While there was conflict in the city between hooligan organizations and local police forces, the Eagles realized they would have to overcome Frankfurt in Naples without the help of their fans inside the stadium. Their mission was challenging since the 2022 Europa League champions needed a three-goal victory to advance to the round of eight. Just once since 2013 has Napoli lost by this margin at home, and they made their intentions known right away when Matteo Politano put Kevin Trapp to the test in the first minute.
When the game began, Trapp had already made 22 stops for the match, and he got right back to work, stopping the unstoppable Khvicha Kvaratskhelia after one of her signature runs through the middle of the defense. Before halftime, the Georgian would be denied once again, but Frankfurt's fortitude would ultimately crumble in first-half stoppage time. Victor Osimhen was unmarked when Politano's right-wing cross reached him, and he easily headed the ball past a helpless Trapp to become the first Napoli player to score in both halves of a UCL quarterfinal match.
Osimhen doubled his score after 10 minutes of the restart, effectively ending the match and giving the Partenopei a three-goal edge on aggregate and setting them up for a straightforward quarterfinal victory after HT. Giovanni di Lorenzo was inserted by Politano after yet another wonderful build-up play, and the Napoli captain hammered the ball across goal to the Nigerian striker at the back post for a tap-in.
Oliver Glasner's team's bad night took a turn for the worst when Djibril Sow was penalized for tripping Piotr Zieliski inside the penalty area. Osimhen was on a hat-trick, but Zieliski stepped up to score from 12 yards and put the cherry on top of a great night in Napoli's history despite having a hat-trick of his own.
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