Placing in one other thrilling Champions League show on Wednesday night time, Napoli booked their quarter-final ticket after cruising to a 3-0 romp in opposition to Eintracht Frankfurt.
Merely seeking to end off the job and keep away from a European collapse on the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona after selecting up a 2-0 first-leg win out in Germany on February twenty first, the Italian high-flyers have definitely laid down an actual marker.
With attacking talisman Victor Osimhen opening the scoring simply seconds earlier than the half-time break, will probably be the Nigerian marksman who will steal many of the headlines right here.
Ultimately leaving Naples with one other Champions League brace earlier than Polish worldwide Piotr Zielinski transformed from the spot simply after the hour mark, Osimhen and co hardly needed to get out of second gear for giant spells.
Storming their method to a routine 5-0 victory over the previous few weeks and punching their quarter-final spot with out breaking a lot of a sweat, Napoli additionally piled extra strain onto an Eintracht Frankfurt squad who’re enduring a current wobble.
On an evening when Luciano Spalletti’s facet laid down a heavyweights Champions League marker, what did we be taught from Wednesday’s showdown?
Napoli are a real Champions League contender this season
Making a right away return to successful methods final weekend as they picked up some good momentum because of a 2-0 victory at dwelling in opposition to Atalanta, Napoli discover themselves within the midst of what has turn into a history-making marketing campaign.
Already cementing their spot as Europe’s shock package deal this season, the Italian icons are breezing their method to a primary Serie A crown since manner again in 1990.
Solely persevering with to realize a string of plaudits on both facet of the World Cup’s festive break, the Azzurri may even be beginning to imagine that they will mount a real Champions League cost this season.
Holding a outstanding 18-point buffer on the prime of the Serie A desk and seeking to safe what can be a well-known European and home sweep this yr, Wednesday’s efficiency was definitely a serious assertion of intent.
Punching their Champions League quarter-final ticket in a rampant vogue, it’s no secret that Spalletti’s males have shortly gained a repute for his or her free-scoring shows within the closing third.
Whereas the likes of Manchester Metropolis may nonetheless discover themselves tipped as a number one contender to assert a primary European crown in 2023, there are few groups that might be relishing a quarter-final showdown in opposition to Napoli.
Osimhen is on the identical degree as Haaland
Whereas it might need been a sure Erling Haaland who stole of the headlines on Tuesday night time because the Manchester Metropolis sensation bagged 5 targets in opposition to RB Leipzig, it was Osimhen’s time to take heart stage right here.
With Napoli already mustering 19 Champions League strikes on their European journey this season, there is no such thing as a doubt that Napoli’s attacking talisman has performed a vital position.
Already cementing his spot as a modern-day icon on the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Osimhen has solely continued to underline his place as certainly one of Europe’s most deadly quantity nines.
Ultimately clinching a brace in Wednesday’s 3-0 romp and including to his Champions League tally after discovering the online out in Germany on February eleventh, the Nigerian ace has bagged 23 targets throughout all competitions this season.
Inflicting Frankfurt’s leaking defence a string of points right here, it’s no secret that Osimhen has a string of European heavyweights who’re all eager on snatching his signature this season.
Nonetheless, main the race to assert Serie A’s Golden Boot in 2023, the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea each know that it might take a bid within the area of £100million.
Frankfurt’s nightmare run continues
Though Eintracht Frankfurt might need shocked many as they punched their Champions League knockout stage ticket final yr, the Eagles will know that they face loads of scrutiny after one other downbeat show right here.
Regardless of making the journey to Naples on Wednesday night time understanding that they wanted a minor miracle following their 2-0 first-leg defeat final month, the Bundesliga outfit did not make any type of influence on international soil.
Watching their Champions League journey come to an finish with an actual whimper, the Eagles might handle only a single shot on track on the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Unable to name upon attacking talisman Randal Kolo Muani after the French worldwide was proven a straight pink card within the first-leg, Oliver Glasner’s males are within the midst of a worrying current blip.
Ultimately struggling a 5-0 mixture defeat by the hands of the Italian high-flyers, Frankfurt have now bagged only a single victory from any of their final seven appearances throughout all competitions – a run that stems again to February seventh.
Though Glasner’s facet might need impressed throughout their group stage flurry final yr, the way of Frankfurt’s European exit will probably be a bitter capsule to swallow.
Match Report
Napoli: Meret, Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Kim, Rui, Anguissa, Lobotka, Zielinski, Politano, Osimhen, Kvaratskheila
Subs: Elmas, Jesus, Lozano, Simeone, Ndombele
Eintracht Frankfurt: Trapp, Buta, Tuta, Ndicka, Lenz, Sow, Rode, Kamada, Gotze, Knauff, Borre
Subs: Max, Alldou, Jakic
Objectives: Osimhen (45+2′, 64′), Zielinski (64′ P)
Yellow Playing cards: Napoli: Jesus – Eintracht Frankfurt: Gotze, Lenz, Ndicka
Purple Playing cards: N/A
Referee: Anthony Taylor