Napoli are in pole position to reach the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time after beating Eintracht 2-0 in Frankfurt.
The German outfit will also be without star striker Randal Kolo Muani in the second leg due to suspension and we’re not expecting any drama in Italy.
Napoli nearly hit the front at Deutsche Bank Park when Hirving Lozano hit the post and then Khvicha Kvaratskhelia had a penalty brilliantly saved by Kevin Trapp.
However, they were ahead five minutes before half-time, when Lozano broke away down the right and crossed for Victor Osimhen to strike from close range.
In the second half, France forward Kolo Muani was shown a straight red card for a reckless challenge with his studs up.
Gli Azzurri capitalised on their numerical advantage when Giovanni Di Lorenzo tucked away a cool finish on 65 minutes.
Head coach Luciano Spalletti told Sky Sport: “It was an end-to-end game, which we want and thrive in.
“We need to stay calm, very calm. There’s the second leg still. Our biggest enemy is to think it’s done.”
Napoli impressed during the group stage when starting out with five straight wins and are an incredible 18 points clear in Serie A following Saturday’s 2-0 defeat of Atalanta.
Frankfurt lifted the Europa League trophy last season but look to have had their limitations exposed at this level.
The Eagles scrambled through a tight group in second place behind Tottenham, despite scoring only seven goals in six games.
Oliver Glasner may take heart from the way his side came from behind to claim a crucial 2-1 victory over Sporting in Lisbon on Matchday 6.
He declared: “We still have a chance; it is not a great one, but we can still take it. We are not going to Napoli as tourists.
“If we score the opener, it is 1-0 and then it is likely that they will get a little nervous.”
Eintracht’s domestic form gives little cause for optimism, though, as they are sixth in the Bundesliga following three matches without a win since the Napoli setback.
A 2-1 defeat at RB Leipzig was no disgrace, but only drawing with Wolfsburg and Stuttgart does not augur well for a great escape here.
