Eintracht Frankfurt has to play in the Champions League in Naples – and nothing is normal. Safety concerns and upsets predominate, but there is a lot at stake in terms of sport.
There is nothing normal about this trip from Eintracht Frankfurt. Nothing at all. The Hessians have to play in the Champions League on matchday four in Naples and the dominant topic one day before the game (Tuesday from 6.45 p.m. in the hr-iNFO audio stream) is not the important sporting encounter – but the surroundings.
Because: Hesse fans are not allowed in the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on TuesdayAccording to a decision by the Naples Prefecture, the Frankfurters have to play through the game without their own supporters. Things are simmering when Eintracht competes in the city on Vesuvius on Tuesday.
Ice age at management level
At the management level there is the latest since the recent fan exclusion Completely ice age anyway, only Markus Krösche and Philipp Reschke from the board are there in Naples, the rest save themselves the trip to southern Italy. What for? After all the drama, the Eintracht management doesn’t feel like having a friendly exchange with those responsible for the SSC. It’s just about the game. There, back, in the best case three points on top.
But the fact that just going there and back is anything but normal shows how hot the dance on Vesuvius is. In Germany there were checks by the federal police on flights from Frankfurt on Monday, In Italy, IDs are checked at the airports upon entry. Free travel within the EU? Suspended for a short time. The mood is tense, you can feel that everywhere.
Eintracht under sporting pressure
Because it is still not clear how calm the situation in the southern Italian city will be. There were no special incidents on Monday, the hope is that it will stay that way during the night and especially on Tuesday. There shouldn’t be any pictures like two and a half years ago. Of course, residual worries remain.
With all of these topics, it is almost overlooked that there is an extremely important game in the Champions League for the Hessians in Naples. After the furious 5-1 opening win against Galatasaray This was followed by heavy 1:5 defeats at Atletico Madrid and against Liverpool. Eintracht is already under pressure in terms of sport.
Toppmöller has a cold
It fits with the picture of the more than unusual trip to southern Italy that coach Dino Toppmöller missed the press conference the day before the game due to a cold. He wants to be back on his feet by Tuesday. It would help, after all, points should be scored in Napoli and the premier class should be overwintered.
Assistant coach Jan Fießer, who represented Toppmöller on Monday evening, is also aware of this. “I hope that we do better than in the last two games. We are here to win. We know what strength we have,” explained the assistant coach before the game.
Fießer: “The pressure is on both sides”
The good thing from Frankfurt’s perspective: the SSC is also under pressure. Like the Hessians, the Italians only have three points to their name so far. In Serie A, where Napoli are leaders, things are going well for coach Antonio Conte’s team – not yet really in the premier class. A win against Eintracht is almost mandatory for Naples. Otherwise it will be very tight for the Italians.
That could also offer opportunities for the Hessians. “The pressure is on both sides. We have to see who can handle it better,” emphasized Fießer. If Frankfurt take the lead, Napoli could become restless. Either way: There is a lot at stake for Eintracht. And one thing is also clear: everyone is happy when the hot dance at the foot of Vesuvius is over on the one hand and, on the other hand, when the return journey is completed with three points in the bag.
This is how Eintracht could play in Naples:
This is how Eintracht could start.
Broadcast: hr- Fernsehen, Hessenschau Sport, November 3rd, 2025, 5:55 p.m
