Tuesday’s Champions League Tips: Cagey first half expected in Liverpool

The Champions League continues on Tuesday as Liverpool take on Real Madrid and Eintracht Frankfurt host Napoli, so who better than football expert Greg Lea to share his predictions?

Eintracht Frankfurt v Napoli

Kick-off: 8pm Tuesday

Serie A leaders Napoli are the joint-third favourites to win the Champions League at 11.5, behind only Manchester City and Bayern Munich. It is a scenario that very few would have envisaged at the beginning of the campaign. 

It is remarkable to think now, but many Napoli fans were worried going into the 2022/23 season. They lost several stalwarts over the summer as the likes of Lorenzo Insigne, Dries Mertens and Kalidou Koulibaly all sought pastures new.

There was a degree of uncertainty among the fan base, but Napoli’s summer signings have been magnificent. Under the astute management of Luciano Spaletti, the Partenopei are set to win their first Serie A title since the days of Diego Maradona.

They are also deserving of their status as one of the leading contenders to triumph on the continent. Napoli amassed 15 points out of 18 and scored 20 goals in the group phase, so it is not as if they are yet to prove themselves outside of Italy.

They have won seven matches on the bounce in the league and conceded only two goals in that stretch. Indeed, for all the justifiable attention on an attack which includes Victor Osimhen and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Spalletti’s side are defensively solid. 

Napoli should have too much quality for Eintracht Frankfurt, who have failed to win three of their last six outings. Last season’s Europa League winners are admirable, but they are not in Napoli’s class and that should be reflected in the scoreline at Deutsche Bank Park. 

Prediction: Napoli to win @ 2.22

Liverpool v Real Madrid 

Kick-off: 8pm Tuesday

A rematch of last season’s Champions League final, Liverpool will be looking to avenge a 1-0 defeat in Paris that arguably contributed to their poor start of this campaign. Falling just short in both the Premier League and the Champions League last year dealt the Reds a psychological blow from which they are still trying to recover. 

There is no getting away from the fact that this has been a poor season by Liverpool’s high standards, but all is not lost yet. Following their 2-0 triumph over Newcastle United on Saturday, Jurgen Klopp’s side is within six points of the top four and remain in the Champions League, the final of which they have reached three times under Klopp. 

Jurgen Klopp: will have renewed confidence after victories over Everton and Newcastle

Liverpool are still far from their best, but back-to-back victories over Everton and Newcastle will have lifted the mood at Anfield ahead of Tuesday’s clash. Meanwhile, Real Madrid are also on the up after a recent blip. They won the Club World Cup earlier this month and have since beaten Elche and Osasuna in LaLiga. 

There will be an abundance of quality attacking players on display in this match, but that does not mean it will be an open affair. In fact, neither team will want to give much away in the first instalment of a two-legged tie. 

The opening 45 minutes could be tight and cagey, much like last week’s Champions League contests - there was only one first-half goal In the matches in Paris, Milan, Dortmund and Brugge. Perhaps that trend continues here.

Prediction: Draw at half-time @ 2.34

Tuesday’s Champions League Tips

Frankfurt v Napoli: Napoli to win @ 2.22
Liverpool v Real Madrid: Draw at half-time @ 2.34