Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen scored once more as Napoli defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 2-0 in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 matchup on Tuesday.
On March 15, before the second leg in southern Italy, Osimhen scored before the break, and Giovanni Di Lorenzo doubled their advantage after the half.
Osimhen gave the visitors the lead after 39 minutes, capping off a quick attack soon after Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp saved a Napoli penalty. Osimhen has scored in each of his previous seven league games.
Early in the second half, Frankfurt was reduced to 10 men after a rough challenge from striker Randal Kolo Muani struck Napoli’s Frank Anguissa in the shin.
Soon after, the visitors increased their lead by two goals when Giovanni Di Lorenzo was set up by Khvicha Kvaratskhelia with a brilliant back heel, putting Napoli on track to advance to their first-ever Champions League quarterfinal.
Frankfurt got off to a great start, with in-form striker Randal Kolo Muani producing a goal opportunity out of nothing after four minutes, spurred on by a home crowd celebrating the club’s maiden foray into the Champions League knockout rounds.
In the Napoli penalty area, the France attacker turned with his back to goal and chipped the ball over his head before shooting just wide of the right upright.
But as the first half dragged on, the superiority of the visitors became apparent as the lopsided Serie A leaders dominated possession and field position.
As the 1988–89 Europa League champions try to advance into the last 16 for the first time in their history, Napoli returns to Naples for the second leg with the victory in a commanding position.
Frankfurt, the current Europa League champions, will likely lose their first Champions League game at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium in March unless they can drastically alter the outcome of the match in their favor.