounting pressure following a DFB-Pokal penalty shootout loss to Borussia Dortmund and a disappointing 1-1 draw with bottom-placed Heidenheim. Currently sixth in the Bundesliga, they’re far from last season’s third-place finish.
Yet Frankfurt remain dangerous going forward. They’ve scored at least twice in eight of their 14 games this season, with Fares Chaibi leading the Bundesliga assists chart with five contributions. Jonathan Burkardt has been lethal, netting six goals in eight league appearances.
Team News: Oscar Hojlund will miss the family reunion with brother Rasmus due to a thigh injury. Can Uzun limped off against Heidenheim, likely replaced by veteran Mario Götze. The attacking firepower remains potent, but defensive fragility is their Achilles’ heel.
Tactical Battle
Expect Conte to exploit Frankfurt’s defensive vulnerabilities through quick transitions and width. McTominay’s box-to-box dynamism could prove decisive, while Hojlund’s Champions League pedigree makes him a constant threat.
Frankfurt must tighten defensively while relying on Chaibi’s creativity and Burkardt’s finishing. Their best chance lies in capitalizing on set-pieces and catching Napoli on the counter.
Head-to-Head History
These clubs last met in the 2022-23 Champions League, with Napoli winning 2-0 in Germany. Their previous encounter dates back to the 1995 UEFA Cup Round of 16, when Frankfurt triumphed over both legs. History slightly favors the Germans, but Napoli’s recent dominance at home shifts the balance.
Match Prediction
Napoli 2-1 Eintracht Frankfurt. The Partenopei’s home fortress combined with Frankfurt’s defensive frailties should tip the scales. Conte’s men need this victory to revive their European ambitions, and the Maradona crowd will provide that extra push.
FAQs
Q: What is Napoli’s Champions League home record?
A: Napoli have lost just once in their last 18 Champions League home matches at the Stadio Maradona—a defeat to Real Madrid two years ago. They’ve won 11 of those fixtures, making them formidable hosts.
Q: How many goals has Eintracht Frankfurt conceded recently?
A: Frankfurt have conceded an alarming 25 goals in their last eight matches across all competitions, including back-to-back 5-1 defeats to Atletico Madrid and Liverpool in the Champions League.
