Napoli makes first-ever UCL quarterfinal appearance

March 16, 2023
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Napoli defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 3-0 on Wednesday to advance to the Champions League quarterfinals for the first time in their history, giving Italy three clubs in the top eight.

Napoli progressed 5-0 on aggregate after Victor Osimhen scored a goal in each half and Piotr Zielinski converted a penalty in the second half.

Three Italian teams have reached the quarterfinals of Europe’s premier club tournament for the first time since 2006.

There are no more limits on clubs from the same nation playing each other, thus Napoli might face Inter Milan or AC Milan in the draw on Friday. Bayern Munich, Benfica, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Real Madrid are the other teams in the last eight.

In the second match on Wednesday, Real Madrid defeated Liverpool 1-0 to progress 6-2 on aggregate.

Napoli came into the match at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona full of confidence, having a 2-0 lead from the first leg in Germany and seemed to be a lock for the Serie A title.

There was turbulence in Naples throughout the day when 600 Frankfurt fans came on the city despite being denied entry to the game, but there did not appear to be any further issues at the stadium.

Napoli makes history by reaching the Champions League quarterfinals

Napoli pushed hard for the game-winning goal, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who has been a revelation this season, had a couple of chances in the first half, but Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp kept his team in the game.

In first-half stoppage time, Stanislav Lobotka collected a loose ball and sent it to Matteo Politano, who whipped in a cross from the right for a thunderous header by Osimhen.

Osimhen, who also scored in the first leg, increased his tally eight minutes after the interval, tapping in a cross from Giovanni Di Lorenzo after superb work by Kvaratskhelia in the buildup.

In the 64th minute, Zieliski was tripped by Djibril Sow, and the midfielder brushed himself down to blast the ensuing penalty down the center.

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