Must know about Eintracht Frankfurt vs Napoli
Eintracht Frankfurt and Napoli are two of the most exciting teams in European football, known for their attacking flair and entertaining style of play. When they faced off in the UEFA Europa League Round of 32 in 2019, it was always going to be an exciting match.
The first leg of the tie took place at the Commerzbank Arena in Frankfurt, with the German side playing host to their Italian counterparts. Eintracht Frankfurt got off to a flying start, taking the lead after just seven minutes through a header from striker Filip Kostic. Napoli, however, responded well and equalized just 10 minutes later, with a well-placed shot from Jose Callejon.
The game continued to be end-to-end, with both teams creating numerous chances. Napoli came close to taking the lead on several occasions, with Lorenzo Insigne and Arkadiusz Milik both hitting the woodwork. Eintracht Frankfurt, meanwhile, were dangerous on the counter-attack, with Kostic causing problems for the Napoli defense with his pace and trickery.
In the second half, Eintracht Frankfurt continued to press forward, looking for the winning goal. They were eventually rewarded in the 72nd minute, when a cross from Kostic found the head of striker Sebastien Haller, who made no mistake in heading the ball past the Napoli goalkeeper.
Napoli tried to respond, but Eintracht Frankfurt held on for a 2-1 win, giving them a crucial advantage going into the second leg in Naples.
The second leg was played at the Stadio San Paolo, with Napoli needing to overturn the one-goal deficit to progress to the next round. They started strongly, with a goal from Milik in the 39th minute putting them ahead on away goals. Eintracht Frankfurt responded well, however, and equalized just four minutes later through a stunning long-range strike from Mijat Gacinovic.
The second half was a tense affair, with both teams creating chances but unable to find the back of the net. Eintracht Frankfurt defended resolutely, with goalkeeper Kevin Trapp making several crucial saves to keep Napoli at bay.
As the game entered its final stages, Napoli pushed forward in search of the winning goal. They were unable to find a way past Eintracht Frankfurt’s defense, however, and the game ended in a 1-1 draw, giving the German side a 3-2 aggregate win and sending them through to the Round of 16.
The two-legged tie between Eintracht Frankfurt and Napoli was a thrilling encounter, with both teams playing attacking football and creating plenty of chances. Eintracht Frankfurt ultimately emerged victorious, thanks to their clinical finishing and solid defense, and went on to reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League that season.
