It could have been much worse. The urn of Nyon smiles at the three Italians still running in Champions League. The draw gives a Inter, Milan and Naples (in strict alphabetical order) three difficult challenges – because at these levels there are no easy games – but certainly not impossible.
Napoli in Germany
On the way to the Napleswinner of Group A and seeded in the draw, there are the Germans ofConcord Frankfurtwinners of the last Europa League and second in Group D behind Tottenham with a record of three wins, one draw and two defeats. The team of Spalletti will play the first leg away, return to Maradona. Napoli and Eintracht met in the second round of the Uefa Cup 1994-95 season, double German success for 1 to 0. In the Bundesliga the team led by Oliver Glasner she is fifth with 23 points (7 wins, 2 draws and 4 defeats) 5 points behind leaders Bayern. This is Spalletti’s comment: “At these levels they are all tough, difficult matches, even if avoiding PSG may please us. However, Eintracht in Frankfurt is the holder of the Europa League, the second continental trophy, and it is a team in strong growth. It will certainly not be easy “.
Conte on the way to Milan
The Milanwho finished Group E in second place, risked a very hard intersection (City or Real for example), from the urn he drew the Tottenham driven by Antonio Conte. The Spurs of bomber Harry Kane they won Group D thanks to the success in Marseille on the last day, in the Premier League they are fourth with 26 points (8 wins, 2 draws and 4 defeats), 8 points behind leaders Arsenal. Went to the Meazza, back to London. Only one precedent, the round of 16 of the Champions 2010-2011: equal without a goal in England, Tottenham’s success at the Meazza 1-0 in the second leg. Pegs: “Conte is a great coach, he has won a lot and everywhere. He is able to give a clear identity and mentality. A neat and compact opponent with very important individualities awaits us. It will be a fascinating challenge and on paper balanced. They will be difficult games, against a strong opponent and trained by a coach who knows us well. It will be stimulating and motivating, we want to play it with awareness and confidence. Is it playable? Yes, but it would have been the same with other teams, unbeatable and perfect teams do not exist “.
Inter in Portugal
Me too’Intersecond in Group C, he risked a very hard intersection, on his way he finds the Port led by the former Nerazzurri Sergio ConceicaoGroup B winner with 12 points (4 wins and 2 losses). The Nerazzurri will play the first leg at home, return to Do Dragao. In the Portuguese tournament the Dragons are second with 26 points but 8 points behind the leaders Benfica. There have been four Champions League precedents between the two teams: in the round of 16 of 2004-2005 equal in Portugal (1-1) and Nerazzurri success in the second leg (3-1), in the 2005-2006 group stage one victory for each side. Inzaghi: “Our goal is to go through and give our fans a dream: that of playing the Champions League quarter-finals after a long time. It will not be easy at all, we will have to work to be ready for a double challenge where the The details will make the difference. They will be two wonderful matches, we will be ready. We respect Porto: they are a team that has been doing well in the Champions League for years. The coach is Sergio Conceicao, my teammate at Lazio for years, I know very well”.
Eighths of luxury
The finalists of the last edition of the Champions will already compete in the second round. Liverpool and Real Madrid they will face a few months from the final in Paris which gave the Blancos the 14th Champions. The other eighth big names is the one between Psg and Bavariafinal of the 2020 edition won by the Germans.
The framework of the eighths: Leipzig-Manchester City, Bruges-Benfica, Liverpool-Real Madrid, Milan-Tottenham, Eintracht Frankfurt-Naples, Borussia Dortmund-Chelsea, Inter-Porto, PSG-Bayern Munich.
