Napoli reaches UCL quarterfinals for first time with 3-0 win against Frankfurt

Napoli defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 5-0 on aggregate to book a maiden spot in the Champions League quarterfinals.

Published : Mar 16, 2023 03:23 IST - 2 MINS READ

Napoli’s Piotr Zielinski celebrates scoring their third goal with teammates.
Napoli’s Piotr Zielinski celebrates scoring their third goal with teammates. | Photo Credit: REUTERS
infoIcon

Napoli’s Piotr Zielinski celebrates scoring their third goal with teammates. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

Napoli forward Victor Osimhen struck either side of the break to steer the Italians to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt on Wednesday and into the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time.

The 24-year-old Nigeria international, who also scored in the side’s 2-0 win over Eintracht in Germany, scored with a header in first-half stoppage time.

Osimhen then bagged his 23rd goal in 28 matches in all competitions this season with a tap-in after a quick four-pass Napoli combination in the 53rd minute before Piotr Zielinski converted a penalty to secure a 5-0 aggregate win.

Prior to the game fighting broke out in the Italian city as fans set a police car on fire and threw stones at buses and police.

Italian authorities had banned German fans from attending the game amid concerns about possible violence, but some Eintracht supporters made the trip to Italy anyway.

It was peaceful inside the Diego Maradona stadium and the host was in control from the start.

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia went close with a mazy run into the box in the 19th minute and the Georgian was denied again in the 43rd with keeper Kevin Trapp kicking the winger’s close-range shot wide.

Osimhen opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time after being given far too much space in the box to rise high and head in a measured Matteo Politano cross.

That meant Europa League champion Frankfurt needed three goals, but it struggled against a well-drilled Napoli defence, with its two top strikers strikers -- suspended Randal Kolo Muani and injured Jesper Lindstrom -- missing.

Frankfurt was also under pressure from Napoli’s relentless pressing game and it was Osimhen who scored again. He tapped in from close range to kill off any hopes of a German comeback, becoming the first Napoli player to score in both legs of a Champions League knockout match.

The Serie A leaders capped a superb two-legged performance with Zielinski’s penalty after the Pole was brought down in the box.

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment