NAPLES:
Victor Osimhen said Naples are dreaming of Champions League glory after his hat-trick fired the Serie A leaders to a 3-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt and into the quarter-finals for the first time in their history in the Wednesday.
Nigeria hit Osimhen struck either side of half-time to ensure no slip in Naples and help his team to a straightforward, well-deserved, 5-0 win.
Piotr Zielinski added Napoli’s third from the penalty spot on a good night for the southern Italian giants, who Osimhen believes can go all out.
“It’s amazing to make history with this win,” Osimhen told Amazon Prime.
“We will continue to dream, we have the team to do it (winning the Champions League). I think we are on the right path. We have the best coach. a good opportunity.”
Luciano Spalletti’s side are on the verge of securing their first Serie A title in over three decades and an impressive season has been made even better by a place on Friday for the last eight of the club competition. Europe.
They have been boosted by a domestic victory and a deep run in Europe by the red Osimhen, who have been capped 23 times in all competitions for a favorite of the continent.
However, Spalletti was skeptical about Napoli’s chances over Osimhen, responding with a curt “no” when asked if he welcomed Pep Guardiola’s claim that his team is the best in Europe.
“It’s a game that people play to encourage other teams, it’s a game that everyone knows by now,” said Spalletti who was very angry.
Eintracht were without suspended Frenchman Randal Kolo Muani after he was sent off in the first leg and the Bundesliga did little to trouble Napoli.
Oliver Glasner’s side crashed out of the competition on a night that left their fans in serious trouble as they traveled to Naples despite no away tickets being sold.
Eintracht decided not to take their tickets for the match after Italian officials handed out two penalties in a matter of days, fearing a repeat of the incident. in Frankfurt before the first leg.
That didn’t stop the German club’s stalwarts, however, from clashing with local police on a tense evening in Naples.
Footage in Italy published on Tuesday also showed Napoli fans throwing objects at buses carrying Eintracht fans.
Around the stadium there was little concern as Napoli went on without incident.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia almost scored his second wonder goal in less than a week in the 19th minute after a terrific drive from Zielinski sent him through on goal.
But he was forced too much as soon as he looked for a shooting opportunity and was eventually cleverly denied by Kevin Trapp, who recovered two minutes before the break to deny the Georgian.
However, Trapp could not do anything to stop Osimhen from putting Napoli in front a few minutes later, the Nigerian international showing why he is one of the most famous players highest in the world with a good dive and header from Matteo Politano’s hanging cross.
And Osimhen struck again seven minutes after the break with a simple finish, this time tapping in Giovanni Di Lorenzo’s low cross after a flurry of play from Politano and Kvaratskhelia.
Napoli cruised and, after two half-chances for Eintracht’s Daichi Kamada and Rafael Borre and another fine save from Trapp on Kvaratskhelia, they went three ahead on the night.
The excellent Zielinski was brought down by Djibril Sow, allowing the Pole to cool himself down and calmly slot home in the 64th minute.
All that was left was a packed Stadio Maradona shouting ‘Ole’ at every pass as they watched their team make history.
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