UEFA Champions League: Napoli staged a faultless performance on the road

• Napoli defeated Frankfurt in first leg of the Champions League.
• Victor Osimhen and Giovanni Di Lorenzo both scoring once.
• Napoli had the majority of the ball in the first half.

Victor Osimhen and Giovanni Di Lorenzo both scored once as Napoli put up a flawless away performance to defeat Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 on late Tuesday night.

Although Napoli had the majority of the ball in the first half, the hosts really had the first serious opportunity when Forward Kolo Muani fired a dangerous shot across the goal from a close angle in the fifth minute.

Despite lacking penetration, the visitors managed to break through in the 20th minute when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia forced Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp to make a save.

After Hirving Lozano hit the post with a shot from a good position, Napoli gathered momentum and rattled the woodwork at the halfway point.

Frankfurt’s defence struggled to contain Napoli’s forwards, and moments later Aurelio Buta gave up a penalty for a foul on Victor Osimhen.

Trapp palmed away Kvaratskhelia’s shot from the penalty spot when he stepped up.

As Lozano delivered a pinpoint cross into the box in the 40th minute, Frankfurt’s goalie was helpless to stop it, allowing Osimhen to score at the back post from a very close distance.

The Eagles were unable to hold back and were forced to thank Kevin Trapp, their goalkeeper, who defeated Kvaratskhelia in a one-on-one situation in the 57th minute.

Kolo Munai was sent with a straight red card after a foul on Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa at the hour mark, making things even worse for Frankfurt.

Five minutes later, Napoli took advantage of its numerical advantage when Giovanni Di Lorenzo was set up by Kvaratskhelia’s back-heel pass inside the penalty area. Di Lorenzo completed an excellent move with a well-placed shot into the bottom right corner of the far post to make it 2-0.

Frankfurt, who were outnumbered, attempted a comeback in the dying minutes, but Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret stopped Daichi Kamada’s goal after a counterattack.

“We tried everything, but it was an unlucky course of the game for us. The red card, while being one goal down, killed the game. There is still one game to go,” said Frankfurt midfielder Mario Gotze.

As a result, on March 15, Frankfurt will have to overcome a two-goal deficit at Napoli in the second leg.

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