Dominant and logical winner on the lawn of the Waldstadion in Frankfurt, Naples took a very good option for the quarter-finals of the Champions League by winning in Germany (2-0) on Tuesday evening, thanks in particular to the inevitable Victor Osimhen.
This success of the players of Luciano Spalletti gives them a good margin for the return match in three weeks in the Diego-Armando-Maradona stadium, where Eintracht Frankfurt, winner of the Europa League last season, will be forced to the exploit.
Red for Kolo Muani
Frankfurt will especially be deprived of its best player, Randal Kolo Muani, in the second leg, since the French vice-world champion received a direct red card just before the hour mark because of a dangerous play on Zambo Anguissa .
This season, in the queen competition, Naples only lost once, to Liverpool on the last day of the group stage in a game without stake since the Transalpins were already guaranteed to finish at the top of their group.
Tuesday evening, the Neapolitans confirmed this very fine European course, leaving little space for Kevin Trapp’s teammates. In the first half, the danger often came from the elusive Mexican winger Hirving Lozano, who gave Evan N’Dicka a bad night. It was on the right wing that Napoli’s first very dangerous situation came after half an hour of play. By deceiving N’Dicka’s vigilance, Lozano saw his shot fail on the post.
Frankfurt deprived of the ball
On the same action, Victor Osimhen obtained a penalty, after a foul at the edge of the penalty area by Aurélio Buta which mowed him down. But Kevin Trapp repelled Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s attempt, however only delaying the deadline for Eintracht, stifled by Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s teammates.
Faster than N’Dicka, Lozano served in the 40th minute a marvelous cross for Osimhen in the box, who perfectly concluded the action at the far post to score his second goal in the Champions League, he who had missed three matches of the group stage, with a thigh injury.
The top scorer in Serie A came close to scoring a brace within the next minute, only to find himself in an offside position after a cross from Lozano, who once again profited from an error from N’Dicka.
Frankfurt deprived of balloon
In the second half, Napoli completely deprived Frankfurt of the ball (66% possession), and the addition could have been more salty for Frankfurt, if Trapp had not won his duel against Kvaratshkelia (56th).
After the exclusion of Randal Kolo Muani (58th), Naples managed their match, and Kvaratskhelia delivered his fourth assist this season in C1, for the goal of captain Lorenzo in the 65th minute.
Despite the unwavering support of the 47,500 spectators at the Waldstadion, Frankfurt did not manage to create the slightest chance in the second half, against a central Neapolitan defense composed of Amir Rrahmani and very solid Kim Min-jae. Only Daichi Kamada in the 82nd scored a shot, without too much fear for Alex Maret.