Naples is the scene of urban guerrilla scenes this Wednesday, a few hours before the round of 16 second leg (this Wednesday, 9 p.m., BeIN Sports1) between the local club and Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League. Classified as high risk by the Italian authorities, this match was to take place without the presence of German supporters, banned from the stadium and therefore deprived of tickets. But hundreds of Eintracht fans still made the trip to Naples on Wednesday.
800 police officers were mobilized by the local authorities. Not enough according to the images relayed by the Italian press and onlookers on social networks. Violent clashes have been taking place in the streets of Naples since the end of the afternoon between the ultras of the local club and those of the visiting club. Several vehicles, including at least one police, were burned. Supporters claiming to be from Atalanta Bergamo, another Italian club, would even have come to the aid of those of Eintracht Frankfurt to support them against the ultras of Naples.
The first leg, lost by Frankfurt at home (0-2), had already been marred by numerous incidents. The German police had made several arrests of Neapolitan and Frankfurt supporters. Eintracht and its supporters have been under close surveillance by UEFA since last season, following the invasion of the pitch and the use of pyrotechnic devices in its Waldstadion, after qualifying for the final of the Europa League against West Ham in May.
In September, incidents had already broken out in Marseille between supporters of OM and Eintracht, with smoke bombs exchanged between stands and a seriously injured Frankfurt supporter. German supporters also gave Nazi salutes.