In the round of 16 of the premier class, Eintracht Frankfurt meets SSC Naples. The “Apprentices of the Champions League” plays against an absolute top team. How should Frankfurt appear? What are the respective strengths? Who prevails? Club and Bundesliga legend Karl-Heinz “Charly” Körbel provides the answers on ntv.de.

ntv.de: Mr. Körbel, the Champions League is in Frankfurt today. Eintracht will face SSC Napoli, the undisputed leaders of Serie A. How high will SBU win?

Karl-Heinz “Charly” Körbel: (laughs) Clear answer: It will be an absolute hit. I hope for a 1-0.

Seriously: Both teams easily mastered their compulsory tasks in the respective leagues at the weekend, each with 2-0 wins. What party are you expecting?

It’s going to be a smashing game! You can feel an electrifying tingle all over Frankfurt before the game against Napoli. There’s something in the air. The fans are hot, the team is hot, the whole club is looking forward to the round of 16 in the Champions League. And of course: Everyone hopes that things will go like last season against Barcelona or West Ham. Everything is included for unity. I expect a close game.

A game in which the first mistake can be decisive?

Maybe not crucial. But there may well be a touchdown where each team waits for the other team to make a mistake. With the concentrated offensive power on both sides, there can also be a back and forth from the start. Fast cross runs, dribbling in and around the penalty area. goal closures. I’m really looking forward to the game! It’s clear that the group phase is over: two games, then it’s: you’re through – or out.

Where are Napoli’s strengths, where are Eintracht?

Both teams are full of confidence. Napoli have lost just one game in Serie A so far, lead the table by 15 points and have scored the most goals and conceded the fewest. They’re just on a roll, playing down their boot.

And the unity?

At the weekend against Bremen she showed how ripped off she can now appear. The 3-0 defeat in Cologne is over, maybe it was a wake-up call at just the right time. The confidence to be able to beat anyone is absolutely there! And let’s be honest: if you eliminate Barcelona, ??you can also hold your own against Napoli. With all due respect to this class team.

There is respect on both sides. After the European Cup win last season, no one in the Champions League underestimates Eintracht anymore…

Absolutely! You can feel that. Nobody from the Naples side says: Who is Frankfurt? We’ll knock them out! (laughs) Eintracht worked hard to earn this standing, and not just with the European Cup triumph, it started before that. Eintracht Frankfurt is now a very good address in European football.

This good standing is also noticeable on the transfer market. In the winter, Philipp Max came in for the left wing. So far he’s been playing as if he’s been with Eintracht for years. Who matters most against Naples?

The team is the focus and is required. A Randal Kolo-Muani can only shine up front if, for example, a Makoto Hasebe holds everything together and Kevin Trapp shines in goal. One thing is clear: Both teams have their strengths on the offensive! So I’m not expecting a 0-0 at first. It will be interesting to see whether Kolo-Muani can use his speed and callousness in front of goal against an international defense. In return, Frankfurt as a team must prevent Napoli’s offensive around Victor Osimhen from rolling.

In the end, national goalkeeper Trapp has to have a cream day again…

It can be assumed! But I’m not worried at all: we need a super Kevin and we will get him. But at the end of the day the whole team has to work well, including the players who come off the bench in the second half. But even then I’m completely worry-free. We are now very well positioned. That applies at the back, in midfield and also at the front.

So Eintracht can play without any pressure, enjoy the game?

No, there is pressure! Now it’s down to business. Eintracht is playing in the round of 16 in the Champions League. You don’t play there for fun and money, you want to survive and get ahead. Expectations have shifted somewhat upwards compared to the season of the European Cup win. We also proved in the group stage that we are not casual customers, that we are to be reckoned with, and that Eintracht should not be underestimated, even if we are still something of the apprentices of the Champions League in the first premier season in the club’s history.

There was already Frankfurt against Naples almost 30 years ago, back then in the UEFA Cup. Frankfurt narrowly prevailed at the time. Which team will advance to the next round this time?

Jupp Heynckes was the Eintracht coach at the time, and I was the assistant coach. We made progress then, but that was a very different time. The Waldstadion wasn’t sold out, today that’s an absurdity. The fans will again be the 12th man against Napoli, fully behind the team, supporting them throughout the game. The fans are hot, the team too. I’m betting on a 1-0 at home and a draw in Naples – and then we’ll see how it goes!

Thomas Badtke spoke to Karl-Heinz “Charly” Körbel