Oliver Glasner made three changes to his starting line-up from the 1-1 draw against VfB Stuttgart, with Christopher Lenz, Ansgar Knauff and Daichi Kamada coming in for Makoto Hasebe, Philipp Max and the suspended Randal Kolo Muani. There was also a surprising switch in formation to 4-2-3-1, with Rafael Borré leading the line.
Osimhen deals sucker punch
The first half was a tight affair with both sides reluctant to risk too much and waiting for the other to make a mistake. Like the first leg, Napoli had the majority of the possession but Eintracht largely kept them at bay, with their only two notable opportunities falling to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who was twice denied by Kevin Trapp. The Eagles, for their part, tried to put the hosts under pressure but couldn’t break down Serie A’s best defence. Borré’s header from an early corner was the closest they came.
It looked all the while like it would be 0-0 at the break, but in the final minute of added time Matteo Politano delivered a measured cross from the right which Victor Osimhen guided in with an impressive header.
Napoli put it to bed
The Eagles came out unchanged for the second half with a mountain to climb, and it got even higher in the 53rd minute when Osimhen netted his second goal of the night, tapping in from close range. Frankfurt responded with their best move of the night, but Kamada could only prod the ball into Alex Meret’s arms from close range.
The hosts weren’t done there and after Kvaratskhelia was again thwarted by Trapp, they pulled further ahead in the tie in the 64th minute after Piotr Zielinski drew a foul from Djibril Sow in the penalty area. The Pole took it himself and blasted it down the middle to make it 3-0, and 5-0 on aggregate.
The game naturally petered out after that as Eintracht’s maiden Champions League came to an end in Naples. They must now focus their attentions on the two domestic competitions, starting with the Bundesliga match at Union Berlin this Sunday.
SGE line-up
Trapp – Buta, Tuta, Ndicka, Lenz (Max 66’) – Rode (Jakic 74’), Sow – Knauff (Alidou 62’), Götze, Kamada – Borré
Goals
1-0 Osimhen (45’+1)
2-0 Osimhen (53’)
3-0 Zielinski (64’ pen.)
