UCL 2022-23: Eintracht Frankfurt vs Napoli: Predicted lineup, injury news, head-to-head, telecast

The Serie A league leaders will travel to the Deutsche Bank Park for the Round of 16 tie.

On Tuesday night, the Partenopeans and Serie A leaders Napoli will travel to the Deutsche Bank Park to face Europa League Champions Eintracht Frankfurt for the first leg of the Round of 16 in the UEFA Champions League.

Frankfurt have enjoyed life in Bundesliga and their sudden surge in form has lifted them to 6th in the table. Two points behind the all-important Champions League spot in the domestic league table. Frankfurt qualified for the knockout stages to face Napoli after a late comeback against Sporting Lisbon on the last match day. They were rooted at the bottom of the group heading into Matchday 6 but results turned in their favour as they themselves defeated Sporting Lisbon by 2-1. Eintracht Frankfurt have only lost two of their 11 matches against Italian opposition to date (W6, D3). They are going unbeaten in each of the recent four (W3, D1).

Napoli have cemented their place on the summit of Serie A and are now 15 points ahead of Inter Milan with just 15 games to play. An impressive run in this edition of the Champions League saw them scoring goals for fun. They netted 20 times in the group stage, the highest in the competition this campaign. Finishing on top of Group A amidst the likes of Ajax and Liverpool. Napoli have certainly been a force to reckon with in this edition. Napoli have won their last two away games against German sides in European competition, beating Wolfsburg 4-1 in April 2015 and RB Leipzig 2-0 in February 2018.

Kick-off

Wednesday, 22-02-2023, 01:30 am (IST),

Tuesday, 21-02-2023, 08:00 pm: (GMT)

Frankfurt form (all competition): W-L-W-W-D

Napoli form (all competition): W-W-W-W-W

Player to watch

Eintracht Frankfurt

Randal Kolo Muani

The World Cup hero for France who almost turned the final on its head in the last minute of added-on time has been the most important player for Die Adler. Kolo Muani also has a languid dribbling style and immense turn of speed that were hallmarks of Henry's game. Especially considering his age - only 24 years old. He bears similar strength on the ball and a cheekiness to his play that leaves defenders both in his wake and cutting frustrated figures.

Napoli

Victor Osimhen

He has been relentless by all means in front of goal and his partnership with Kvaratskhelia up front has been a real menace for opposition defenders. Even the likes of Van Dijk, and Daley Blind were unable to suppress his talent. It remains a huge task for Glasner to mitigate how to stop this forward.

Match facts

• This will be the third meeting between Eintracht Frankfurt and Napoli, with the German side winning the previous two in the last 16 of the UEFA Cup in 1994-95 (1-0 home and away).
• Eintracht Frankfurt have won their last 2 matches in the UEFA Champions League (2-1 against Sporting CP and Marseille), with Oliver Glasner being the only Austrian manager to win consecutive matches in the competition.
• Eintracht Frankfurt will be the 11th different German team to play in the knockout stages of the UEFA Champions League, making them the only nation with more than teams to have reached this stage of the competition (Spain on 10).

Injury and team news

Eric Junior Dina Ebimbe remains sidelined for the hosts with an ankle injury, while young midfielder Marcel Wenig is a doubt. Tuta will be getting back into the midfield alongside Kamada and Sow to guard the back line backline for Glasner’s men. The pairing of Gotze and Kolo Muani upfront has looked increasingly sumptuous with every passing day and it will be something they will try to capitalize from.

As far as Napoli are concerned, there are no notable misses for Spalletti’s side that make their way to the Deutsche Bank Park. The normal pairing of Lozano, Kvaratskhelia and Osimhen is expected up front to provide the goods while the midfield three might be shifted with like-for-like replacements.

Head-to-Head stats

Matches: 2

Eintracht Frankfurt: 2

Draws: 0

Napoli: 0

Predicted lineup

Eintracht Frankfurt predicted lineup (3-4-2-1):

Trapp: Smolcic, N’Dicka, Tuta: Buta, Kamada, Sow, Max: Lindstrom, Gotze: Kolo Muani

Napoli predicted lineup (4-3-3):

Meret; Di Lorenzo, Kim, Rrahmani, Rui; Anguissa, Lobotka, Zielinski; Lozano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia

Prediction

This isn’t going to be a one-sided affair as both the teams have been reluctant when it comes to their backline in the Champions League. Instead, we’re going to witness a real spectacle in Frankfurt, probably with plenty of goals on each end. Nevertheless, we do think the home side will be the one to edge past the visitors and take a slender lead in the first leg.

Prediction:  Napoli 2-1 Eintracht Frankfurt

Telecast Details

India- Sony Six, Sony Six HD, Sony TEN 1 and Sony TEN 1 HD.

USA- CBS Sports.

UK- BT Sport.

Nigeria- SuperSport.