Napoli v Eintracht Frankfurt: Osimhen Bet Builder helps to seal victory

Kevin Hatchard
15 March 2023
2 min read

Napoli boss Luciano Spalletti has plenty to shout about

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The FBOTD column reaches the Champions League tonight, and Kevin Hatchard thinks Serie A leaders Napoli will qualify for the quarter-finals in style.

Osimhen in sensational form
Napoli dominated first leg
Back my odds-against Bet Builder

Napoli v Eintracht Frankfurt
Wednesday 15 March, 20:00
Live on BT Sport

Notts County did the business for us on Football Bet of the Day last night, although they made us wait for the fireworks. While Erling Haaland was bashing in Champions League goals for Manchester City, the non-league version - Macauley Langstaff - was scoring for the Magpies. Now we turn our attention to tonight's UCL clash between Napoli and Eintracht Frankfurt.

Napoli showing no signs of slowing down

There are moments in football, especially in a Serie A hotbed like Naples, that can define a season. They are images that end up on t-shirts, posters, murals, tea towels - you name it.

Kvicha Kvaratskhelia's outstanding solo run and goal against Atalanta at the weekend was just such a moment, and it gave us the perfect example of why Napoli fans have dubbed the Georgian winger Kvaradona.

With a dazzling run that Diego Maradona would have been proud of, Kvaratskhelia shimmied into a shooting position before unleashing an unstoppable drive. It was truly a goal and a moment to savour.

Napoli are a mind-boggling 18 points clear at the top of Serie A, and only a collapse of monstrous proportions would deny them a first Scudetto since the Maradona-inspired team of 1990.

Now attention turns to the Champions League, and if Napoli can protect or build on a 2-0 first-leg lead against Eintracht Frankfurt, they will reach their first ever Champions League quarter-final.

Napoli have already rattled in 22 goals in the competition, having topped a group that featured Liverpool, Ajax and Rangers.

Against Eintracht in Germany, they recovered from a slow start to completely dominate the game, missing a penalty before strikes from Victor Osimhen and captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo put them in command of the tie.

South Korean defender Kim Min-Jae did a sensational job of shackling Frankfurt star Randal Kolo Muani, and the French forward was later sent off (rather harshly, in truth) for a lunge on the industrious Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa.

Kim is a slight injury doubt for this one, as are keeper Alex Meret and winger Hirving Lozano, who was outstanding in the first leg. Striker Giacomo Raspadori is definitely out.

Frankfurt needing one miracle too many

When you've risen from the depths of a Bundesliga relegation playoff to win a DFB Pokal and then the Europa League in just a few short years, you start to believe anything is possible. However, turning this tie on its head would be perhaps Frankfurt's greatest achievement yet.

The Eagles have been feeling the burn in recent weeks. Oliver Glasner's side have won just three of their last 10 matches in all competitions, and one of those was against lower-league Darmstadt in the DFB Pokal.

Since the World Cup, SGE haven't won any of their five away games.

Without the suspended Kolo Muani, Frankfurt are asking a lot of fringe player Rafael Borre, even if he was the match-winning hero in the Europa League final against Rangers.

The absence of Danish winger Jesper Lindstrom is a further blow, and World Cup winner Mario Götze will be required to kickstart the attacking side of a team that has scored just six goals across its last six games.

Napoli the rightful favourites

Even though Napoli don't need to win this second leg, I still expect them to play their usual attacking game, and we can put together a Bet Builder that takes Napoli's price to win from 1.491/2 to a more healthy 2.245/4.

We can back Napoli to win, Over 1.5 Goals and Osimhen to score. Osimhen has netted in nine of his last 12 games in all competitions, and Frankfurt struggled to deal with his searing pace in the first leg.

Back Napoli to win, Osimhen to score & Over 1.5 Goals @

2.24

Alternatively, you could simply back the Nigerian to score on the Exchange at evens.

You can get a £5 free bet when you place a £5 Bet Builder on Newcastle v Manchester United on Sunday. You must opt-in. T&Cs apply.