Frankfurt vs Napoli Champions League round of 16 preview: Where to watch, kick-off time, predicted line-ups
Tuesday, February 21, 2023
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When is it? How can you watch it? What are the possible line-ups? All you need to know about the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg between Frankfurt and Napoli.
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Frankfurt and Napoli meet in the UEFA Champions League round of 16 first leg on Tuesday 21 February.
Frankfurt vs Napoli at a glance
When: Tuesday 21 February (21:00 CET kick-off)
Where: Frankfurt Stadion, Frankfurt am Main
What: Champions League round of 16 first leg (second leg: 15 March)
How to follow: Build-up and live coverage can be found here
Where to watch Frankfurt vs Napoli on TV
Fans can find their local UEFA Champions League broadcast partner(s) here.
What do you need to know?
Europa League winners last season, Frankfurt are enjoying their maiden Champions League campaign, but have quite a challenge if they are to make it to the last eight: Napoli were unbeaten in their first 17 games of the season in all competitions (W15 D2) and Luciano Spalletti's side continue to top Serie A. The teams' only previous meetings were in the 1994/95 UEFA Cup, Frankfurt winning both legs 1-0: a good omen for Oliver Glasner's charges.
Starting line-ups
Frankfurt: Trapp; Tuta, Jakić, N'Dicka; Buta, Kamada, Sow, Max; Lindstrøm, Kolo Muani, Götze
Misses next match if booked: Hasebe, Jakić, Smolčić
Napoli: Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Kim, Olivera; Zambo Anguissa, Lobotka, Zieliński; Lozano, Osimhen, Kvaratskhelia
Misses next match if booked: Politano
Squad changes
Frankfurt
In: Philipp Max, Almamy Touré, Aurélio Buta
Out: Jens Grahl, Jérôme Onguéné, Luca Pellegrini
Napoli
In: Bartosz Bereszyński, Pierluigi Gollini
Out: Salvatore Sirigu, Alessandro Zanoli, Alessio Zerbin
Form guide
Frankfurt
Form (all competitions, most recent first): WLWWDD
Where they stand: 6th in Bundesliga, German Cup quarter-finals
Napoli
Form (all competitions, most recent first): WWWWWL
Where they stand: 1st in Serie A
Expert predictions
Steffen Potter, Frankfurt reporter
The Frankfurt juggernaut was somewhat derailed on 12 February by a 3-0 loss to mid-table Köln. "I'd forgotten what defeat tasted like," said coach Oliver Glasner after his team's first loss since October. For all their success, Eintracht have been vulnerable at set pieces all season – "a real issue" according to keeper Kevin Trapp.
Vieri Capretta, Napoli reporter
Arguably the most impressive team in the Champions League group stage, Napoli are marching towards their first Scudetto since 1989/90 and their huge point advantage at the top of Serie A means they can afford to focus all their ambition on Europe. The Partenopei could go all the way.
What the coaches say
Oliver Glasner, Frankfurt coach: "Napoli cannot be reduced to their attack alone. They have an excellent balance and concede few goals. They played an exceptionally good group stage. They have high intensity, play very aggressively against the ball, with high pressing and incredibly intensive counter-pressing. We know that and have prepared for it."
Luciano Spalletti, Napoli coach: "I know my players very well: I know the kind of men that they are. I expect them to be able to handle this game well. Eintracht are a strong team who know their way about the pitch. We know we have potential in this competition, just like Frankfurt do. It is an important game and we cannot afford to be nervous. We have to be good in attack and defence."
Where is the 2023 Champions League final?
Istanbul's Atatürk Olympic Stadium will host the final on Saturday 10 June 2023.
The winners gain a place in the 2023/24 Champions League group stage, if they have not qualified via their domestic competition.