Osimhen and Di Lorenzo give Napoli important win over Eintracht Frankfurt

Napoli took a big step toward the quarter-finals of the Champions League. In Frankfurt, the Serie A frontrunner was 2-0 too strong for Eintracht, the Bundesliga number six and last year’s Europa League winner.

Wednesday, March 15, the two teams will meet for the return in Naples. Randal Kolo Muani will not be in that match anyway: Eintracht’s French striker received a direct red card in the game with Napoli after an hour of play.

At that point it was already 0-1 due to a goal by Victor Osimhen in the first half. The goal, five minutes before halftime, could have been the Italians’ second goal at that point, but an earlier awarded penalty kick was kept out of his goal by Eintracht goalkeeper Kevin Trapp.

Even the chance that preceded the penalty kick could have resulted in a goal. Former PSV player Hirving Lozano got the ball played to him in the sixteen and shot at the post in a promising position. Osimhen went after the ball and in the process was fouled by defender Aurélio Buta, who had not seen Osimhen come out of his back.

From eleven yards, Chvitsja Kvaratschelia then lost the personal duel with Trapp.

Not long after, there were two big celebrations on the Italian side. First for the opening goal by Osimhen, who was able to tap in on Lozano’s pass, and a minute later for an identical goal by the Nigerian, but this time he was offside on Lozano’s pass.

After halftime, Napoli, which is virtually unbeatable in Italy and is well on its way to the Italian title with a 15-point lead, turned their thumbs up considerably.It produced substantial chances for Lozano and Kvaratschelia, but each time Trapp stood well in the way.

Eintracht thus stayed on their feet, but had to shift down a gear when Kolo Muani was forced off the pitch. The French striker, who at times in the first half proved to be quite a hand basket for the Napoli defense, stepped firmly on André-Frank Zambo Anguissa’s foot in an attempt to tap the ball away and was allowed to retire.

Not long after, the highlight of the match followed. After a wonderfully sensitive pass from Zambo Anguissa, Kvaratschelia took the ball, made a pirouette and laid the ball with the heel at the feet of Giovanni di Lorenzo who finished in a controlled manner.

In the sequel, Napoli was still pressing, but there were no more big chances. The best was even for the home team, but Daichi Kamada forgot to bring back the tension in the match.