The UEFA Champions League returns to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona as SSC Napoli welcome Eintracht Frankfurt in a pivotal Group Stage clash between two sides desperate to recover from recent European setbacks.
Both teams were on the receiving end of heavy defeats last time out, Napoli’s defensive frailties were exposed in a 6-2 thrashing by PSV Eindhoven, while Frankfurt succumbed to a 5-1 loss against Liverpool. Goals are expected to flow again, with the German side’s last three continental outings all ending in 5-1 scorelines and Napoli boasting a long history of high-scoring home ties.
For Antonio Conte’s men, this fixture represents an opportunity to restore confidence and consolidate control of their Champions League group. Despite domestic success that sees them top of Serie A, Napoli’s European campaign has been turbulent, with back-to-back red cards across matchdays two and three undermining their rhythm. Scott McTominay’s brace in Eindhoven showed glimpses of attacking quality, but defensive lapses and ill-discipline have cost them dearly.
Their goalless draw against Como at the weekend ended a perfect home run in the league, though goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic continued his penalty-saving heroics to deny Álvaro Morata and preserve Napoli’s unbeaten record at the Maradona. Conte’s men have now lost just once in their last 18 Champions League home games, that solitary defeat coming to Real Madrid in 2023.
Eintracht Frankfurt, on the other hand, travel to Italy in search of stability after a chaotic run of form. Dino Toppmöller’s side, who finished third in the Bundesliga last season, are currently languishing in sixth after a string of defensive implosions, conceding 25 goals in their last eight matches. Their recent 1-1 draw with Heidenheim typified their struggles: plenty of attacking enterprise but little control.
Having beaten Galatasaray 5-1 on the opening matchday, the German side have since suffered consecutive 5-1 losses to Atletico Madrid and Liverpool, exposing their fragile backline. Their recent DFB-Pokal exit to Borussia Dortmund on penalties has only compounded the frustration, but Frankfurt remain an attacking threat, scoring at least twice in over half of their fixtures this season.
Napoli will aim to leverage their home dominance, while Frankfurt’s unpredictability ensures this tie could be far from straightforward. Both teams have plenty to prove, one to maintain its European ambitions, the other to keep its campaign alive. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.
Napoli head into Tuesday’s clash with several important fitness concerns to address. Midfielder Billy Gilmour suffered a muscular problem during the weekend’s draw against Como, casting doubt on his availability for this fixture. His potential absence could force Antonio Conte into a reshuffle in the middle of the park. On a more positive note, Stanislav Lobotka, the team’s midfield orchestrator, made his return to the bench after a spell on the sidelines and could be fit enough to start. Meanwhile, centre-back Amir Rrahmani started for the first time in two months, bolstering a backline that had looked shaky in recent weeks.
Conte also welcomed back Scott McTominay and Rasmus Højlund, both of whom recovered from shorter injuries and have since made a strong impact in their respective roles. However, two senior Belgian players, Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne, remain unavailable due to ongoing knee and thigh injuries, respectively. First-choice goalkeeper Alex Meret is also sidelined, leaving Vanja Milinković-Savić to continue deputising between the posts. Additionally, forward Lorenzo Lucca will serve a suspension following his red card against PSV Eindhoven, ruling him out of this European tie.
In terms of tactical setup, Antonio Conte is expected to deploy his preferred 4-3-3 formation, seeking both defensive stability and attacking fluidity. Vanja Milinković-Savić will start in goal, shielded by a back four comprising Giovanni Di Lorenzo at right-back, Amir Rrahmani and Alessandro Buongiorno as the central defenders, and Leonardo Spinazzola on the left flank. In midfield, Frank Anguissa, Stanislav Lobotka, and Scott McTominay should form a balanced trio that combines energy, control, and box-to-box presence. Up front, Matteo Politano is expected to operate from the right wing, with Rasmus Højlund leading the line as the central striker, and David Neres providing width and creativity on the left.
This structure allows Napoli to transition fluidly from defence to attack, with Di Lorenzo and Spinazzola offering overlapping runs and McTominay supporting Højlund in breaking through Frankfurt’s defence.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Milinkovic-Savic; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Buongiorno, Spinazzola; Anguissa, Lobotka, McTominay; Politano, Hojlund, Neres
Eintracht Frankfurt will travel to Naples with a few notable injury concerns that could affect Dino Toppmöller’s lineup options. Oscar Højlund, the younger brother of Napoli striker Rasmus Højlund, is ruled out with a thigh injury, denying the siblings a potential on-field reunion. Additionally, forward Can Uzun was forced off during Saturday’s draw with Heidenheim after sustaining a muscle issue, and he is not expected to recover in time for this Champions League clash. These setbacks could prompt tactical adjustments, particularly in the attacking midfield area.
