45.
7:35 p.m
Half-time conclusion:
No, because then it’s break, the score between Naples and Frankfurt is 0-0. The start clearly belonged to the home team, who started powerfully and definitely had a chance to take the lead. After this phase was over, Eintracht got better and better and managed to move the game into midfield. Since then it has been an intense exchange of blows, but the penalty area scenes are missing. For the second half, the guests will have to think about how they can get ahead, otherwise the Partenopei will definitely create one or two opportunities. We can look forward to an exciting second half. See you soon.
45.
19:33
End of 1st half
45.
19:32
There’s another minute on top of that. Are we seeing another hit here?
45.
19:32
Official added time (minutes): 1
45.
19:32
First Collins plays a bad pass in midfield, which Lobotka picks up and cleverly puts through for McTominay. The Scot can then run towards the chain, but the pass to the starting Højlund fails completely.
43.
7:30 p.m
With a long phase of possession, Frankfurt pushed Napoli behind, but after almost two minutes the whole thing ended due to a bad pass from Chaïbi. However, the hosts cannot counterattack because Eintracht switches well.
40.
19:27
After a pass from Miguel Gutiérrez, Anguissa tries a direct shot from 17 meters in a central position. The playground equipment rushes into the stands.
39.
19:26
The ball comes from the left via McTominay and Di Lorenzo to Politano, who tries a chipped cross. In the middle it is Koch again who is there with his head and clarifies.
36.
19:23
Zetterer always tries to make the game quick with long shots, but Burkardt and Bahoya are mostly at a losing battle. On the other hand, Koch clears a cross from Politano from the right.
34.
19:21
Anguissa is suspiciously sent behind the chain on the right side, but the flag doesn’t go up. His subsequent cross finds no taker in the middle anyway.
32.
7:19 p.m
In midfield, Collins brings down McTominay after he went past him at pace. Frankfurt also tries to break the Partenopei’s flow of play through physicality.
30.
19:17
There’s not much to report at the moment, the teams neutralize each other in midfield. This should particularly please the Frankfurt team, because the initial phase looked very much like a goal would be conceded.
27.
19:14
At least, that’s the positive thing, the guests aren’t allowing too much at the moment, the game has shifted to midfield. Götze takes the tackle against Miguel Gutiérrez and makes a statement.
24.
19:11
Apart from Bahoya’s early finish, Eintracht hasn’t really gotten into the opponent’s penalty area yet. Things look quite good up to the center line, but after that the precision is lacking.
21.
7:08 p.m
The subsequent free kick comes dangerously into the penalty area from the left, but Buongiorno commits an offensive foul at the second post. Nevertheless, some of the hosts’ players were relatively unprotected and that could have turned out much worse for Frankfurt.
20.
7:07 p.m
Elmas continues to cause problems for Eintracht, he once again prevails against two on the left. Kristensen therefore holds the former Leipzig player and causes a free kick.
19.
7:06 p.m
On the left, Miguel Gutiérrez comes to the penalty area and goes flat inside. Koch can clean up in front of Højlund with a tackle.
17.
7:04 p.m
The Frankfurters try to calm down through possession of the ball. In fact, they also manage to get a few stops and sometimes move the game into the opponent’s half. However, nothing really profitable comes of it.
14.
7:00 p.m
The Partenopei repeatedly combine well at the back, but Eintracht cannot defend the subsequent quick side changes and has to give up a lot of space. It only seems like a matter of time before the SSC takes the lead.
13.
6:59 p.m
Zetterer parries! Anguissa shifts well to the left to Elmas, who moves at speed towards the box and leaves both Kristensen and Götze standing. From nine meters he failed with his half-high attempt at the far corner because of the well-reacting keeper.
11.
18:58
After a good pass from Højlund, McTominay takes Elmas on the left. He goes slightly inside the penalty area and shoots towards the far corner, but only hits the Scotsman who ran through in the head. So the play equipment clearly goes over it, the original attempt could have made Zetterer sweat.
9.
18:56
The home team immediately took control of the game and pushed the guests deep behind. Frankfurt is trying to create danger through counterattacks, but the way forward is currently very long.
6.
18:54
Good luck for unity! Elmas crosses dangerously into the six-yard box from the left. There are two players free, but Anguissa and Højlund hinder each other. The Cameroonian can only finish directly in front of Zetterer by turning and the keeper can block. A direct header would have caused more danger.
5.
18:52
Napoli allowed the ball to circulate through their own ranks for an extremely long time in these first minutes. Frankfurt stands in its own half and doesn’t attack high.
3.
6:50 p.m
The first scene belongs to the guests. Brown intercepts a ball on the left and then takes Bayoha with him. He pulls in from the left of the box, but the shot from 15 meters goes straight to Milinković-Savić, who can grab it without any problems.
1.
6:47 p.m
Then the ball starts rolling. Naples toasted.
1.
6:46 p.m
Game start
18:42
At this moment the teams enter the pitch together with referee Joao Pinheiro from Portugal. The game can begin in a few minutes.
18:32
The duel between the two teams has already taken place in the Champions League, and they met in the round of 16 in spring 2023. With a 2-0 win in Frankfurt and a 3-0 win at home, Naples clearly had the upper hand. Even back then, Eintracht fans were not allowed in Italy, and it is the same today, which has once again caused massive criticism. UEFA wants to address the problem soon, but today that is little consolation for the guests.
6:18 p.m
However, Eintracht is currently far away from such demands. After a good start to the season, Frankfurt slipped to eighth place in the Bundesliga, with the 1-1 draw against Heidenheim at the weekend just adding to their recent results. The guests have only won one of the last seven games across all competitions, and in the Champions League they even lost 5-1 twice against Atletico and Liverpool. This means that the Eagle Bearers also have three points in the premier class and a win is urgently needed.
6:05 p.m
When will Naples arrive in this competition? In the domestic Serie A, the current champions are already leading the table again with a one point lead over Inter, but in the Champions League they have only been able to collect three points with a narrow win against Sporting Lisbon. Most recently there was a tough 2:6 against Eindhoven, today the Partenopei are already doomed to win, it’s also about making amends. The southern Italians haven’t lost their last three games, although the 0-0 draw against Como at the weekend was a bit of a disappointment.
17:53
To start, let’s take a look at the lineups. At Napoli, coach Antonio Conte is swapping three positions compared to the league game at the weekend. Miguel Gutiérrez and Lobotka come in for the injured Gilmour and Spinazzola, and David Neres makes room for Elmas. Lucca is missing a red card, and other top-class players like Lukaku, De Bruyne and Meret are injured. On the other hand, Frankfurt coach Dino Toppmöller is also rotating. Dōan, Skhiri, Uzun, Wahi and Knauff are replaced by Collins, Chaïbi, Götze, Bahoya and Burkardt. Uzun has suffered a thigh injury and has to miss the game, while Baum and Højlund are also missing, meaning he will miss the duel.
5:45 p.m
Welcome to the start of the 4th matchday of the Champions League, where SSC Napoli and Eintracht Frankfurt face each other. Kick-off at Diego Armando Maradona is at 6:45 p.m.!