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2022/23 UEFA Champions League
Round of 16
First leg
Eintracht Frankfurt v Napoli
Deutsche Bank Park
Frankfurt, Germany
Tuesday, 21 February 2023
Kick-off is at 22h00
Eintracht Frankfurt will be looking to make home advantage count against Napoli at Deutsche Bank Park on their
UEFA Champions League debut in the round of 16 on Tuesday, February 21.
The Eagles qualified for the old European Cup way back in 1959 and they made it all the way to the final before losing 7-3 to Real Madrid.
They featured regularly in the Cup Winners' Cup, UEFA Cup and the Europa League, having won the latter competition last season to book their place in the Champions League.
Oliver Glasner's side have lost just once in the Bundesliga since the World Cup break, going down 3-0 to FC Cologne last Sunday, which halted a five-game unbeaten run across all competitions.
Frankfurt are just eight points behind league leaders Bayern Munch in sixth position after 21 matches and just two adrift of the Champions League spots.
Napoli are running away with the Serie A title, having opened up a 15-point gap on the chasing pack after 22 matches.
The Partenopei beat Cremonese 3-0 last Sunday to make it six league wins on the spin, although they crashed out of the Copa Italia at the first hurdle on January 17 following a 5-4 defeat on penalties to La Cremo.
Randal Kolo Muani has enjoyed an impressive debut season at Frankfurt, with the 24-year-old striker's form earning him a place in France's World Cup squad. Muani has racked up nine goals and 12 assists in 19 league appearances, while scoring twice in six Champions League outings.
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Victor Osimhen has been a beast for the Naples outfit this term, spearheading their title challenge with a staggering 17 goals in just 19 games. The Nigeria international hasn't managed to carry that form over into Europe though, netting just once in three group-stage matches.
In team news, Junior Dina Ebimbe is the only absentee for the hosts with a long-term ankle injury, while Giacomo Raspadori is making good progress in his recovery from a muscular injury for Luciano Spalletti's team.
Glasner was unhappy with the goals conceded in Cologne and admitted they have studied video footage of the game to find out where improvements can be made.
"We looked at the situations very closely and talked to the players. Our solutions have covered each other. We will change something where we think we can prevent the high number of goals conceded," he said.
Spalletti has hailed his players for putting in a tremendous shift this season to achieve their goals, insisting they remain focused on the task at hand.
"In this group there are good guys, men with enormous availability, excellent professionals who are willing to destroy themselves in the field to obtain the results we are achieving," the Italian said.
"We think game after game. There are no other thoughts that can make us divert attention from what we want. We reason by looking at every detail, thinking only and exclusively of the present."
Head-to-Head (Previous European Meetings)
Matches - 2
Frankfurt - 2
Napoli - 0
Draws - 0
UEFA Champions League fixtures:
Tuesday, February 21
22h00: Liverpool v Real Madrid
22h00: Eintracht Frankfurt v Napoli
Wednesday, February 22
22h00: RB Leipzig v Manchester City
22h00: Inter Milan v Porto
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