In response, Toppmöller is expected to turn to Mario Götze, whose creativity and composure in the final third make him an ideal candidate to replace Uzun. The 2014 World Cup winner’s inclusion will add experience and tactical intelligence to the side. Meanwhile, Fares Chaibi, who currently tops the Bundesliga assist charts with five, remains a key creative outlet for the German side. The Algerian playmaker’s vision and delivery from wide and half-spaces have been instrumental in Frankfurt’s attacking play this season.
Leading the line will likely be Jonathan Burkardt, who has been in sensational form with six goals in eight league appearances, though Elye Wahi provides a capable alternative should rotation be required. The attacking trio of Götze, Chaibi, and Burkardt will be central to Frankfurt’s approach, with the side expected to operate in a 3-4-2-1 formation designed for compactness in defence and rapid transitions in attack.
Michael Zetterer will start in goal, protected by a back three comprising Rasmus Kristensen, Robin Koch, and Arthur Theate. Out wide, Ritsu Doan and Nathaniel Brown are likely to operate as wing-backs, tasked with balancing defensive coverage and attacking width. In central midfield, Hugo Larsson will pair with Fares Chaibi, offering a mix of energy and distribution control. Ahead of them, Mario Götze will function as an advanced playmaker, with Ansgar Knauff supporting from the opposite side. At the tip of the spear, Jonathan Burkardt is expected to spearhead the attack, looking to exploit Napoli’s high defensive line.
This setup allows Frankfurt to remain compact defensively while maintaining fluidity in attack, with Götze and Chaibi pulling the strings behind the lone striker.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Zetterer; Kristensen, Koch, Theate; Doan, Larsson, Chaibi, Brown; Gotze, Knauff; Burkardt
Napoli have lost just one of their last 18 Champions League home games, winning 11 of those, with their only defeat in that span coming against Real Madrid in 2023.
Each of Eintracht Frankfurt’s three Champions League matches this season has ended in a 5-1 scoreline, one win and two defeats, underlining both their attacking potency and defensive fragility.
Rasmus Højlund has been directly involved in nine goals in his last eight Champions League appearances (seven goals and two assists), making him Napoli’s key man in Europe.
Napoli have scored five of their last nine Champions League goals from set-pieces, highlighting their threat from dead-ball situations, particularly through Hakan Calhanoglu-like deliveries from McTominay and Politano.
Dino Toppmöller’s side have conceded 25 goals in their last eight matches across all competitions, including 12 in their last three, suggesting their defensive structure remains their Achilles’ heel heading into this trip to Naples.
Few players in Europe have reinvented themselves this season quite like Scott McTominay, who has quickly become a driving force in Antonio Conte’s Napoli midfield. Once known primarily for his defensive discipline and work rate, the Scottish international has evolved into a box-to-box powerhouse, adding goals, aggression, and leadership to the champions’ engine room.
McTominay’s recent form in the Champions League has been particularly impressive, he has scored four goals in his last five appearances in the competition, including a brace in the defeat to PSV Eindhoven. His late surges into the box and instinct for arriving in scoring positions make him a constant threat against open defences. Moreover, his aerial presence and physical dominance give Napoli an added edge in both attacking and defensive set pieces.
Against an Eintracht Frankfurt side that has looked vulnerable under pressure and struggled to defend second balls, McTominay’s energy and tactical intelligence could prove decisive. Expect him to play a key role not only in breaking up opposition play but also in linking transitions and supporting Rasmus Højlund in the final third. If Napoli are to regain control of their Champions League campaign, McTominay’s two-way influence could once again be the difference.
Both Napoli and Eintracht Frankfurt enter this contest desperate to respond after heavy defeats, but the balance of quality, form, and home advantage clearly tilts toward the Italian champions. Antonio Conte’s men have been rock-solid at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, remaining unbeaten there this season and losing just once in their last 18 home games in the Champions League.
Frankfurt, meanwhile, have been far too inconsistent and defensively vulnerable to inspire confidence on the road. Conceding 25 goals in their last eight matches, including back-to-back 5-1 defeats in Europe, suggests that their high-risk approach often leaves them exposed against technically superior sides.
Napoli’s midfield dynamism, led by Scott McTominay and André-Frank Zambo Anguissa, coupled with Rasmus Højlund’s clinical form up front, should see them dominate transitions and capitalize on Frankfurt’s defensive lapses.
